He grins and pushes a plate of pancakes drizzled in real maple syrup in front of me, “Eat up, little sis, you have a long day or so ahead of you. I have a feeling that you and Daxell will be pulled away from us for a time on your mission.” He shovels scrambled eggs onto my plate along with some sausage links.
I grab a carafe of coffee and squeal just a little in my enthusiasm. Lachlan slides a glass my way filled halfway with ice cubes along with a container of half and half, and a simple vanilla sugary syrup and I go about making my favorite beverage, iced coffee, just the way I like it. Sighing, I breathe out, “Java…”
I hear a chuckle from over my shoulder and turn to see Daxell watching me, his eyes twinkling before he saunters into the room. Once again he’s sporting a bare chest and his sleep pants ride low on his hips. I drink him in. Holy freaking demon horde, he’s sex on a stick. Dax catches me ogling him and winks at me. By the gods, give me strength. Turning back to my breakfast and coffee, I see my brother smirking, before making a plate for Dax and sliding it across the island counter.
“So what time do you want to head out?” I asked, sneaking a glance at his tattoed peck and almost miss my mouth in the process. He reaches over to gently guide my fork and I can’t help but blush furiously.
Daxell grins and winks at me before responding around a mouth full of food, “We should head that way in a couple of hours. That should give us plenty of time to check-in and get settle before meeting up with my parents.”
In all seriousness, I need to get my head in the game. “So? We gather as much intel as we can and then head to The Underworld to meet up with Luc. Once that’s done we head back here. Right?”
“That’s about right.” He turns to Lachlan, and asks, “What do you think?”
Lachlan shakes his head, “I don’t like it, but you’re right. Everyone needs to be informed as to what is going on.”
Nodding, I savor another swallow of my coffee and say, “Check for an email message from me. I’ll send you everything you need to know before we head to The Underworld, just in case there is a problem and we can’t get back to you. Okay?”
“All right, sounds like a plan. I’ll head to The Otherworld to bring Mama and Da up to speed, not that they already don’t have an inkling as to what is going on. Are you sure about Mama? That she’s expecting?” Lachlan asks.
Smiling, I nod, “Yeah. She may want to help here, but Da is not going to have any of it. Not this time around, we grew up on stories about how things went down before and after we were born. This is on us. It’s our time to stand up to the evil bad in our realms, even if that means we have to go up against Morríganna herself and this New Raven Order faction.”
Lachlan nods, “You’re right, little sis, this time it’s on us. We’re already almost two years older than our mother when saving the realms was thrust upon her.”
“Well, you’re not going anywhere without me.”
I turn to see Poppy standing defiantly in the doorway, and start, “Poppy -”
“Don’t you Poppy me. We have been besties since we were little. Yes, you’re older than me but not in sprite years, I best you there. We’ve been inseparable for ages and now you want to go off on a little adventure without me. I don’t bloody well think so. You and I are a team and you don’t separate a team. Listen, I know that you and hot stuff over here are an item, but rest assured, I will not come between the two of you on this quest. That being said, I’m going and nothing you say can persuade me differently.”
Before I can even say a word, Dax is quick to address my best friend, “Then, you, my friend, will need to hide your lineage. Mammon will want to collect you for his very own. He’s a greedy bastard. You will have to masquerade as a simple water sprite. You are very unique and you will definitely pique his interest.”
She grins and does a mid-air curtsy, “Not a problem, I’ll be as ordinary as a house cat. I can even appear to be a simple elf if you like.”
Sighing, I acquiesce, “All right, it wouldn’t be an adventure without you, but don’t tell Timbra.”
“Don’t tell me what?” Timbra bounds into the room, a bright smile on her face, her multi-colored caramel hair trailing behind her. She’s the spitting image of our mother and I can’t help but feel just a little envious. Who wouldn’t, their coloring is striking.
Looking her straight in the eye, I say, “That I agreed that she’s coming with us. I’m sorry, Timbra, but you’re too young.”
She shrugs, “I get it. I figured as much. Mama helped me to see it for what it was. I just delivered the most angelic soul to Taisclainne Anam. You should have seen it.” She’s beaming from ear to ear and is literally glowing. I’m so happy that she embraces her role as a Keeper.
“So, you’re not going to argue?” I ask in disbelief.
“Why should I? You’ve already decided that I’m far too young to go traipsing about The Underworld with you and your merry little crew. Arguing would be counterintuitive, I know that. I’m heading back to Faerie today, but you should know, I’m a force to be reckoned with and soon you will all know what I’m talking about.” She smiles and wiggles the fingers on her right-hand goodbye before tracing back to The Otherworld.
“What was that all about?” I can’t help but ask aloud.
“I think our little sister is
