Purpose served.
“What do you suggest we do with the vase and Norse?” Chaz asked with a frown. Her older brother had a lot on his plate, and the crinkle in his forehead and the bags under his eyes didn’t hide the stress he’d been under.
“Toss it in the trash,” she said under her breath.
The vase shook as dust spewed from the sides, circling like a tornado.
“Jesus Christ. Apologize to the damned thing.” Nico stepped in front of her, shoving her to the side as the angry colors hovered over her head.
“I bet Norse knows what Cheryl’s destiny is. Now if I could only figure out why I can’t communicate with Norse anymore.” Drew raised his arms, bringing the dust into the space between his hands, creating a ball. Since he mated with Coral, he’d developed some new skills. One of them had been the ability to gather fairy dust and ease the uncontrolled emotions that the Wolfairies constantly spout off simply because they couldn’t control themselves yet.
Especially the unborn ones.
“Ralph doesn’t seem to have an answer for that one.” Cheryl eased onto the sofa in her parents’ living room. She swore when she moved to New York City that she would never live in the middle of nowhere Vermont again. She loved being surrounded by art and culture. Giving up her job at the museum had been the hardest decision she’d ever made. She had no regrets.
Family first.
But she hadn’t expected to feel as though she was an outsider in her family’s destiny.
“I think it goes back to the fact Norse’s role is over,” she said.
The vase vibrated on the coffee table.
“You’ve got to stop making him angry,” Drew said, flapping his arms, tossing some of the dust out the open window. The cool, crisp fall air filled the room. The sound of children playing in the meadow tickled her ears, reminding her she was the oldest of the Ferguson family.
The front door swung open, and Isadore and Coral stepped into the room.
“I saw that wolf again,” Isadore said as she stepped into Nico’s arms. Her hands rubbed her baby bump.
“Where?” Chaz asked with a fierce and protective tone. While the farm had been wrapped with a protective layer, keeping all creatures out, it didn’t stop any of those living on the farm from leaving, and not a single Royal Fairy held any powers off the property, leaving them vulnerable to those who want to completely wipe them out.
“North end of the property, behind Drew and Coral’s cabin.” Isadore leaned into her husband. “Aron is on guard there now.”
Cheryl did her best not to choke on all the love filling the room, but she did gag on the strong scent of Wolfairies. “You and Coral are pregnant? You didn’t wait too long.”
Drew opened his mouth, his jaw hanging wide open.
“I haven’t had the chance to tell him, so thanks for letting the cat out of the bag.” Coral glared. Her lips tightened, and her forehead scrunched.
Cheryl had never seen the young lady with a frown on her face. Ever. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. But I’m not sure how anyone can miss the sweet smell of Wolfairies.” Growing up, the scent of fairies disgusted her. It was like kitty litter that didn’t work and had been sitting in the sun for weeks.
“I told you I smelled babies.” Drew pulled Coral into his arms, dabbing kisses on her cheek. “I guess we need to get married sooner than planned. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad. Maybe we can do it this weekend.”
“Whatever you want, my dear,” Coral said.
Cheryl coughed. There were bigger things to deal with, such as why couldn’t the Royals use their powers outside the farm and how to deal with a giant wolf who no one could communicate with.
“Congratulations,” Chaz and Nico said in unison before taking their brother in a manly wolf hug. Each kissed Coral on the cheek.
“I’m so happy for both of you.” Cheryl pulled both her baby brother and Coral into a warm embrace, making sure she showed how happy she was for the sweet, young couple. The conception of more Wolfairies was a joyous occasion, and Cheryl did her best to keep her own emotions about her life, and her role, to herself. “I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but we need to discuss what to do with this wolf hanging around. If it is a real wolf and not some fake creature left over from Apep’s attack.”
“He smells real,” Drew said with a beaming smile. “I got a good whiff of him yesterday, and he really needs a bath.”
“Let’s not forget that this wolf looks an awful lot like the one in the image Cheryl found in the archives of the ancient history of King Lear and that I can see Cheryl in her wolf form in the painting.” Coral sat down next to Cheryl with her hands covering her stomach, a big old blissful smile plastered on her face.
God, Cheryl was turning into an old maid and a bitch all at the same time. “No one else can see it.”
“I can,” Drew said. “The image for me isn’t as clear as it is for Coral, but I do see your wolf image.”
“The question is what does that mean?” Chaz let his hands hover over the vase. It rattled on the tabletop. Dust filled the air, but it didn’t seem to take hold of Chaz as tightly as it did Cheryl. “If he wasn’t so creepy, I’d think maybe