"Honestly, I think he's just into Nikolai. They kind of clicked." Mom really didn't need to know that everyone but Ed was into Doc to some degree or another and that he was willing to reciprocate. That he could pretty much light up a person's entire body without even touching them didn't hurt. Vampire powers were intense. I knew a lot of it was just Doc, though.
If we were going to help this group of Adriana's Doc might have to get more comfortable using his powers. There had to be a balance between hardly using them and going so far that he would have issues with sunlight on a regular basis.
We also had to figure out how to deal with the issue of it just not being safe to know that Doc was even partially a vampire. Of course, there was also a pretty good chance they already knew. I couldn't imagine Alex keeping his mouth shut about that.
"You're thinking hard about something." Victoria interrupted my musings. "Smoke is coming out of your ears."
"Sorry." I put the problems out of my mind. Those were issues for another day.
"So, are you all having sex?"
I snorted my drink through my nose.
Mom's tone conveyed mild curiosity, but I wasn't sure I wanted to have that conversation with her ever.
"I…" I choked.
"Just be careful, honey. I want to be a grandmother, just not yet." She smiled at me.
"IUD" I managed to gasp out. "Remember?"
She gave me a serene look.
"Also, Nikolai taught me a bunch of useful spells. I'm good."
"I can't imagine you're bored."
"The possibilities are endless with them," I managed to get out.
Victoria laughed.
"So, Nikolai knows all the mage spells. Doc doesn't seem like he knows as much as Nikolai, though I'd swear he's older."
"Nikolai grew up in the past. Doc grew up having to hide."
"Good point. I'm still getting the idea there's a lot about him you're not telling me."
"Pack secrets, I guess."
"I suppose I can accept that as long as you know everything."
I nodded.
"Maybe you should get some toys."
There went my drink through my nose again.
Victoria cackled.
"Mom…" I finally managed to gasp out when I stopped choking. "There's five of them. What could I possibly need toys for?"
She smiled. "I'll give you some ideas on the drive back up the mountain. It will keep us occupied."
"Okay." I wasn't sure I wanted to have that conversation either, but apparently, she was more adventurous than I had thought. Not completely comfortable with that insight into my mother's life, but glad for her, I struggled between curiosity and not wanting to know.
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "I really am happy for you. I just want to make sure you get the most out of your somewhat unusual situation."
"Thanks," I blurted, though I was also relieved. If it ever came up with my dad, at least my mom would be on my side.
"It's getting late. As much as I hate to break up our afternoon, we all have long drives and darkness comes early."
"It was great to see you, Mrs. Collins." We stood and Victoria insisted on paying.
Though I kept my eyes open for any signs of Alex, I didn't see any and by the time we made it to the truck I had convinced myself I had imagined seeing his blond curls. I couldn't be too careful, so I cast spells on both of the vehicles checking for tracking spells or anything more nefarious. Not finding anything only made me feel a little better but the vehicles started normally and we headed out, Victoria heading back to Denver, and me and Mom back to Sunnyglade.
Chapter 19
Sofia
"We wanted to help you decorate," Mom said as she came into the cabin a few days later. "If you don't mind?"
"Decorate?" Nikolai looked up from the tablet. He still had a lot to catch up on. Until we had heard the diesel coming up the driveway, I had been cuddling with him in the recliner he and Doc had turned up with the other day. I had shared with the guys that Mom now knew for sure I was dating all of them, but that we all agreed it was best if Dad didn't know.
Now I was sprawled on the couch, using Doc's thigh as a pillow, both of us reading.
"Yes, holiday lights for the house, some decorations for a tree, that sort of thing."
Ash, Ed, and Allan came in from outside in time to overhear.
Dad followed her inside with a few shopping bags full of stuff.
"That's great."
Ed and Allan shared a glance before looking at my mom. They both looked stunned. "We haven't decorated in, well, years. We usually get a tree, but, well, we felt bad cutting one down this year after they did so much by helping us rebuild."
Dad frowned. "What?"
"Uh, the land, uh, helped." Ed scuffed his feet.
Dad looked at me and I shrugged. "It likes us here."
"I see."
"If you want a tree," Ash said quietly, "I can help with that."
"Sure!" I beamed at him.
Ash nodded and went over to the open space in front of the big windows that overlooked the valley. My skin tingled as he called his magic. It wasn't the same intensity as with Doc and Nikolai, but it still affected me.
He folded his amber colored magic until it hovered in a tight square in front of him, then slowly expanded and grew, shifting through the space in front of him and changing shape until it resembled a tall pine composed of amber magic.
Ash blew across his palm and more amber magic joined the tree shape. Slowly it coalesced into a solid amber pine tree. Another hit of magic and the colors altered until the needles were vibrant green and the bark a rich brown. Pine scent, always somewhat present, filled the room.
Jumping off the couch, I took a deep breath and ran over to the tree, brushing my hands across the prickly needles.
He'd gone so far as to craft it
