Now that he thought about it, she had been on a brain-themed movie binge lately.
He briefly wondered if he ought to sleep with one eye open until she moved on to the next thing.
“Yes, it worked, but no. The skins only respond to living flesh. She lost the ability to change.” She wet her lips. “Diana greeted the sun just shy of her first year as a vampire. She couldn’t bear losing the sea.”
It answered Hadley’s questions and killed that line of inquiry in one swift blow.
“I practically invited myself over.” Sue wrung her hands. “I’m thankful you’re both gracious hosts.”
“Have a seat.” Hadley indicated a spot at the table. “We don’t stand on formality here.”
Once their guest was settled, Hadley took her chair, then Midas sat too.
“Dig in.” Hadley reached for the biscuits while he helped himself to the chicken. “There’s plenty.”
Sue hesitated until she spotted the mashed potatoes swimming in gravy, then she synced with the easy rhythm of the table.
Aware they were expecting Remy, Midas kept an eye and ear out for her, but the fae was sly, and she didn’t often give herself away.
Hadley, still toeing the line of hostess, was content to eat and then talk, but Midas was curious.
“What did you wish to discuss?” He stabbed a piece of fried okra. “I assume it’s work related?”
“Yes.” She covered her mouth with a napkin. “I wanted to explain myself.”
That much, she believed, which made him even curiouser. “Go on.”
“I was the Potentate of Phoenix for about a year, so I worked three years total in the city.” She tore the napkin into tiny pieces she set on her plate. “I loved it. I love Phoenix. But then I got pregnant, and it’s so rare for selkies to breed outside their race, I knew a blessing when I was given one.” A smile twitched in her cheek. “The surprise came when we learned how many blessings I was given.”
“Five.” Hadley shot her an admiring glance. “That’s impressive.”
“Yes, well, it’s not like I did anything special. Mother Nature deserves all the credit.”
“Still impressive,” Midas agreed. “We were told that led to your early retirement.”
“The babies were so small, and they were born too early. They required round-the-clock care, and I couldn’t stomach leaving them with a nanny while I was out risking my life every night.”
The last part was flavored with bitterness, and Midas sensed that wasn’t her opinion but an old argument she was repeating.
“Anyway.” She sipped her sweet tea. “I retired, and I’ve been happy doing the mom thing, but the kids are old enough now they don’t need me as much. Tweens would rather die than confide in their parents, you know? Mostly I’m a food delivery service and chauffer these days.” She lowered her head. “I heard about the opportunity in Atlanta, and I couldn’t help thinking it might be the first step on my way back to…myself.”
“I can sympathize.” Hadley stopped eating. “I respect you wanting a second chance, I do, but this is my city. My family and friends are here. My life is here. I’m not going to give up Atlanta without a fight.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to bow out.” Sue curled her hand around her fork. “I want this to be a true test.”
Nothing Midas said at this point would help. He considered ripping out Sue’s throat or feeding her to one of the many creatures who prowled the midnight streets, but Hadley wouldn’t thank him for it. She wanted to fight her own battles, and she couldn’t best a pile of bones.
Plus, Sue was mated, and she had children Midas would never turn into orphans.
But, his feral half insisted, it was a solution. Maybe not the right one, but it would get the job done.
“Do you like milk with your cookies?”
The tenor of the question startled him, and it must have surprised Sue too.
Lines appeared to either side of her mouth. “Yes?”
“I’m not the world’s best baker, but I do have chocolate chip cookies for dessert.”
Hadley rose, indicating he should stay, and went to the kitchen.
“She’s so young.” Sue watched her go. “I had no idea what I wanted to be at her age.”
Unable to chain the rumble in his voice, he asked, “Are you implying she doesn’t know what she’s getting into?”
“Not at all.” She jerked her attention back to him. “I’m impressed with her drive.” She laughed. “I might have spent more time at my post, if I had figured out what I wanted to be faster than I did.”
Regret, pungent and sharp, hit his nose. She missed the job, but he couldn’t say if it was the job itself or an identity outside of her role as mother and wife she craved. He had known enough strong women who made tough choices for their children to respect Sue for giving up one dream to embrace another.
With the lifespan of a necromancer, she lost nothing by staying at home with her children.
After they left home to pursue their own dreams, she had centuries to return to the workforce.
“I wish my husband could have met you both.” She sipped her drink. “He’s fascinated with your culture.”
If that were true and not said out of politeness, her husband would prove a singularity. Most shifters didn’t care for other species. Oh, they studied one another. But that was simple predator behavior. You had to know your enemy to best them. Academic interest? That was much rarer.
“He’s with the kids, you said?”
The bright sharpness of tears filled his nose as she said, “Yes.”
Midas wasn’t great with people who weren’t pack, but her emotions hit all over the map. “Are you all right?”
“I should go.” She wiped her face with the heels of her palms. “Sean will be waiting for me.”
A lie.
“Would you like some cookies for the kids?” Hadley paused
