Chutney screamed just as thunderous steps echoed toward the stairs.
I turned in time to watch a massive black blob fly down the steps, lose control on landing, then crash into the front door. The black blob wobbled and then jumped back up — it’s a DOG!
“He’s just a baby, only six months old.” Braison walked around the table and clapped his hands. “Come here, Albert.”
Six months? Olli was six months old and he was tiny. Albert was bigger than me.
Albert hopped over to Braison and sat down, his tail wagging a mile a minute. He whined playfully and Olli jumped up and pressed his big fat paws right on my chest. He must’ve spotted Albert because he threw his snout in the air and howled. I couldn’t see with Olli standing on my chest but there was a loud bark from across the room and then the world dropped into chaos.
Several people cursed. Others gasped. Something fell over — and then Olli leapt to the ground.
I spun in my seat just as Albert pounced on Olli and my little hound flipped onto his back to show his big pink belly. I shook my head. “Terrible defense instincts, O.”
“I don’t know, play dead works for opossums,” Savannah said with a laugh behind me.
Chutney came rushing down the stairs, her curly hair sticking out in every direction. “Sorry, sorry. I said there’s a puppy here and…well…mistakes were made.”
“Yeah, well, he didn’t tackle you.” Willow came down behind her rubbing her head. “Braison, you need to learn to whistle or something.”
Braison laughed. “My bad, ladies.”
Olli flipped over and then dashed across the room. Albert chased him round and round. For a few moments we all watched as the two puppies played…and I just couldn’t believe this was my life now. All those centuries of knowing I was friends with these people had seemed wonderful and it was more often the thing that kept me going, kept me sane.
But I never knew this was what I had coming.
I wouldn’t have believed it.
This was too much happy to believe. The Coven was truly one big family and somehow I’d gotten lucky enough to be a part of it.
I turned in my seat and grabbed a breadstick, then froze. I felt…something. It was small but pulsing with energy and warmth. I glanced left and right in search of it. And then Constance stood up to reach for something and I gasped.
Riah squeezed my hand. “Saraphina?”
I pointed to Constance’s belly. “You’re with child.”
Constance grinned and put her hands to her belly. “Yes, I am. How’d you know?”
“I can feel its soul.” I smiled. “Congratulations.”
Constance’s eyes were brimming with tears as she sat back down. “Thank you.”
“That is one thing I miss, being able to sense the baby spirits,” Paulina said in that gorgeous accent of hers.
My heart sank. I hated knowing I was here because she lost her Mark. “What will you do now? Are you staying with us like Kenneth? Wait. Kenneth, are you staying with us?”
Kenneth chuckled and scratched his silver beard. “You don’t teach an old dog new tricks, so yeah, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I learn new tricks all the time.” Riah grinned.
Kenneth’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah, but you should see my library here.”
Riah chuckled and shook his head. “Priorities.”
“Paulina? What about you?”
She smiled. “Tennessee was kind of enough to ensure my welcome here indefinitely, so for now I stay. My Braison is in The Coven and these are dangerous times. Plus, I was in this Coven when we released demons into this world. I’d like to do my part to get rid of them.”
Chutney scowled. “Why does that sound like you’re going to leave us?”
Paulina’s smile turned sad. “I’m not in a rush to leave right now, this is my family…but…I won’t lie and say it’s easy to be here as a civilian when I was a Card before.”
“Where would you go if you left us?” Willow cried.
“I don’t know.” She pursed her lips. “But it might be nice to have more of a goal, a mandate.”
Tennessee sat his drink down. “I will keep my ears open for any good fits for you, but you are of course forever welcome here with us.”
Paulina blushed. “Thank you.”
“OH!” Easton snapped his fingers several times while he chewed. Once we swallowed, he said, “Maybe she could be Headmaster here.”
Lily shook her head. “She’s too young for that.”
“Plus Timothy is Headmaster.” Chutney shoved a huge chunk of food in her mouth.