to find Nathaniel. We’ll have to ask to borrow Emory to go pick her up.”
“Pick her up? Are you insane? She can’t come here!” Now Raven seemed to get it. She stabbed a finger toward her flat abdomen. “I’m supposed to be pregnant. And what about Charlie?” Raven looked over her shoulder toward the hall and their room where little Charlie was baking cozily in the fireplace within a dragon’s eggshell.
Gabriel frowned but wrapped a supportive arm around his mate. “We can have the oreads watch Charlie,” he said. “But perhaps the best option is to not bring your mother to Mistwood at all. This place is… Well, it may be hard to disguise its magical qualities.”
“What am I supposed to do? Leave her at the airport?” Avery asked. A knot had formed between her shoulder blades, and suddenly the cut on her chest was throbbing like a bitch.
“Has she actually seen Raven?” Gabriel’s eyes darted back and forth between them. “Can you tell her we’ve left town?”
Avery poked her tongue into her cheek and shook her head. “If you think for a second that I’m going to entertain Mom all by myself this week and make up lie after lie for you, you are crazy. I can’t do it, and it’s wrong for you to ask me to. Shove a pillow under your shirt, or better yet, use your magic to look pregnant. I don’t care. But you are going to face her with me.”
Nathaniel strode into the doorway. “You three are about as subtle as a brick through the front window. There’s no need for raised voices.”
“Have you heard—?”
“Everyone in the house has heard, Avery.” He picked a stray thread off his sleeve. “No one is leaving anyone at the airport. I’ve called Emory. He will take you and Raven to Heathrow to retrieve your mother and bring her back here. Gabriel will stay with Charlie for now. Tell your mother he stayed behind to allow more room in the car. I will ask Tobias, Sabrina, Alexander, Maiara, Nick, and Rowan to use this time to take a short holiday to simplify things. The rest of us can pass as human for a few days. We do it every day in public.”
Avery winced. “Will the others be okay with making themselves scarce? I feel terrible kicking them out of their rooms.”
Nathaniel gave a little nod. “I think it’s best for everyone involved.”
Avery locked eyes with Raven before reluctantly nodding her agreement. “I guess we’re doing this. Let’s go get Mom.”
By the time the two sisters arrived at Heathrow and loaded their mother’s luggage into the car, Raven had used her magic to create an illusion of pregnancy. Their mother raved over Raven’s empty belly while Avery rolled her eyes and mimicked her from behind. By God, their mom acted as if she hadn’t seen her in years rather than a few months. Avery intentionally chose the front passenger seat next to Emory and made Raven take the back with her. She’d always hated lying to her mom. This way Raven would be on the spot to answer questions.
“This Nathaniel, he’s Gabriel’s brother?” Mom asked from behind her.
Avery glanced over the seat at her sister.
Raven smiled. “Yes. He has a home in Oxfordshire. It’s a bit of a drive. If you’re tired, I understand if you want to nap until we get there. There will be plenty of time for us to talk later.”
“Nap? Never. This is my first time to England!” She gave an excited sigh and stared out the window. “Why is it I hadn’t heard about Gabriel’s brother Nathaniel before you both came here? Was he too busy to travel to the states for the wedding?”
Raven nodded. “He owns a bookstore in London. It’s hard for him to get away.”
She nodded slowly and tapped her chin. “But Gabriel owns Blakemore’s Antiques, and he’s okay with an extended visit?”
Avery lifted an eyebrow and gave Raven a make-something-up-fast glare.
“Gabriel hadn’t seen his brother in a number of years.” Raven smoothed her skirt as if the subject made her slightly uncomfortable. So far she hadn’t lied—precisely. Gabriel hadn’t seen Nathaniel in centuries. “He wanted a chance to become reacquainted. Plus Nathaniel is recently engaged. We wanted to help with the arrangements, considering we were just married ourselves.”
“Engaged,” Sarah exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “How wonderful. Love is in the air.”
Avery cleared her throat. “His fiancée is a singer recording her first indie album. She actually offered me a job