Epilogue #2
“Hold it. Neither of you get up until you eat something. Arch, could you please get them some water?” He nodded and headed for the cabinet where we kept the glasses.
Oz slid a charcuterie board onto the table.
The meat was all on one side so Jackson could eat cheese, nuts, and grapes without touching it.
“How do you feel, Mamá?”
She sipped at her water, considering. “I feel energy. Like I want to go dancing. Thank you, Jackson. I can’t wait to have the connections and bonds Eloise has been telling me about.”
“Um. Sure. You’re welcome.” They picked up a handful of nuts and shoved them into their mouth.
Mamá had a little pulsing spot of magic in her head, but it hadn’t made its way through her body yet. That would take several hours, based on what everyone had told me about my own magic. She’d be able to make connections by tomorrow at the latest though.
The doorbell rang, and Arch went to answer it.
People were starting to arrive for the party.
We’d stationed one of Ramon’s guys in a chair next to the front gate.
Lupine Moon had ceded my security to Ramon several weeks ago.
I was sad not to interact with Harrison, Cassandra, Geordie, and everyone else on a daily basis, but their time was better spent on jobs the company could get paid for.
Some of them had even gone to work for Arch on the task force, since the trafficker we’d taken down wasn’t the only one out there.
I paid Ramon in healing services. Every other week or so he or one of his people brought me a Wonder or magic carrier who needed healing. I wasn’t sure where they were finding them, and I didn’t ask, but as long as the patients didn’t appear under duress, I was happy to help.
Oz’s parents were the first to arrive. I’d met them twice now, and while I liked his mom and dad, his mother, Hyacinth, was...
not my favorite. His siblings and their families hadn’t been able to make it, but we were planning a trip up to Milwaukee next year.
The three of them crowded into the kitchen, giving me, Oz, and Arch hugs.
I introduced them to Mamá, Eloise, and Jackson, though I didn’t explain anything about Jackson.
Luckily they didn’t ask, though I saw them studying their magic.
Peter, Oz’s dad, asked him how he was progressing with his Texas electrician’s license.
Oz started to describe the supervised training he was required to complete, when Hyacinth broke in.
“Oz, haven’t you explained to them you already have a license in Wisconsin?
Starting at the beginning like this is not good for your career.
” She surveyed me and Arch with a critical eye.
“I understand it would be difficult for you to move back to Wisconsin now, but you should consider it.”
I gaped at her. Next to me, Arch sucked in a breath like he was about to breathe fire. Oz stepped in front of us, but when he went to answer her, his voice was gone. Hyacinth sighed dramatically. “I was so hoping that once you were bonded, you’d be over this mutism nonsense.”
I grabbed Oz’s shoulder, ready to climb over him to get to her, but before I could, Mamá stood up. “Your son is perfect as he is, no matter what job he does or whether he speaks aloud or not. I am proud to have him in my family, and if you can’t appreciate him, we will.”
Hyacinth’s head jerked back. “How dare you!”
Danica, Oz’s mom, gave Mamá a nod. “Thank you, Carmen. Hyacinth, if you can’t support Oz and his life here, maybe you should go back to the hotel.
” She came over and gave Oz a hug. I heard her whisper, “Don’t pay any attention to her, dear.
” Huh. Easy for her to say. I rubbed Oz’s shoulder and sent love through our bond.
Arch had a palm on his lower spine and was doing the same.
“I was just trying to make him see that he could do better at home.”
When Danica let go of Oz and moved out of the way, I ducked around him and pointed a finger at Hyacinth.
“That’s it. You don’t get to insult Oz and us in our own home.
Get out. Oz may decide to let you come back in the future, but I’m making the decision today.
You are not welcome at our party. You can leave under your own power, or I’ll have the very capable person at the front gate come help me remove you. ”
Oz put a hand on my shoulder, but he wasn’t trying to pull me back. Thank you came through our mental link loud and clear.
“Come on, Hyacinth. I’ll take you back to the hotel.” Peter steered her out of the kitchen. He called over his shoulder, “Danica, you stay. I’ll come pick you up later.”
Danica turned back to Oz with a sad smile. “I’m sorry, hon. Peter and I have been debating what to do about our relationship with her, but this might have been the last straw.”
Oz nodded and leaned into Arch. Mamá took charge. “Danica, please come sit with me and Eloise and tell us about Milwaukee.”
“You okay, big guy?” I wrapped my arms around him, and Arch sandwiched him from the other side.
We’d just closed the door behind Harrison and a few of the other wolves, who’d seemed determined to drink every ounce of liquor we’d had in the house.
And since shifters metabolized alcohol swiftly, they were already sober by the time we’d hidden the last of the tequila and gotten them to leave.
I’m good. Just tired. Thanks for standing up for me with Mother.
I’ll have to buy your mom some flowers. Oz might say he was good, but he still wasn’t talking.
He and his mom had had a long conversation—Oz’s portion by text—earlier, so hopefully that had helped.
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a nightmare tonight.
Though since it was after midnight, hopefully he’d be too exhausted to dream.
Arch and I got Oz ready for bed, fussing over him as much as he’d let us.
Arch let me have the bathroom next while he went around and made sure all the doors and windows were locked.
I left on the lamp on Arch’s side of the bed.
He refused to sleep anywhere but on the side closest to the door, so Oz and I traded off who slept in the middle.
I slid under the covers on my side, cuddling up to Oz. He was almost asleep, thankfully.
On the nightstand, my phone buzzed with a text, and I slapped a hand over it so I could silence it so it wouldn’t disturb Oz. Instead I ended up knocking it to the floor. Fucking fuck!
I reached over the side of the bed as the message alert buzzed again.
Shit. I could see the lit up screen—Harrison was texting something about finding a bar open—but I couldn’t quite reach the phone.
If only my arm was a few inches longer. My hand felt oddly...
fizzy for a second, and then my fingers curled around the phone.
Well, that was weird. I flipped to a sitting position so I could mute my messages, but...
my arm. My right arm, the arm I’d grabbed the phone with, was longer than the other arm by a good four inches.
I held up my left to compare. “Aaaaaagghhh!”
I dropped the phone. Oz tore the sheet with his claws as he pushed to his feet, half-shifted and twisting his head around to find the threat. Arch ran through the bedroom doorway. “What? What’s the matter?”
I held up my arms. “Look!”