Chapter Three #2
“I couldn’t protect her and Aspen at the same time.
They had different needs. So I made the cavern out of an old wine cellar on a neighbouring property, and I had it set up as a cozy apartment for her.
When I knew how, I warded it against anyone with ill intent.
I wasn’t counting on Mr. Blue to show up to get his groove on.
But you were happy, and I was cool with that.
I could have done without the whole mortal combat aspect, but I got better at dodging a punch. ”
Mellwyn smiled. “So you won’t mind if Norecayet comes for a sleepover this week?”
Rowan winced. “No. That’s fine. I anticipated that, and I moved my stuff into the north bedroom.”
Mell paused. “Oh.”
Ted looked at Rowan. “The healer you met today thinks he may know why you have pain when you are touched.”
Rowan picked up one of the surviving muffins. “Because, like an idiot noob, I sealed my body under magic so no one could hurt me, but every cycle I have bounced against the barrier and reflected back against my skin. I have trapped myself in a microwave, and every heat makes it worse.”
Ted blinked. “Can you let it go?”
“Nope. It is thick and calloused, like a gnarly toenail. I can’t get out, but I am still protected. No one can get in.”
Mell looked at her. “Toenail? Really?”
“It was the fastest comparison.” Rowan smiled.
Ted looked at her. “Why do I think you are not just a witch?”
Rowan shrugged. “Because you aren’t stupid? You don’t look stupid.”
Ted snorted. “I am currently trying to figure out with the mage that has attached to me.”
Lucia smiled. “What’s his name?”
“Ormyet. He’s a lovely conversationalist and a pretty good kisser. The tusks don’t get in the way.”
Lucia smiled. “Yorwell is waiting until I am comfortable with my body. I am still getting over the fact that I am moving in a statue.”
“And how does he feel about your body?”
Lucia sipped at her tea. “He’s in favour of it.”
Mell chuckled.
Ted nodded. “He’s smitten. He let me drive his car. That shows a profound lack of self-preservation.”
Lucia smiled. “He wanted to make sure that your car didn’t die under my weight.”
“You aren’t that heavy.”
“I know, but he knows I am sensitive about it. It’s only been two days so far.” She smiled. “He’s very sweet.”
Ted chuckled. “No kidding. That little salon he set up for you is perfect.”
Lucia touched her cousin’s hand. “How are the little guys holding up?”
Ted grinned and tapped her nails against the table, whispering, “Get me some sugar.”
To Rowan’s delight, small robots left the nails and scampered over to the sugar bowl, pulling out a sugar cube and hiking across to Ted’s teacup. “Come on back, guys.”
The micro robots hiked back to the nails and settled in place.
Rowan smiled. “Oh, that’s cool.”
Lucia smiled. “Thank you. Oh, Mik is coming to do an assessment with Arwell on your aunt. Achilles is working on a statue.”
Mell smiled. “That will be interesting.”
What’s new, pussycat?
Rowan smiled. “There is a lot new. Buckle up, Auntie, I will be seeing your face soon. I just have a feeling.”
She looked at Mell. “Your stuff is in your room. Up the stairs and down the hall. You will know when you reach it.”
Mell smiled. “I remember. Where’s my phone?”
Rowan tapped the table, and the phone appeared. “Here you go.”
Mell took it. “Thank you so much... ohmygod.” She grinned at the glittering phone case, started laughing, then the laughter turned to crying, and she hugged Rowan, crying against her shoulder. Rowan winced but stroked Mell’s hair.
Lucia said, “Over a phone case?”
With squeaks, Mell explained that when they were in uni, she had needed a new phone case and the very serious Rowan had come back with the glitteriest, covered with cute figures, phone case.
She had seriously handed it over, and Mell had to use it for a solid two weeks until she got paid again.
Rowan had been remorseful and given her a plain case, but it was obvious that she thought the sparkly case was far better.
Ted’s shoulders were shaking when Rowan lifted the plain case and tapped Mell’s shoulder. “Here you go.”
Mell took the plain case and laughed. “I am keeping the sparkly one.”
Lucia smiled. “Rowan, you have a day job?”
“Yes. I am a paralegal and am working for a firm downtown. I am off for a few days because I just had a friend released from hospital.” She looked at Mell.
“I have been warning them that it could happen, and they had no problem with it, but dark elves run the place, and they are very understanding if you give them warning.”
Ted asked, “What do you do?”
“I am in the estate planning department. I write wills and structure trusts.” Rowan smiled.
Mell smiled. “Will you help me set something up for the baby?”
“Already done.”
Mell chuckled. “When did you do that?”
“When you first got pregnant.”
Mell put her hand over her belly. “It was just a few months ago, right?”
Rowan was quiet.
“Right?”
“You are ten months pregnant. When your energy fully settles inside you, the baby is going to start growing rapidly. You are going to be a mom really fast.”
Mell wavered. “What?”
Lucia smiled and said, “I am calling Norecayet and Dr. Arthros.”
Rowan tilted her head. “Dr. Arthros?”
“The healer who worked on you. His name is Sam Arthros. We got his card.”
Mell smiled weakly. “He’s an OBGYN.”
“Yeah, that’s just his surname.” Rowan sighed. “Come on; let’s get you into a maternity dress before you get bigger. It’s going to happen fast, but if your guy gets here, you can pull energy out of him to support you.”
Mell teared up. “I’m scared.”
“Good. You fucked an orc-goblin hybrid with a dark elf chaser. If you weren’t scared then, this should be a piece of cake.” Rowan smiled and took her hand. “Come on. I have rifled through all your stuff. Ted, Lucia, you can come if you want.”
Lucia smiled. “I am bringing the muffins.”
They got up, and Ted smiled. “The guys are arriving. I will let them in.”
Rowan waved her hand, and a curl of red power ran from her fingertips to the door. “Now they can come in. Anyone else would have to wait at the gate.” She smiled and snapped her fingers. Grocery bags stacked up on the counter. “Food’s here.” Another snap, and it was all put away.
Lucia asked, “Can you show me that?”
“Sure. It also helps me do laundry, but you have to make sure it is all dry or things get ugly fast.”
Ted chuckled. “Sound advice.”
They walked up the steps, and Rowan smiled when Mell saw the golden glow coming from her room, and she moved faster. “My room.”
Lucia gasped at the golden space. “Wow. This is lovely.”
Mell squealed and moved to her bed, where a line of clothing was waiting.
Rowan chuckled. “Clothes will fly in three, two, one.”
Mell was out of the cloak and naked before Rowan finished the count. She chuckled as the silkiest dress slithered around her form. “Oh, that feels better.”
Rowan didn’t mention that the pregnancy had already advanced.
Heavy footsteps approached, and she whirled, crimson flames around each hand. She saw Norecayet coming through the door and brought her hands up to aim. “Stop where you are, mage.”
Everyone in the room froze, including him.
Mell whispered, “Rowan, what are you doing?”
“He charged into a mage’s home without announcement or waiting to be asked to enter? He is either an idiot, or he is a shadow mage. He has five seconds to prove which one he is.”
Norecayet fell to his knees and bent until his head was touching the ground. “I am an idiot.”
The healer paused in the doorway. “Rowan, may I enter?”
“You may. What was he thinking?”
“That his mate and child were in the house. How are you holding that power?”
“This is my home. This is where my power began. It holds itself for me until I need it. I can fight off an army here, and I have.”
Norecayet whipped his head up and actually saw her. “Oh, lady. I am sorry for my previous disrespect.”
Mell whispered, “Rowan, I just grew again.”
Rowan lowered her hands and gestured to the hybrid. “Make yourself useful. She needs her belly massaged and a power transfer. Do it!”
Norecayet bowed again and scrambled to his feet, wrapping his arms around Mell and holding the woman who was staring at her friend with shock. “Rowan. You’ve changed.”
Rowan looked at her and started laughing. She patted Mell’s cheek. “Enjoy your boy toy. Call me when you need me.”
Mell whimpered. “You are going?”
“I can’t be in a room with him yet, Mell.
Look deep and find some fucking empathy for me.
Remember that every blow has echoed in my body until my bones are nearly dissolved.
Muscle torn, tendons snapped, and he did it all, left me on the ground bleeding and then went to cuddle you.
That is what I see when I look at his face.
I want to turn him into red mist, and that isn’t what you or your baby needs, so I am going to make some more tea.
Doctor, your patient is the one in the maroon dress. ”
Rowan nodded to the ladies and walked out of the room, her high heels clacking on the stone. She needed another cup of tea.