Chapter Eight
Rowan woke at four thirty and got showered and dressed. Humming to herself, she walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. She got some frozen pastries from the freezer and started the big coffeemaker. It felt like a big coffee kind of day.
She got her own teapot underway, slid the pastries into the oven, and made some waffles while she waited.
When dawn arrived, she had a buffet of breakfast items waiting for those who liked sweet or savoury.
She walked outside and felt those who approached the gate.
She opened the gate and held the pouch at her side.
Rowan walked out to Aspen with a thermal sippy cup of tea.
“So, Auntie, today is the big day. I have your curse with me, and the ladies are coming up the drive.”
Excited curls of music stuttered out.
Rowan explained what she had seen the day before with Mell.
“So I am going to put the cursed skin back on you, and then when the ladies break the curse, your self is going to rush into the vacuum and take its place in the statue. Then you can move it around a bit. I have a place ready for you in the house if you want. The carriage house is private, but I don’t want you alone for a while. ”
More music spilled out, calming and soft. She touched the hand of the statue and smiled. “Soon.”
The ladies and some of their partners walked toward them, smiling. Rowan said, “If you need coffee or food, head through the kitchen.”
Some of the guys diverted, and talking happened when the door opened. Renyet walked out in a white shirt, slacks, and leather shoes. There was a human-seeming that overlapped his features.
He sipped at his coffee while chatting with the other orcs. They were all gathering with the takeout cups, and the dark elves came out with trays for their ladies who were trying to plan their attack.
Rowan walked toward the statue, and she pulled the box out of her little purse. “I have the curse. I just have to put it on the statue, and you can break it.”
Regis blinked. “You kept it?”
“Yup. It was the last solid piece of her; it is part her and part the curse. If anything was needed to straddle that timing, it was this piece of Aspen jerky.” She carefully unfurled it and wrapped it around the collarbone and shoulder, holding it together with a piece of tape.
Mik and Arwell walked up, and others followed. They surrounded the statue, and Rowan said, “Am I needed for this?”
Mik said, “Whatever you can do to keep the power focused on Aspen. I ask for help when I need it.”
Rowan looked at the ladies and said, “Focus is what you will have.”
She opened her hands, and glyphs and lines spread around the ladies who were gathering to begin. When the wards were set, she stepped back and let the semi-professionals work.
Regis’s husband was there, and he said, “She didn’t want to miss participating again.”
“Nice.”
“Are you one of ours?”
“An elite tall person? No.”
Renyet came up and smiled. “She is the granddaughter of Vasoric.”
Avor stared at her. “Vasoric?”
“Yes. Was he an executioner?”
“Yes and no. He was a necromancer. What happened to him?”
“My grandmother died, and he joined her beneath the earth. They are both still alive, though. They have been recovering slowly for the last decade.”
Avor paused. “Your grandmother?”
“She and I have similarities.” She held out her hand and flexed her fingers. Bright pastels moved under her skin. “I come by the glow honestly.”
Avor chuckled. “Are you safe? Do you have a mate?”
“No mate. Rarely safe, but a gynecologist is courting me, so it’s been an interesting week.”
Renyet chuckled. “She means me.”
Rowan sighed. “Yes. Him.” She wiggled her fingers at the orc. “Don’t you have stirrups to polish?”
He grinned, then there was a change in the air; magic went into the curse, and the curse shattered outward. Rowan kept the little flecks of curse from touching the ladies. She gathered them into a tiny ball that continued to grow until the statue moved.
Aspen looked like Aspen. Dark hair, golden skin, but obviously an alpha. She radiated power and looked around. When she saw Rowan, she ran over and hugged her, holding her carefully. “Oh, little girl. I have missed you.”
“I have missed you, Auntie. How do you feel?”
“I feel good. I feel alive. Oh, honey, you worked so hard.”
“I am just glad that I can talk to you and hear you.” She knew her feet were dangling near Aspen’s knees.
Renyet said, “Rowan, why didn’t you say she was an alpha?”
“People just wanted to know if she was an omega. She isn’t.”
Aspen laughed and spun her around. “You are such a jerk, Rowan.”
“I have your room inside the main house. Until you feel confident as to your situation, I am asking that you stay where I can help you.”
Aspen set her down and kissed her forehead. “I will try.”
“Good. Lucia had a body made, too, and she is here to help you with the tricky things.”
Aspen looked around and smiled. “She’s cute.”
“She’s dating a giant. Down girl.”
Arwell sauntered up. “I do know a red djinn that is in the mood to date. She’s lovely and looking for a partner who likes long walks in the evening and mentoring a little omega.”
Aspen paused. “That’s quite the combination.”
Arwell grinned. “Isn’t it, though? After a few days, if you are interested, I will leave your niece my number, and we can pass along a message like we were in school.”
Aspen looked at Rowan. “Well, I do know a completely ferocious omega who would be an excellent role model.”
Rowan made a face, but she hugged Aspen.
The gathered magical women laughed and hugged each other.
Rowan looked around and saw a familiar face in the crowd. “Alora.”
Alora smiled and said, “I need to speak with Aspen.”
Aspen frowned. “Why?”
“Because you haven’t experienced a rut since you were cursed, and they are creating a cascade in your body. I am here to calm them so that you start with a clean slate.” Alora walked toward Aspen. “May I?”
Aspen paused and knelt. “Please. I can feel something building.”
Alora touched the sides of Aspen’s head, and she began to whisper. The whispering got faster, the first pulse of power happened, and Aspen swayed. Alora kept going.
Rowan watched the stunned expressions on the alphas and the women in turn. Another pulse and another. Alora ran through twelve ruts, and then Aspen swayed some more.
Alora kissed her forehead. “Well done, Aspen. Clean slate it is. Nice to meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you. You are a friend of Rowan’s?”
“Yes. We met after the attack that cursed you.”
Rowan sighed. “Alora is attracted to pain. Well, summoned by it. She came to me and got me help. Then, she got me more help. Then, we became friends.”
Avor said in a whisper, “You are a calmer.”
Alora looked at him and was silent for a moment before she said, “Duh.”
He chuckled. “That sounds like something my daughter would say.”
“How old is she?”
“Eleven.”
Alora grinned. “That tracks. I do a lot of babysitting.”
Mell perked up. “Do you have any certifications?”
“Sure. All kinds of child development crap.”
“Can I see your certifications?”
“Why?”
Rowan smiled. “She’s starting a daycare in the building out front.”
“If you add an afterschool program that goes until eight, I am in.”
Mell blinked. “Why?”
“Because working parents need dinners out and eight lets them go and have some fun but then return home before the child needs to get to bed. It also helps parents who are working more than one job or those who have a long commute.”
Alora smiled. “I was raised by a single mom, and a safe, warm place with a meal would have been really nice to help me study. So if we are playing wish-fulfillment games, that is my criteria. The afterschool program would not need more than one staffer to supervise, but it would need some kind of hot meal, either a pasta or stew or soup, allergies permitting.”
Avor paused. “Afterschool program?”
“Yes, it’s a place to put the kids who don’t need babysitters, but you don’t want to leave them alone. It assists in socialization and gives them a place to hang out with other kids in a supervised environment.”
Rowan looked at Mell. “So the daycare centre is getting a study room with a library and a gym?”
Mell smiled. “As soon as I see the certifications.”
Alora sighed. “More work for me. I am also on call for hospitals and law enforcement for alpha alerts. So I can’t be the single person there for the program.”
“How often are you called away?”
“Once every two weeks, usually in the early morning.” Alora smiled. “Apparently, they get up in the morning, and they keep going.”
Mell chuckled. “I can’t stop imagining that. Fortunately, I am off duty for the next few weeks.”
Rowan looked around and saw Norecayet showing little Rowan to the other alphas. “Geez. It’s like a living trading card.”
Avor chuckled. “I am about to go take a look at the little one. I missed Ira’s early years, so I am looking forward to seeing her interact with a sibling.”
Rowan smiled. “We aren’t keeping you. Go play. He still scrunches.”
Avor looked confused until Norecayet put the baby on his shoulder, supported by one hand. “Oh, it is still holding the womb posture.”
“Yup. The scrunch.”
Mell smiled. “It’s cute, and Rowan had all the baby stuff I could need waiting, washed, and ready for him.”
Rowan fretted. “We should still have a baby shower for you guys.”
Avor smiled. “I will let Regis know. She is excellent at event planning.”
“Good. We already have the place.”
Aspen chuckled. “Can’t sit still for a moment, huh, Rowan?”
“Nope. So do you remember everything?”
“I remember you sending Mira to me to sing with.”
“Yup. It was therapy for you. I can’t hold a tune for hours.”
Aspen touched her cheek. “You did good.”
Rowan smiled and eased toward her garden. It didn’t feel safe to be around so many strangers. Aspen was talking with Lucia, and everyone seemed to be relieved. Rowan sent a seeking spell out to find more of the cursed, and nothing showed up. It was blank. There were no others trapped in that hell.