6
Bevin
It was a pain for people to drag all the skeins of yarn to my land we were going to do so much with but… Too bad? This was what my magic was telling me to do, and enough people were going to be going there in the future, so hopefully it wouldn’t be too big of a deal.
“If this is what you need, we can figure out the right location and have our own warehouse built out here,” Tracey said as she glanced around. “It’s smart even when we’ll have the security here… And your eyes just glazed over. Got it.”
“Love you,” I teased as I kissed her cheek. I thanked everyone for helping but then let out a slow breath. “Now, please go away.” I hurried on when people froze. “Not the familiars. They can stay.”
“One of us should at least stay to watch the progress and—” Wyatt started to say.
“Um, not this time. Please? Can you just scan me before and after?” I looked away. “People get really weird about me talking with the familiars and hearing them. You all use words like ‘unnerving’ and ‘unsettling,’ and it’s, um, really…”
“Hurtful,” Winter whispered. “Fuck, does it hurt you.” He moved closer and put his fingers under my chin so I had to meet his gaze. “I’m so sorry, little sexy.”
I blinked at him. “Why? You’ve never said it. You’ve always said it’s cool. You were jealous you couldn’t hear Teddy. You only said it was hard to wrap your mind around. That’s all completely fair. That never upsets me.”
“I’ve said it a lot and I’m really sorry,” Clare whispered, sounding crushed. “I can’t break out of being an evil Shaw bitch no matter how hard I’m trying.” She turned around and walked away covering her face.
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” I grumbled.
“Hey, you don’t hurt people by being honest about their mistakes,” Winter said gently. “They feel it because they’re seeing themselves in the mirror. And they deserve it. It’s better than letting it keep hurting you.”
“Thanks, Sir Winter,” I whispered as I stood on my toes. I liked him even more when he gave me his cheek because of who was around.
People accepted what I said, but several were going to be close just in case because their familiars were with me and could let me know if there was a problem. That was fine. More than fine even.
Perfectly reasonable. A good compromise and I said it like that. Tracey gave me a wink and said she was proud of me before she walked off with Taylor and his parents. Wow, I was pretty sure this was the first time she was seeing them both since I’d let it slip they were involved.
I’d really need to apologize for that later.
Repeatedly.
I didn’t so much talk to the familiars nor really listen. They talked to each other, and it was sort of background noise as I worked. They were catching up and just enjoying the chance to hang out?
I kept going until I realized they’d all gone silent and finished the skein I’d been on. Then my eyes went wide as I glanced around and saw they were all sleeping. I sighed and texted Tracey to come back… And be quiet.
I simply shrugged when everyone returned with a range of shocked looks. I was hugging my knees to my chest and then put my head down, tired of the crazy and never knowing what was going on.
Link knelt down in my view with kindness in his eyes. “Loki’s still standing, Bev. It’s just a nap then, not a deep sleep. You basically comforted them into a Sunday afternoon nap. It’s all good. Really.”
“It’s exhausting to always be so fucking weird,” I whispered.
“Yeah, fair, but you’re not the only one. I know that doesn’t really help, but it kinda should too?” He said it more like a question, like he maybe hoped it would but wasn’t sure.
I nodded and took his hand when he offered it. I hated to basically double-check him, but Wyatt knew more about this and I was relieved when he nodded. He raised an eyebrow though because it was obvious there was something else I wanted to talk about.
He scooped up Quinn and plopped him in my arms, the sleeping fox instantly giving me comfort. Then he led me off to the side, but all I had to do was tap a huge tree I stood by a few times to get his attention before looking off in the direction of the willow tree where the key worked was.
“We’re going to check out a few things and be back for the results if you want to scan her real quick first, Mrs. Reid,” he said easily.
This was why he was the right choice to be my priest. He completely understood how to navigate so much seamlessly which was amazing for me… When he listened and didn’t just take over.
She did and ignored that we were up to something, fully understanding and letting it go. “This worked better. You were right to include the familiars. You are much lighter.”
I thought about that a minute. “Or I know it works and that is a confidence booster in the plan. It could be the location. I wasn’t talking about things I needed to handle. I handled a lot at the meeting. It could be an array of options.”
Her lips twitched. “I won’t be offended if your ideas are better than mine, Bevin.”
Tracey snorted. “She won’t care if anyone is ever petty like that. She’s too smart to deal with shallow people, Laura. She’s just being honest so we have the knowledge and factor it all in.” She blinked as people slowly looked at her. “I apologize. I need more sleep.”
She turned and walked away, and I was very sure if I could see a blush on Tracey’s dark skin, that would have been the first time ever.
And Taylor looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh.
“They’re both adults and she’s not here as a councilman’s wife,” I defended. “Mr. and Mrs. Oliveria call me ‘poppet.’ Clearly, this is super relaxed. Loki told me Link needs new boxer briefs and is super cheap with his clothes.”
Everyone could see me flush when I blurted that out.
“Defend Tracey, but don’t dunk on me, thanks,” Link drawled.
“Yeah, fair, sorry,” I mumbled and focused on Quinn.
He sighed and glanced at his aunt and uncle. “They’re fine, a bit frayed at the waist, which he saw when I changed shirts. It’s not like there are holes. They stopped selling the ones I like and I haven’t had a chance to figure out a new type. I’m fairly busy.”
“And on that note,” Wyatt muttered as he set a spell circle under us and others chuckled. We flashed away and I handed over Quinn who was blinking awake when we arrived.
“Oh, sorry, Bevin,” Quinn said. “That was rude of me.”
“It wasn’t just you,” I replied easily. “Apparently, what I was doing made all of you guys have a nap. Sorry if it made you feel—how are you?”
He sat up and stretched, giving the cutest yawn. Then he blinked and looked at Wyatt. “Does he feel any different?”
Wyatt frowned when I asked him but then looked at me in awe. “Yeah, I feel chiller. I was… I feel like I took a nap and had something calming too.”
“Calming?” I hedged.
He sighed but then winced. “I’m annoyed with myself at not being able to articulate this, not at you. I promise.”
“Okay, just know that’s sensitive,” I mumbled. “I get it’s not exact, but you do describe things for a living, so I think you can handle it.”
His lips twitched at being called out, but he didn’t just let it go.
“Yes, but that’s what I know. You struggle to explain new things too.
” He waited until I nodded in acknowledgement.
“We have different teas and spells that work like edibles for humans or even just normal calming teas. I learned breathing exercises early to deal with my family. I feel like I’ve just done that. ”
That made perfect sense and I thanked him for explaining.
I beamed at Quinn when he checked on me and asked if I needed him to harvest for me.
I promised I was fine and kissed his nose, saying he could go play or harvest for Wyatt if he wanted.
That I just wanted to check on the color and a few things.
I felt bad because that confused him, but Wyatt understood where my head was. We’d been doing a lot to the land and I wanted to make sure to keep a close eye on everything.
And I also wanted to talk to the flamingo… Which would never be a sentence I ever got used to saying.
Ever.
I used the key and entered the spirit realm and glanced around, frowning and worried when I didn’t see the flamingo.
“Over here, child,” the same voice said.
I turned and saw a completely normal squirrel. “You changed?” I more asked than stated. Clearly, he had, but the why was implied.
“You were unnerved and it took away from our limited time. I apologize for mishandling things,” he said quietly, sounding upset.
“I think it was going to be unnerving no matter what form you chose because of how overwhelming it all is,” I told him honestly.
Now that I’d had more time to settle with things, I knew I had to be more patient and treat him with the intelligence of a familiar. They got overloaded easily too, so coming more often but keeping visits shorter—focused on one topic would be the best way to handle things.
For both of us even.
I glanced around. “The color right here is better.” And it was. Not by much, but I could tell.
“Yes, and by where you are setting up more life,” he said. “I have been inspecting the land.” He cleared his throat and waved for me to come towards him before pointing to the tree. “And apparently, what you are doing is…”
“What?” I asked as I moved towards him. I turned and glanced where he was focused and frowned. There were two sacks hanging from the branches of the tree, almost like they were meant to be fruits?
“Rewards,” he mumbled. “I’m not sure I understand, but I don’t think I’m supposed to, and it’s a test you will figure it out. Maybe a test for them?”
I swallowed down my annoyance. I had enough confusion and cryptic shit. I needed answers and help, not more crazy.
“But I also don’t understand over there,” he added, pointing to the left. “Willow trees don’t give fruit. Even I know this.”
My eyes about popped out of my head as I turned and saw the massive red apples on one large branch. There were dozens—maybe three dozen ripe and ready and a hundred more that were just flowering? Blossoming?