Chapter Two
Nessa looked at Tolly. “Explain, Mom.”
“When I was fifteen, I was flying when I found a young woman huddling at the side of the road. She tried to run when she saw me, but she was exhausted. She was wearing the scraps of a dress. I landed in front of her and saw her completely numb exhaustion. She told me that the mages were after her. Her family was after her. She didn’t want a mate contract.
That was when I called Leetha, and she and Stiila came to get us.
We got her to a shelter, and I visited when I could, but she didn’t want to talk about the situation she had run from.
She wanted to find a way to hide and make a future. ”
Nessa frowned. “Wait. A mate contract at fourteen? Who was the mate?”
“She has no idea, aside from the fact that it was a mage and being arranged by his family. She was a summoned child, and that meant she wasn’t properly treated like part of the family.”
Nessa blinked. “Summoned?”
“Yup. Orgy, ritual. The whole thing. Anyway, we got her, changed her name, wiped it out of common usage, and she became Bethany. Then, her family found her, and she had to run.”
“Why?”
“They attacked the shelter. By the time we got there, she was gone.”
“How did you know she was alive?”
“She joined a girl band and started performing. Her face was different, but the voice was the same. She travelled, and we lost sight of her.” Atolica rubbed her forehead.
“I knew she was out there, and I wish she had been able to get more education, but she’s a wonderful person and is an excellent choice for host.”
“What is her actual name?”
“I don’t know. It’s gone from me. She had someone bespell her actual name, and that was that.”
“Wow. That is a strong spell, especially if she is performing.”
“Yup.”
“Who did it?”
Tolly smirked. “She is horrible with names.”
“Did she make a lot of money from performing?”
“She sent it all to the shelter. That is how we knew she was still alive.” Tolly paused. “Even when the funds slowed to a trickle, we knew she was alive.”
“Does she really have wild magic?”
“Oh. Yeah. She negotiates with it constantly.”
“So, it’s like a beast?”
“Sort of. More like an integrated possession. My harpy nature is blended through and through, but you flick from human to love-talker back and forth.”
“Oh, right. I am better at blending now, but it has taken practice.”
“She hasn’t had time to practice.”
“And she’s how old?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“So, just one year younger than you.”
“Yes. It is why we got along so well.”
“Well, Maven’s guys would be the ones to ask about it, but I am pretty sure that that would send echoes through things.” Nessa frowned.
Tolly paused. “What about Kelnen?”
“Are you willing to go through Krys?”
“Yes. Kel considers me a little cousin. It’s the wings.” Tolly smiled as she texted. “I will ask him today if he knows anything about summoning wild magic into a person, into a child.”
Nessa smiled. “Keep me posted. I really hate mysteries, Mom.”
“Will you stop doing that?”
“Nope. You married Stovos, and you have to wear the title.”
Tolly got to her feet. “Fine. Do your homework. I have a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow.”
Nessa laughed. “Fine, but you’re not my real mom.”
“Thank goodness. Right. See you later. Let you know what I find out.” Her phone chimed, and she checked the time. “Damn. He’s looking for me. I will just have to tell him to cool his jets, as we are having guests for dinner. He’s going to have to make it quick.”
Nessa snorted. “Let me know if you find anything out. I am going to ask Stiila if she knows anything. Her magic is as unusual as the one you described.”
Tolly looked at her. “I think she was in Japan for a time, and Arthur might have some insight.”
“Right. Nosey boss sending texts... now.” Nessa grinned.
Tolly left the new fertility oasis, and Nessa tried to get information out of her cousin.
She loved digging up information. Investigation was her favourite thing.
She made a few calls and prepared to delve into the life of a woman who had so much potential, it glowed out of her sparkling eyes.
Bethany was special, and Nessa wanted to keep her close.
* * * *
Tolly met Stovos at the office and followed him into his office. “Yes, love, what is it?” She locked the door behind her.
He kissed her neck, and his hands worked at her clothing. “I missed you.”
“I was gone for an hour.”
“It was an eternity.”
“I saw you watching from the shadows, creep.”
He lifted his head and grinned at her with his glamour in place. “I was waiting for you to come back.”
She laughed and shook her head. “When is this obsession going to fade?”
“Give it a century. For now, up on the desk.”
“We are having Kelnen and Krys for dinner tonight. I have to let Yusen know.”
He groaned and paused as he slid her skirt up to her hips. She felt his fingers sliding into her and chuckled.
Stovos asked, “Why are we having the winged wonder and his folk for dinner?”
“I need to ask some questions about wild magic. Summoned wild magic. He and his are good at summoning.”
Stovos worked himself into her and thrust deep. She gasped, and her head rolled as he slowly moved inside her while she focused and clawed at his shoulders and tried to slow her progress to orgasm. She felt stretched, aching, and when she shouted, he caught her mouth with his and took the sound.
He thrust in and held himself there as he shuddered.
She held him tight and muttered against his lips, “Use the fire before we leave here, or I am going to fingerpaint on your desk.”
He laughed. “Yes, love. Now, what’s for dinner?”
“So far, a panicking Yusen.” She stroked his jaw and neck. “This was a sudden decision. Kel eats a lot.”
“He could just order takeout.”
“You know... I mentioned that. I think he told me politely to fuck off, and he ended the call.”
He leaned over her and moved his hips slowly. “Fair, I suppose. Now, did you talk to Nessa?”
“I did. I also talked to an old friend who will probably suit us more.”
He leaned back. “What?”
“The friend with wild magic. She can create a guaranteed window for conception. Nessa confirmed it when she talked to her two previous successes.”
“How many failures?”
“None. She says it is sudden and aggressive, and after, we have twelve hours to use what she has shaped.” Tolly smiled. “I have already spoken to Nessa, and she is all for it. She’s already witnessed our sex life, and I think she needs a bit of distance.”
He grinned. “Hector has had the chance to build a guesthouse at the rear of the property, but he likes the convenience of the kitchens and living building.”
“I like having the baby close.”
“Me, too.” He smiled and caressed her jaw. “You sure you want a baby?”
“Yup. I want a little version of you and me, and I want to hold it and watch it grow up, knowing that its parents will kick the ass of anyone who threatens it.”
He grinned wide. “That sounds like fun at the PTA.”
She laughed and said, “Now, slide out of me so we can head home. I have things to arrange before our guests arrive.”
He snickered and said, “I don’t regret a moment of our marriage, but I do regret those five years when I didn’t know what you felt like.”
“Yeah, yeah, out.” His weight kept her pinned, or she would have backed up.
He sighed and slid out of her, mage fire licking up her inner thighs and taking sweat from her skin.
“Still leaking.”
Stovos righted her clothing. “Yes, my precious one. I know. Let’s see that friend of yours and make my cum work for a living.”
“Sure. All of its semi-pro skill is going to waste right now.” She patted his cheek as she got her skirt back into respectable lines.
He tucked himself in and then helped her stand, kissing her forehead and then her lips.
“Come on, boss. Time to head home. We are having guests, and I am hoping the house cleaned up the lingerie explosion from this morning.”
Stovos chuckled. “I am sure it did.”
“If it didn’t, you are going on a stocking hunt. I want every pair matched and folded neatly next to the matching belt.”
He chuckled again as they left his office, past the empty desk. “Yes, Orvis.”
“Oh, shut up. Come on.” She grabbed his hand and hauled him out of the office and toward the elevator.
The make-out session in the elevator lasted until they reached the main floor, paused, and then continued in the car.
The privacy wall was firmly in place as they headed back to the house. It was just safer for the driver.
Two hours later, they were sitting across from the drake, his wife, and their mage. Tolly smiled. “Hey, Krys. So glad you could get a sitter.”
Krys snorted. “The twins are mobile, so getting out of there now and then is helpful. We have an eager babysitter, though, so it’s great.”
Kel smiled. “She means Maven and her men. They brought their child over and are raiding our fridge. Something about this was important.”
Atolica nodded. “Right. Now that we are all mostly done with dinner, Kel, you know about summoning magic, right?”
He cocked his head. “Yes, but Nen knows more. He was one of those who summoned me.”
Nessa said, “Well, then, Nen. Do mages often summon wild magic?”
Nen blinked. “No. That would be crazy.”
Tolly asked, “Then, why would they?”
Kel asked softly, “Do you know of wild magic being summoned?”
Tolly shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. Maybe.”
Nessa laughed. “Tolly has a friend who has wild magic. Lots of it. She says it was summoned.”
Kel cocked his head. “When?”
“What?”
“When was it summoned?”
Tolly frowned and tried to remember and work the math back. “Twenty-eight years and ten months, more or less.”
Kel smiled and closed his eyes. He widened them in surprise. “Well, that is interesting.”
Tolly asked, “What?”
“There was a falling star summoned to this world. Her exact nature wasn’t known. It was dormant when her people tried to raise her.”
“What did they do with her then?”