Page 41 of Counting Quarters

Chapter Nineteen

Kyle — Past

Bonniehissedouta breath and leaned over the inflatable tub, grasping Mason’s hand so tightly he winced. Tabitha was behind her, quietly offering words of encouragement as my friend breathed through her painful contractions.

I wasn't sure why they invited me to be here for Bonnie's birth. I guess it was just another part of their lives that I should have been grateful they shared with me. I hadn't given it much thought before, but hearing Bonnie's wails of pain had me wishing they'd just invited me to meet the baby after, when everything was cleaned up.

I turned away, locking eyes with Asher to offer Bonnie and Mason some privacy. I knew it was finally over when Asher’s face lit up and Bonnie went quiet. Shortly after, a small cry sounded out, and I spun back around to see Tabitha placing the little human on her mother’s chest.

“It's a girl,” Tabitha declared happily, tears welling in her eyes.

Mason and Bonnie gazed at their daughter in pure euphoria. Asher joined them after a few moments, gushing over her new niece.

“Welcome earthside, Storie Graves,” Bonnie whispered to the little girl. I'd never seen my friend so smitten.

Just as I stepped forward to join them, I caught it: the fleeting, anxious look between Tabitha and Callista. They shared matching worried expressions, brows raised, lips set in a tight line. Something had just been communicated between the duo, I was sure of it. It was there and gone in a blink, but Tabitha returned to the side of the birthing pool with a sad smile on her face.

It was like Bonnie knew what she was going to say before the old woman had the chance to open her mouth. Her smile faltered, and she dropped her gaze down to her daughter, that same worry etched on her face now. She gently passed the baby over to Callista, who motioned for Mason to follow as she placed her on the couch and began checking her.

“How long ago?” Bonnie asked.

Asher and I shared a confused look. She stepped back into my chest to give Tabitha room to get to Bonnie, then turned back to the baby, a remorseful frown marring her face.

“Twelve hours exactly.”

“Shit.” Mason hung his head.

“Twelve hours since what?” I asked, confused.

“Since Remington Winters was born,” Tabitha supplied dejectedly.

The weight of those words blanketed the space with sorrow and anxiety.

We all knew what that meant.

“Maybe another was born,” Asher offered helplessly.

Tabitha slowly shook her head. “I’m fairly certain that’s not true.”

If that was the case, if Storie was the only child born within the last twenty-four hours, there was a target on her head already.

From the Quarters, who were reportedly hunting and killing Counters for fear of them weakening their next generation.

From Rayner, who wanted to use her as a weapon against his enemies.

They’d fight to be the first to get to her.

If the gods decided that Storie Graves would be Remington Winters’ Counter, it would take a miracle to keep her alive long enough to take on the role.

Present

The Fire Festival went off without a hitch, just as I thought it would. Tabitha pulled me aside early that morning to tell me hers and the Quarter's plans for keeping any potentially threatening magic neutralized for the night.

I hung back in the town square and kept an eye on Mayor Douglas while Tabitha, Storie, Blaire, and the Quarters met in the woods and cast their spell. Douglas was none the wiser as I followed him around, pretending to be interested in whatever last-minute projects needed to be tied up before the celebration began. He had unknowingly made the spell easy for them with his ban on magic, though he earned a great deal of grief over the decision from the Watchtower coven.

In the end, they wouldn't push him too far. Not when things were finally going back to normal, and they were still lacking a proper High Priest to defend them.

So, the day began with excited anticipation swirling around in the air. Businesses closed early in the afternoon so the workers could get back in time for the lighting of the bonfire and the small group of volunteer organizers buzzed around to ensure everything was perfect.

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