Page 54 of Wicching Hour

Declan sat in the club chair again and pulled me back onto his lap. Gran stayed at the window, looking out, but Mom and Bracken moved to the couch.

“I’d love to take full credit,” I said, “but Dad showed up and guided me through setting a fae ward.”

Mom sat forward, her head snapping to the front door. “Your father’s here?”

Declan’s thumb brushed my side. He’d noticed too. Mom was a little too intent on Dad’s whereabouts. “Not anymore. He must have sensed what I was trying to do, so he just appeared beside me.” I turned my head to ask Declan, “Did you see him arrive?”

He nodded. “I was watching you, so yeah. He quite literally popped into existence beside you.” He rubbed my leg. “He wasn’t there and then he was, but it was like he’d always been there. I didn’t smell the ocean until he appeared. I mean, Arwyn always smells lightly of sea spray, but this was more like floating on a raft in the middle of the Pacific.”

I grinned. Yep. That was my dad, all right.

“Is it gone?” Gran asked, still looking out the window.

“No idea,” I replied. “It doesn’t feel as cold in here, so maybe. I wasn’t trying to zap whatever that was. I was just trying to keep you safe. Hurting it was a nice perk.”

Gran finally turned and brushed nonexistent lint from her sweater. “Thank you.” She walked to the fire and twirled her fingers, causing the fire to go out, leaving hot embers. She sat in the rocking chair, straightened her back, and looked at me. “Could you get us some tea?”

“I can—” Mom began, but Gran waved her hand, telling my mom not to get up.

“Arwyn doesn’t have a seat anyway,” Gran said.

I’d been waiting for the disapproval of my sitting in Declan’s lap. I supposed she’d had too much weighing on her to give it to me earlier.

I stood and went to the kitchen. A moment later, I heard the rumble of Declan’s voice and then Gran say, “I can assure you, Arwyn was making tea long before she met you.”

“With all due respect, Ms. Corey,” Declan said, “I’m not a member of your coven. If you don’t want me in your den, say so, but I’m Alpha, not your underling.”

Shitshitshit.I flew back to the kitchen doorway and ran into Declan’s massive back. He reached around to steady me. I couldn’t see Gran but eventually, I heard, “Sybil, I want you to speak with Hester. See if the Goodes are attending Council meetings. I want to know if the lesser families have continued without us.”

“Thatlesser familyshit could be why,” I muttered, turning back to the jar of tea leaves I’d just put on the counter.

Declan followed me in and wrapped his arms around me. “Sorry,” he rumbled.

Patting his arms, I whispered, “Not your fault. She’s used to being in complete control and she’s struggling.”

“I thought the same,” he said. “She’s like an aging wolf. She used to be the strongest, but time has worn away at her speed, the sharpness of her claws. Now she growls and bares her teeth to remind others she’s to be feared.”

Nodding, I brewed the tea, quite content to have Declan holding me while I did it. I’d never thought myself to be a person who’d enjoy easy affection. Perhaps because I’d thought it something I could never experience, I’d told myself I didn’t want it.

“Will you be okay if I go?” he asked. “I need food before I head back up to the pack grounds. I’ll work with whoever shows up and then sleep—poorly—in the woods, since I’ll need to meet with more pack members in the morning.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, turning in his arms. “You must be exhausted.”

“Nah.” He gave me a kiss. “I got to sleep in a little this morning and then spend the day with my favorite person.”

I laid my head on his chest and tried to soak in as much of him as I could. “You’ll be safe, right?”

He kissed the top of my head. “No one’s gunning for me anymore. I’m Alpha now. Didn’t you hear?”

I snickered. “I think I heard something about that a minute ago.” Resting my chin on his chest, I looked up at him. “If you wake up in the middle of the night, know I’m okay. I’ll put the same kind of ward I did here on the gallery when I get back. I’ll be safe and warm in bed, dreaming of you.”

His hands came up to cradle my face. “See that you are.” Gaze traveling over me, he added, “Take care of yourself while I’m away.”

I grinned. “Will do.”

He gave me another kiss and then walked out of the kitchen. I heard him saying goodbye as I loaded the tea cart. When I pushed it out into the living room, I found Gran, staring into the embers, Mom, looking concerned and staring out the back window, and Bracken, smiling and watching me. What had I missed?

I poured and delivered teacups to all before reclaiming the club chair as my own. “So, have we come up with the plan for the Swans?”

---