Page 22 of Medusa

Atlanta fully shifted into a wolf this morning.

She didn’t have to wait long for a response.

You’re kidding! That’s amazing!

Maddie smiled.She fell flat on her face and then poof! Wolf puppy.

Aww, I can’t wait to see her!

The rest of the day was uneventful, in the way one would hope a full day with kids cooped up inside can be. Maddie read the book about communication being a two-way street she’d promised to the boys. Only time would tell whether Alexander had understood its message.

Chloe was the last parent to collect their child. Maddie was concerned at the lateness, thinking that perhaps Lucifer would come instead, that Chloe had forgotten her promise.

“You’re coming for dinner,” Chloe said, entering the building with a gust of wind full of rain.

“Am I?” Maddie teased.

“You are. We need more time than I can give before a meal. This one is always hungry,” Chloe said, making faces at Atlanta. “I hear you became a full wolf, my daughter! I’m very proud of you!”

“Only once, I’m afraid,” Maddie said apologetically. “She didn’t do the full shift again this afternoon.”

Chloe brushed her concerns aside. “She will. It just takes practice. Can you come now, or do you need to close up here?”

“I’ve got this,” Hestia said. “Go ahead.”

Maddie shrugged. “I’m all yours.”

“Great.” Chloe strapped Atlanta to her back with quick efficiency and picked up her discarded umbrella. “Once more into the breach!” she said, opening the door.

The rain hadn’t tapered off at all, making Maddie wonder if it was a supernaturally caused storm like those they had a while back when Hera was down in the dumps over her mate. They walked side by side under their umbrellas until they reached Lucifer’s home. Maddie was mildly intimidated by its size, but obediently followed Chloe into the foyer, dripping water onto the polished floors.

Lucifer entered from a hallway not long after they had put away their umbrellas, greeting his wife with a kiss and took the baby from her back. “It is time for your dinner, Miss,” he told the baby, tickling her belly with his face. He wrinkled his nose. “And a change.” He vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.

“Shall we adjourn to the parlor?” Chloe asked, a twinkle in her eye.

“You have a parlor?” Maddie countered. “I’m not even sure what a parloris.”

“A living room,” Chloe said with a chuckle. She arched her back, stretching her arms over her head. “Ugh, it’s good to be home.”

The parlor was a comfortable room with a soft looking sofa and lots of books.

“I think I’d be tempted to call this a library,” Maddie said, looking around.

“Oh no, the library has way more books,” Chloe said. “These are just the ones that Lucifer deems ‘fancy’ and puts out to impress callers.”

Maddie giggled. “I’m certainly getting a different impression of Lucifer from you than I did from my introduction to him several years ago.”

Chloe smiled. “I’ve been told I’m a good influence.” She sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside her. “Spill. Why are you miserable?”

“No beating around the bush, huh?” Maddie said.

“I do that enough at work,” Chloe replied, rubbing her temples. “I’m much more blunt at home because of it.”

“Okay.” Maddie sucked in a deep breath. “It’s about the speed dating thing.”

Chloe nodded, giving nothing away with her expression.

“I regret going,” Maddie blurted out.

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