Page 113 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Lochie said, “I daena need one, I will stick tae beer.” He pulled a beer from the cooler and popped the cap off.

Lady Mairead said, “Tis a box of drinks by yer table, Kaitlyn? This is how ye entertain?”

I laughed. “I didn’t know I was entertaining.”

“Och, I forgot, all of these people live here.” She turned to Wilfrey. “They hae verra modern ideas about family living under one roof.”

Magnus said, “These are old-fashioned ideas, ye grew up with yer whole family livin’ in one castle!”

“Butthisis not a castle.”

She turned to the end of the table. “Madame Sophie, when are ye due?”

“With the new moon in three days.”

Lady Mairead nodded. “Good, but I wouldna make plans on the morrow, ye will likely be busy.”

James laughed. “Do you know something we don’t know?”

“Aye, I ken a great deal.”

Zach came from the house a moment later and put cake and ice cream in front of Lady Mairead and Wilfrey. Magnus asked, “What about me?”

“You already had some, you want another one?”

“Aye, I canna watch my mother and her actor-friend eat m’cake without also havin’ cake. I am not capable of that much fortitude.”

Lady Mairead took a bite of her cake. “He is my soon-tae-be husband.”

Zach said, “Don’t talk about anything important til I’m back!” We all waited for him to return, listening to his banging around in the kitchen, just past the living room where there was a loud blaster fight happening on the Star Wars movie Archie and Ben were watching.

Zach finally returned with multiple plates with cake and ice cream and passed them out to all who wanted one.

CHAPTER 51 - KAITLYN

THE DO-OVER - MAY 15, 2025 - FLORIDA

Magnus said, after taking a big bite of cake, “All right, let’s hear it.”

She said, “This is… is everyone here?”

I clutched my chest. “Yes, right, Jack is asleep, Noah is sleeping, Beaty is with him —this is everyone, right?”

Magnus said, “Aye, this is everyone.”

“Are we sure, I’m so nervous after the last time when everything was shifting.”

Magnus said, “We arna shifting, nae anymore. Are we, Lady Mairead?”

“Nae, but that daena mean something hadna gone wrong, verra verra wrong, so this is why I am visiting. This is a Master Reset.”

I gulped. “A do-over?”

Everyone went pale.

Magnus said, “Why? This is a verra dangerous thing tae do, ye ought tae make the decision with great caution.”

She leveled her eyes. “I hae made this decision with great caution, I hae met and received recommendations from members of the family and been given guidance. Ye yerself have chosen this date.”

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