Page 115 of Halfblood Deceived

Mari smiled at Andreas. “I’m going to turn you into a pig.”

“It suits him,” Lex murmured.

“The unresolved tension strikes again,” Evan chanted.

“Shut up, Evan!” both Mari and Andreas exclaimed.

“You are all going to shut up,” Zeydan commanded in his serious, seldom-used tone, which drew everyone’s attention. “We will do this democratically and quietly.” They blessedly kept their mouths shut. Zeydan knew it wouldn’t last, so he continued. “If you like this house and think we can turn it into our home, raise your hand.”

Andreas and Mari lifted their hands, which promptly made them scowl at each other.

Gabby and Lex gave Zeydan sheepish shrugs.

Evan and Luce pretended to find anything but Zeydan’s face very interesting.

Zeydan groaned. “I thought you liked it. What’s the problem?” he asked Gabby and Lex. The others were going to start babbling, so he lifted a hand to quiet them.

Gabby bit her lip. “I just… I have to agree with Luce. It doesn’t feel homey.”

“I have to agree with my soulmate,” Lex said.

“Of course you do,” Andreas quipped.

Zeydan glared at him, then turned to Gabby. “It will feel homey once we buy some furniture,” he insisted, but he knew he’d lost the battle.

“Kamilla and Kerian’s mansion feels like home,” Luce said.

No one rebuked her.

Zeydan was going to grow some gray hairs at this rate, too. “It’s not our home, however, so you better not get attached, Luce.”

Luce pursed her lips and blinked fast. “I don’t like it here, Uncle Zeydan.”

Evan laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she clung to him again.

Zeydan was tempted to smash his head against the kitchen island. He would have if he didn’t think the granite would crack.

Kerian straightened and approached Zeydan, patting his back. “A win for democracy, cousin.” He gave a warm, hopelessly charismatic smile at all the stubborn buggers before meeting Zeydan’s gaze. “You guys should stay with us until another house goes for sale, one that carries that homey spirit your lovely family desires.”

Luce brightened up at that.

Zeydan sighed. “You said it was unlikely to happen for months, or even a year, given the accommodations we need.”

Kerian shrugged, completely unconcerned. “That is true. And it is late in the year. Milla and I would be honored and delighted if you spent Samhain and Yuletide with us.”

Luce gasped. “Can we, Uncle Zeydan?”

Zeydan scowled at Kerian.

Luce adored Samhain and Yuletide. Elizabeth had made a big deal out of both celebrations. Zeydan and the others didn’t really give importance to it until the first year Luce had to spend the holidays without her mother. Andreas hadn’t mentioned how important the celebrations were to Luce because it reminded him of Elizabeth. Luce had broken down like she very rarely did. Zeydan and the others had improvised that time, and every year afterward, they had made sure to celebrate properly.

“We are in August,” Zeydan reminded both Luce and his snoopy cousin. “August.”

“Exactly,” Kerian said. “August is practically September, which is pre-Samhain, and then you blink and it’s Yuletide.”

Luce nodded at Kerian as if he were a genius before turning hopeful eyes to Zeydan. “This house doesn’t have festive vibes.”

Zeydan gave a pleading look at Andreas. The idiot merely shrugged.

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