Page 58 of The Wolves At My Sides

“Hey, come on in,” Starry said, waving me in a with hand as if he expected me all along. “How’s Irwin holding up?”

“With the book or --- I don’t know how much he tells you,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Life, I guess,” Starry shrugged. “Not out here. Wait until we’re in the magic room.”

“I’m not a witch or anything,” I shook my head.

“Just hold on,” Starry said.

On the sofa, Starry’s mate, Xi, napped on his back. His big crimson harpy wings, which I only saw a few times, were nowhere in sight. Starry kissed the baby’s forehead and laid him on his sire’s chest. He shifted and curled up in a little furry ball. Then Starry kissed Xi on the head. Smiling, he turned back to me, and motioned for me to follow him down the hall.

When he opened the door to the magic room, I expected it to be dimly lit and maybe look a bit like a dungeon. Only, the room we stepped into was more sitting room than dungeon. Shelves lined the walls filled with books, bottles, and jars. The floor held a few things he looked to be working on – a few open books, an ink pen, some sort of flower petals strewn over the hardwood.

“It’s never what anyone new expects,” Starry grinned. “I even have the espresso machine in here. Sit anywhere you like.”

“It definitely feels homey,” I said, wondering where Irwin sat during the witch group meetings.

I sat on the edge of an armchair while Starry padded across the room to his electric kettle. He put it on before joining me on a nearby sofa.

“You’re worried about Irwin,” Starry said.

“I thought Liam was the one with the sight,” I chuckled.

“He is. You could be here because you’re worried about your own pregnancy,” Starry leaned back into his chair. “Only, you’re not showing any signs of that.”

“What can we do to help people in London?” I asked, unsure of how to break the ice.

“You’re definitely worried about Irwin,” Starry nodded.

“So, nothing?” I blinked.

“I didn’t say that,” Starry shook his head. “That’s just one of Irwin’s many causes. This is one that money isn’t much help for. Clarence has all the wealth of an empire and it’s not like he’s letting anyone starve. Time is the magical element that will rebuild London.”

“So, everyone just has to be miserable in the meantime?” I blinked.

“No,” Starry shook his head. “Well, yes and no. It’s hard times for those who stayed or those who had nowhere else to go. Though, I think miserable isn’t quite the word they’d use. They’re enduring.”

“So, there’s nothing I can do? I don’t know why I thought it was a money problem.”

“Well, because most things are. There are those in London who struggle financially as there are in most places and it sucks. Some people are probably eating better because of the crisis and Clarence fighting against his shinymania to spend some of his hoarded resources. Did you have an idea? You look really deflated right now.”

“I thought we could set up some sort of sponsorship for new parents or pregnant carriers,” I sighed.

“That’s been done in some ways. The collection of magic users we gathered together to end that didn’t dissolve just because Ginger Barrell died. Lots of homes and estates have been opened to those in need. Many of us know how to deliver babies. We’ve stepped in and helped out at hospitals. Doctors have traveled from all over the world, along with builders, and planners and people bringing in food. They can use all the help they can get and for the most part, there are no bad ideas.”

The kettle whistled and Starry walked across the room. He didn’t say anything as he loaded up the tea tray and came back. He sat the tray on the coffee table. For a moment, I thought he might read my tealeaves, but then I realized his tea was in bags, not loose.

“I’m glad you want to help London. I’m glad you’re concerned about Irwin,” Starry said, taking a deep breath. “There’s something you should know, though. Irwin isn’t only upset about what’s happening in London because his hormones are adjusting to pregnancy. He’s that upset, Fen. I know not many people are thrilled about it, but there are those of us who can’t just sit it aside in a dark part of our brain and carry on without thinking about it unless someone else brings it up.”

I opened my mouth. Was he insulting me? I closed it again. I didn’t want to get into an argument with the village witch.

“To care that much is a blessing and a curse. Everyone cares. At least, I like to think everyone cares and we all do what we can, but a lot of the time what we can do, isn’t enough to take away the pain of others. Knowing that is a pain all its own. The tea is caffeine free,” Starry said, motioning to the tea tray.

“Thanks,” I said, having forgotten all about it.

I made up a cup and held onto it. I wasn’t much in the mood for tea but didn’t want to seem rude.

“I didn’t mean to make you more worried,” Starry said.

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