Alterations

by Lucretia Stanhope

  “Have you seen Lucian or Sebastian?” Gwen asked.

  Brac shook his head. “Nope, like you I am always away fighting the good fight. I would guess Lucian is with Destiny, and Sebastian won’t be far now that you are back.” He started to tell her about the upcoming expeditions, but she stopped him.

  “Take a real day off.” She shook her head.

  “I will when you do,” he teased, and gave her a hand to sit down on the blanket, where they could see the hill and watch the kids playing.

  The sound of laughing caught her attention.

  Lucian walked over, with Destiny, their daughter, holding the toddler's little fingers for support.

  “Lucian,” Brac said, and turned his attention to his sister. “Hello, little princess. You want to play with Rose?”

  “Rose!” Destiny repeated as best she could.

  Rose, already spotted them and ran over, taking her hand. They toddled off slowly together, telling each other all about the day, while they giggled. None of the adults understood the words as the toddlers both ranted in their own gibberish. Jarrod trotted along beside them. He’d stayed and the collective made it so he would always be connected with Brac and Maryanne’s children, which was still just Rose.

  Lucian said fast greetings. “I'm going to get the kids some treats. Did you two want anything?”

  “No, I am content to just sit here, and do nothing.” Gwen rested back on her elbows.

  Brac shook his head no. “I promised Maryanne I wouldn't. Not until she gets here.”

  After Lucian walked away, Gwen leaned back on the grass and closed her eyes. “Did you find out about the new master on earth?”

  “Mom, I thought this was a day off. Yes, it’s Stepan’s son, Matvei wants him trained in how to be a gentle leader.” Brac leaned back. “Stepan still has his hand in it for now.”

  “Of all the realms they gave back, I just don’t see why they can’t stay off that one. You and I both know they have enough humans.” Gwen closed her eyes.

  “That realm has the potential for tasty witches.” Brac made a slurping sound. “Besides, they didn’t take it and push humans off. There is nothing to give back, humans are still there, safely there.”

  Gwen frowned, she hated that Brac still sided with them, often. She knew he still met with Matvei, and Sergei’s warning had her unsettled. “Do you still discuss our settlement with him?”

  Brac sat back up. “You worry about witches, let me worry about monsters.”

  “Fine, did Jamie decide yet?”

  “Mother, not with Maryanne coming. We can talk later. Jamie won’t come to court; she won’t toss it in her face like that. It’s not her, and it’s not me.” He sighed loudly. “I’m building her a chateau. I don’t want her here with the mutts. I want her close and safe.”

  Gwen smiled. She hated that he’d been forced to give up love like she had. While she encouraged him to follow his heart, he seemed insistent he wasn’t good enough for Jamie, not yet. She wasn’t sure who she ached for more, Maryanne stuck in a loveless marriage, or Jamie alone raising her son, just as Gwen had to do. She’d visit them later, as she always did when eyes were looking the other way. “Good. Closer is better.”

  “What about Lucian, and Sebastian, or Mikhail?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Brac laughed. “We are scandalous.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Hey, you are high priestess, who am I to judge?”

  “Go play with the kids.” Gwen looked around as she felt Sebastian. Her aura hummed with happiness as she watched the wolf slink over gracefully. He curled up beside her and she rested her head against him.

  It was a day off.

  Tomorrow she could worry about court and ruling, lovers and estranged lovers, vampires, earth, and Matvei. They were all small worries considering what she’d been through.

  Today she would enjoy her family.

  The end.

  LUCRETIA STANHOPE is the author of a lot of things, about a lot of things, hopefully fascinating to read things. She lives in a small town in Kansas. It’s the kind of town you are afraid to be stranded in after dark, in case the creepy locals are actually vampires or satanic corn deity worshipers. Yes, there are cornfields all around the town. Seriously, that part is true. There is also a not so used rail station, really! And tons of creepy empty brick buildings, which would be moody fodder, if she would leave the house.

  Her hobbies include making creative excuses not to leave the house, ever, not even to shop. That is what the internet and mail service is for. She also likes to crochet, and by likes, I mean she has a room devoted solely to yarn, and a bum shoulder that is referred to as her ‘crochet injury of 2014.’

  Occasionally, pulling her from writing, or talking to her imaginary friends, it’s all the same, are four rescue mutts, and a very fat gray cat that thinks he is a dog. He’s big enough to be a dog but more demanding, and he meow’s more than the other dogs. Her husband has figured out it is best just to let her write, which is why they are still married, and he hasn’t been offered to corn deities or the creepy neighbors.