I walked back into the dining room and slid the plate onto the long table in front of Ezra. “I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”
“What’s this?” Ezra asked, confused at the plate sitting before him.
“A sandwich. I don’t know how you like yours, so I just made what Ollie likes. Hope that’s okay.”
“You made me a sandwich?” Ezra’s tone had the ring of wonder to it, making me feel terrible that such a simple thing was seen as a big gesture. I made a mental note to be kinder to Ezra. He’d earned more than the scraps of trust I gave him.
“You said you were hungry. Did you want something else?”
He reached out and held my hand. “That was quite kind of you. Thank you.”
“No problem.” I made my exit, catching Ollie’s fist bump on the way out.
I always wanted a family, and I wouldn’t give this one up without a fight, so help me.
Eight.
Lynna’s Greatest Help
I don’t know why I had slight pangs of nerves jumping around in my stomach like ping pong balls when Ezra called me down, announcing the brothers had arrived.
Bishop and Boston were identical twins around my age, wearing almost matching outfits of black long-sleeved t-shirts and jeans with boots. The older two looked to be in their mid-twenties and seemed more subdued than the twins, who kept looking around the mansion as if waiting for someone to pounce. I’d had several conversations with Bishop on Von’s phone, and wanted to greet him. I hung back though, since I had no idea which one Bishop was.
Mason barreled past me, pulling the bare minimum amount of anxiety from me on his way down the steps. He was met in a crash of tight hugs and claps on the back, his grin wide at seeing the familiar faces.
Mariang came down in a pink knee-length flowing skirt with a white fitted sweater. I’d pinned her hair up for her, and she looked like a dainty fifties sock hop queen. The oldest brother there in a gray shirt and jeans removed his Newsies cap and held it to his chest as he adjusted his gold wire-rimmed glasses. “Lady Mariang,” he greeted her with a slight bow and a modest grin. “Ever good to see you, love.”
“Oh, Alton, it’s been far too long.” I don’t know how everything Mariang did looked like a dance, but somehow she flitted from brother to brother, kissing their cheeks. The overly muscular men bent to her whim for their turn at the fair maiden they adored.
Alton had crinkles around his eyes and a grin that split wide across his face like Von’s, only Alton didn’t have that same smarm to him that served as Von’s occasional charm. He more looked like a really built librarian, complete with the circular curve to the frame of his glasses. “I can’t believe Danny actually needs help. I made Ezra repeat it three times. Are you alright? Is Mason serving you well in his new post?”
One of the twins elbowed Mason repeatedly until Mason shoved him back. The identical grins spread across the twins’ faces, and the wresting match began as Ezra came into the foyer, pocketing his phone. “Gentlemen, into the conference room.” He shook Alton’s hand, who seemed to be the brother in charge who spoke for the group. “The sooner we get this underway, the better.”
“Milady?” The man in the chocolate polo said to Mariang. I’m guessing this one was Graham. His short brown hair matched the hue of his shirt perfectly. A small freckle next to his left eye made him appear playful and kind, despite his humble and subdued deportment. He jutted out his elbow to escort Mariang.
“Thank you, Graham. What a gentleman.”
It was Graham. I was right. I’m awesome.
I tried to remind myself of that awesomeness as I silently made my way to the conference room with Ollie, who stuck close while he got the lay of the new guys. Alton turned to me, and I readied myself to be introduced to Von’s family, who I prayed would like me. Instead of shaking my hand, Alton said to me, “Could we get some tea in here, Miss? It was a long flight.”
I nodded, hoping I’d never asked Lynna for something without a proper please and thank you. “Sure. Are you hungry, too?”
“Always.” Then he turned his back to me and moved with the others toward the conference room.
One of the twins sized me up in a way that made me internally roll my eyes. “Well, aren’t you a cute little cherry. I’m Boston.”
“Good for you.” I didn’t respond more than that and a raised eyebrow. In my experience, any kind of feedback only spurred guys like that on for more veiled come-ons, and after about a minute, the veil would come off and they’d just be plain old gross. Boston moved along when there was no flirty comeback from my end, which suited me just fine. I knew enough about Boston to hang back. He’d let Von sell himself into sexual slavery to pay off his gambling debts. I didn’t so much like Boston.
Ollie’s low voice was clipped. “I’ll get the tea. That Alton guy only asked you to wait on him because you have a uterus. He has no idea who you are.”
“Who am I?”
Ollie blinked down at me. “You’re my sister, not their servant.”
“Is there shame in bringing someone tea? Is Lynna beneath us?”
“Well, no, but…”
“You raised me to be polite. I don’t mind getting them tea, Ollie. I don’t need to wave my title around like a snob. If anything, now’s the time to serve. Hopefully it’ll set a tone for them.”
Ollie kissed my forehead. “I love you, you know.”
“Love you, too. Play nice.”
“I make no promises.”
We smiled at each other, and I went into the empty kitchen. I started heating up the kettle and fished through the fridge for something to feed the guys. If they were anything like Danny and Von, they could eat a whole cow without pause.
Lynna came in, her eyes wide. “No, no. I’ll get you something. What do you need, October?”
“Not me. Von’s brothers want tea and something to eat. Any ideas on what could feed a small army real quick?”
“Darling, I’ve been doing that my whole life. I know just the thing.”
I fished through the cupboard for the canister of tea leaves, and got out the sugar bowl and clotted cream. I hadn’t been ready to try the clotted cream yet, but I knew Ezra liked it. “How long have you worked for Ezra?”
“Since before Mariang was born. It’s a wonderful family to work for.”
“I’m warming up to them. Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Her wrinkled hands made quick work of throwing together a ball of dough, and she kneaded it with surprising strength.
“What kind of magical creature are you? Ezra’s Matruculan, Mariang’s an Omen, the guys are Duwende. What about you?”
“I’m Matruculan, like Mason.”
I eyed her bun curiously. “But your hair’s been cut?”
Lynna smiled maternally at me. “Most of us have lost our strength. Ezra, as well.”
“Do you miss it? Being stronger than everyone?”
She thought a moment before answering. “I learned long ago that I’m exactly who I want to be, and exactly where I want to be.”
I chewed on her response, hoping that one day I could say the same. “You like it better Topside?”
She shuddered. “Much better. I used to live next door to Ezra’s parents, you know. I rescued him on the day he was born. I didn’t need my Matruculan strength for that.”
“I didn’t know that. What did you rescue him from?”
“His father. Understand, it’s quite difficult for Matruculan men to resist the lure of a pregnant woman. Otis tried. He was a good man. Wanted a son desperately. No one was more excited when Tilly got pregnant than he was. He resisted until she went into labor.”
“Resisted what?”
“Eating the fetus.” She spoke so clinically, my mouth twisted in time with my stomach. I vaguely remember being told the ins and outs of Mason’s race, but I loved Mason, so I skipped over that whole eating babies part. “Otis snapped and tried to rip the fetus out of Tilly to eat it
. I was the midwife on duty, and managed to escape with Tilly’s son before it was too late. Tilly didn’t survive, though.” Lynna’s glassy eyes were misting over, immune to my look of horror. “Months later, Otis was so ashamed that he took his own life. I took Ezra into my home and raised him as my own.” A soft smile played on her lips, and I guessed she was picturing Ezra as a baby. “‘Ezra’ means help. I thought I would be the one helping by raising him, but over the years he’s been a greater help to me.”
“I had no idea. I’m… that’s terrible. I’m so glad he had you.” I eyed her with new appreciation. “You saved a kingdom.”
She chortled at my statement, as if I’d made a joke. “I saved a baby.”
I shook my head. “No. You saved a boy who grew up to run an entire kingdom, who then had a girl the whole of Terraway depends on for survival. If not for you, Terraway wouldn’t be here anymore. You saved the kingdom.”
Lynna smiled at me in her usual kind way, and then kissed my cheek. Her hands were covered in flour, and there were stains on her apron, but to me, she was a vision of love, kindness, and everything that was right with the world. She personified a high level of dignity only seen on Mrs. Brady. “Be that as it may, saving that baby would have been enough for me.”
“You’re kind of amazing, you know.”
Lynna laughed like I’d said something cute. “Run along, now. I’ll be right in with the tea.”
“How about I carry the tray for you? I can’t imagine it’ll be light.”
She shook her head, punching out circles with the lip of a cup into the rolled-out dough. “Go on, sweetheart. If I need help, I’ll ask Ezra. Thank you for getting the tea tray ready for me.”
“Thank you, Lynna. Thank you for everything.”
Lynna didn’t say anything. She merely smiled at me with a maternal glow that made me feel warm inside, like I belonged here.
Like I was loved.
Nine.
Calling all Vandershot Boys
I made my way to the conference room just as Ezra was coming out of it. “There you are,” he said with an expression that was a mix between glad to see me and total business. Though I wanted to hesitate, I knew it was now or never. It was just the two of us in the hallway when I threw my arms around Ezra’s neck. “Ho! Steady, darling. Are you alright? What’s wrong?”
I squeezed harder, nodding into his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re you. Grateful you’re here. Even when I’m mad at you, I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Ezra melted in my grip, his arms banding around my waist to gather me closer. “How did I get so lucky?”
And there was the crux of why Ezra was so amazing. He’d lost both his parents, left his homeland to live in a land that was nothing like it, got stuck corralling a world on the brink of collapse, sacrificed his daughter for Terraway, and got stuck with me – and yet he still counted himself lucky. “I can be better,” I promised. “I can be a team player. No more surprises, okay? I won’t sneak off anymore. I won’t make you worry.”
He exhaled and held onto me until finally I let go. His handkerchief found its way to the two tears I’d squeezed out of him. “Thank you, dear. Thank you for all of it. Thank you for being my daughter, and for working with me on this. We’ll get Von back.” His arm stayed around my shoulders to corral me into the conference room with the others. “Gentlemen, this is Lady October Grace, the new Omen who Von and Mason belong to.”
They each stood, dipping their heads in my direction. Alton’s eyes were wide with fear, which made me chuckle. I waved off their display of respect for my job. “Nice to meet you guys. Where are we on bringing everyone home?” I took the seat between Mason and Ollie at the table. Mariang was between Graham and Alton, giving Mason a break from pulling for the two of us.
“We’re waiting on Finn to take Alton and Graham down to Lumipad,” Mason informed me.
Ezra pointed to the twins, one of whom was studying me as if sizing up both my bra size and my weak points simultaneously. That one was clearly Boston. I decided the level of horn-dogness was how I’d be able to tell them apart. Easier to spot than a birthmark. “Boston and Bishop will go as soon as Prince Langgam sends word his spies have located Von.”
“Just the two of them?” I asked in dismay. I gave Bishop a two-fingered wave to let him know I knew which one he was. Bishop grinned at me and dipped his head in return, glad that I remembered him from our phone conversations.
Boston stiffened, as if I’d insulted them both. He cracked his knuckles. “You don’t need to worry about your Reaper, Cherry. We’ll bring Von home, no problem. Git owes me twenty quid. You think I’d let him die before I get my money back?” He flashed me a wide grin, revealing a tooth to the top left that was slightly off kilter, though it didn’t look like genetics played a roll in that. My guess was that Boston had been in a good number of fights. I don’t know why this calmed me a little, but I sat back in my chair, avoiding their gazes as the four gawked at me.
“Good to hear you’re motivated,” I said, looking up when Lynna came in with the tea tray. I stood and helped Lynna with the enormous tray, but the four guys protested. Alton moved around the table to arrest the sugar bowl from my hands so he could help unload the tray instead of me. “I can get it, guys. It’s no trouble.”
Alton was ashen. “Forgive me, your highness. I didn’t realize who you were when I asked you to bring me tea.”
“I don’t mind helping. Plus, now you get to go home and tell all your buddies that a real, live Omen waited on you. Now, if you can get a unicorn to shine your shoes, you’ll really be the king.”
Alton’s face fell, and I swear his cheeks paled while his ears went pink. It was adorable. He was probably around twenty-six, but he looked like a little boy facing the principal’s office. “I think I’m going to be sick. I never would’ve asked you to bring us tea if I knew who you were. A thousand apologies, your grace.”
“I don’t even need the one. You’re too funny.”
Boston chuckled at his brother. “You asked an Omen to fetch your tea?”
Alton was sweating now. “Well, how was I supposed to know? She’s dressed like a common servant.”
I looked down at my jeans and t-shirt, confused. I was dressed exactly like they were. Maybe they were expecting me to be wearing a pretty skirt like Mariang. Boy, were they in for a shock.
Ollie stood in my defense while Lynna chortled as she left the room. “You want to think that through, man? There’s not a thing wrong with the way my sister dresses.”
Alton spluttered as he sank deeper down into the hole he was digging himself. “I didn’t mean anything foul by it. I only meant that she doesn’t look like Mariang.”
“And how does my other sister look?” Ollie spouted, his anger revving up. “Is there something off about Mariang, too?
Mariang sat a little straighter in her seat, clearly pleased that Ollie claimed her so easily. “It’s alright, Ollie. Alton’s a good man.”
“That good man just called my sister his servant. Not happening on my watch.”
“It was an accident!” Alton pulled out his handkerchief and mopped the sweat from his forehead with stubbier fingers than the rest of the brothers.
I clapped my hands to stop the downward progression. “Alright, everyone. Relax your balls. Actual work needs to get done here.”
Boston threw his head back and laughed with his whole body, his hand on his stomach. “Ho! That was priceless. I’ve never heard an Omen say ‘balls’ before.” He turned to Mariang and begged. “Please say it, sis! Make it a double feature.”
Mariang only blushed in response.
Ezra shot me a scolding look as he motioned for everyone to take their seats. “And I truly hope you never hear an Omen say that again. Let’s focus, shall we?” Ezra started going through all we knew about Von’s predicament, which wasn’t much.
We stirred and sipped our teas as Lynna came back with biscuits and bowls of chili. Alton shot up out
of his seat to help her, while Ezra started giving the guys a rundown of the chaos they might encounter in Lumipad.
Alton was nervous as he placed the bowl of chili in front of me, the edge of his stubby thumb catching on the lip of the bowl. The entire steaming pile tipped over onto my lap before I could right it. “Oh! That’s hot.” My instinct was to jump up at the burn that covered my lap, but I knew that would only fling the chili to the unmarked carpet. It would stain the nice room, and I couldn’t stand for that.
Boston brayed like a jackass, clapping his hands at Alton, who was so horrified, his whole face flushed a deep red to match his ears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, your majesty!” He grabbed my cloth napkin and started scooping the chili off my thighs.
“I’ve got it,” I insisted. “It’s fine, Alton. You’re allowed a clumsy moment. No big deal.”
Mason waved off Alton and handed me his napkin, knowing I’d prefer no one touched my lap but me. Mason’s hand cupped my shoulder to pull the chagrin out of me. He tried unsuccessfully to hide his chuckle at Alton’s bumbling. “You haven’t poured hot tea on her head yet. You want to give that a try?” Mason kidded.
“I can’t believe I did that! How can I apologize, your grace?”
“You already apologized. I’m not going to go all off-with-your-head or anything. You’re fine. Honest mistake.” When the chunks of chili were gone, I stood from the table. “I know you all can’t get enough of how stylish this is, but I think I’m going to go change. Be back in a minute.”
Boston was still laughing. “Oh, but why? I think you look smashing. Before you know it, all the Omens will be wanting that style. They’ll call it dinner chic. Instead of ‘who’s she wearing’ it’ll be ‘what flavor is she wearing.’”
Bishop clapped his hands, sniggering. “Brilliant! Does the outfit come in chipotle? Perhaps sour cream and onion?”
“Shut it, Boston,” Alton cringed.
As I walked carefully up the stairs, I couldn’t help but giggle at Alton, and the brothers who had flown across an ocean to save their Superman.
Treat (Terraway Book 5) Page 5
