“A baby,” Moira said firmly.
Claire nodded. “A baby. Waking up with a big baby. A big, good baby must be a shock. We’ll let you know how Tierra is.”
Another cry of agony sent Claire and Dru hurrying from the room.
When they were out of earshot, almost to Tierra’s bedroom, Dru wrapped his hand around hers. “I have a bad feeling about this, too.”
Claire cast him a worried glance, nodded, and then hurried faster toward her sister.
28
Unimaginable disturbances radiated outward from Tierra’s closed bedroom door. Her sister’s screams had quieted by the time Claire and Dru had arrived, but Claire felt in her very bones that life had changed significantly. She paused half a second to gather her fire, prepared to battle whatever lay beyond the barrier. She just prayed her sister wasn’t hurt.
Dru held his mighty sword in one hand and flung open the door with the other.
Claire gasped at what she saw.
White and black feathers flew through the air as Killian lunged and bounced off walls, trying to capture a small flying enemy that moved so fast Claire couldn’t make out the features. Tierra’s eyes were wide with shock, dancing back and forth as she followed the skirmish. Otherwise, she seemed okay, huddled beneath a forest green quilt that haphazardly covered her.
Dru lifted his sword to take down the enemy should it fly in their direction. “What the hell is that?”
The little pixie or fairy barreled headfirst into Killian’s chest, knocking him back against the wall. He quickly brought his hands together and sank to the floor. “Gotcha.”
The creature squirmed and fought against Death, but he refused to let go.
Tierra placed a frantic hand on her chest. “Oh. My. Goddess.”
Claire glanced between Killian and her sister, unsure if they were all still in danger. “What in the name of hell’s fire is it?”
Killian tucked whatever it was beneath his wing and struggled one-handed to get to his feet. He drew great breaths and jerked his chin upward toward Dru. “Grab that blanket.”
Dru reached for a soft ivory throw that had been draped across the bottom of the bed. He kept his sword out as he approached Killian and the unruly captive.
Death snorted. “Put that thing away, man, or you’re going to kill my daughter.”
Dru halted, and Claire’s mouth fell open. “Daughter?” she muttered.
What kind of monster had Tierra birthed? A demon child sired by Death? Worse, if this was the light-souled baby, what kind of hellish thing was Moira growing?
“Blanket, man,” Killian demanded.
Dru sheathed his sword and held out the blanket, looking as dazed and confused as Claire felt. She cast a quick glance toward her sister, who seemed to have lost her ability to speak or act.
Killian snatched the soft throw and tucked it beneath his wing. He fussed and struggled for a moment and then produced the sweetest looking cherub of a baby that Claire had ever seen. Killian had bundled her tightly, and she now stared at him with wide-eyed wonder.
With a dusting of dark red hair, pink cheeks, and a soft cooing sound coming from her cupid’s bow mouth, she couldn’t possibly be the wild thing that had threatened them all moments ago.
A proud papa’s grin nearly split Killian’s face, and his happiness filled the room. He strode close to the side of the bed where Tierra lay and held the bundle out to her. “Your princess, my gazelle. Isn’t she beautiful?”
Tierra choked out a sob and put a hand over her mouth. Tears streamed from her eyes, and then she held out her hands. “Oh, my sweet Goddess. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Killian gently placed the babe into Tierra’s outstretched arms and chuckled. “I hadn’t realized she’d be able to fly so soon after birth.”
Claire raised her brows and glanced to Dru, who shrugged. “I guess we shouldn’t be surprised since her daddy has wings as well,” she said.
Tierra blinked back her tears and smiled. “Hello, beautiful. I’m your momma.”
The baby’s face lit up, and she released a soft sigh.
Tierra ran a finger lightly over her cheek, earning another cooing sound. She slipped her hand into the swaddled blanket and produced a soft, pudgy hand. The baby immediately wrapped tiny fingers around one of Tierra’s.
Claire stepped forward until she stood next to Death. The baby’s face drew into a frown that nearly broke Claire’s heart. “Oh, honey. Don’t be afraid. I’m your Auntie Claire here to welcome you into the world.”
The baby hesitated a moment, and then Claire swore that she smiled. “Look! She likes me.”
Tierra nodded. “She does. I can sense it. Dru, you need to come here, too. Little Violet needs to know that you’re okay. She was so frightened before, not knowing what had happened when she came into the world. Please, let her know that she’s safe.”
“Violet,” Claire said. “That’s such a beautiful name.”
Dru shot Claire an uncertain look but then moved forward. He crowded next to Claire and slipped an arm around her. He probably thought she would think it was a protective gesture toward her, but Claire recognized that he was the one who needed emotional support.
He cleared this throat. “Hello, Violet. I’m…”
Claire leaned into him as she stared at the angelic baby. “He’s your Uncle Dru.”
Dru nodded. “Uncle. That’s right. I’m your Uncle Dru.”
She tilted her head to regard the horseman who’d stolen her heart. “I get the sensation that you’ve never been this close to a baby before.”
He snorted. “Got that right. In my line of work, the last thing I want around is a child.”
Claire supposed he had a point. She turned her gaze to Killian. “What about you?”
His face fell, and she realized the error of her question. “Far too many times,” he said.
Claire shook her head. “Of course. I’m sorry. But look at that beautiful face. This time, you’ll get to experience all the wonderful things about a child.”
Killian’s smile returned, and he sat on the edge of the bed where he could place an arm around Tierra and be closer to his baby. “I swear here and now that nothing will hurt either one of you.”
She half-wondered if Tierra would argue, since his possessiveness had been a point of contention between them in the past, but she only snuggled closer to him.
Claire leaned against Dru and nudged him. “We should go and let the family have some time. I’m sure the others want to know everything is okay.”
Dru stepped away from the bed so fast that Claire had to restrain a chuckle. Killian might have fallen gracefully into fatherhood, but it appeared that Dru had no intention of doing the same any time soon.
Which was completely fine with her. She liked the idea of being an auntie.
But mom?
Not so much.
29
The following day, bright sunshine washed through the old Victorian’s kitchen windows, bringing with it a sense of a pleasantness and hope. Tierra had asked the witches to convene in the kitchen, and they were all eager to see the newest member of the household.
Claire eyed Aerin and Moira, who both watched her with expectant looks on their faces. “I’m sure Tierra will be here any minute. She’s probably dragging after the birth. I can only imagine how hard it must be.”
Aerin glanced at her Cartier watch, sighed, and lifted the lovely Cassius Basaltic black clay mug, handcrafted by Tierra. She sipped and set it back on the table, leaving a perfect red-lipped mark along the rim.
Moira groaned and pushed on one side of her stomach as though adjusting the position of the baby. “Thank the stars that this one won’t squirt out of me and go tear-assin’ around the room like one of them murder hornets. I can’t even imagine such a thing. That ain’t natural.”
Aerin slid a sideways glance toward Moira. “But having your child grow overnight is?” she muttered.
Claire sent
Moira a reassuring smile. “I’m sure your baby will be perfectly healthy and happy.”
She knew Moira still worried about her child, and, of course, both of her sisters had reservations about Tierra’s baby. The new mother had asked for recovery time, but everyone wondered what might happen when Violet met Aerin, who’d practiced dark magic and who’d been temporarily inhabited by Lucy, and when Violet met Moira, who currently carried the dark-souled baby who would bring balance to the world.
They hoped.
Moira sighed and glanced about the kitchen. “I’d give my right elbow for some buttermilk-battered frog legs right now.”
Claire half-swallowed, half-choked on her coffee. “Gross,” she managed.
Aerin turned her face away and held up a hand. “Please. Let’s never discuss that again.”
Moira frowned. “Don’t y’all go turnin’ your noses up. Amphibians are practically their own food group back in the parrish. Used to make hoppers for Uncle Sal every Sunday. They’re all crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Lots a protein, too. Just what a growin’ boy needs.”
Claire took another swallow to clear the bile in her throat. “I’m with Aerin on this. Enjoy them all you want, but I don’t want to see, hear, or smell them.”
Aerin pushed back from the table, the chair legs squawking as she did. She stood and looked down at her sisters. “I don’t have time for this. If Tierra doesn’t want us to meet it, that’s fine by me. Babies smell, and they cry.”
Moira admonished her sister with a stern look. “She’s not an ‘it’.”
Aerin met her gaze head on. She pointed to the ethereal blue blouse she wore that looked as if it had been spun from clouds. “See this? It’s made from the finest mulberry silk, and it can’t just be tossed in the wash if one of those things pukes on me. You, yourself, told me that Port Townsend’s former dry cleaners is now a haven for lonely zombies looking for a hookup. Don’t think you’ll catch me anywhere near there.”
Moira widened her eyes and slyly placed a finger on her lips as though to shush Aerin.
Claire’s instincts jumped into overdrive, and she glanced back and forth between the two of them. “What? What aren’t you telling me?”
Moira tossed a peeved look in Aerin’s direction and then turned to Claire. Her features softened. “I wasn’t going to say anything…but Nicholas spotted Tommy hanging out on the street there, flirting with a girl…er, zombie girl with purple hair.”
Claire frowned. “His succubus bitch girlfriend doesn’t have purple hair.”
Aerin lifted her brows and sent Claire a blunt look. “That is correct.”
Claire’s heart gave a small twitch. “He broke up with his succubus, and now he’s seeing someone else?”
She didn’t know why she cared, but she did. After all, she had Dru who was ten times the man Tommy had been. More like a hundred times now that Tommy was dead. But Tommy had been her first love, and a small part of her wanted him to always love her, to never be able to move on and be happy without her.
Moira shrugged. “Sounds like it. I say good for him. He might be missing a few parts, but his pecker ain’t one of them. Just because he’s dead don’t mean he doesn’t like to play bury the boudin.”
The sound of movement coming from the hallway was a grateful distraction. Claire stood. “I think she’s coming.”
Tierra peeked into the room that had always been a gathering place for the sisters. She glowed, vibrating health and happiness, and Claire was grateful to see she’d fared well since Violet’s birth.
She stepped into the room, holding tightly to a bundle of pink. “Hey there. Good morning.”
Moira stood and lifted her chin as though that would give her a better look at what Tierra carried. “’Bout time, Tierra. I swear you’re slower than a three-legged tortoise. Whatcha got there?”
Tierra beamed and walked closer to Moira. She tugged back the blanket to reveal Violet’s sleeping angelic face. “This is Violet Mirelle de Moray.”
Moira released a sigh of longing. “Well, if she ain’t the most beautiful thing on earth. Look, Aerin, look at that tiny fist.”
Aerin cautiously stepped closer and peered at the baby with reserved interest. “Congratulations, Tierra. She’s…lovely.”
Tierra glanced at each of her sisters, and her smile grew wider. “After the way Violet reacted when Lucy had inhabited Aerin’s body, I’ve been a little worried that my girl might have issues with some in the household, but she seems to like everyone just fine. Would you like to hold her?”
Aerin waved both hands in front of her. “Oh, no. That’s okay. I’m…”
“She’s not good with babies,” Moira finished for her. “But I am. Give her here.”
Claire held her breath while Tierra handed over Violet, wondering if the baby would freak out when she realized her mother no longer held her, and that instead, the soon-to-be-mother of darkness did.
But little Violet sighed softly and continued to sleep.
Moira ran a fingertip down Violet’s cheek. “We’re going to get along just fine.”
Which was a huge relief to Claire.
Tierra filled a tea kettle with water and put it on to boil. She returned to the table, sat with her sisters, and smiled at Moira holding her child. Then she sighed. “I returned Aunt Justine’s call last night. She and the coven are eager to meet Violet.”
Moira snorted. “I bet they are.”
Claire looked to Tierra. “Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean Aunt Justine hasn’t always been the greatest supporter of any of us, and she’s better than the rest of them. Do you really think they’re going to accept a child of Death?”
Especially when they discovered she had wings and a powerful disposition.
Tierra shrugged. “Violet’s a de Moray, a family of witches who’ve been around for centuries. Possibly since time began. They can’t very well snub her.”
Aerin flashed silver eyes in Tierra’s direction. “Don’t be so sure.”
Tierra lifted calming hands. “I understand your concern. Trust me. No one worries about Violet more than me. I wouldn’t even consider letting them around her except there’s going to be a day when Violet’s old enough to have friends of her own. If no one in the coven accepts her, she’ll be an outcast.”
“Like us,” Claire finished.
Tierra sent her a consolatory look. “I didn’t want to say that, but, yes. In order for her to fulfill her role for all mankind, she’ll need the support of everyone, including the coven. I don’t want her to start out on the wrong foot and struggle.”
Moira kissed Violet’s little head. “I agree, Tierra. It ain’t fun having everyone look down on you.”
Tierra glanced at each of her sisters in turn. “Aunt Justine wants to hold a baby shower.”
Aerin straightened. “A fucking what shower?”
Claire laughed, though she did understand Aerin’s reservations. Polite tea parties weren’t their cup of tea.
Tierra chuckled. “A baby shower. She wanted to hold it at their place, but I said, no. If I’m allowing a multitude of people around Violet, it will be here, where all of you and the guys can protect her.”
Violet squirmed and opened her eyes, staring at Moira with a most-interested expression.
Moira grinned with obvious affection. “As much as I’d like to tell some of them biddies to kiss the north end of a south-facin’ mule, I’d say this little one deserves all the gifts she can lay her chubby paws on.”
“Good,” Tierra said. “The more the coven believes she’s a normal baby, the more likely they’ll accept her. It’s traditional for all witches to be introduced this way into their coven.”
All but them, Claire thought.
The tea kettle shrilled, and Tierra stood. “I’ll let her know that she can go ahead then. We’ll make sure the house is heavily warded and that no one who’s not invited can enter.”
Great, Claire thought. A house full of witches who hated her
. What could be more fun?
30
Early afternoon, several weeks later, one by one, members of the Port Townsend coven arrived at the quaint, nineteenth-century home sitting on the hillside above the Victorian seaport village. Witches young and old came dressed in their finery, sporting silk skirts and a variety of crystal encrusted jewelry like any respectable witch would. They chattered as they ascended the steps carrying pink or purple gifts in a variety of sizes, prepared to celebrate the arrival of Tierra’s child.
Claire and Aerin flanked the front door, supposedly to welcome their guests, but really to assess everyone entering the house. Claire had warned Aunt Justine to only invite the witches who personally knew Tierra well.
Considering the number of guests arriving, either her sister was a popular lady, or Aunt Justine hadn’t listened at all, which was a potent source of frustration for Claire.
Moira had been willing, but not happy, to be banished to their mother’s special room in the attic, where they all hoped no one could sense Moira and the dark-souled baby that she carried. Even Aunt Justine thought it was better to introduce the coven to one world-changing infant at a time.
Honestly, Moira didn’t know how lucky she was, not having to deal with the mostly unpleasant witches. Plus, Moira had Nick there to entertain her, and Claire had no doubt that he would.
Aerin and she received several dull looks from the haughty witches as they passed. Although Aerin in her expensive pantsuit far outclassed them, neither she nor Claire, in her red silk shirt and leather pants, won their approval. Likely never would.
Not that she cared.
A lull came between arriving guests, and Aerin sighed with impatience as they waited for the next party of guests to make their way to the house. “This is such a shit show.”
Claire groaned. “You’re telling me. If I have kids, and that’s a big ‘if’, I don’t care if the whole town disowns me. I’m not subjecting myself to their ridiculous trivialities.”
Aerin grinned. “Truth. I have better things to do than entertain the lot of nasty women. They don’t care about us, don’t care about Tierra or little Violet. They’ve sensed the power and light she’s brought into the world, and they’re here to witness her firsthand, to judge her power, and to plan the future of the coven based on what they see.”
Which Witch is Willing? (The Witches of Port Townsend Book 4) Page 15
