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What surprised her most though were the decorations. Balloons, streamers, a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner, and a massive purple birthday cake, from behind which stepped a delighted Mrs Briars.
“What is all this?” she asked.
“Well, it’s your birthday, right? Well, it will be in like, twelve minutes, anyway.” Athon squeezed her hand.
“So we wanted to celebrate. The wedding was perfect, but your birthday is just as important.” Roth kissed the top of her head.
“And there was no way in a snowball’s chance your dad was going to pass up the opportunity to finally throw his baby girl a birthday party for the first time.” Nithe grinned over at her father who looked at her proudly.
“I hope you—” He didn’t even get to finish before she threw herself into his arms and kissed his cheek.
“Thanks, Daddy. It’s amazing!” Jezzie hid her face in his shoulder and held on in a way one can only do to a parental figure.
“Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. You can have all the daddy-daughter hugs later. It’s present time!” Her aunt grabbed her arms and led her over to some artfully arranged cushions on the floor and plonked her down. The guys sat around her as a present was thrust into her hands.
Some were wedding gifts, some were just for her. Jezzie had never had a birthday party before. Not one where anyone other than her mother, Aunt Rai Rai, and Leraie had come anyway. She felt so very overwhelmed. The gifts were all so thoughtful and unique, none more so than Lily’s. Matching sister pendants sat in a dark blue velvet box and as they placed one around each other’s necks they both made a promise to share the bond of sisterhood forever.
“I also have a gift for you,” Leraie spoke up. “The cabin in South Eastern Australia is yours, eternally protected by divine intervention. You may use it any time you wish.”
“Thank you, Grandma Raie. How did you know I was going to ask?” Jezzie queried. To which Leraie gave her a ‘don’t turn into a dumbass now’ look. “Right, silly me.” Jezzie laughed.
Dante approached her aunt, a swagger entered his step. Jezzie wondered just how much he’d had to drink as he opened his mouth and this purler came out, “So, wanna go back to my place, pretty lady?”
Her aunt looked down her nose as Deus snorted and the rest of the room groaned. She placed her finger on the tip of his nose and smiled.
“Oh, so tempting. Especially since we are already here, but I don’t think you’d like the consequences should you disappoint me.” She trailed her finger down over the slight bulge in his pants. “And since Jezzie’s taken you on as a brother it’d be a shame to hurt you, not to mention it’d feel a little incestuous on my end, even if it technically isn’t.”
“Go play with a different toy, Dante. You really don’t want to lose your nuts today.” Deus cackled as he sidled up to her aunt. Hm, this should be interesting, Jezzie thought, but her attention was soon diverted as a large unmarked box was placed on the floor before her.
“Who is this one from? I thought we already opened them all?” Tana looked around and gasped.
“Special delivery,” intoned an ethereal voice.
“Seriously? Now you make an entrance?” Leraie rolled her eyes.
“Oh, shush, you big baby. Why shouldn’t the Almighty deign to offer the blessings in person and in private.”
All eyes turned to the newcomer. She was stunning. Her shimmering robes floated on a non-existent breeze, as did her wavy black hair. Her dark skin held a golden glow, as if metallic makeup had been dusted over it to give it a heavenly luster.
“Go on, Jezebeth, open it. He was very insistent you do so, and I’d hate to disappoint one of my chosen.” The Almighty pointed at the box, but her eyes were locked on Mrs B with an intensity that was unnerving.
Jezzie lifted the lid on the box slowly and peered inside. Fucking Ballzy! The fucking curtains, as a birthday and wedding present. Seriously? Jezzie laughed delightedly, and uncontrollably. Looking over her shoulder she saw her mates’ eyes almost touch their hairlines.
“Balthazar,” she squeaked out. The name was met with grumbles and groans. When they saw the figures on the fabric move and heard the sounds they made their eyes widened and their mouths hung open.
Jezzie gently lifted the curtains out of the box and unfolded them. The cheeky rascals she encountered in her cell winked at her, and she laughed again, showing the others what Balthazar sent.
Over in the corner Jezzie spotted Mrs Briars, frozen to the spot, her eyes fixed on the figures making love on the fabric. For a second nothing happened, then magic swirled around her and lifted her into the air. When her feet touched down on the floor again, her hair looked a little blonder with pastel pink streaks and her face about fifteen human years younger. The same expression graced all their faces as they looked at Mrs Briars like guppies out of water, but her gaze was focussed on the image on the curtain still.
On a single breath out she exclaimed, “Tuo narttu, suolistan hänet kuin vitun galhild kun saan hänet käsiini.”
Jezzie blinked at the use of the Finnish language. The accent was way off, strangely captivating and mildly terrifying, and Athon whispered the word Fae on a breath filled with awe. Jezzie looked from Mrs B to the curtains. The figures on the curtain froze and the woman shrieked as she scampered behind the men who shielded her protectively with confused looks on their faces as they searched around for threats in the crowd around them. Mrs B fell through the floor and vanished an instant after.
“Now that that’s out of the way, back to me. The Diva’s in the house, and I’ve got some things to say.” All eyes focused back on the Almighty. “As you’ve all finally figured out, yes, you do now have the ability to find your soul mate, or mates as it sometimes is, and form the bonds most other supernatural beings already could. This is my gift to you. You will know when you have found them by your ability to dream, and to dream in color. Astral dreaming is rare, and due to Jezebeth’s particular hybrid genetics it came very easily.” She paused for effect but no one dared speak.
“Along with your mated bond your once passive shadows, mist, etc . . . may find the bond will likely form for them as well and through doing so their full sentience may be attained. As is the case with Jezzie’s shadows and Roth and Athon’s too. Nithe’s dragon has even bonded with Jezzie’s shadows.”
“What does that mean?” Malphas piped up.
