She sniffed imperiously and glanced around. “It’s wrong what you do to boys. All because they have that little birthmark.”
“Birthmark?” Marquis raised a hand to get her attention.
“The birthmark below their navel!” She rested a hand on her stomach, and Roan rolled his eyes.
“Madam. I must be blunt, but thatbirthmarkis a sign of his gender.” Marquis stepped forward, and Midnite, sitting quietly nearby, huffed.
“He’s a boy!” she snapped at Marquis.
“I’m not arguing that his exterior is that of human males. As far as traditional gender roles, he does keep male norms. His biological identity, internally, serves more or less the same function as a female’s.” Marquis held up a hand placatingly.
“It’s wrong. It’s not normal.” The thick Australian accent of Midnite’s stepfather, Gilbert, grumbled, brow furrowed. “They have laws against this sort of thing.”
Roan rubbed at his forehead as a young woman sighed heavily. She had a stocky build like the male human and features like Min, Midnite’s mother. They didn’t look very similar, but elements were there. “Mum, Dad, fuck off. It’s been seventeen years! I’ve not seen my big bubba since I was in grade schoolbecause you two can’t get off of social media and stop repeating toxic bullshit.”
“It’s not right, Hannah!” Min stomped her foot.
“No, what’s not right is that the only thing you and Dad have in common is hate. And if it weren’t for the fact that you’re sleeping with him, he’d be just as shitty to you.” Hannah, Midnite’s sister, stomped her foot back like her mother and glared as her father tensed up as if he had the slight inclination to raise a hand to the girl.
“Watch it, Hannah!” His warning tone made Midnite bristle.
Listen here, you fat, ignorant fucking cunt! Suck my nonexistent fuzzy nuts! I’ve always hated you—Midnite ranted, his cat form grumbling and meowing as he spewed a plethora of swears. He’d never heardcuntused so prolifically and in so many creative ways before.
“Shut the fucking cat up, for chrissakes!” The human male whipped his head to the side and glanced around as if looking for something to throw. He hopped on one foot, reaching for his shoe as Midnite hissed violently and bristled.
Rex pulled his wand out in a blink as Roan did the same, but Midnite beat them to it in a blink, shifting to his human form, hand swiping out for his wand nearby. “Long time no see, Gilly.”
Gilbert, for his part, stumbled and fell back onto his bottom with a grunt and cried out with a hoarse noise. “Fuck!”
“Cade!” Hannah stared with openmouthed wonder. “How the fuck did you?”
“Magic.”
“I bloody well know that much, but like—” She gestured toward him. “And you look like you’ve not aged!”
“Probably the second-best part of being a mage, yeah?” He gave her a half grin. “Missed you, sis.”
Nite slid down and opened his arms, meeting her halfway with a hug. She squeezed tight and laughed. “What’s the best part?”
“I’d say magic or my husband, but the best part? Your nephews.” Nite pulled back as her eyes lit up.
“Nephews? You adopted?” She tilted her head.
“One of them, yeah. The other—the old-fashioned way.” He laughed as she furrowed her brow in confusion.
“So, you really can, like, get pregnant and all that?” She whispered it conspiratorially.
“Yeah. Part of being omega and a familiar.” He put his hands on his hips and blatantly ignored Gilbert and Min even as she called his name in confusion.
“Grandbabies?” The word halted Min’s fury as Rexford slipped by, grinning. He returned in seconds with Caspian seated in his arms, eyes scanning everything imperiously.
“Oh!” She held her hand over her mouth as Rex leaned in and handed him to Midnite.
“This is Caspian. Rex adopted Vince before we met, but he’s in the other room.” Midnite startled a little as Hannah and Min invaded his space and cooed, fawning over the little dark-haired boy.
“Oh, he’s a big boy. How old?” Min opened her arms, and, for such a small woman, she had a forceful way about her.
“Eleven months.” Midnite gently ceded the child to her.
