Our host must have known this, for he passed me a glass of red wine.
“A vintage Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I picked up a bottle the last time I visited Europe. Enjoy.” The rich, complex flavors burst on my tongue, and I nodded appreciatively.
“Thank you. This is indeed an excellent vintage.”
Sadness hit me hard as I thought about our family’s vineyards, which were likely lost once we and our loyal servants perished. Perhaps when it was safe for me to travel to Europe, I would take my witch to see if the vines were salvageable. With the help of magic, it was likely they were.
Fluttering wings rippled the air, and when I looked up, a petite female sprite had appeared. She ducked under the tall shifter’s arm and smiled at us all a little nervously.
My witch blinked in surprise at the sight of a winged female.
“Oh my stars, your wings are gorgeous!” Her ass wiggled on my lap as she attempted to sit up, which had an unwanted effect,but I wasn’t complaining. It had been so long since anything or anyone had touched me that the enjoyment of a gorgeous female in my arms was even better than the fine wine in my hand.
The witch blushed before coughing. “Sorry, that was rude. My guardian always told me off for commenting on a magical’s appearance.”
The kitsune jumped onto the table, poked his nose in the pot of stew, and sniffed.
“Thor, the foxy wants some food! Get him a bowl; the poor thing looks starving!” The sprite’s eyes sparkled with tears as she stared at the definitely-not-starving creature blinking up at her with what looked a lot like devotion. He trotted across the table, ignoring the mage’s curses and the bear shifter’s growls of displeasure before hopping off and rubbing his head against the sprite’s legs.
She giggled and reached down to pet his furry head.
My witch snorted. “He’s not a fox; he’s a kitsune,” she told the sprite. “A very manipulative one,” she added under her breath.
“He’s adorable!”
The wolf shifter sneered at the kitsune. “Filthy creature.”
“Rex!” The sprite gasped in outrage. “Don’t be horrible to the poor starving little fluffster.” She turned her back on the wolf to pet the creature some more, much to her other mate’s amusement. The wolf looked stricken at her obvious dismissal.
“Skyla, baby! You know I didn’t mean it!”
“Yes you did. And because I’m angry with you, you can sleep in the woodshed tonight.”
We all watched in fascination as the wolf shifter threw a tantrum and stormed out.
“Wolf shifters are such assholes,” my witch whispered to herself, making the incubus chuckle.
“He’s such a big baby,” Skyla sniffed before smiling shyly at us all.
“Please don’t let our obnoxious wolf mate spoil your appetite,” the tall shifter said in a resigned voice. The bear shifter grunted and grabbed a plate. I watched as he filled it with stew and added a bread roll.
“Little mate, you need to replenish your energy. Please eat.”
The witch grumbled at the bear shifter’s plea but took the plate anyway. It was obvious she enjoyed being spoiled even if she pretended otherwise, which was perfect because I had plans to spoil her too.
43
Maverick
Istill couldn’t get my head around the idea Thorrin was alive and well and now had two mates. The fact one of them was an annoying wolf shifter made my bear grumble, but the wood sprite seemed sweet.
“Drink?” Thorrin filled my cup with a fragrant liquor when I nodded.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” I waited until he’d poured himself a large drink. “It’s about your father.”
Thorrin and Seamus had fallen out long ago, mostly because of Seamus’s drinking. At the time I suspected that was why Thorrin had left, but so far he’d not explained.
“What’s the old fucker done now?” Thorrin asked with an eye roll.
