"I feel like I'm supposed to be the responsible older sister." Her fingers adjusted Melaina's bottle. "Like I should be strong and helpful and not a burden. But I'm so scared, Mom. What if I mess up? What if something happens and I'm not fast enough or strong enough or?—"
"Nina." I waited until she looked at me. "You threw up a shield at the farmer's market that stopped a Thessmark's attack cold. You didn't hesitate. You didn't freeze. You protected your siblings. I have complete faith in you."
"But what if next time?—"
"Next time you'll do it again." I shifted Thaniel to burp him, but Mom handed me Nyssa, who had started to fuss, and took her brother. "You're not alone in this. None of us are."
Before she could respond, Layla's voice drifted up from downstairs. "Anyone want coffee?"
"Yes," Nina and I called back in unison.
Layla appeared minutes later, carrying four mugs on a tray. “Here you go,” she sang out. Her black hair was still damp from a shower. She'd been up early doing perimeter checks with Murtagh. You'd never know it from how perky she was.
"Tseki found some interesting tracks near the eastern border," she said, settling cross-legged on the floor. "Probably deer, but we're checking them anyway."
"Thanks for being so vigilant." I accepted the coffee gratefully.
"Are you kidding? You know we would do anything for any of you." Layla's amber eyes softened as she looked at the triplets. "We protect our own. Besides, after what happened with the Thessmark, I'm not taking chances."
Nina sat up straighter. "Can I ask you something? About... handling responsibility?"
"Sure." The wolf shifter sipped her coffee.
"How did you do it? Being responsible for others when you were young like me?"
Layla went still, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. The question had landed differently than Nina intended. I could see it in the way Layla's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"I didn't have a choice," she said finally, her voice careful. "Tseki and I... we were made for it. Literally. The witch who created us trained us from the time we could walk. We learned to fight, hunt, and kill on command." Her gaze drifted to the triplets, something ancient and weary flickering behind those amber eyes. "It wasn't about protecting anyone. It was about surviving her. About doing what we were told so we'd live another day."
Nina's face went pale. "Layla, I'm sorry, I didn't mean?—"
"No, it's okay." Layla's expression gentled. "Hattie saved us and showed us what it meant to be loved. Life wasn’t all bad."
I watched them talk as I fed Nyssa. Nina relaxed in a way she hadn't in days, making me grateful for Layla's presence. For the way our family kept expanding to include people who chose to stand with us.
Tarja materialized on the changing table, her green eyes bright. "Aidon's coming back through the Hellmouth."
Relief and apprehension warred in my chest. "That was faster than expected."
"His energy feels agitated." Tarja's tail lashed once. "Whatever he learned, it's not good news."
I adjusted Nyssa against my shoulder, her weight warm and solid as she finished nursing. "Guess we'd better go find out."
Nina already had Melaina bundled against her chest, while Mom scooped up Thaniel with the ease of someone who'd raised her own babies a lifetime ago. Layla was alert as she fell into step beside us and we headed downstairs.
The kitchen was already occupied when we arrived. Mythia stood at the stove, wooden spoon in hand like a weapon she knew how to use. Nana perched at the island with her ever-present cup of tea. Those sharp eyes tracked our entrance with predatory precision. Nothing escaped her notice.
"Well, don't you all look like death warmed over," Nana said, her eyes flickering between us with barely concealed worry beneath the sharp tone. She took a sip of tea, but her hands weren't quite steady. "Those bastard Thessmark haven't gotten the memo that they’ve messed with the wrong family yet, I see."
My mouth opened, but whatever sarcastic retort I'd been forming died on my tongue as the back door swung open. Aidon stepped through. The sight of his expression sent ice sliding down my spine even as he crossed to me in three strides and pressed a kiss to my mouth. He lifted Nyssa from my arms with practiced ease, tucking her against his chest and pressing his face into her baby-soft hair like she was the only thing keeping him grounded.
Nana took one look at his expression and set down her teacup with a sharp click, her jaw tightening. "Well, shit." Her voice dropped, losing all traces of humor. "That's your 'someone's about to die' face, boy. Out with it." Only she would say that.
"It's not great," Aidon said, his voice tight enough to snap.
Mythia turned from the stove, spatula frozen mid-stir, and Layla's posture shifted subtly. Both of them were always ready. My heart hammered against my ribs. "What did your fathersay?" I asked as I grabbed a fresh cup of coffee. I’d left the one Layla brought me upstairs.
“First, the good news. My father said a new stroller will be here today. It’ll be warded every which way from Sunday.” Aidon shifted Nyssa to his other arm and pulled an empty vial from his pocket. He set it on the counter with deliberate care. "Now for the not so great. The residue is from an artifact called the Essence Scythe. My father thought it had been destroyed centuries ago."
