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Enforcers came to Grandma’s house looking for them, and Henry made himself visible, tucked away his wings, and identified himself as the coven’s first victim. He even claimed the land in compensation for his suffering.
The Council let him keep Grandma’s house and garden but sold the chain of apothecary stores to pay for the other men’s upkeep.
Since the enchantment darkened my hair and enhanced my features, nobody recognizes me as part of the Styx coven.
Branches rustle overhead, and someone makes a muffled bark.
They’re close.
I dip into a low crouch and stalk around a twisted ash tree. Henry stands beneath its canopy, holding a pair of squirming puppies.
My heart swells, and all thoughts of their nap schedule vanish into the ether as they gaze at me through Henry’s startling green eyes.
Matilda has mostly black fur with a patch of white between her eyes that spreads down her snout and chest. She gives me a happy bark.
Geoffrey gives me an excited yip. His fur is black with patches of gold around the brow, the cheekbones, and the paws. He looks more like me, while Matilda is a patchy version of Henry.
“How was the coven?” Henry asks with a smile.
I shift into my two-legged form and stretch out my wings. “They’re all miserable.”
Henry hands me the puppies and presses a kiss on my temple. “It’s time for you to stop worrying about those witches. They’re getting better than they deserve.”
He’s right. What the coven did to those men was unforgivable, but I couldn’t stand back and allow the Council to murder my only family.
Matilda shifts back into a little girl with long black hair and freckles. She gazes up at me through sleepy eyes. “Daddy’s teaching us to hunt!”
Geoffrey transforms into a boy with curly brown hair and gives me a soft yawn. “We caught a rabbit.”
My gaze turns to Henry. Now that he’s not holding the children, he looks exactly as he did that time he stalked me through the orchard—dark, wild, and dangerous.
And the grin he gives me is utterly wicked.
My heart flutters. Sometimes, I can’t believe the creature I found so terrifying is now the father of my children and my mate.
As he disappears behind the tree, the air turns still, and magic crackles against my skin. I can’t wait to see what he’s planned.
Moments later, I feel fingers brush the hair off my shoulders, and he traces a path of kisses up my neck. “I know you wanted them to nap while you visited the coven,” he says, his voice low and seductive. “But I wanted them tired for your return.”
A pleasant shiver runs down my spine. I squeeze my thighs together and I ignore the sensation. “Why?”
“So we won’t be disturbed while I take you flying.”
I glance down at the sleeping four year olds and smile. It’s going to be a very pleasant afternoon.
