“What’s going on?” Gage glares over at his mother. As he should.
Emma gags and sputters while baby Barron offers her cheeks a serious wallop, and she sets him down next to his brother. Barron should have slapped a little harder—although slapping sense into Emma at this point feels rather pointless. She is the one who thought it was a good idea to sleep with Demetri all those eons ago. She’s probably just jealous that my mother gets to do it nightly. Kill me.
“Gage”—she cinches her lips—“as you and I both discussed—I’ve enrolled the boys in pre-K prep for the fall.”
“Thanks.” He swallows hard before glancing down at me. “I meant to run it by you. I mean, it’s okay, right? That way the boys get to hang out with kids their own age for a couple hours a day and we’ll get a break.”
“Oh.” Crap. A part of me wishes the boys never had to endure Emma’s wrath for hours each day. A small part of me is actually a tiny bit jealous that she’ll get to have all that pre-K fun with them. “Fall is much too soon,” I say. Truth. It’s a knife in the heart to think I’ll soon be strapping backpacks to my babies while shoving lunchboxes their way. Once they start school, it will never end. Before you know it, they’ll leave for college and that will really eviscerate me.
Mom scoffs. “Not only is fall far too soon—kids their own age are breeding factories for germs, and don’t get me started on anti-vaccers.”
“Mom”—I tick my head her way—“weren’t you just lecturing me on the dangers of vaccines?” It’s too late. My kids are vaccinated to the hilt. They’ll just have to rough the lead, mercury, and whatever other toxin they’re infusing into their baby bloodstreams just like I did. On another note, some people might argue that it explains a lot.
“Oh, hush, you.” Mom is quick to bite off my nose. “My point is that the boys will be better off in a loving, caring environment with their grandmother for one more year.”
“Exactly,” Emma harps. “And they will be. With me.”
Tad waves them off like the squabbling hens they are and rolls up his sleeve before thrusting his arm toward Dr. O.
“Check this out. The big shots over at Raven’s Eye launched a new security system.”
The four of us lean in, suddenly interested in Tad and his hairy, vein-riddled forearm.
Dr. O pushes his glasses up a notch. “What exactly am I looking at?”
“That’s just it”—Tad barks out the short-lived laugh of a maniac—“ya can’t see it. They shot me up with a microchip the size of a single grain of rice. They said I wouldn’t even notice it and, boy, were they ever right.” He claws himself just below the crook of his elbow, and a bright red patch immediately becomes a welt. “Damn thing itches like head lice.”
Shit. They’ve chipped him. Gage and I exchange a quick glance.
“You’re allergic to it.” Dr. O nods as if it were common. “I’m afraid you’ll have to have it removed.”
“Yes,” I say, breathless. Dr. O is a genius. “Actually, Ezrina is a doctor. She can help remove it tonight. Here, now would be best before you go into anaphylactic shock.” I pull out my phone and shoot her a text.
“No way.” Tad raises a hand as if he were about to strike me. “The hot shots I work for made it clear there is no entry to the island without this doo-hickey. It unlocks the doors to the main facility and gets me in and out of that chamber of horrors. I’m not letting a few hives cost me the best job I’ve had yet, dagnabbit.” Demetri steps up with that stupid grin on his face in the middle of Tad’s preamble. “The head honcho himself pulled me aside and said I was proving to be quite a specimen.”
“Specimen?” I look to Gage in horror. Dear God, it’s happened. Tad has unleashed hell on all the Factions with his zero wit and subzero IQ, and now we’re all going to crash and burn because of it.
“That’s right.” He rocks back on his heels, proud of his latest debacle. The sad thing is, he has no clue. He takes a precautionary look around before leaning in. “Not to brag, but they thought so highly of me they put me in charge of those overgrown grunting meatheads that do nothing all day but slobber and moan.” He shoots Gage a dirty look as if he fit the description as well. But Gage and I exchange a quick glance of horror because it’s obvious Taddy Dearest here has been sent into a den of brain hungry Spectators. “It’s so dang hot in that cage they keep them locked up in, you just pray the guy next to you breaks wind just to feel a breeze!” He slaps his knee and brays like a donkey. “Anyway, I’m a hotshot, if I do say so myself. I’m proud to announce I latched onto the corporate ladder of success and climbed all the way to the top, Lizbeth!”
Mom lets out a whoop of approval, and both Nathan and Barron look up with terror for a moment. As they should.
Dear God, one day Tad is going to wake up and realize his ladder is leaning against the wrong building.
Tad beats his chest three times fast as if giving himself the Heimlich. “Tad Landon is finally the big man on campus, I tell you. I’m the one they come to when they want answers.”
“Answers?” My heart leaps into my throat, and I nearly strangulate myself from the vibrations.
“Yeah, you know. They’re new to the area. They’re trying to soak in the island life. Said they knew those higher-ups I showed around that year from Althorpe. Jilly and Killy.”
“Moser and Killion,” I correct, deflated. Crap. I knew nothing good would come from Tad playing footsies with those devils. Not that pure humans are nefarious by nature, but you entertain them with a little paranormal activity and all hell breaks loose. I’m sure they’re dying to know what’s happened to the aforementioned government agents as well. Last they were seen, they were parading around Paragon a few months back—Fems wearing their likeness like bad Halloween costumes. Truly the Fems know no end to their wickedness. I glance to Gage and make a face. Case in point, only a Fem would create the perfect being and make me fall in love with him. Demetri is an evil genius in that respect. Although, I would give up the world for Gage.
I look back to Tad and grunt, “Don’t get too friendly with the feds or you might find a G-man in your bed next.” Gage gives my hand a hard squeeze for the bizarre dig. Both Emma and my mother gasp in horror.
“I mean, you’re both so friendly,” I say, nodding to Tad and my mother. “Isn’t that right, Demetri? My parents are so very friendly and kind to those in need.”
“’Tis true.” He nods to my mother while turning up the charm. “But I’m afraid all good things must come to an end. I just spoke with my contractor at the bar. The house will be move-in ready within a week.”
“Oh my God,” Mom shrieks with the same morbid dejection reserved for news of a sudden death. Figures. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if she donned a black veil and wailed for the next two years.
“Welp”—Tad slaps him over the back and shakes his head—“we had a good run, amigo. As much as I hate to see you go, Demeet, I do miss sleeping on a mattress. The floor is really starting to jack my back. Hasta la bye bye, buddy.”
Ha! I knew it. Tad was quickly rolled off the Posturepedic cliff. No surprise. Demeet here likes to have my mother all to himself. I knew the only warm bodies cuddled in that bed belonged to Lizbeth-the-two-timer and her idiotic choice of a gentleman caller. God, he’s such a pig. I glower over at him, seething.
Demetri’s mouth opens as he looks to my mother with those mocking eyes. Oh, how I’d love to claw them out right about now. “Tad?” He does a double take my stepfather’s way. “My goodness, is that your arm swelling?”
We look over, only to find a giant summer sausage dangling where Tad’s poor appendage stood just a second ago.
“Shit,” Gage hisses at the sight, shocked as he should be—as opposed to that gloating look on Demetri’s wicked face.
Dr. O snatches Tad by his good arm and begins to whisk him away. “It’s nothing a little ointment can’t fix. Skyla, summon Ezrina to meet me in the downstairs kitchen,” he shouts as the fog wraps itself around
them like a coat.
“Already on it.” I hit Send to Ezrina, and she pings right back that she’s already there nursing baby Alice. Ezrina and Nev are impeccable parents.
Emma preens at my mother with an unholy grimace. “It does look rather anaphylactic to me. But Barron is a wizard when it comes to these things.”
“Anaphylactic?” Mom turns green as she sways on her heels. But Demetri, ever the philanderer, wraps his arms around her tight. “You can’t leave me now.” She clasps her hand to his cheek. “Not when I’m about to lose Tad.”
“You won’t lose him.” I scowl at Demetri. “In fact, I’m sure he’ll be right as rain as soon as Barron and Ezrina finish with him. And I’m sure he’ll feel much better tonight once he reclaims his bed. Surely you won’t have him suffer on the carpet when he’s so deathly infirmed—now would you, Demetri?”
“Absolutely not. He’ll be right where he belongs.”
Emma scoffs. “Please, this is all such a farce.”
Figures. It takes Emma’s piss-poor attitude, plus all that pricey champagne she’s knocked back, to stick a pin into my mother’s adulterating good time. And I’m secretly glad about it.
Mom chokes and sputters as she breaks free from the arms of that viper and takes a step toward her redheaded nemesis. “Oh, please tell me, Emma. What would be a farce? My concern for the man I love?”
Dear God, this could get physical, and I’m debating whether or not to intervene if it does.
“Which man?” Emma doesn’t miss a beat.
I suck in a quick breath as Gage holds out a hand.
“All right, settle down,” he growls at his mother, but Emma is relentless and doesn’t bother to break that hateful stare she’s pinned on my mother.
“That’s right. I said it.” Emma’s red eyes widen with glee. “You lie in a bed with a man you don’t belong with and right under the nose of the poor man you profess to love. I hate to say it, but this is low even for you. You had better watch yourself, Lizbeth, or soon you’ll be known as the island hussy.”
“You should know”—Mom’s lips quiver—“that was your nickname first!”
Crap.
“Enough!” Demetri barks so loud half the party looks this way, but thankfully, the music kicks up a notch and about a dozen girls scream as they run for the dance floor, declaring in unison, it’s my favorite song!
“I can take care of this.” Mom waves Demetri off as if he were the help. My God, can this night get any better? “Face it, Emma, you’re just spitting mad because he chose my home, not yours.”
“Whoa!” Gage rumbles with a dull laugh, stepping between our mothers with his hands held high. “And I think that’s the end.”
Emma smacks her beloved son’s hand the hell away from her. “Listen, Lizbeth. What happened between Demetri and me was a smoldering ember compared to the inferno the two of you ignite whenever you’re together.”
Mom’s affect changes on a dime. Her abject anger morphs into blushing pride while she fans herself with her fingers.
“I’m going to be sick,” I say under my breath.
“Fret not, ladies.” Demetri is quick to settle it the diplomatic way—by offering his hussies past and present an amicable kiss on the cheek. Bleh. “Emma, what you and I shared has changed the world.” He wraps a claw around her waist as she rolls her eyes and quietly concedes.
Mom scoffs before softening once he fastens his other meathook around her waist, albeit much, much lower.
“And my lovely Lizbeth—” He pauses to brush another kiss over her cheek.
I look to Gage with vengeance in my eyes. So help me God, I will pulverize Demetri with the working end of my stiletto in his sleep tonight.
“You are my oldest, my dearest, my forever friend.” His voice draws out with an endless ache as my mother all but collapses in his arms as if he were a rock god. “Emma, I’m afraid you’ve painted a picture that isn’t so. And it can never be.”
“Please.” Emma knows no shame tonight, and I’m secretly cheering her on. “We all know that if, God forbid, Tad finds himself with the great majority—the two of you will be sharing a roof before his body has a chance to cool. Oh wait, you’re already doing that, aren’t you?”
Gage groans, “And that’s the end of the show. Come on. No more champagne for you.” He plucks the glass from the lush’s hand.
“It’s true!” Emma snatches her champagne flute right back. “And I’m only shedding light on the problem because Lizbeth is the boys’ grandmother. I can’t have the boys suffering because of her inability to keep her hormones in check.”
“Emma, come. Let’s find Barron.” Demetri takes her by the elbow and swiftly navigates her toward the house.
Mom calls Mia over, and they each pluck a boy off the sand.
Gage rocks on his feet while craning his neck in his mother’s direction. “I’d better get her home.”
“I’ll go with you.” I latch onto his arm, afraid the fog will swallow him, too. “We can run by Rockaway after and I can give you the surprise I’ve been dying to give you.”
I’ve hinted like mad that I have something special for him. Of course, it landed us in the butterfly room going hot and heavy at it for a little pre-wedding romp. But Gage wasn’t able to wrangle the secret from me. That stone my mother issued him is burning a hole in the baby bag somewhere in the house. I thought I’d take him to a special place and present him my mother’s offer—seven years no war equals seven years of wedded bliss. And to sweeten the deal, I’ll have my mother herself perform the ceremony. Not one sign of Demetri in sight. I know Gage will be thrilled. And once those seven years have come and gone and the peace goes on, I’m certain she will be pleased to let Gage remain as my husband. It’s important to me on so many levels. Gage and I are ushering in an entirely new era of peace the likes of which the Fems and Celestra have never seen before.
Gage pulls me in and offers a heated kiss to my lips that lingers. “Let me get my mother settled first. I’ll be right back. Ellis said he wanted to talk to me about some business venture, and I’ll admit my curiosity is piqued. And then I’ll steal you away. You’ve managed to pique my curiosity a hell of a lot more than Harrison ever could.” He takes off with a wave, his eyes never straying from mine until he completely evaporates, and I can’t tell if it’s the fog or if he’s genuinely melted like snow.
I glance to where the boys, my mom, and Mia were, but they’ve all done a disappearing act as well. My gaze meanders around at the festivities as the music switches to something moodier, and I spot the four of them on the dance floor. The boys are completely adorable in their miniature tuxes, and I hope they’re still awake by the time Gage gets back because I want family pictures. Speaking of family, Tad comes to mind with that swollen extremity, and I turn to head back to the house and bump into a body—two to be exact, three if you want to get technical.
“Coop!” I stagger in the sand. “Sorry.” I do a little curtsy before lunging over Laken with a hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”
“I’m late. I missed the wedding. I had to wait until Tobie went to bed. She kept tugging on her ear. Wesley thinks it’s an earache and wants me to bring Ezrina back to the Transfer.”
Laken glows in her gloriously overgrown state, her belly shooting straight as if a basketball were planted under her shirt. From behind you can’t even tell she’s having a baby. Coop casually wraps an arm around her shoulders, and she leans into him. It might be for stability at this point, but if I didn’t know better, I’d think they were a couple. A damn cute couple about to expand their brood by one. And they might be. I’m still rooting for the baby to be Cooper’s. It would serve Wesley right.
Laken wrinkles her nose. “Wes has a message for you, too. He wants Kresley back asap. He indelicately suggested you stop sitting on your hands. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize for him. And you can tell him he doesn’t have to worry. I might be able to get to her sooner than anticipated.” I
fill them in on the tracking device in Tad’s arm that doubles as a key to those damn cages.
“I’ll do it,” Coop volunteers without enthusiasm. “I can’t let you risk your life. You’ve got kids, Skyla.”
Laken’s mouth falls open as she looks up at him in adoration. “You’re a hero.”
A dull laugh pumps through me. “And don’t you forget it. And don’t forget it was Wes who got Kres in this predicament to begin with either.”
Her brows furrow. “Only to spare me. Wesley can’t stop loving me. It’s his way. It’s always been his way.”
Coop and I exchange a quick glance. I want to tell her that he did in fact stop loving her when he chose to follow darkness, but don’t breathe a word. There’s no way I want to raise her anxiety levels while she’s in such a delicate state.
Coop clears his throat. “I have news. Ezrina is close to decoding the ancient text.”
I suck in a quick breath. “How? When?”
“Let’s just say news of your Noster friends inspired her to get creative, and there has been magic ever since.”
“No way!”
Laken struggles to read Coop’s face. “You’re keeping something from me.” Her mouth falls open as she offers an amused laugh. “You think you can’t trust me.”
“I trust you with my life,” he’s quick to tell her. “In fact, when I do go over the text with Skyla, I’ll invite you to join us. It can’t be in the Transfer, I’m sorry.”
“I get it.” She lifts a hand as if emphasizing her point. “And yes, I want to be there.” She looks to me. “I want to be a part of this. Now, what’s happening with your Noster friends?”
“Ms. Messenger,” a deep voice thunders from a distance, and I spot Marshall standing on the grassy knoll that leads to the house. Typical Marshall, not wanting to ruin his Italian loafers in the sand. And sadly, that look of disappointment on his face is starting to be typical as well.
“Excuse me. It appears I’m being summoned.”
I head on over, enjoying the feel of cool sand between my toes one last time before having my bottom spanked and handed to me on a silver platter. Marshall is formal that way. Even a verbal beatdown is done in proverbial style.