we have to do now is relax and enjoy them.”
Caitrin cleared his throat and shifted in his chair, steering the conversation along brighter paths. “How do you feel about your magic, Layla?”
“It’s amazing,” she gushed. “When Quin first showed me he could perform magic, I was blown away, and of course I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But then I performed it, and there was no denying the incredible feeling it gave me.”
“Quin says your magic is already impressive,” Serafin noted.
“Quin’s probably just being polite,” Layla countered.
“What have you performed so far?” Caitrin asked.
“Well, the first thing I did was find Quin’s aura while he was concealed, which was amazing, but it was nothing compared to the second thing.”
Morrigan curled her legs on the couch and moved closer. “What was the second thing?”
“I shot a fireball from my hand,” Layla exclaimed. “It was crazy. It felt so... invigorating.”
Serafin laughed and traded a glance with Caitrin. “A fireball was the second bit of magic you performed?”
“Yeah,” she answered.
“That is impressive,” Caitrin commended. “Fire’s the trickiest element.”
“That’s what Quin said, but I loved it. I hope I get to try it again soon.”
“You don’t have to hope,” Morrigan pointed out. “You can step outside and shoot a fireball now if you’d like.”
Layla’s eyes widened. “I guess I could. Weird.” But she didn’t jump up and become the fire starter she was tempted to be. She was far too comfortable wedged between her grandmas.
“You have plenty of time,” Serafin assured, checking his watch. “What would you like for dinner?”
“Um... I don’t know. I keep forgetting to think about food. It’s been like that for two days. If it weren’t for Quin, I would have starved.”
“I’ll have to thank him for keeping my granddaughter alive,” Caitrin noted.
Layla looked at her coffee, cheeks growing tingly and warm. “Like I said, Quin’s been wonderful. There’s more to thank him for than feeding me.”
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Morrigan replied, touching Layla’s cheek. “Would you like to eat dinner with us? Or would you rather have dinner with Quinlan?”
Layla jerked her head up, face flaming. “I don’t... I haven’t... I didn’t make dinner plans with Quin.”
“I know, sweetie,” Morrigan soothed, squeezing her arm. “I’m merely asking your preference.”
“Oh. Well he’s probably busy after dealing with me all weekend, and dinner with you guys sounds great.”
Caitrin and Serafin suddenly stood from their chairs. Then they glanced at each other before turning back to Layla.
“Would you like me to invite Quinlan to dinner with us?” Caitrin asked.
Blasted hot cheeks . Although, her aura probably incriminated her more than her skin, so she sucked it up and faced the fact that she was busted. “Sure, but please tell him he doesn’t have to join us if he doesn’t want to.”
“Of course,” Caitrin agreed. “I’ll be right back.” He stared at Layla for a long and thoughtful moment. Then he blew Morrigan a kiss and left the house.
“What would you like to eat?” Serafin asked.
“Um…” Layla mumbled, trying to think of something crowd-pleasing. “You like spaghetti. Let’s have that.”
“May I ask how you know that?” he returned, titling his head.
Layla didn’t want to bum everyone out, so she purposefully kept her voice pleasant. “I watched you have lunch with my dad in your workshop, the day he told you about my mom.”
Serafin’s mind drifted, but his smile remained. “Ah, yes. I remember the conversation, but forget the meal. Thanks for reminding me. Do you like spaghetti?”
“Sure.”
“Then we’ll have spaghetti.” He headed for the kitchen, lightly running a hand across Daleen’s head, and her bonded light brightened, only to fade once he left the room.
Morrigan scooted closer, pulling one of Layla’s curls
Caitrin cleared his throat and shifted in his chair, steering the conversation along brighter paths. “How do you feel about your magic, Layla?”
“It’s amazing,” she gushed. “When Quin first showed me he could perform magic, I was blown away, and of course I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But then I performed it, and there was no denying the incredible feeling it gave me.”
“Quin says your magic is already impressive,” Serafin noted.
“Quin’s probably just being polite,” Layla countered.
“What have you performed so far?” Caitrin asked.
“Well, the first thing I did was find Quin’s aura while he was concealed, which was amazing, but it was nothing compared to the second thing.”
Morrigan curled her legs on the couch and moved closer. “What was the second thing?”
“I shot a fireball from my hand,” Layla exclaimed. “It was crazy. It felt so... invigorating.”
Serafin laughed and traded a glance with Caitrin. “A fireball was the second bit of magic you performed?”
“Yeah,” she answered.
“That is impressive,” Caitrin commended. “Fire’s the trickiest element.”
“That’s what Quin said, but I loved it. I hope I get to try it again soon.”
“You don’t have to hope,” Morrigan pointed out. “You can step outside and shoot a fireball now if you’d like.”
Layla’s eyes widened. “I guess I could. Weird.” But she didn’t jump up and become the fire starter she was tempted to be. She was far too comfortable wedged between her grandmas.
“You have plenty of time,” Serafin assured, checking his watch. “What would you like for dinner?”
“Um... I don’t know. I keep forgetting to think about food. It’s been like that for two days. If it weren’t for Quin, I would have starved.”
“I’ll have to thank him for keeping my granddaughter alive,” Caitrin noted.
Layla looked at her coffee, cheeks growing tingly and warm. “Like I said, Quin’s been wonderful. There’s more to thank him for than feeding me.”
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Morrigan replied, touching Layla’s cheek. “Would you like to eat dinner with us? Or would you rather have dinner with Quinlan?”
Layla jerked her head up, face flaming. “I don’t... I haven’t... I didn’t make dinner plans with Quin.”
“I know, sweetie,” Morrigan soothed, squeezing her arm. “I’m merely asking your preference.”
“Oh. Well he’s probably busy after dealing with me all weekend, and dinner with you guys sounds great.”
Caitrin and Serafin suddenly stood from their chairs. Then they glanced at each other before turning back to Layla.
“Would you like me to invite Quinlan to dinner with us?” Caitrin asked.
Blasted hot cheeks . Although, her aura probably incriminated her more than her skin, so she sucked it up and faced the fact that she was busted. “Sure, but please tell him he doesn’t have to join us if he doesn’t want to.”
“Of course,” Caitrin agreed. “I’ll be right back.” He stared at Layla for a long and thoughtful moment. Then he blew Morrigan a kiss and left the house.
“What would you like to eat?” Serafin asked.
“Um…” Layla mumbled, trying to think of something crowd-pleasing. “You like spaghetti. Let’s have that.”
“May I ask how you know that?” he returned, titling his head.
Layla didn’t want to bum everyone out, so she purposefully kept her voice pleasant. “I watched you have lunch with my dad in your workshop, the day he told you about my mom.”
Serafin’s mind drifted, but his smile remained. “Ah, yes. I remember the conversation, but forget the meal. Thanks for reminding me. Do you like spaghetti?”
“Sure.”
“Then we’ll have spaghetti.” He headed for the kitchen, lightly running a hand across Daleen’s head, and her bonded light brightened, only to fade once he left the room.
Morrigan scooted closer, pulling one of Layla’s curls
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