Page 14 of Postpartum Spells & Infant Hells

Stella gave him a look of grudging respect. “That was almost a joke.”

Dr. Caolinn’s mouth twitched. “Don’t go spreading rumors about me.” With that, he stood, ending the meeting. “Return tomorrow at eight forty-five.”

“I’ll be early,” I promised as I stood with the card and key in hand.

CHAPTER 6

Nana watched me pace the porch from one of the rockers. Nyssa slept against her chest, swaddled so tightly that only the tip of her nose showed. The shotgun that was resting across Nana's lap should have given me fits about the danger so close to a sleeping baby. Instead, it was completely normal for my family. Both Nana and I had cast a protection spell around Nyssa so nothing, not even the weapon, could hurt her. But sitting outside like this without Nana’s trusty gun wasn’t an option.

"You're trying to set a world record for how fast a girl can wear grooves into composite planking? Because if so, sugar, I'll ring up Guinness myself." Nana didn't even break the lazy rhythm of her rocking. The chair creaked on boards that had never been a real tree in their lives, despite being sun-faded gray. That was courtesy of the too-perfect woodgrain stamped into every fake slat beneath my pacing feet.

She tipped her chin toward the house. "And before you ask—yes. Your mate has looked out that window three times in the last minute. He's trying to give you space, baby. But he's about one dark thought away from storming out here and hauling you back inside over his shoulder, whether you like it or not."

"He can wait. I need the porch for another minute, Nana," I told her as I made another pass from one end to the other. The brass key in my jacket pocket had been knocking against Mythia's bundle since we pulled into the driveway. Every little tap of metal against wrapped cloth felt like a countdown. "I don’t want to go in there before I have my thoughts in order. That’s too much for anyone to deal with."

Nana shifted Nyssa a little higher against her collarbone without waking her. My daughter made a small, pleased sound in her sleep and tucked her cheek deeper into Nana. "What they need from you is not a polished report. They need the truth in whatever ugly shape it came home in. They might want to string you up occasionally, but they love you."

"I have to call a dead woman who might not be dead, who will hang up on me if I breathe wrong. I have a phone number I can’t verify. And we’re dealing with a cranky archivist." I turned at the rail and started back toward her. "And I have more questions than before we went to Lilith’s."

Nana's mouth twitched before she looked down at Nyssa. "That may be the most accurate description of your life I have heard in weeks. Go inside and tell them exactly that before they all start inventing something worse."

I looked through the window. Mom was inside with Thaniel against her shoulder. Stella was perched at the island with a glass of wine she hadn’t touched. Selene's laptop glowed in front of her. Mythia hovered above the stove, cooking dinner. Aidon was bouncing Melaina as he stared back at me. Seeing all of them waiting should have steadied me. Instead, it made the key knock once more against the bundle in my pocket, sending a fresh line of unease down my spine.

"I don’t want anyone blaming Lilith for making me even more of a mess," I admitted, because that was part of what had kept me on the porch. "She told us up front she was outside her lane. She still found more than anyone else did."

"Then you say that before anyone gets a chance to say otherwise." Nana's eyes sharpened in the way they did when she stopped indulging me and started instructing me. "Lilith is not family by blood, but she has stood up for you more times than I can count. She’s good people. We all know that. Don’t let fear make you careless with a woman who has earned better."

I nodded because there was nothing to argue with and picked up the shotgun. Nana stood with Nyssa, and we went inside. I stood on my tiptoes to press a kiss to Aidon’s lips as I passed and ran a hand down Melaina’s back.

The kitchen was warm, and the smell of chicken, rosemary, coffee, and rain-damp clothes wrapped around me the second we entered. Every conversation in the room eased to a stop, though nobody made the mistake of pretending they had not been waiting.

"I’m glad you’re done trying to figure this out on your own. Now sit down and eat. These babies will be hungry again soon, and you will need your strength," Mom instructed, turning slightly so Thaniel's head stayed tucked against her shoulder. "Whatever happened can be discussed while eating. I’m not letting you stand there vibrating like a tuning fork while Mythia's delicious dinner dries out."

"I had a croissant when I got home," I reminded her as I crossed to the island.

Stella lifted her wineglass without drinking from it. "A croissant is not food in any meaningful medical, emotional, or maternal sense. It is butter folded to create pillows of delight."

"It was a very good croissant," I agreed, pulling out the stool.

"They're even better with the pistachio cream and chocolate drizzle," Stella returned as she watched Mythia slide a plate in front of me. "Eat the chicken before your mother and I form a coalition."

“Don’t argue, Mom,” Nina advised as she walked in. “This smells so good, Thia. Thanks.”

I smiled at the pixie. “I’m not ungrateful. It does smell delicious. Thank you.”

Mom, Nana, and Aidon settled the babies into the cribs we kept in the living room, and the kitchen finally let out the breath it had been holding since I came in off the porch. Everyone built a plate, and for the length of one bite of rosemary chicken good enough to make my eyes water, the only sound was forks against ceramic. Rain began ticking its way down the windows when Mom turned the full weight of the island on me.

"Stella and Aidon waited until you were ready to talk about what happened at Lilith’s. While I can guess it wasn’t great, it’s time you tell us what happened," Mom instructed, leveling her fork at me like a small gavel. "Start with what Lilith learned, if anything."

Aidon, Stella, and I gave them the unsanded version because there was no smooth one. It was messy and confusing. "Lilith found a woman named Ava Beauchêne,” I began.

“Ava faked her own death nine days ago," Stella added around a mouthful.

Bobbing my head, I slid the card and the key into the center of the island where everyone could see them. "Long story short, it seems that she is still breathing, and we believe she has been texting me lines out of my dreams.”

“She has to call her tomorrow morning at nine am exactly to get more answers from Ava,” Aidon interjected. “Apparently, it’s a rule."

"She’s got to be careful. She’s been fighting something hunting children on her own for a long time. We have no idea why, but I would take every precaution in her shoes, as well," Stella ventured.