But a certain red-haired fairy had not joined us.
I hurried through the door and into the living room…then slid to a stop. Saffie and Riah stood face-to-face in front of the fireplace, staring into each other’s eyes, Olli still in Riah’s arms. Gigi sat cross legged with flushed cheeks in the big chair behind them. Lennox and Warner were lounging on the sofa next to them with their heads leaned close as they whispered. I knew they were up to no good.
I cleared my throat. “Um, Saffie?”
She jumped and looked to me with wide lavender eyes. “Yes?”
I used my thumb to point behind me. “We’re ready to do Tim’s initiation now.”
“Okay.” She smiled and nodded — then her eyes widened. “OH, I’m in The Coven now! Oh, shoot. Dammit. I forgot!”
Riah chuckled. “I was wondering what you were doing still in here.”
“I’m sorry!” She grimaced and her face turned red. “I’m coming right now!”
She turned back to Riah, pushed up on her tip-toes, and pressed her lips to his. He sighed and leaned into her kiss. Olli was sound asleep upside down with his pink belly up and long brown and white ears flopped over Riah’s arm – completely oblivious to the world.
I smiled and shook my head. The only thing more adorable than Saffie and Riah…was Riah and Olli. I liked the way he held Olli like a human baby and how he was constantly just rubbing his belly. There was a bond there and I was here for it.
Riah reminded me a bit of my brother Haven. Big, muscular, macho powerful guys who were absolute teddy bears on the inside. Handsome, terrifying…and might cuddle you to death. I had no doubts that Riah was unnervingly lethal. He had that same kind of aura as Haven. Actually, I was fairly certain my brother was scarier. But not by much. Sure, I wasn’t afraid of Haven now that my memory was back, but before when I met him as Tennessee, he was the single most terrifying person I’d ever met.
But Riah was a close second.
There was just something…so very not human about him. Which really, that was literally the case as he was Seelie fae and in fact not human at all. Like not even a little bit. Haven and I were barely human with all the angel blood in our family but this guy was straight up other. That stunt he pulled with bringing Savannah back to life was entirely unsettling. Amazing. Incredible. Yet unsettling. There was more to this fae than we knew.
“Saraphina, I shall not perish in the few moments you are outside.” He grinned and tucked her hair behind her ear with the hand not holding Olli. “Go. Initiate your Coven-mate. I shall be here rubbing bellies.”
Behind him, Warner cursed. “Why did I have the urge to volunteer to be next just now?”
“Probably for the same reason I did,” Lennox said with a wink.
Gigi shrugged. “Are my chances higher if I’m a penguin?”
Riah arched one eyebrow and glanced at them, then over to me. “I will have to learn to choose my words more carefully around this group.”
“Even then it won’t matter. They have skills.” I shrugged. “Come on, Saffie. Haven sent me to get you. We’re ready.”
She nodded and gave Riah another quick kiss and then skipped toward me. But then she froze halfway and spun back to him. “Riah—”
“I will check on Savannah.” He gave her a sideways grin. “Go, Saraphina.”
Saraphina. I loved the absolute stubbornness to not call her Saffie like everyone else. Plus her name just sounded so damn fancy when he said it with that slight accent and soft cadence. Then again, I had a thing for soft spoken guys with accents.
“Come on, Saffie. This will only take a minute and then you can go sit with her yourself.”
She sighed and nodded, then hurried over to me. When we pushed through the back door, we found the entire Coven watching us from the circle.
“Oh, Tim!” Saffie cried and skipped over to give him a hug. “I forgot I was in The Coven for a second. Sorry to make you wait.”
Uncle Tim chuckled. “It’s all right. You’re here now.”
She bit her bottom lip. “Where do I go? This is only my second one.”
“Go to Haven – Tennessee.” I pointed to where my brother stood watching us from the far edge of the circle. “He’ll tell you.”
Glittery wings popped out of her back and then she was gone.
“That just must be so convenient.”
I smirked and hooked my arm around Uncle Tim’s. “Are you okay? For real.”
“I’m fine.” He sighed and led us toward the circle. “I just…wasn’t expecting this.”
I scoffed. “No one was. Has this ever happened before?”
He frowned. “Pretty sure no.”
“See. You’re special.” I leaned into his shoulder. “But how are you? Are you happy you got Marked again? How are you handling this all?”
“I have no words for the happiness I feel right now,” He said softly. “After everything I’ve been through I was happy to be alive, to be able to be a part of yours and Haven’s lives…but this…I can’t…it’s just…”
“Happy?”
He looked down at me with unshed tears in his eyes and nodded. “Never in my dreams did I imagine life would go this way.”
“And you’re not super bummed you’re not Judgment anymore?”
“Honestly? No,” he breathed and shook his head. “I am tired. I’m not the person that Card needed anymore. Death changes you and the way you want to live, especially now that I have you both back. But the Hermit? That’s something I am very excited to dig into.”
We stopped at the edge of the circle. I gave him a hug and stepped back. “I can’t wait to talk spells and languages after this.”
“Can’t wait.” He smiled and then turned and walked to the center of the circle.
I could not believe we’d come full circle already. Being Marked for The Coven twice was unheard of…but it couldn’t have happened to a better man, or a more deserving man. He’d suffered too much for twelve years, I wanted him to be happy. And being back in The Coven with his family, both blood and not, might make a dent in the pain his heart had endured.
“Moonshine?”
I jumped and looked up as Jackson pressed his palm to the small of my back. “Yes, Lancelot?”
He gave me a cheeky grin. “We’re starting, love.”
I cursed and turned my attention to the circle. Haven stood directly across from me with Saffie on one side and Tegan on the other. I looked to Uncle Tim then back to my brother and saw my own wild emotions reflected in his eyes. His eyes were glassy and I knew by the tightness in his jaw that he was trying to keep himself together for this.
If you two don’t get your shit together imma make you leave, Tegan grumbled in my head.
Haven looked down at the ground and smirked. His crown was so tangled in his hair I briefly wondered if we’d have to cut it out.
If you make me cry, there will be revenge.
Haven chuckled. I sighed and shook my head. My best friend and her aversion to emotions.
Tegan arched one eyebrow at me, her crystal crown sparkling like ice in the midday sun. It will hurt, na mean?
I do na mean. I said back while pushing my magic into the ground through my feet. Imma be good.