Page 28

“Nearly dying changes a person.” I chuckled dryly at how morbid I sounded. “Maybe I’m not right in the head, Conn. There are plenty of unknowns in my plan to help Ben. If ya don’t want to do it or think it’s a bad idea, just tell me. Maybe I’m using him to distract myself from the danger I’m in.”

Conn shrugged. “I’m not unwilling to train him. When have I ever turned down a challenge? Look who’s sharing my bed these days.”

“How are things between the Wu Shaman and ya?”

“Blissful enough, but I think I bore her. Somehow, I thought it would be the other way around when one of us got bored.”

I blinked in surprise, and then I laughed. “After all those centuries ya spent pleasuring females, I don’t believe that for a hot minute.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Everything in bed is fine,” Conn said with a glare. “But she’s not fine outside of it. I haven’t been able to determine what’s wrong. She’s been in a strange mental space since her family visited.”

I snorted. “I hear ya. She got snarky with me the other day. When I asked what her problem was, Mulan said she was restless and told me to ignore her. Maybe she’s working through some lingering issues.”

Conn nodded. “I’m trying not to be a clueless male, but I feel like one.”

“Ya get points from me for trying. I’m sure Mulan appreciates yer worry as well. The Wu Shaman is not what anyone would call a peaceful soul, even on her best days.”

“It seems Rasmus is more in touch with you lately. I’ve envied his easiness with you.”

I lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “I admit the guardian is putting a lot of effort into not being clueless. That’s why he spilled his guts to all of ya at the meeting. Plus, I’m sure he feels safer confronting me in front of a crowd.”

Conn chuckled low, and I grinned in appreciation. “I could tell that from the alarm in his expression. What surprises me is that you allow Rasmus to keep the illusion that you’re okay with the things he says and does.”

My right shoulder lifted and fell. “Accepting he’s well-intentioned saves me having to rant about his thoughtlessness later. Since ya all hear things when I do, ya know what I’m dealing with.”

“Tell me the truth, Aran. Are you worried about Fiona? Because I can track the angel down and see what’s going on.”

“Yes, but it’s not her physical safety that worries me. I’m worried about her lack of a love life and how vulnerable she might be to the angel’s attention. Ya didn’t interact with him, Conn. I did. He’s a very alluring male.”

“Yes, but he’s not Jack. And Fiona is not you. Your child deserves to live her life and make her own mistakes just like you did. Isn’t this what you claim to want for her?”

I sighed heavily. “Yes. Ya know me too well.”

Conn lifted a hand. “Oh, I’m worried about her too, but for different reasons. What happens if Fiona gets in a snit with him and refuses to train? You do realize that’s as much of a possibility as her sleeping with him. Imagine the drama and what he’ll have to do to convince her.”

I laughed at the idea of Fiona refusing to do as she was told. Maybe the angel and I could compare stories one day.

“I’d pay good money to be there when she tells him no. Fiona was fussing at him the day he saved us. He froze her to shut her up. I admit I was a bit envious of that particular talent. And the funniest part is Fionaknewwhen it happened to her. Shedemanded I confirm it after he released her. Goddess, I don’t envy him. Jack fostered that entitlement attitude of hers.”

Conn’s mouth twitched. “Sure. Her natural arrogance has to come from Jack. You weren’t like that at all.”

“No,” I said with a laugh, not appreciating his insinuation. “I wasn’t like her because Da would have beat it out of me with hard work. He made sure I understood that magick wasn’t a ticket to a peaceful life nor a path to easy wealth.”

“I think your parents are why you were such a wonderful mother. If Mulan and I have children, will you help us raise them?”

I stopped fidgeting to swallow the suddenly large lump in my throat. “I will be the best witch auntie any magickal child has ever seen.” I studied the longing in his eyes. “Do ya seriously want children with the Wu Shaman? They’ll be tiny tyrants, Conn. She comes from a tradition that allowed emperors.”

Conn sighed loudly. “I keep dreaming of her being pregnant. That’s never happened to me before. I had children when I was young but I never dreamed of them. I was expected to procreate, and so I did. And then I watched them die because they were rebellious like their mothers. That’s not normal parenting.”

“Well, ya’re older now and more settled. Does Mulan want children too? The woman is over fifty, Conn. That’s pretty old to become a mother.”

He waved away her age. “Her fifty is like a normal human thirty. As a Wu Shaman, she’ll live to be well over a hundred and seventy. She said a very long life was a side effect of Wu Shaman magick. After what she did to her brother-in-law, she’s been vibrating with all kinds of energy. I have trouble keeping my hands off her.”

I pointed a finger at him. “That revelation, my friend, is in the TMI category. Please keep yer lusty thoughts about the Wu Shaman to yerself.”

Conn rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m offering to give Rasmus lessons.”

My grin was wide. “Well, see that ya don’t. And I don’t need to hear about how well ya’re treating my best friend. If Mulan is ever not happy with ya, I’m sure she’ll tell me. Outside of her occasional brooding, she’s mostly an open book.”