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“I will. I promise.” Orion’s eyes glowed a moment, and he had a feeling the magic here was more like Orion’s native magic. Something he could manipulate more.

That was really cool.

“Ah, son.” His mother appeared, walking out of the trunk of a tree. “You brought me Elliot!”

“Have you come to see Cosmo?”

“I have. Late last night. But my beautiful Elliot. Come to me, my sweet love.” She held out her arms and Elliot seemed to float to her.

“Oh, that’s a neat trick.”

His mother looked at Orion and smiled a gentle, mostly enigmatic smile, which meant she was withholding judgment. “Hello.”

“Hello, my lady.” Orion bowed low, his fingers sweeping the ground. He came up with a flower Cullen had never seen before and, while it was an illusion, it was solid enough for his mother to grasp and smell.

“Is this from your home?”

“Where I was raised, yes.”

Cullen thought the flower was so pretty it almost hurt his eyes. It was like the deep purple irises his mother loved, but it had the tones of a violet and a blue rose, as well. It was shaped like a bell, and he thought it rang a little when his mom turned it upside down.

She blinked, then laughed. “Oh, that’s clever.”

“Thank you.” Orion chuckled. “But this one,” and he nodded at Cullen, “wanted to see his mom.”

She frowned at him, a tiny, gentle line appearing between her eyes. “What is wrong?”

He looked at Orion and thought…hearts.

And his mom took a step back with Elliot. “Sharks? Where did you encounter sharks?”

“I didn’t! I’ve been polka-dotted. I’ve had hairy palms. I set off fireworks in the house. I was talking to the new”—he looked at Elliot—“to Cosmo’s latest, and a big pink pointing finger appeared over her head.”

“Hmm.” His mom bounced Elliot, who was playing with her necklace. “Follow me, both of you. I’ll make tea.” She turned to walk through where she’d come from, which was a kind of a portal she’d opened. Cullen was used to that, but he wondered if Orion would be wigged.

But he followed easily, even if the shadow he cast was of a large stallion unicorn rather than a man. He wondered which of the unicorn forms he’d seen was closest to the real thing. Or if any of them were.

They all are the real me, love, Orion told him.

Are they?

Yes. I really am very fluid. The horn is mandatory.

But where is it now?

Oh, it’s there.

He chuckled, but he didn’t think that was a sexual innuendo. So he would have to explore. Maybe there was just a nubbin on Orion’s head that he hadn’t felt yet.

“Welcome to my home. I’ll put the kettle on. Would you like some milk with honey, sweet boy. I’ve missed you. You should stay here tonight, and we’ll play with your Daidhe. Do you think that would be all right, Cullen?”

“I think that Cosmo and Elliot would love it. I’ll ask him.”

Cosmo? Brother? Mother would like Elliot to spend the night.

He felt Cosmo’s sigh of relief.Thank you. I just…

Shh.He knew; he got it. Sort of.