Page 195

And changes that of more and more

Now I see forever lost

These broken things of little cost

~Neil Stevens, The Changing Heart

I wakein Elijah's arms, his breath on my neck as he spoons me in front of a dying fire. I send a spark of fire magic to fan the flames, giving the room a much-needed burst of warmth, then turn over to face him, our legs entangling underneath a feathered blanket. He must have brought it at some point in the night. I kiss him tenderly on his lips, and he stirs, waking, kissing me back.

A banging on the office door interrupts our moment. "Derek's home and has news," Liam shouts through the door, then takes off down the hall, probably to get everyone else.

I groan my disappointment and pull out of his arms reluctantly. "Guess we'd better get dressed," I say.

He sighs. "I prefer you this way," he admits with a boyish grin. "But I suppose you are right. I wish we'd found more that could help you today. I'll keep looking while you're gone."

I kiss him and let my lips linger as he cups my ass and grows hard against my stomach. "You're not making this easy," I say against his mouth.

"I blame you entirely," he says, smiling and releasing me. "But alas I am a patient man. Let's go see what Derek found."

I collect my clothes from last night, and rather than putting them on and trudging through the castle, I have a better idea. "I'm going to dematerialize, so don't be alarmed."

"I've wanted to see this," he admits.

Still naked with an arm full of clothes, I close my eyes and imagine my bathroom.

And just like that, I'm there.

Damn, I love this.

I shower the sex and the previous days romp through the cemetery off me and dress in a clean outfit, then meet the brothers in the dining room, where the children are finishing up breakfast.

Alina is in Liam's arms with a milky bottle of blood, Zara is on the floor with her grilled shark, and Ana is in a chair eating pancakes with syrup and blueberries.

"Yum, that looks good," I tell her.

She grins through syrupy lips. "It is!"

"I'll have what she's having," I announce to whatever ghosts are listening, but it's Matilda herself who comes out carrying more freshly made pancakes.

"Thank you," I say, accepting my plate. " I feel like we haven't spent much time together recently," I tell her as she sits next to Ana across from me.

"It is a strange time," she says ominously. "Join me for tea when you have a moment. Let us catch up."

"I will," I promise. With this ticking time bomb over my head, I'm becoming more aware of how precious these relationships are and how important it is to make time for the people I love, no matter what else is going on.

"What are you kids up to today?" Matilda asks.

"Research," Elijah says, sharing a meaningful glance with me.

"I'm going to try to get into the Ancient Library," I say. "Have you heard of it?"

Matilda's eyes widen, and then Alina begins crying and Zara joins her.

"Oh my," Matilda says, standing. "Let me take the babies upstairs so you kids can have your meeting."

Ana finishes up her last pancake and helps by picking up Zara, who clings to her. The five of them head upstairs, leaving me with the Night brothers.

Derek has been pacing, waiting until the kids were gone to speak.