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Cohen

Two More Years Later

R ogue gets very broody like a mother hen whenever her quickening approaches.

She prefers to keep us close, rarely allowing any of us to leave the safety of the sithen.

It’s an instinctual response, not something she can control, and it’s a comforting reminder that she feels compelled to keep us safe, even if we’re all capable in our own right.

Well, Calyx and Owen are.

I mostly just avoid situations where I know I’m in over my head.

Because her next quickening is right around the corner, I do my best to quickly tend my garden. We get occasional showers at the sithen, but never downpours, so I try to water my plants nightly.

I’ve got quite the vegetable garden in progress, and it provides a lot of what Rogue eats on a daily basis. Plus, I enjoy life at the sithen. It reminds me of how the world was before the modern age, and I’m soaking up the simpler lifestyle.

Just as I’m in the process of giving Ash her nightly spray down with the water hose, Rogue wraps her arms around me from behind.

I still have no idea if the sithen built itself a well, but I’m not complaining. Having flowing water at the twist of a spigot is convenient.

I chuckle, patting Rogue’s hand. “Was I gone too long?”

“Nah, I just missed you. Owen and Calyx were arguing about which was the optimal way to cook the steaks, and I escaped before the smell took over.” She laughs, nuzzling her cheek to my shoulder from behind. “Even when they use the grill, the scent seems to permeate the entire house.”

I drop the hose, use my magic to turn off the spigot, and spin around, wrapping my arms around Rogue in return.

Dipping my head, I capture her lips in a quick but tender kiss.

“Would you like to take a walk around the property?” I ask as I pull back.

“How about a dip in the pool instead?” She laughs. “I have my magic running the nets through it now to catch all of Ash’s fur.”

“I can handle that,” I agree, even though I much prefer the hot tub. But with her quickening approaching, it’s better for me to be cold than for her to get overheated.

Rogue drags me toward the pool with her hand linked in mine. She grins at me over her shoulder, and my heart tries to take flight right out of my chest, just like it always does when she gives me that look.

We come to a stop on the deck that lines the pool, and she spins to face me, levitating her hand over my chest.

“We only have adults currently on the property, but you could also whip us up an invisibility spell,” she says, smiling.

The sithen has expanded to the point we now have nine cabins. It’s rare that more than three or four are occupied at the same time, but we have the space if we need it.

“I can do that.”

Rogue’s head tilts, and a heavy sigh escapes her hips. “Never mind, it appears we have new guests to welcome.”

I chuckle, pulling her flush with my front. “Ahh, well, our dip will have to wait in that case.” I plant a quick peck on her lips. “Let’s go welcome the travelers.”

Her bottom lip pokes out dramatically, but her excitement still fills the bond. No matter what she might say, her favorite days are when we get new guests.

My favorite days?

All the ones I get to spend by her side.