Cinnia was the first to react, moving forward with shiny, turquoise eyes and a wistful smile. “Welcome,” she greeted, pulling Layla into a hug.
“Oh,” Layla breathed, shivering as tingles ran from Cinnia’s arms into hers. Goose bumps stretched from her wrists to her shoulders, but she didn’t mention the odd occurrence. Instead, she hugged her great aunt back because it seemed like the right thing to do.
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” Cinnia said, stepping away to get a better look.
“You, too,” Layla returned. “Now I can thank you.”
“Whatever for?”
“Coffee. You’ve been supplying me with amazing coffee.”
Cinnia laughed, loudly and beautifully like Brietta. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. I hear you have quite the weakness for coffee.”
“Particularly yours. It’s the best I’ve had.”
“Well anytime you need a jolt, just let me know.”
“I don’t think you understand what you’re getting yourself into,” Layla warned.
“I’d be delighted to find out,” Cinnia gushed, blindly reaching behind her. “Isn’t she wonderful, Arlen?”
“We knew she would be,” Arlen agreed, stepping forward for a hug, which Layla accepted with reasonable comfort. “We’re glad you’re here,” he added. “It’s always a joy to welcome a new member. With you, the joy is tenfold.”
“Hear, hear,” Cinnia advocated.
“Thanks,” Layla replied, cheeks growing warm.
“My turn,” Enid insisted, moving in for a hug, and it sent another tingle through Layla’s blood.
“Welcome,” Enid whispered. “We’ve missed you so much.”
When Enid leaned back, Layla found tears illuminating her multicolored eyes – steel gray lines bursting from her pupils like sunbeams over a powder blue background. Struck dumb by them, Layla didn’t notice Kearny’s approach until he spoke.
“You look a lot like your parents,” he observed. “A blessed reminder of lost loved ones.”
Layla found his eyes, which were also multicolored – forest green infused with pastel green swirls. “I can say the same,” she noted. “I saw you in the memories. You and my dad were close.”
Kearny smiled and gave a nod. “Until Rhosewen swept him away.”
“A trick her cousin quickly learned,” Layla noted, motioning toward Enid.
“Indeed,” Kearny laughed, wrapping his arm around Enid’s shoulders. “Attending your dad’s wedding is the smartest decision I ever made. With your return, I reap yet another reward.”
“The reward is mine,” Layla insisted.
Morrigan stepped forward and took Layla’s hand. “These four and Brietta and Banning are your immediate family, but after tonight, you’ll call this entire coven family. If you ever need anything, we’re here to help, and we want you to ask.”
Layla scanned the eleven people she’d just met, trying to ignore her warm cheeks. “That’s kind of everyone. I’m delighted to have such a big family.”
“Your delight is important to us,” Caitrin asserted.
Morrigan leaned close, hugging Layla as she whispered in her ear. “Need a break?”
Layla shook her head no, so Morrigan stepped away and found Quin. “Would you like to introduce her to the others, Quinlan?”
“I’d be honored,” he agreed, moving to Layla’s side. “If she’ll let me.”
Layla looked over, wondering why he threw that last part in. “Sure,” she agreed, curbing her sarcasm.
“Ready?” he asked.
Layla took his hand then turned to the others. “See you guys at dinner.”
They waved goodbye, and Quin led her away, steering her toward a huge wooden table.
After several silent steps, she looked up. “Why did you say that?”
“Say what?”
“If she’ll let me. You know better.”
He scanned the air around her then found her eyes. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable by being overly friendly or presumptuous around the others.”
Layla sighed and shook her head. “You can’t save me from embarrassment, Quin. It’s inevitable, so don’t tiptoe around me. I’m not saying you should pick me up and carry me, but you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not.”
He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “So this is okay?”
“If it’s okay with you, it’s more than okay with me.”
He squeezed and kissed the top of her head. “How about that?”
“It’s nice. I was already missing your touch. You’ve been spoiling me.”
He pulled her hand to his lips, running kisses from her fingers to her wrist. “We could take a break and slip inside. I could touch you all over.”
Heat from both embarrassment and desire rushed Layla’s veins. “Tempting, but maybe later.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse,” he approved, raising his eyebrows.
Layla timidly smiled, body flaming inside and out. “I still don’t see what you get out of the deal.”
He lifted their hands and gave her bottom lip a tug. “Then you’ll have to look closer next time.”
She hadn’t looked at all the last time. She’d closed her eyes when her shirt disappeared, and they didn’t open again until Quin stirred her from her dreams… dreams of him.
“We’re almost to my mom,” he said, bringing her to a halt. “Would you like a chance to lighten your blush?”
“Yes,” Layla mumbled, dropping her gaze to the ground. “Thanks for the warning.”
He released her shoulders and touched her warm cheek. “Sure, but your worry is unnecessary. You’ll charm my mom as effortlessly as you charmed the others.”
“Charmed?” she smirked. “Right. If that’s what you want to call it.”
“I call it like I see it, and you’d see it, too, if you’d brave a glance at their auras. You leave a lasting impression, a lovely impression; there’s no reason to be embarrassed about it.”
Layla looked at the group she’d just met and was rewarded with beautiful hazes filled with pink love, silver excitement, and her eye color. “You have a wonderful family,” she whispered, turning back to Quin. “It sheds light on why you’re so considerate. You’ve been raised by lovely people.”
“And you’re about to meet the loveliest of them all,” he noted, leading her forward. “In my opinion anyway.”
Layla looked forward as Quin released her hand and approached his mom, who had her back to them.
“Time for a break,” he suggested.
Her aura swelled as she spun around, wrapping his waist in a tight hug. “I felt my heart sigh, but I thought it was your dad.”
“Disappointed?”
“You know better,” she replied, patting his chest. Then they both turned toward Layla.
“This is Cordelia,” he announced, “one of the sweetest witches you’ll ever meet.”
The resemblances between mother and son were clear. Cordelia laid claim to Quin’s wavy hair, bronze skin, long lashes, and full lips. But her platinum hair and lilac eyes, which were more pink than purple, set her apart from the rest of the family.
Two cats – one orange, one black – weaved through her legs until she ushered them aside and approached Layla. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you,” she greeted, pulling her into a hug. “We’ve waited far too long.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Layla returned, “but it doesn’t really feel like the first time. I saw you in my mom’s memories.”
“You did?”
“Yes. She was getting ready for her wedding, and you were feeding a tiny, baby Quinlan.”
Cordelia’s expression turned wistful and quite lovely. “I remember… very clearly.” She cleared her throat and returned to the present. “We miss your mom around here, but it soothes the soul to finally have her daughter home.”
“I’m happy to be here. Your family’s amazing.”
“Our f
amily,” Cordelia corrected.
“Right,” Layla laughed. “I’m part of it now.”
“And for that,” Cordelia replied, fiddling with an onyx curl, “we’re blessed.” She dropped the hair and took Layla’s cheek, watching her eyes for several seconds. Then she returned to Quin and slipped one arm around his waist. “Right, Quinlan?”
“Beyond blessed,” he agreed.
Cordelia looked from his face to his aura, then back to Layla. “Has my baby boy been treating you well?”
Layla’s cheeks caught fire, and she wished she could lighten her aura without concentrating so damn hard. The haze had to be giving away more than she wanted it to. “Yes,” she answered. “Quin’s been wonderful. You raised an amazing son.”
“Thank you,” Cordelia gushed, her aura pulsing with love. “I’m glad he’s been taking proper care of you.”
Layla couldn’t help but think about some of the things Quin had done to her, and a lump seized her throat as her palms grew clammy. She glanced at him, and he winked, somehow melting her heart while spiking her embarrassment. “I’m lucky Quin came along when he did,” she managed… barely.
“I’m glad he could help,” Cordelia replied, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You guys better move on before dinner’s announced. We’ll get to know each other better soon, Layla.”
“I look forward to it,” Layla agreed, and she did. She just wished she could do it without flaming cheeks.
Quin took her hand, leading her to the other end of the table, and she silently stared at the ground until they were out of Cordelia’s earshot. “Was I terribly obvious?” she whispered.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “A little, but there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Oh god,” she breathed, turning her blazing face into his side. If he said a little, it had been a lot, which meant Cordelia knew exactly how much the new girl felt for her son and what kind of feelings they were.
“It’s okay,” Quin insisted, coming to a standstill.
“No,” Layla squeaked, fighting hot tears. “It’s humiliating.” Bursting into sobs on her new family’s lawn wasn’t an option she was willing to accept, so she kept her face buried in his side as she took deep breaths.
Quin turned and wrapped his other arm around her. “Do you want to go inside for a while?”
“No. That would make it worse. I’d never be able to come back out.”
“I’m sorry, Layla. I hate that I made this harder on you.”
“It’s not your fault. You’ve been wonderful, and I don’t regret what we’ve done. I just don’t like that my aura broadcasted it to your mom. I’ll be better in a minute . . . I hope.” She thought she might have control over the tears, but knew her face remained mortified.
Quin rubbed her back and kissed her head. “Take all the time you need.”
“Is everyone staring at me?”
“Only your grandparents. They’re worried about you.”
“Will you do that mind thing and tell them I’m okay? Tell them I asked you to.”
His lips left her hair, then returned a few seconds later. “They want you to know it’s okay to take a break.”
“No,” she refused. “I’ll just have to deal with the embarrassment. It’s not like the family’s causing it. It’s my problem. A problem I can’t fix or run away from.”
“It will get better,” he assured, “once you get familiar with us and your aura. Eventually, you’ll start accepting your feelings, because you’ll realize we accept them. My mom doesn’t think anything bad about you. She already adores you.”
“How do you know?”
“Her aura. You’re written all over it.”
“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”
“I am saying it to make you feel better, but only because it’s true. She already loves you because you’re Rhosewen’s daughter. Meeting you merely sealed the deal. And it certainly doesn’t hurt your case that I’ve been walking on air for three days.”
“Oh,” Layla breathed, heart and belly fluttering.
“See?” he encouraged. “Accepting how you feel will make things easier. Everyone here is exposed, and we all have feelings we’re ashamed of, but rather than judge each other for what we see, we use the knowledge to support the people we love. Once you get used to living this way, you’ll start to appreciate the intimacy auras provide.”
“I hope so, because this sucks.”
“I can tell. Will you look at me? Your grandparents are the only ones watching.”
After a deep breath, she met his stare, and he took her cheeks in his palms. “You’re beautiful, Layla, inside and out. Not one person here would disagree with that.”
“They probably think I’m an immature fool.”
“No they don’t. We understand you’re not used to your aura. If anything, they’re sorry you’re going through this.”
“I don’t want them feeling sorry for me either.”
“I know you don’t, but it’s part of the deal. When you have this many people who care about you, you have to accept their love as well as their sympathies. If they felt the way you do, would you be able to blow it off?”
“No, and I see your point.”
“Good, because that’s a big part of what you’re getting yourself into. We don’t pull away from each other around here. If we need something, someone’s willing to provide. It’s a wonderful advantage, and it makes a lot more sense to accept it than to push it away.”
“I want to accept it. I don’t know why it’s so hard.”
“Because it’s unfamiliar. Besides never having to deal with your aura, you’ve been alone for a year. It will take more than a few days to adjust to our way of life.”
“I guess.”
“In the meantime,” he added, “try to stop worrying about what we think of you. You’re not on trial, and we’re not a jury. This is your family, and they’re going to love you no matter what your aura looks like.”
“I’ll try,” she agreed. “But my face will stay red.”
“We’ll see,” he replied, tugging on her pout. “Are you ready to meet the rest of them?”
She took a deep breath then gave a nod. “Lead the way.”
He did, and she offered her grandparents a wave to let them know she was okay. They smiled and waved back, but Layla figured they would watch her until they were sure she was comfortable with her surroundings.
“Quinlan,” a woman greeted, and Layla looked forward as Quin released her hand.
Tall and extremely graceful, the approaching woman had long, black hair; an angular face housing mint green eyes; and wide set lips framed by deep dimples.
Layla knew right away she was closely related to Quin. Then her suspicions were confirmed when Quin greeted the woman with a hug. “Hey, Grandma.”
The woman fiercely squeezed his waist. Then she took his biceps and scanned his face. “I haven’t seen you in two days. You look different.”
“I’m taller,” he joked.
“That must be it,” she laughed.
They turned their dimples on Layla, who donned her most polite smile and gave a small wave. “Hi.”
“This is my grandma Rhiannon,” Quin revealed.
“And you, my dear,” Rhiannon said, leaving her grandson behind, “need no introduction.” She took Layla’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “Welcome home, Layla. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“You, too,” Layla returned. “You have a lovely family.”
“We sure do. Come meet a few more.”
They approached three women, and Rhiannon introduced her sister-in-law and niece at the same time. Layla shook their hands, admiring their flaming red curls and purple eyes. Then she turned toward the third witch, a woman with cinnamon hair and amber eyes.
“And this is my daughter,” Rhiannon announced. “Karena Mochrie.”
“The owner of the inn,” Layla recalled, reac
hing for her hand. “Your rooms are amazing.”
“Thank you,” Karena returned. “You’re welcome to stay anytime. It’s a family perk.”
“One of many,” Layla noted.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Rhiannon cut in, “so you better finish up the introductions. We’ll all be good friends soon.”
“I look forward to it,” Layla replied, waving as she took Quin’s hand. Then she was steered in the opposite direction, heading for the only coven members she hadn’t met – one woman and two children.
The woman sat on the ground, along with Banning, Brietta and Skyla; and the kids were on the move, playing between the grownups and a furry pile of animals, which included two golden retriever puppies and a fluffy white lamb.
As Layla and Quin drew nearer, a little girl with strawberry-blond curls ran toward them on teeny yet speedy legs, her steps light and hyper like a pixie. Extremely bright and mostly white, her aura had a few indistinct ribbons of color swimming through a wispy river of love.
“Qwinwin!” she squealed, jumping from several feet away.
Layla’s heart lurched as Quin reached up, grabbing the child by her waist and pulling her to his chest. “That was a good leap,” he praised, calm as ever. “You almost pulled me up there with you.”
Her round cheeks pinched with a grin as her royal purple eyes sparkled. “I’ve been pwacticing.”
“I can tell,” Quin replied. “Pretty soon you’ll out-fly Bann.”
“That’s what Bwietta said.”
Quin laughed then looked at Layla. “This little angel is my cousin – Alana Driscol. She recently turned two. Didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Alana confirmed, holding up two tiny fingers. “I tunned two.”
Layla already loved the precious, little girl. It had to be true. That was the only explanation for the rapid swelling of her heart; for the quick shift in emotion that rattled her chest. “Two is a special age,” she noted.
“How ode awe you?” the toddler asked, reaching for Layla’s cheek.
“Eighteen,” Layla answered.
“Eighteen is a pwetty age,” Alana offered. “I wike you’we eyes.”
“Thank you. You have pretty eyes, too.”
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