by Lily Thorn
She laughed, giddy with relief. Her sister walked over, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you Arabella?” he asked.
“I am, Easton Frost.”
He groaned again. “Why do I have the feeling you know one of my brothers?”
Seraphina felt like she might weep with joy to have the two of them safe beside her. Everything all felt so vivid, so light and heavy at once. Reaching into her pocket, she handed the glass jar to her sister.
“You had this?” Arabella inspected the jar. “I remember making it, but I didn’t know who it was for. I never would have guessed.”
The blue wings inside were perfectly still.
“Will you open it?” Seraphina asked. “All I ever wanted was to see it fly again.”
Arabella unscrewed the lid. The butterfly flicked an antenna and flitted its wings. Then it launched upward, disappearing into the morning sky.
Six Days Later
SERAPHINA SAT BESIDE Easton on a plush couch, sharing a mug of cider. Summer’s Inn was quieter now that the last tourist stragglers had left, finally convinced that Founding Day was over. She did understand why no one would want to leave this place—the fire was roaring, and the golden glow that permeated the inn could convince you that the days would last forever.
She sighed happily, snuggling into Easton. She still couldn’t believe that she was allowed to stay in Wolfsbane, or that Henry Butcher was the one who had vouched for her. Apparently, he had seen Vince and Nathaniel buying the same gas cans that were found burned at the scene, and he had also witnessed Seraphina run into the burning building to save the children.
“You’re all right,” he had said gruffly. “Just don’t bring that fire near my shop.”
She told him that she’d send Easton if she ever needed anything from the butcher’s.
Even a month ago, if someone had told her that this was where she’d end up, she’d never have believed them. Felix was curled in the fire, purring loudly. Dom and Ryder were testing their skill at darts, while June was teaching Arabella and Evangeline how to make an apple pie. They were making slow progress, because Arabella kept sneaking bits of apple and dough to Cin. He squeaked with delight every time, making them double over with laughter.
A brown tabby leapt into Seraphina’s lap. She stroked his head.
“Poor Marmalade,” she said. “Can’t eat Cin, can’t cuddle with Felix or you’ll get your whiskers singed… It’s a rough life, isn’t it?”
He kneaded her legs, blinking slowly at her. She was still overjoyed that her childhood pet remembered her.
Evangeline swept by, depositing two cups of tea on the tables beside them. She gave Seraphina a kiss on the head as she passed. Seraphina looked back at her, grinning. She had missed her mother’s random bursts of affection, much more numerous now that they were together again. Seraphina guessed that their first hug upon being reunited was about fifteen minutes long. It had been just right.
“You know,” Ryder said as he aimed a dart, “I’m surprised our father hasn’t shown up yet.”
“Why would he?” Easton asked.
Ryder pulled out the ornate knife he kept in his belt. It was a stunning work, two silver wolves prowling around the handle of the rippling blade. “You know, wondering where this might be? He only sent you, Dom, and me after it, and none of us managed to retrieve it for him.”
“Well, we all got distracted,” Dom said. “Didn’t we? He wouldn’t blame us, seeing our mates.” He winked at June, who wagged a rolling pin at him.
“Flattery won’t get you extra pie,” she said.
“But it should!”
Easton chuckled. “Could you imagine Auric showing up here? He’d have to be really mad though, before he budged his ancient tail out of Frost pack territory.”
“What’s to imagine?” The door swung shut. In the entryway stood Auric, dressed in a rather severe coat that made him look like a general from an old photograph. “And what was that about my tail?”
Easton, Dom, and Ryder all sat or stood a little straighter.
“Nothing, Alpha,” Easton said. “Your tail is faultless.”
Auric glared at his middle son. “You shouldn’t let this happen,” he said to Seraphina. “It’s your job to keep him in line now. From the stories I heard on my way over, you’re good at setting things right. I can only wish you luck with this son of mine, though.”
He nodded to her, then crossed the room. Stopping in front of Ryder, he held out his hand. Wordlessly, Ryder placed the knife in his palm.
“Was that really so hard?” Auric shook his head. “I suppose some tasks I can only trust to myself.”
He made his way back toward the entry, not seeming to care that they were all still gaping at him.
“Do you want to stay for pie?” Evangeline asked
Auric stared at her, his mouth slightly open, like he was having trouble taking in her black hair and green eyes. A change seemed to come across his face, his expression softening somewhat.
“I’ll stay for a bite,” he said gruffly.
Seraphina and Easton raised their eyebrows at each other. Was Auric smitten?
“You can sit here,” Evangeline said, making a space at the table next to hers. “I’ll keep you company. No one else can be trusted to do it—one minute they’ll talk to you, but the next, two of them will be off in their own little world.”
Auric accepted her invitation, and the pair was soon absorbed in their own conversation. It was clear that they had completely forgotten about the pie.
Seraphina laughed and laid her head on Easton’s chest. He put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. Everything was perfect. There was nowhere she’d rather be than right here in Summer’s Inn, surrounded by light and love.
She was finally home.
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Copyright © 2018 by Lily Thorn
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Six Days Later
Unnamed