Page 50 of A Little Red
“Well, I want children,” Scarlet said. “I mean, eventually. Not right now.”
Liam felt struck dumb. He’d meant to cover that information at some point. But it hadn’t come up.
“Wolves and humans can’t mate anymore,” Aisling said with a malicious smile and he’d never wanted to bite his mother more in his life.
“Oh, that’s interesting,” said Scarlet. “Ochre has been theorizing for years that there has been some sort of genetic transmogrification that prevents Supernaturals and humans breeding anymore. That would support his theory. But I’m not sure what that has to do with me.”
“Witches are humans too,” said Aisling, impatiently.
“Oh,” said Scarlet. “No. I’m not… Witchcraft is a style of magic. I mean, it’s got a very long tradition and rather stringent moral code, but at the end of the day it’s only a way to use power. I thought you understood…” She trailed off, looking at Liam, her eyes wide.
“Scarlet?” Liam tried to understand her reaction. Paxton abruptly burst out laughing. Everyone stared at him puzzled.
“She’s not human!” exclaimed Paxton, pointing triumphantly at Scarlet.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Aisling. “She smells human. Quite nice for a human, but still human.”
“Well,” said Scarlet, “I’m a little human. I’m just mostly… not.”
Liam scratched his head, still puzzled. “What are you then?”
“I’m Fae.” Her face said she thought this was obvious. Liam couldn’t say he agreed with her.
“Nonsense,” said Aisling. “The Fae are all dead.”
“No,” said Scarlet, “they left when the humans and technology started cluttering up everything. Sometimes they come back to visit though.”
“Where did they go?” asked Paxton.
“We don’t really discuss that,” said Scarlet.
Liam stood up because he felt like moving would be better.
“Liam?” Scarlet looked anxious. “I thought you understood because I explained abouttravelingto get to my grandmother’s house.”
“I knew you got there too quickly,” muttered Paxton.
“I didn’t know that wasn’t a witch thing,” said Liam, heading into the kitchen. “We don’t have a lot of experience with magic. I think I’m switching to wine.”
“OK,” said Scarlet, but her voice wavered.
“So does this mean grandbabies or not?” demanded Aisling.
“Mom!” yelled Paxton and Liam at the same time.
“What? I want puppies!”
“Well, so do I,” said Scarlet. “Just later. Once my career is firmly established.”
Liam couldn’t find a corkscrew so he grew a claw and jammed it into the bottle.
“I always figured I’d do the kid thing around the first time I had to retire,” he said, pulling the cork out with a satisfying pop.
“Oh, that’s a good idea,” said Scarlet. “Take a decade or two off to concentrate on the kids and then reenter the workforce once everyone forgets we’re supposed to be old? That’s a good plan. Let’s do that. I mean...” She looked awkwardly around at his family. “Assuming we don’t break up. I’m not saying we’re having kids. I’m not assuming anything. That’s just a good plan.”
Aisling snorted her disbelief.
“All right, fine,” said Aisling. “I withdraw my objection to this,” she waved her hand dismissively, “relationship. Liam, I will expect you home for Christmas.” She stood up and dusted off her hands as if to signal that the job had been completed.
