Page 30 of A Deeper Blue
“And I am not a follower of the Morrigan,” said Azure stiffly. She felt judged and wasn’t entirely sure she’d passed.
“Eh,” said the Lady, giving a shrug. “You’re a witch. He’s on a quest. I work with what I’ve got.” She stopped and squinted at both of them. “Wait, I know you two, don’t I? When am I?”
“Um, no?” Azure, for once, felt utterly lost. She didn’t like the feeling.
“Yes, I do. You’re Albert’s boy, aren’t you?” She pointed an accusing finger at Rafe.
“Um, well, yes,” he admitted.
“Right. You’re…” She snapped her fingers. “Rafe. Good. And you…” She turned her attention to Azure. “Hm, yes, you’re the blue one, aren’t you? Did the red one already meet her wolf? Has the yellow one gone to the temple? What year is this?”
“The red and yellow ones? Are you talking about Scarlet and Ochre? And I don’t think Liam is Scarlet’s wolf. He’s just her current rando boyfriend.”
“Ha! Yes! Those are the names. You’re Azure, then Ochre, and then Scarlet. And she’s found Liam? Great! Are they on to kids yet?”
“Kids!” yelped Azure. Unexpected anger boiled up inside her. “They just met like six freaking months ago! If she is pregnant, I will kill her!”
“Wait, what?” demanded Rafe turning to Azure. “Your sister is with a wolf?”
“Oh, yeah,” said Azure sarcastically. “It’s true love or whatever. She’s allI met a guy slash wolf, and we’re moving in together,and the next fucking thing I know, he’s at our Solstice holidays, and I have to listen to them banging half the night. And, and—get this—she was working for him when they met! That’s not OK. I have severe reservations about a dude who dates his secretary. I mean, I know shit gets complicated for Supernatural dating, but I am not about to give a pass to some guy going out withmybaby sister.”
“You dated a vampire,” he objected.
“We do not discuss that! Also, I don’t get to see my sister very much, and it is a little difficult to see her at all with him stuck to her face! And he doesn’t know her. Not like I know her. I have been cleaning up her messes since she was born, and he’s just going to swoop in and be allI’ll take care of her? And I’m supposed to be fine with that?!”
“I think I’m confused,” said Rafe. “Your sister…” He scratched behind his ear. “Is dating a wolf and has been for six months? And might be pregnant.” He took a look at the Lady as if looking for clarification.
“I’m still lost in time,” she said, looking around. “Is this before or after BTS break up?”
“You’re anchoring the timeline around K-Pop?” asked Azure in disbelief.
The Lady shrugged. “It’s relevant in the lives of many people. It holds weight on the timeline.”
“Can we go back to the part where it’s possible for her sister and her wolf to have children? Because that is something, her family can do?” Rafe said, sounding frustrated.
“Aye, this is so,” said the Lady, smiling at Rafe, her eyes twinkling.
“No,” said Azure. “No, absolutely not. She is not ready for children. And what about Liam? How do we know he’s not going to wander off the second she gets pregnant? I mean, he does seem to be in love with her, but it’s only been a couple of months. What if it doesn’t work out? I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces if he leaves.”
“Uh...” Rafe’s face seemed frozen in shock.
“What?”
“He’s not going to. Leave, I mean. If it’s been months, then it’s permanent. She’s his mate, and that’s that.”
“Well, shit, what if Scarlet leaves him? She can be really flighty. This is such a big risk. Why can’t they be more careful?”
“Because mating is sacred and sacred is never careful,” said the Lady.
Rafe let out a gusty sigh as if in relief.
“Aye,” agreed the Lady.
“What?” asked Azure, looking at the two of them.
“Destiny is strange,” said Rafe smiling at her. It was a smile she’d never seen from him. It was at once very happy and quite calm.
“It is, indeed,” agreed the Lady.
