Chapter 75

“Oh, you love it, and teach it about Darkness and the art of shadows,” Midnight says, nodding beneficently like it is very easy and lovely.

“Where does it sleep?” Laila asks.

Midnight just looks at her like she’s insane. “On…the floor?”

“Who takes care of it?” Anton queries next.

“I don’t know,” Midnight says, anger rising in her and shadows starting to leak from her skin as she realizes that she doesn’t have answers to these questions. “He does all that,” she snaps, pointing at Jesse.

Jesse just raises his tumbler of whiskey in the air, like he accepts the challenge. “Where are we going to put all the dirty diapers, Mids?”

“What’s a diaper?” she asks, spinning towards him, angry. “And why did you let it get all dirty? Honestly, Jesse, it’s important to stay clean -”

“Okay, Mids,” I say, quite calm, putting a hand out to pat her arm. “Thank you so much for telling us.”

As the others talk, Laila deftly changing the subject to discuss the spice collection we got her, I conjure a big book that explains all sorts of issues like monthly cycles, how babies are made, male and female biology, relationships – all that. It’s the same book my mom gave me as a girl and which I think Midnight probably desperately needs to read.

“What’s that?” Midnight asks, leaning forward to peer at the book as I slip it into a very pretty sparkly purple backpack that I think she’ll like.

“Just something for you to explore,” I say, handing the backpack over to her. “Whenever you want.”

“Cool!” Midnight says, excited, peering at the backpack and clearly wondering how to put it on it. “Jesse, can you help me with this?”

“Sure I can,” Jesse says, slipping to the floor and helping his little mate with her bag. I smile, watching them, and drink some more whiskey, thinking that Midnight certainly did hit the jackpot in terms of mates. Our grandmother really did set her up with precisely the right man for this moment in her life.

And that Jesse…he’s lucky too. Because even if Midnight has her faults and complications, considering the level of neglect in her life? She must be in possession of a truly extraordinary soul to come through all of it with such a sweet and pure heart.

Midnight and Jesse leave far too early for my liking, though if it were up to me obviously they would stay eternally. But Midnight insists that they have to get back, that it would be very bad if the God of Darkness found them gone.

“Won’t it…cause a bit of trouble?” Anton asks. “When he sees all of your new stuff?” He looks worriedly around at all of the bags and packages looped on Midnight’s arms and bizarrely tied to her ankles. She explained that the ties will help her transport more, but still – it’s weird.

“No,” Midnight says, sighing happily. “He never comes into my house. So this will all just be indoor stuff.”

I grimace a little, hoping that continues to be true. But Midnight seems blissfully happy, even if she is surprised when I move forward and wrap her in a hug.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, freaked out.

“I’m loving you, Mids,” I say with a sigh, patting her new sparkly purple backpack. “You’re part of my family now, so you get big hugs.”

“Well, if those are the rules,” she sighs, giving in and leaning into it. I laugh and give her another squeeze before letting her go.

Jesse gives Laila a very elaborate, very polite kiss on the hand and then attempts to give Anton a high-five, at which they abjectly fail. I’m still laughing as Jesse pulls me into a hug and presses a kiss to my cheek.

“I’ll see you soon, Junie,” he murmurs. “I promise. And then we’ll get us all home, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whisper, tears coming to my eyes, wondering how on earth we’re going to do that. Can ghosts even exist in our world?

Before I can even contemplate the question though, Orion appears in the corner of my vision.

“Oh, hello,” he says, I think a bit surprised. “This is…wow, Juniper, you’ve really been putting the magic’s house to the test, calling all this up.” He turns in a slow circle. “What is all this stuff?”

“It’s all my presents,” Midnight snaps, her arms crossing her chest. “So don’t touch.”

Orion smiles and turns to her. “No worries, Midnight. I won’t touch anything. It’s all for you.”

“Orion,” I say, crossing my own arms and frowning at him, mad again. “You have the power to call up anything, instantly, at your fingertips. And you seriously couldn’t have done this for her before?”

“Easy, June,” Jesse murmurs, and I snap my head to him, surprised that he’s the one protesting. Jesse just shrugs. “You put him through his paces last night, all right? And it is, ultimately, between Orion and Mids to figure out.”

I scowl a bit, disappointed to be denied the chance to yell at Orion anymore. But then I step back, physically and emotionally, realizing that Jesse’s right. Midnight doesn’t need me to defend her anymore – she can decide for herself how she feels about this.

“I am sorry I wasn’t more thoughtful, Midnight,” Orion says, stepping towards her and conjuring up a little basket of strawberries. She gasps when she sees them, reaching eagerly for it, and I can’t help but smile. “These were always your favorite, right? I can’t go to the Land of Darkness and bring things to you, but if you come by once a month – or once a week – or whenever, really - I’d be happy to see you, and give you whatever supplies you want or need. I’m really, really sorry I never thought to offer before.”

“It’s okay,” Midnight says, beaming up at Orion as she takes the little basket of strawberries into her hands. “You were too busy being in love with me. I can understand how that is a big distraction.”

Orion takes a deep breath even as he blushes and I snap my palms to my mouth to stifle my laugh. Laila doesn’t bother, laughing delightedly at Orion’s embarrassment.

“I’m not in love with you, Midnight,” Orion sighs, shaking his head. “I’m really sorry – I almost wish I were –“

“See?” Midnight says, looking up at Jesse. “He’s all embarrassed. It’s the love.”

“It’s the love,” Jesse confirms, grinning down at her. “Poor Orion, cursed with twenty girls, none of which are the woman of his dreams.” He slips an arm around Midnight’s shoulders as Orion glares at him.

“It’s –“

Orion begins his frustrated retort but never gets a chance to finish as Midnight vanishes them away, eager to get home and try her strawberries and enjoy her new supplies. My heart aches as soon as they go, missing my cousin already, worried for him. Because even if he has found something strange and good with his new mate, he’s still very much living under the threat of the God of Darkness.

And his life is just as much at risk as mine, even if I am living in relative luxury with all my new friends.

Seeing my very clear anxiety, Laila and Anton coming to stand on either side of me, warm and supportive. Orion steps closer too, looking at me with guilt and pity on his face. He again conjures a basket of strawberries and holds it out towards me.

I sigh and take one, peace offering as it is, and take a bite. It is very delicious, very nearly making me moan at the sweet and slightly sour taste.

“Hey,” Laila says, giving me a playful nudge with her elbow as I chew. “Wanna get real drunk and avoid our complicated emotions?”

“Oh, Lai,” I say, laughing and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Either Anton’s corrupted you, or you’re finally coming out of your shell.”

“Yes,” she says, laughing and leaning against me. “I am a slow little hermit crab when I meet new people, but my inner penchant for debauchery comes out eventually.”

Anton lets out a whoop, jumping over the back of the couch and grabbing the remote. Orion laughs, striding over to the couch himself and conjuring up a bunch of red wine for us. I slip an arm around Laila’s waist and walk with her to join the boys.

“Do you think we can finish the one with the impetuous, ill-considered singing mermaid and the hesitant fish?” she whispers, looking at me eagerly.

“We sure can,” I say, giving her a squeeze.

“Good,” she says, giving a serious nod. “I like the fish. I worry for him, though. I think he needs to rethink his dangerous friendship with the girl. She doesn’t really seem to take his safety into consideration, does she?”

I laugh even as I snatch up one of Orion’s glasses of wine and fall to my knees by the DVD player, picking out the right disc and putting it in the machine.