“When we get done dealing with all this,” he replied, motioning toward the lawn, “we can come back here, take off that lovely dress you're wearing, and go sit in our library while you scold me for building it for you. I'll be okay with that.”
A smile twitched her lips, but she tried to hide it. “Fine. Prepare to be scolded by your naked angel.”
“Sounds like heaven,” he approved, leaning in for a kiss. “Now show me that smile you're hiding before I have to watch you conceal your aura.”
The entire coven sat in a circle when Quin carried Layla onto the lawn, and as they drew close, the family did a double-take, scowling at the empty air around Quin.
Several of them questioned him, but he ignored them and looked at Caitrin. “Let's get this over with.”
Caitrin stood and moved to the middle of the circle, and Quin followed, lowering Layla’s feet to the ground beside him. Her cheeks were on fire and her stomach was a knotted mess, so she turned and hid her face in Quin’s chest.
Caitrin leaned close and whispered. “Would you like to tell them or should I?”
“We'll just show them,” Quin answered.
Caitrin gave a nod then looked at their family. “Quinlan and Layla have... news.”
“Quin's getting married,” Banning assumed, shooting magical sparks in the air.
Several members expressed favor toward the idea, and Layla laughed as Quin rubbed her back.
“I was beginning to think we’d never see the day,” Catigern noted.
Caitrin laughed, but he put a stop to the excitement by raising a hand. “That's not the news. Maybe someday.” He looked at Quin. “Go ahead. They’re as prepared as they’re going to get.”
Quin leaned in and kissed Layla's head. “Ready?”
She nodded. Then they both sighed as they released their auras and bonded lights, filling the inner circle with a dazzling mixture of bright colors, silver ribbons, and golden mist.
A collective gasp pulled lungfuls of oxygen from the atmosphere, but Quin ignored the family’s shock as he whispered through Layla’s hair. “That feels better.”
“Much better,” she agreed.
He looked up, but she stayed hidden. “How are they doing?”
“It's what we expected,” he answered. “They can't believe what they're seeing.”
“Disbelieving is better than horrified.”
“Of course they're not horrified, love.”
Staying true to form, Brietta broke the coven's silence. “But… but…” She stood, propping one hand on her hip as she pointed. “You weren't bonded Monday, at the hockey game… were you?”
“No,” Quin answered. “We bonded that night.”
“But how is that possible?”
“Be more specific.”
“Well...” Brietta glanced at the back of Layla's head then met Quin’s stare. “I mean... doesn't it happen when... you know, other things happen?”
“Yes.”
“So you're saying you two hadn't... you know, before Monday?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth fell open, her eyes wide as she stared at him for several seconds. Then she laughed and sat down. “Geez, Quin, when did you become such a prude?”
This broke the tension, and several people laughed, including Layla, which eased Quin’s tension. “I'll let the jab slide, Bri, but only because you made my angel laugh.”
Catigern stood, and Zenith shook her feathers before taking flight from his shoulder. “This is huge, Caitrin.”
“Yes it is,” Caitrin agreed.
Lann stood as well, his stunned gaze glued to his grandson. “This is bigger than huge.” He paused and found Kemble. “What do you think of this?”
“I think it's amazing,” Kemble answered, giving his dad a shrug, “and yes, it's bigger than huge.”
“It is amazing,” Catigern agreed, “but we can't ignore what else it is.”
“It's insane,” Banning interjected. “Look at their power-bands.”
“Unbelievable,” Kearny and Enid whispered.
“It's destiny,” several people murmured.
“I think it's lovely,” Skyla dreamily noted.
Her parakeets tweeted their agreement from her shoulders. Then a hush fell over the family as they reverently stared at the lights.
Catigern eventually cleared his throat and sadly broke the silence. “It is lovely, but it's also a number of more unpleasant things.”
“We understand what else it is,” Quin sharply returned.
“Good,” Catigern countered, “because we're talking about a lifetime of worries and lurking danger, and at the present time, Agro's right around the corner.”