They spent the next hour letting their family experience their fire, and the way the magic affected everyone’s attitude was encouraging. Post-power euphoria undoubtedly contributed to the positive shift, but Layla could tell hope wiggled into their hearts when her fire blossomed in their hands.
Only one coven member remained – little Alana, who'd been patiently waiting on the edge of her seat. Layla hated making her wait, but not as much as she hated the idea of burning her, so she saved the toddler for last, intent on testing her skill as much as possible before taking the risk.
Alana hopped from her chair when her turn finally came, and Layla tried to hide her concern as she knelt. “Hold up your hand, angel.”
“Otay,” Alana agreed, reaching for the sky.
Keeping her gaze on the baby’s shiny purple eyes, Layla touched a forefinger to the back of her tiny hand.
“Wow,” Alana whispered. “That feews gweat.”
“Good,” Layla breathed, picking her up. Then she lifted her into the air. “Now shoot it at the clouds.”
Alana's nose wrinkled as she obeyed, and an emerald-green fireball twice the size of her teeny body shot from her palm. She squealed and clapped, and her excited gaze didn’t leave the sky until the fire and its trail of smoke dissipated. “That was fun, Waywa! May we do it again?”
Layla laughed and lowered her into a hug, nuzzling her strawberry-blond curls as she answered. “Absolutely, my little flame-thrower, anything you want.”
Chapter 10
The family stayed on the lawn throughout the afternoon and into the evening, brainstorming, playing, and keeping each other close. By the time the table was set for dinner, they had a plan to pinpoint the Unforgivables' camp, seven volunteers to spy on it, and they'd added five names to the list of people who might be willing to fight.
Caitrin was double-checking the contact information on possible volunteers when his head snapped up. His focus shifted for a few seconds, and when it returned, he searched out Brietta. “Did you forget to tell us something, dear?”
Brietta's eyebrows drew together then lifted with realization. “Kegan and Weylin,” she blurted, looking at Quin. “I invited them to dinner. I thought it would be okay since they'd met Layla. I… I didn't know,” she quietly finished, motioning to the gold and silver haze around them. “I'm sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Layla assured.
Quin shrugged as he looked at Caitrin. “They're on their way in?”
“Yes,” Caitrin answered, returning his attention to his list. “You have about thirty seconds to decide what you're going to do.”
“Hide your lights, Layla,” Quin instructed, following his own advice.
Layla quietly cursed, but obeyed, trying not to pout about it. Then Quin’s arm came around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
She gnawed on her lip as she watched the sky. “We should tell them, right? I mean, we're not hiding from the people we care about, the people we can trust. Can you trust Kegan and Weylin?”
Several people answered yes, including Quin, so Layla lifted her hand. “I guess that's your answer.”
“Okay,” Quin agreed, “but don't release those heavenly lights yet.” He looked up as Kegan and Weylin descended into the clearing. “They still don't know who you really are. Let's explain that first, then ease them into the shock of our auras and bonded lights.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, snuggling into his side. Then her heart swelled when he shifted her onto his lap.
Brietta met their company halfway, and Kegan pulled her into a hug as Weylin ruffled her hair.
“Why so concerned?” Kegan asked, sweeping his gaze over her aura.
Before she could answer, Alana and Brayden bombarded the guests. “Keg!” Alana squealed, jumping into flight.
Keeping one arm around Brietta, Kegan caught Alana in the other then flipped her around, perching her in the crook of his elbow. “Hey, little Alana. You've grown.”
“Wike a weed,” she confirmed. Then she kissed his cheek before turning her attention on Weylin, who was hanging Brayden upside down by one ankle. “I wiww save you, Bwayden!”
Soaring from Kegan's arm, she safely landed in Weylin's. Then she tried to tickle his thick neck with tiny fingers. He grinned as he tossed her into the air, and with a little help from his magic, he softly caught her by one ankle.
“Ha, ha,” he taunted, swinging the siblings back and forth. “Now I have two prisoners to tickle.” And with that, they both doubled over, laughing hysterically as Weylin tickled their bellies with magic.