Forever Luna

Present

noun ~ the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment

NOVA

Over the course of a week, Phoenix and I arranged the visit of the Cyrus family. They were to arrive after lunchtime, after much deliberation from Gaia. It took a solid bribe of giving her an extra plot of land for her to even consider helping. She drove a hard bargain, but I wouldn't let Phoenix shoot it down. We needed her help in more ways than one.

Gaia was to teleport them from their home to our garden and grant them access. Thanks to the protection spell placed upon our land, nobody could enter without Gaia's knowledge or acceptance. It was the quickest, safest and most economical way to get them here.

Other than arranging that, there was also the topic of trying to track the elusive man at the borders. He has not visited since and has not plagued my dreams either. My visions were still few and far between, and honestly, I gave up even trying. With Celimene subdued and my gift AWOL, I didn't see the point.

Being a mother became my life the past few days, and pair it with the mountainous heap of luna duties; I was done.

But one thing at a time. And now, that one thing was waiting for the Cyrus family to arrive.

My hands looped in front of me. I waited expectantly at the front of the house. Gaia was going to bring them right to the front porch of the pack house at any moment now. Phoenix stood beside me, Annabelle in his arms as Freddy snoozed in the pushchair. She was gnawing her fist like mad and I winced as I realised how soon she would teeth.

Just when you start to get a sleep schedule, something comes to mess it all up.

A humming buzz of energy caught my attention and my eyes snapped from my ravenous child to a shimmer a mere metre away. Before my very eyes, Gaia appeared, with Avani and Aldren on either side of her.

Avani stumbled, and Aldren blinked as they teleported, disorientated from their journey. Forcing a broad smile to hide my exhaustion, I approached them.

"Guys, it's great to see you again!" I beamed.

Avani wrapped me in a hug, the comforting scent of her perfume flooding my senses. I returned the gesture, squeezing her back.

"Oh, Nova. It has been so long!" She gushed. "How have you been?"

I laughed softly, stepping out of her grip to gesture to the murmuring babies behind me. "Oh, you know, same old."

She squealed, ditching me to approach Phoenix. My mate grunted a hello, having no choice but to hand over Annabelle as Avani dived straight in for the cuddle. She picked my daughter up, gazing across at her with awe. I watched, intrigued, as she gushed about how grown she was.

"I think you have gained another babysitter."

I turned at the sound of Aldren's voice, my lips quirking with humour. "When's the last time she was even around a baby?"

Aldren shrugged, watching his mother with a passive expression. "Who knows? Anyway, how have you been?"

His striking blue eyes snapped to mine, and I instantly felt a wave of uncertainty. Aldren was a seer as much as I was, but he was older, wiser, and much more trained. His gift may not be as strong as mine, but at least it bloody worked.

"I'm okay." I shrugged. "How's summer treating you up north?"

His lips quirked, but he merely shrugged. "Everything is green again, which is great for the crops. But that's not what I asked. Stop changing the subject, Nova."