Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

forty-seven.

The next morning, Zane made breakfast for the kids, holding some aside for me to eat after they were done. Chris stood next to me, sipping his coffee as I watched them sit at the table and eat.

"I can't wait to eat with them... This whole waiting so they don't see me thing is getting old..." I said.

"Why don't you just go eat with them now?"

"Because I don't want questions... I want them to figure it out later. We didn't plan that entire thing all night long for it to be spoiled because I'm hungry." Chris placed his hand on my stomach and kissed my cheek.

"Okay, Momma, calm down..." he laughed. "You nervous?"

"A bit. I don't know how they're going to take the news."

"Well... Odie was a mixed bag of emotions when we told him he was getting younger siblings. He liked all of our attention and thought it might get split, but excited that he would have siblings. He was only five though. They are all old enough to know what a new baby means, so I'm sure they'll be happy." Odie started to walk over to the kitchen, so I nudged him in the side to stop talking.

"Hey, honey. Did you sleep better last night?" I asked.

"Yeah, a little. Thanks, Momma." I nodded and moved away from the sink so he could clean his dishes. "Hey, is it still okay for Ella to come over? You said you had something planned for us."

"Yeah! Of course. She's welcome to what we planned for you guys."

"Okay, cool, because she's almost here..." I ruffled through his hair and kissed his head.

"Then why don't you get changed before she sees your pajamas?" He walked upstairs to change. The twins finished eating and also ran upstairs to change. Ella knocked on the door and I told her Odie would be down in a minute, so she waited for him in the living room. Val ran outside to finish up placing things around the backyard and we all waited for the kids to come down. Ava and Noah ran over to say hello to Ella and Odie came stomping down the stairs a minute later complaining the twins had jumped on his just made-up bed.

"Well, if it continues," Val started, "Noah, you can't see Bee. And Ava, you can't see Cassie and your books will be spelled blank until you've learned your lesson."

"You can't do that!"

"Then stay out of Odie's room without his permission..." I said, kneeling down to Ava and Noah. "There's going to be a few changes in a couple months and we all have to be on our best behavior, okay?" Ava was holding her hands in front of her and Noah had one arm crossed across his chest, holding his elbow. "Okay?"

"Yes, Momma..." they said, quietly. I took one hand from each of them in mine and looked up to Odie. "You three ready for your surprise? Ella," I called out, standing up. "You're welcome to join them. I'm sure they won't mind the help."

"Oh, sure!" she said, standing up. "What are we doing?" she asked. The four of us led the kids outside – Aria had gotten a little carried away with decorating and the backyard was covered in brightly colored streamers and balloons and whatever else she could get her hands on.

"Guys, what is all this? It's none of our birthdays..." Odie said.

"No, but we thought you might have some fun figuring something out," Val said. My phone rang in my pocket – it was Ray and Aria. While Val explained the 'rules' to them about needing to figure out the puzzles – some with their magic and some with their wits, I stepped inside to answer it.

"Hey!" I said. "We're just starting, you guys here?"

"Just turned on the street. Do we need anything else?" Aria asked.