Retribution (48 page)

“Layla has all kinds of tricks up her sleeve,” Quin answered. “Her heart acts like it has a mind of its own, she can summon her magic into other people's bodies, and she's performed unheard of mind searching magic on more than one occasion. But this new occurrence, along with another miracle she performed almost a week ago, are my favorite tricks so far.”

Layla's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to figure out what kind of miracle she performed a week earlier, and Caitlyn spoke again, but this time, and for the first time ever, she addressed Layla. “What did you do last week, Layla?”

Layla shrugged as she shook her head. “I have no idea what he's talking about.”
 

Quin smiled at her grandparents. “You haven't heard this one either.”

“Have I heard it?” Layla asked.

He laughed as he looked at her. “Yes. You're the one who did it.”

“What was it?” Morrigan asked, bouncing in anticipation.

Quin pulled Layla into a hug and raised her hand to his lips, kissing her palm as he peacefully answered. “She showed me my aura.”

A collective gasp echoed through clearing, and Cordelia's hand flew to her mouth as tears stung her eyes. “You saw your aura?” she whispered, reaching for her son.

“Yes,” he answered, “I saw my aura.”
 

Feeling responsible for Cordelia’s tears, Layla quietly spoke to her. “Are you upset?”

Cordelia quickly shook her head. “No, sweetheart. I'm so happy.” She paused, wiping moisture from her cheeks as she stared at Quin. “I love that you got to see how beautiful your aura is, Quinlan. I don't know how many times I've wished I could show it to you, how many times I've wished I could give you a glimpse of what I see in you. I think every parent wishes that at some point.”

“It was amazing,” Quin confirmed, “and I got more than a glimpse. She kept it there for over a minute.”

“Kept it where?” Kemble asked.

“Here,” Quin answered, waving a hand through the mist surrounding his body. “Right where it is on everyone else, but mine was visible and tangible.”

Daleen’s eyebrows shot up in alarm. “It was tangible?”

“That's the best way I know how to describe it,” Quin confirmed. “I could feel it on my skin, but I couldn't grasp it.”

“Could you feel it, sweetie?” Morrigan asked, looking at Layla.

“Yes,” Layla sighed, smiling as she remembered. “But I wasn't looking, so I didn't see if it appeared any different.”

“You felt his soul?” Daleen whispered.

“Yes,” Layla confirmed, cuddling closer to Quin.

Morrigan started bouncing again. “What did it feel like?”
 

“It was perfect,” Layla answered, and Morrigan stopped bouncing.

“That's all you're going to give me?”

Layla laughed then elaborated. “Think about every wonderful thing Caitrin has ever said to you, and all the wonderful things he's done. Remember how they made you feel, then strip everything else away. Don't think about the words or the actions, just the feeling they gave you. Then imagine being submerged in that feeling, wrapped up in it… breathing it.” She finished in a whisper, her heart sighing its content. Then she shook her head clear and looked at Morrigan, who’d closed her eyes as she tried to imagine the amazing feeling Layla spoke of, and she wasn't the only one. Half the crowd was doing the same thing. “That's what it was like,” Layla finished, smiling up at Quin. “It was perfect.”

“Yes it was,” he agreed, brushing her curls back so he could kiss her cheeks.

“So how did you do it?” Caitlyn asked.
 

“Um…” Layla murmured, wrinkling her nose as she tried to figure out the answer.

“Just give them the same answer you gave me,” Quin suggested.

She looked at him in confusion. “What answer did I give you?”

He laughed as he looked at her grandparents. “When I asked her how she did it, she simply said
I don't know. I just did
. And that's how easy it is for her to perform miracles. If she wants to do it, she just does.”

“Amazing,” Serafin mumbled. Then he cleared his throat. “I'm honored to be a part of you, Layla Love. I couldn't be more impressed by the person you are or prouder of the things you do.”

“Hear, hear,” Caitrin agreed.

“Are you sure she's human?” Maeveen asked.

Weylin loudly laughed and ruffled Maeveen’s hair. “Come on, Mae, catch up. She's an angel. I thought everyone knew that already.”

“I'm serious,” Maeveen insisted.

“So am I,” he returned. “That girl's an angel. I've seen nothing to discredit that. But go ahead, Mae, doubt her. Maybe she'll reveal her celestial wings just to prove you wrong.”
 

Layla blushed, and Weylin snickered as he jabbed Banning in the ribs. “Do you think her wings will blush, too?”

Banning smiled at Layla as he replied. “If her cheeks are any indication, I'd have to say yes.”

“I bet they will,” Weylin decided. “Want to make a wager?”

“That's enough,” Quin interrupted, smiling as he stroked Layla's hot cheeks.

“Uh-oh,” Weylin murmured. “If she's the angel, he's the chosen one, so I'd better listen.”

“Why?” Layla taunted. “Not in the mood to get body slammed?”

Several people laughed, including Weylin. “Not tonight, gorgeous, but if your protector's feeling scrappy in the morning, we'll go a round.”

“I'll make sure he's primed to kick your butt before we leave the house.”

Quin grinned, and Weylin released another boisterous laugh while wrapping one arm around Maeveen’s shoulders. “What do you think, Mae? Want to get me primed for the wrestling match?”

She rolled her eyes and tossed his arm off her shoulders. “That would be a no, but I'm sure you'll find a replacement.”

“You interested, Cait?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at Caitlyn.

“Move on down the line,” she smirked, waving a dismissive hand, so he did, turning to Brietta with a wide grin.

Before he could say anything, Brietta held up a palm and shook her head. “Looks like you've run your wells dry around here, big boy. Good thing you have friends in other covens.”

He crossed his arms and thoughtfully stroked his beard. “I think you're right, Bri. The three of you have had your fair share. It's time to give the rest the ladies a taste.”

“Like you haven’t already been feeding it to them,” Brietta laughed.

Several conversations popped up, and now that there weren't so many eyes on her, Layla's blush receded. “What time is it?” she asked, nuzzling Quin's heart.

“10:30,” he answered, watching her feed his ego and desires. “Why do you ask?”

“Do we have to be out early tomorrow?”

“We'll have to conceal the guards around eight, but we can have them come to us.”

“So we can stay up later?”

“Sure,” he agreed. “If you tell me what you’re scheming on.”

She smiled up at him, excitement brightening her big eyes. “A magic show, with everyone who wants to stay.”

“Good idea,” he approved, grinning back. “Let's see who's up for it.”

Chapter 33

As it turned out, everyone was up for a magic show, and Layla got the feeling most guests stuck around just to see what she was capable of. She didn't mind. The spells she planned to send into the sky were things she wanted people to see, and her embarrassment always ebbed when performing magic.

Half the lawn was covered in blankets, and each family had claimed their share, lying down and facing the dark, cloudy sky. Layla lay between Quin and Morrigan, and the rest of her grandparents were only a few feet away. She loved this, and her heart swelled, indulged by the nearness of the people she cherished most.

“Who wants to start?” Caitrin asked.

Skyla raised up on one elbow and looked at Layla. “You should perform the magic I made up for you. I want to see how you'll interpret the challenge.”

Layla laughed as she thought about Skyla's ambiguous theme – simple in concept, but open to complicated detail. “Okay,” she agreed, “I'll see what I can do, but then I want to see some of your magic.”

“Deal.” Skyla lay back and rubbed her palms together. “I’m so excited.”

Layla giggled as she looked at the sky. Then she waved a hand, creating a tent of magic that completely covered the clearing. The clouds disappeared, a sun replaced the moon, and the midnight heavens faded into a tranquil, baby-blue azure.

Everyone gasped as they glanced around the bright clearing, and the sun's heat kissed their skin as a gentle breeze lifted their hair.

Skyla quietly squealed and clapped her hands. “It's already better than I imagined, Layla. Keep going.”

Layla waved again, and a gray cloud accumulated above them, halting the heat as it shadowed the crowd. Once the cloud was dense and ominous, Layla flashed a mischievous grin, and the thunderhead broke open, spilling fat raindrops from its dark depths. Several people yelled and covered their faces, but when the raindrops struck, they were dry and soft like cotton, yet they splashed like liquid, breaking into smaller droplets of softness that halted in midair. Murmurs drifted through the crowd as everyone stared at the curious magic. Then they gasped as the floating drops bloomed into spring flowers, bathing the clearing in color and a sweet, floral fragrance. The magicians laughed as the blooms rotated, their petals slowly unfurling. Then the flowers exploded into butterflies, which fluttered among the crowd and tickled their faces.

The storm cloud evaporated, and the sun moved closer, raising the lawn's temperature by several degrees. “Everyone hold up a hand,” Layla instructed.

The crowd eagerly obeyed, and over a hundred kites appeared in the air, each with a string leading to a hand below. The atmosphere buzzed with chatter, and Layla grinned at Quin, who had a firm hold on an emerald-green kite.

“How long has it been since you flew a kite?” she asked.

His dimples deepened as he found her eyes. “I've never flown a kite, love.”

“Really?”

“Really. It's not something magical kids do. I'm sure this is a first for most of us.”

She wrinkled her nose and looked up. “It's boring, huh?”

Taking her by the chin, he turned her head and kissed her disgruntled nose. “Not even a little bit. Is anyone bored?” he called out, and a loud
no
arose from the group. Quin smiled as he looked to the sky. “Do you like to fly kites?”

“When I was little,” she answered, “but it's been a while.”

“Why didn't you summon yourself one?”

“I’d rather watch everyone else.”

“I see.”

“But it's time to move on,” she noted, waving a hand, and the kites and their strings exploded into sparkling glitter.

As soon as the sky cleared and the butterflies flew away, dozens of trees began taking root in mid-air, circling the crowd as their anchors twisted toward soil. The trunks grew taller and thicker, developing branches that stretched out over the reclined magicians. Then the limbs began sprouting bright green leaves and fragrant white blooms, burgeoning until the audience below was once again shaded from the hot sun.

“Wow,” several people breathed.

Skyla wiggled and clapped her approval. “I can smell the flowers. This is way better than I thought it would be.”

“I'm glad you like it,” Layla replied, wafting a hand through the air.

The bright sky dulled to gray, and cold wind blew through the clearing, casting chills across the crowd’s flesh while nipping at fingers and toes. The leaves on the trees began a steady transformation from vivid green to glossy shades of red, orange and yellow, and the white blooms broke loose, showering the bodies below in soft, aromatic petals. Soon the branches looked like they were ablaze with red and gold fire, and as Layla snapped her fingers, all the leaves fell at once, blanketing the lawn and its occupants in fall foliage.
 

The children squealed as they jumped to their feet and kicked the leaves, and everyone else watched and laughed until the last of the foliage caught the wind and drifted away. The floating trees shrank into seed pods before disappearing altogether. Then the sky brightened, turning more silver than gray. But the sun stayed hidden and the temperature in the clearing dropped further.
 

For a long and quiet moment, everyone watched the empty sky, waiting for Layla's next move, but she just lay there, smiling as she held one of Quin's hands in both of hers. People began to fidget, and a few of them mentioned the cold, but then warmth emanated from the blankets, surrounding the crowd in comfortable heat.

“Oh,” Skyla exclaimed, pointing toward the sky.

Everyone looked up, finding a spattering of huge, sparkling snowflakes, and millions more followed, a massive canopy of arctic powder. The first snowflake to find the crowd landed on Quin's nose, but the rest weren't far behind, and soon the lawn was covered in snow – snow that didn't melt or make them cold.

Snowball fights broke out, and Skyla called to Layla while zooming a pile of white fluff toward Banning. “That was fantastic, Layla. When I came up with the theme, I had no idea you’d make it so incredible.”