Chapter 395: By the Light of the Fire

Ella

That night, gathered around the fire, Henry leaned forward, elbows on his knees, smiling at us.

“So, tell me if I’ve got this right,” he said, clearly amused. “My two sons are mated to two sisters, each with the Goddess’s blood. This means…” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “…that all my grandchildren will have mystical powers?”

Cora shrugged, grinning. “That’s what she told us,” she said, laughing softly.

“Well,” Henry said, pleased, leaning back and shaking his head in disbelief. “This saves me a great deal of worry.”

Sinclair, confused, turned to him. “What? Why?”

“Because,” Henry said, shrugging, trying to suppress a grin. “Imagine if only one son were mated to a Goddess-born wolf—only half my grandchildren would have magical powers. At least this way, I don’t have to pretend I like the non-magical ones as much as the others.”

We all laughed, but I shook my head at Henry’s dark humor. Beneath it, we knew it wasn’t true. He would always love all his grandchildren equally.

“I wonder what your gift will be, little baby,” I said to Rafe, who sat upright in my lap, gripping my fingers and looking around at us. I was intrigued when Cora told me their gifts would vary according to their personalities—I, like her, had assumed they would be the same. We still hadn’t figured out Cora’s gift, though we’d all been thinking about it.

“Rafe’s will probably be shooting lasers from his eyes,” Roger murmured, leaning forward to study my son. I glared at him, and he grinned.

“No, he’ll be a healer, like Mommy,” I said, kissing Rafe’s head. He looked up at me with a baby smile. I smiled back.

“Nah, Rafe’s got a warrior’s soul,” Sinclair said, leaning back and regarding his son proudly. “It’ll be something to do with that.”

“No!” I said, glaring at my mate. “Rafe is gentle. His powers will be for peace.”

“What about ours?” Roger asked, turning to Cora. “Are you getting any hints through the bond?”

“No,” she replied, sighing. “I can’t even figure out what mine is, let alone the baby’s.” She frowned, though we knew nothing would diminish her joy today. Everything—for all of us—was wonderful.

“That’s all right, Cora,” I said, sighing contentedly and leaning back. “We’ll figure it out.”

“It would be convenient,” she said, propping her chin on her hand and scowling slightly, “if my gift were healing, considering I’m a doctor.”

“Yes,” I said with mock haughtiness, grinning at her, “that would be convenient, but not everyone can be as gentle, loving, and restorative as me, Cora—it’s in my personality.”

Even as she gave me a playful glare and I laughed, Sinclair nodded in agreement. Cora cocked her head, considering something.

Then, she sat up straight. “Actually,” she said to the men, “would you mind if Ella and I had a minute alone?”

Henry and Sinclair immediately agreed and stood, but Roger frowned slightly. “Why?” he asked.

“Something Mom said,” Cora said, turning to him, “about Ella…being able to help. A little sister time, to see if we can sort it out?”

Roger’s mouth twisted, and I laughed seeing his reluctance—he didn’t want to be separated from her, especially now. But when she gently nudged him, he sighed and stood.

“Come on, new papa,” Sinclair said, putting an arm around Roger’s shoulders after taking Rafe from my arms. “I’ll teach you how to change a diaper.”

Roger groaned, but Cora and I laughed as the men helped Henry onto the lift and went inside the RV.

“So, what are you thinking?” I asked eagerly, moving my chair closer to my sister’s.

“Something Mom said,” Cora sighed, looking down at her hands. “She said you could help me figure it out.”

Cora looked up, her mouth twisted. “Do you think I’m broken, or something?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but she raised a hand to stop me.

“No, I mean, do I need to be healed? With your powers? To access the gift?”

“Oh,” I said, intrigued, sitting up straight. “That makes sense—I had to go to the desert to get the gift from Mom, or at least access it. Maybe we need to do something to activate it, some kind of ceremony.”

“Worth a try,” she said, shrugging. “Want to give it a shot?”

“Sure,” I said, taking her hands. I ran my power through and over her body. Her wolf nudged the gift as it passed, and I smiled sensing her—such a pretty wolf, her fur a thousand shades of brown. But as I scanned Cora, I found nothing.

“Sorry, Cora,” I sighed, dropping her hands and sinking back. “You’re totally fine, as far as my gift can sense.”

“Boo,” she said, sinking back and gnawing her lip. She moved on to another idea. “Um, do you think I could try healing you?”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“Mom said all the gifts were linked. Maybe I can…heal a little? And that will let me access my full ability?”

“Okay,” I said, holding out my hand. “I cut my finger this morning on a bottle cap,” I sighed, “and I’ve been meaning to heal it all day. My gift could fix this in a second; can you do it?”

Cora took my hand, closed her eyes, and entered the meditative state I use. I stayed still, avoiding the same state myself.

After a few minutes, I felt a slight tingling at my fingertip. I saw Cora concentrate, but five minutes later, she opened her eyes, scowled, and pushed my hand away.

“Still there,” she said, scowling.

“I know,” I sighed, looking at my hand. “I felt a tingling though, and it does feel better.”

“Really?” she asked, interested. “Yeah,” I said, smiling. “It’s interesting they’re linked. Maybe we can all do a bit of each other’s stuff, but healing isn’t your gift.”

“Then what is it?” she sighed, scowling, becoming frustrated. I tucked my feet under me and smiled at my sister, who was always more hot-headed than me.

“Do you think it makes sense that I’m a healer?” I asked quietly. “Mom said our gifts match our personalities.”

“Well, duh, Ella,” Cora said, rolling her eyes. “You’re the most maternal person I’ve ever met—you want to take care of everyone, especially babies, and fix things.”

“True,” I said, cocking my head. “I’d heal the whole world if I could.”

“But that doesn’t help me,” Cora said, losing her temper slightly. I looked at the sky; distant thunder rumbled. I wondered if we’d move inside.

“What’s your key personality trait?” I asked. Cora glared at me.

“I don’t know,” she huffed. “Being frustrated? Stubborn? Closed off? I didn’t let Roger get close for months—and he’s my mate.”

“That’s not true, Cora,” I said, leaning forward. “You’re stubborn, but you close yourself off because you feel things so intensely.”

“Well, what good is that?” she snapped, though I knew she regretted it instantly.

I glanced upwards as the breeze picked up, bringing storm clouds faster than I thought possible. My lips parted slightly…

“Cora…” I whispered.

“Seriously, Ella!” she said, throwing up a hand and sighing as she glared into the fire. “What kind of stupid gift matches someone like me? Can I turn things to rock? Halt trains with sheer will? Freeze people by glaring at them?” She scowled, crossing her arms. “That’s what my dating history suggests, at least,” she grumbled.

Precisely with that grumble, thunder rumbled. Cora didn’t notice.

“Cora,” I said again, a grin spreading across my face.

“Seriously, Ella,” she said, snapping her gaze to me. “What kind of gift matches someone so headstrong, so constantly agitated, so…” I put out a hand, interrupting her. “So tempestuous?” I said, smiling widely. Cora stilled at my expression. “What?” she said, frowning. “What is it? What did you figure out?”

I said nothing, laughing and holding up my hands as rain began to fall. Cora’s jaw dropped.