Chapter 490
Marigold, perched high on Jackson’s arm, looks around the train station with wide eyes as she munches on a cookie. I bite my lip for a moment, watching her, anxious that she’ll be anxious. After all, her life has already involved so much change…
“She’s fine,” Jackson murmurs, smirking down at me for a moment before turning his eyes back to our daughter. “She’s just…interested. No fear. Right, Goldie-girl?” He presses a kiss to her cheek and Marigold gives a quick nod, not looking at him, instead staring out at all the interesting sights.
“Brave girl,” I murmur, reaching up to stroke a hand over her hair. “I wish I had a bond and could feel all that.”
Jackson just smiles at me, wishing I did too.
“So, which one of these are we taking?” he asks, moving his eyes from mine and raising his chin at the line of trains resting at their platforms. It’s very late in the evening and hardly anyone is around. “No royal car today, huh?”
“Nope,” I say on a sigh, adjusting my backpack, which is mostly full of stuff for Marigold. After all, all Jackson and I really need are the cadet uniforms we’ve already changed into. I grimace a little, looking at the line of trains, because while we checked the schedule and ensured that one would be going past the Academy tonight…I honestly can’t tell which one it is.
God damn it, I should have paid more attention the first time we ran away to the Academy. Rafe and Jesse did all the work.
“Lost?” A voice calls out behind us and my eyes go wide.
I inhale sharply as I spin, hardly believing –
Because how!? How did he know!?
Jesse grins at me, his hand slipped casually into his pockets as he strolls over to us in his own cadet uniform, Midnight trotting at his side to keep up.
“Jess!” I gasp, dashing for him and throwing my arms around his neck. Jesse laughs and hugs me back. “What – what are you doing here!?”
“Ariel, did you think I’d let you run off to the academy without me?”
“How’d you know I was doing that!?”
He laughs again, pulling back a little to shake his head at me. “I know you, stubborn little trouble brat. And I saw him looking all mournful all day,” he says, nodding his head towards Jackson. “So, I knew he was going to give you whatever you wanted. And I knew mom and dad cautioning against you going to school was just going to make you want to do it even harder. So,” he shrugs. “I figured best bet was to show up here with my pet demon in tow,” he nods to the side at Mids, “and see if you’d let me in on the plan.”
“Hey!” Midnight growls, snapping her hands to her hips.
I bite my lip, looking around Jesse’s side, looking for Rafe, but…
“It’s just me,” Jesse murmurs with a sad little twist to his lips. “Don’t be mad at him. He’s got his own things to worry about.”
I nod, tucking away any little sadness that I might have and beaming at my cousin instead. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Aw,” Midnight says, stepping towards me and frowning as she reaches out and tugs on my sleeve. “You’re all wearing matching clothes. I want some.”
“Marigold doesn’t have any,” I say, laughing and reaching for Midnight next, pulling her into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t wait for you to see the Academy.”
“I’ve already seen it,” she sighs, rolling her eyes even as she hugs me back. I laugh, realizing that she’s right – she certainly did see the Academy when she was spying on us for all of those weeks in secret. “But yes, I am excited to go.”
“You’re not anxious to leave your yurt?” Jackson asks, petting an affectionate hand over Midnight’s hair. I look up at him, smiling a little and curious about the very clear affection he has for Mids. Jackson is usually very restrained around other women – but perhaps Midnight’s childish stature and naïve tendencies make her an easier target for his affection.
“No, Jesse says no one will mess with it and we put a sign up on the door saying any pups who go in it will be cursed,” Midnight says, tilting her head back to smile up at Jackson. “Jesse says that will work because they already think I am a witch. And that I can have a nice big bed at the Academy. He says I can have Rafe’s.”
I grin, thinking that my possessive brother might have something to say about that.
“Midnight,” Marigold whispers, smiling widely at Jesse’s mate even as she lays her sleepy head down against Jackson’s shoulder.
“Hello, Golden One,” Midnight says, grinning at Marigold, making me laugh at the nickname. “I am your elder, which means I am in charge and you have to respect me. You good with that?”
Marigold laughs a little but just nods.
“Are we doing this?” Jesse says, glancing up at the clock that looms large over the entire station. “We don’t have a ton of time.”
Jackson looks at me and arches a brow. I laugh and nod, grinning at our little party. “Let’s go!”
The next morning I wake up blissfully happy to be back in my nook. My mouth opens in a little yawn and I nuzzle closer to my mate’s naked chest, all warm and cozy. I sigh, content, and reach out a hand that I brush over Marigold’s soft head. She’s curled up at Jackson’s side, likewise nuzzled close, breathing deeply as she continues to sleep.
I bite my lip against a little squeal as I look at her as, half asleep, Jackson lifts a hand to my back, softly stroking up and down against my nightshirt.
I turn my head, pressing a kiss to his chest before I sit up a little, peering through the open curtain at Jesse and Rafe’s beds, a form curled up in each, though Midnight’s tiny body is barely visible amongst all of Rafe’s bedding.
Last night was exhausting but completely worth it as the five of us stowed away in a box car like we did before and traveled the long distance to the Academy. Marigold slept most of the time but opened her little eyes to look up in awe at the castle up on the cliff, staring at it with true wonder. Midnight had been all determined enthusiasm too, asking me endless questions about chemistry that I answered as best I could.
But the moment when we settled down in the nook, ready for some much-needed sleep, was definitely the best part. It’s a tight fit, after all, with three of us in my tiny little bed now. But despite my guilt at the fact that Jackson’s feet still hang off the end of the bed as they always do, I have to admit that there’s no place I’d rather be than here with my little family, all cuddled close.
I take a moment to check in my new bonds with the babies and laugh a little when I find Jackson’s wolf already there alongside my wolf, both of them sniffing at the bonds and giving them a happy little lick to say good morning. The bonds don’t respond – of course they don’t, the babies are surely too small – but still, they look…bigger this morning? More vibrant?
I grin, incredibly excited to see them grow. God, I never thought much about what it would be like to be pregnant, but I have to admit…I’m kind of loving it.
At least, until the morning sickness starts. Then I’m sure I’ll despise it all.
A yawn breaks from Jesse’s bed and I grin when I see my cousin sit up, his eyes still shut, rubbing at his brown hair. A little noise next to me makes me look down and I smile to see that Marigold’s pretty blue eyes are open, looking up at me.
“Good morning, Goldie,” I whisper, running my fingers through her hair. “How did you sleep?”
“Good,” she whispers, shutting her eyes again and blearily rubbing her face against Jackson’s side. “Breakfast?”
I laugh, thinking that she’s certainly her father’s daughter, and Jackson gives a little hum of agreement that I can feel resonating through his chest.
“Jesse’s in charge of breakfast,” I whisper to Goldie, giving her a little nudge. “Go bother him and he’ll get you some.”
My little girl grins and rolls over in the bed, swinging her legs off the edge and hopping down, rushing for Jesse.
“No!” Jesse moans, throwing his blankets up over his head and cuddling back into his pillows. “I didn’t agree to childcare! I refuse feeding responsibilities!”
“Breakfast!” Marigold calls out, laughing as she jumps on his bed and starts rifling through the blankets, looking for him. “Breakfast, Jesse!”
He snarls, mock threatening, making her laugh harder. My little heart soars as I watch them play and Jackson wraps his arms around me, holding me tight, joy likewise thrumming through him.
“Come on, Goldie,” Midnight says with a yawn, sitting up in bed, her wild back curls all rumpled and standing up at odd angles. I grin, thinking she looks quite pretty as she holds out a hand towards my daughter. “Childcare is my responsibility. I will show you the magical food door in the wall – we will put a note in it and when the bell rings, there will be food!”
Marigold squeaks with excitement and jumps down from Jesse’s bed, running for her.
“This is amazing,” Jackson murmurs, laughing a little himself.
“I know,” I say on a happy sigh, turning my face to him. “Do you think –“
But before I can get any further, an angry knock comes at the door.
