Seven Wardens: Books 5-7

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Macey left her aunt, deep in thought. She hadn't dared ask about her brothers. It was bad enough knowing that her father was dead. Thinking about her brothers being his potential murderers wasn't going to make things better. Nessie'd asked her to come back later so they could talk about the succession problem. Even if Macey refused to become Queen - which she intended - that still meant that someone had to decide between Bruce and Jerry. They were similar in power and age, so it wasn't a straightforward situation. None of this was.

She almost bumped into Cam, who was waiting for her near the kitchen.

"How are you holding up?" he asked softly and spread out his arms. Gratefully, she stepped into his embrace, closing her eyes. All she wanted was for him to hold her and never let go. She wasn't ready to face the world. Her heart was broken and there was no way to fix it. Her father would never come back. She'd never be able to ask him for advice again.

"It will be alright," Cam whispered. "I know it doesn't feel like it just now, but you're strong. You've managed to achieve so much, you've saved so many lives. The world needs you."

She huffed, trying to suppress the tears that were once again threatening to spill.

"The world doesn't need me. I don't want it to. I just want to be Macey, the kelpie, your girlfriend. I don't want any monsters, wars, problems. I just want everything to go back to how it used to be."

He ran his hands over her back, somehow managing to soothe her tight muscles with just a touch.

"I know that," he muttered gently, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel his breath. "We're here for you, all of us, and we're going to get through this together."

As if to prove a point, the front door banged open and Jared shouted, "I've got a surprise!"

Cam chuckled. "I think you're going to like this."

Macey didn't imagine that she'd be able to feel anything positive, but she didn't want to disappoint the guys. They'd refilled a Loch for her, after all. If that wasn't evidence of their love, then what was?

Together, they walked into the kitchen, where Jared was already unpacking a large basket.

He smiled at them when they entered.

"I thought you needed a pick-me-up," he said with a grin. "Something to help you forget."

She was about to protest that she didn't want to forget when he pulled out a small parcel wrapped in tin foil. That smell... she knew that smell.

Her mouth began to water as she breathed in the scent.

"Waffles?" she asked weakly, almost not believing it.

Jared nodded, still grinning. "I took the Staran to Belgium to get some. Jerimiah made them himself."

Flint appeared behind them. "Did I hear the magic word?"

"You did indeed. Get us some plates," Jared ordered. "And maple syrup. And icing sugar. And whatever else you can find. Let's make this a proper feast."

A tiny spot in Macey's heart began to fill with warmth. It wasn't enough to thaw the rest of it, but still enough to reassure her that life wasn't over yet. There was still something to live for. Even if it was something as simple as her men bringing her waffles.

She just stood there, Cam's arm around her shoulders, watching as the guys laid the kitchen table. Jared even added some pretty napkins he found in a drawer. The house was providing for them once again.

Rónán arrived just when they were all sitting down. He put a small box on the table.

"Fudge," he explained. "One of the selkies made it back home. I've been saving it for a special occasion."

Macey almost smiled, but her mouth didn't quite comply yet. There was too much pain within her. Still, she could appreciate the gesture. Her eyes were drawn in by the waffles though. They were thick, the perfect shade of golden brown, and sprinkled with a layer of sugar, half of which had turned into syrup. Perfection in a honeycomb shape.

Cam put one of them on her plate and handed it to her. Wordlessly, she took it, unable to speak. Finally, after all those attempts of getting waffles, she'd finally got one. The occasion was the most terrible she could imagine, but they did work to make her feel a little less empty.

"Enjoy," Jared said cheerily and began to pour maple syrup over his waffle.

She knew they were all trying hard to be happy and cheery, and she appreciated it. She wasn't able to join in, but she knew they'd accept that.

Slowly, she took a first bite. The waffle was sweet, but not overly so, no, it was the perfect level of sweetness. Slightly crunchy on the outside and soft inside.

She closed her eyes as she chewed, savouring the taste. She felt a tear running down her cheek, but that was okay. She didn't mind.

"Those are excellent," Rónán praised. "We need to do this more often."

Cam laughed. "Believe me, we've been trying this ever since we met Macey. It's never worked out... until today."

Yes, until now. If only it could have been a happier occasion. A birthday perhaps, or celebrating their victory over the Mahoun. Instead, this was more like a funeral feast. She both loved and hated it. Her emotions were all over the place, but concentrating on the sweet taste of the waffles helped.

When she was done, another waffle appeared on her plate. She didn't look up to see which of the men had given it to her. It didn't matter.

"Should we ask your aunt to join us?" Flint asked carefully. "She's all alone in her room right now."

Macey hated that he'd asked that. She could have ignored her aunt, but now that he'd mentioned her, she couldn't. It wasn't fair for Nessie to be on her own. She'd lost her brother-in-law. Macey wasn't the only one grieving.

She nodded and Flint got up, returning with Nessie a moment later.

The kelpie didn't say much, just sat down while Flint was getting her a plate and a cup.

"Would you like some fudge?" Rónán offered and pointed at the little box.

"I would love to," Nessie replied with a smile, but there wasn't any humour or happiness in it. "It's my favourite."

Wordlessly, Macey reached out across the table and took her aunt's - no, her mother's hand.

"Thank you," Nessie said and even though Macey didn't know why, she nodded.

She squeezed the older kelpie's hand, then went back to eating her third waffle, hoping that the sweetness of it was some kind of omen of what was to come. That things were going to get better.