Now I’m questioning everything, and I don’t like most of the answers I’m coming up with.
“Mommy!” Phaedra comes racing in wearing her adorable little gold bikini, with Arthur, also soaking wet, hot on her heels. “Guess what Oncle Rowan taught me?”
“Future queen, you’re dripping water everywhere, and you look like you’re freezing,” she says, her tone holding more amusement than censure, only for all of us to shriek when Arthur shakes his fur out like a dog would, sending sprays of cold water every which way. Our hands fly out to ward it off. “Ah! Arthur. You’re getting us soaked!”
“That’s because they ran in here without wrapping her towel around them. And yes, I’m including the ferret in that statement.” Rowan enters, flanked by Sabrina and Zayer. He chuckles, holding up Phaedra’s towel that she gratefully takes. Arthur scurries up to Sabrina, rests himself against her, and nuzzles into her towel.
Rowan throws me a side-eye as he enters but almost immediately dismisses me as if I’m not here. Awesome. I mean, I don’t want his attention. That’s the last thing I want. But a girl still doesn’t like to be cast aside immediately after a guy finger fucks her to orgasm. I, on the other hand, had every right to dismiss him. Naturally.
Not so charming anymore, are you, Prince?
“Better. Now, what did Oncle Rowan teach you?”
“How to do a flip off the diving board.” Sabrina crows.
“Sabrina!” Phaedra cries, stomping her foot indignantly. “I wanted to tell her.”
Sabrina simply shrugs in ayou snooze, you loseway.
“Phaedra, come here and tell me about it.” Bellamy pats her thigh, and Phaedra walks over and sits on the floor beside her.
“We did flips. I made a full circle on the last one.”
Bellamy claps. “Amazing. That sounds so fun.”
“I did it three times in a row,” Sabrina chimes in.
“That’s great, legendary princess. It sounds like you all had fun.” Bellamy giggles. “Zayer, my love, that towel is for drying, not being a superhero.”
“I’m not a superhero,” he protests. “I’m a sea monster. Rawr!” He lunges toward me with his tiny fingers splayed like claws.
I playfully cover my head with my arms and scream in fear. “Ah! Oh no! Don’t get me.”
The wet little thing jumps on me, the water from his trunks seeping through my pants. It’s cold and definitely unpleasant.
“I’ll save you!” Sabrina declares, throwing herself at Zayer and covering him with her towel, which he does not like. “I’m a friendly shark and protect humans from sea monsters.”
“Sabrina!” Zayer whines, pushing her towel off his face.
I’ve never had siblings. Not really. Not in this way where I’d play and fight with them. I’m much older than Jaqueline, and Samil was much older than me. But their dynamic is adorable and fun to watch.
“I’m a sea queen, and I declare that everyone has to listen to me and that there can be no monsters or sharks. Only mermaids and sea fairies.”
My lips bounce at Phaedra’s declaration, and I see I’m not alone in that as Rowan and Bellamy are silently laughing. No one else can feel the tension, but it buzzes and hums like its own entity. It’s a lot of work not to look at Rowan, and I wonder if he’s having the same struggle I am.
“I should get back to work,” I declare.
Bellamy nods. “Thank you for your help this afternoon. I feel so much better about all of this.”
“I’m glad. It was fun.” I offer her a smile and shift Zayer so he’s sitting on the floor and climb up to my feet.
“I want to get changed and have a snack,” Sabrina states.
“Me too, me too,” Zayer jumps in.
Bellamy slowly peels herself off the floor, and Rowan helps, taking her hand and hauling her up the rest of the way.
“Children, why don’t you go to your rooms and get dried off? Zayer, I’ll be up in a moment to help you change.”