Chapter 1024

I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're feeling cheerful," I say, grinning at her.

"I am!" she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. "I don't think that any of you can even imagine how nice it is to have years worth of darkness lifted from your soul!"

"We're very glad for you, Mids," Rafe says, leaning forward towards her, quite fond. "And glad that you get to keep your powers, too."

"Well, not all of them," Midnight says on a sigh, her mouth screwing to the side as she stabs her fork into the pie, apparently losing a bit of her appetite.

"What?" Jesse says, sitting up straight with a frown. "But you did the shadows this morning -"

"Oh, these work just fine," Midnight says, flicking first into her shadow ghoul self, and then into the darkness that lets her hide. A shiver runs through me at first because although I'm getting used to it...I mean, it's still very scary.

I glance over at Marigold, who continues to munch on her chicken nuggets, completely undisturbed. I grin, pleased to see either that my daughter is brave or has an affinity for spooky stuff.

"So, what doesn't work?" Jesse asks, his brow wrinkling.

"Well, I tried to shift to the Land of Darkness,” she says on a sigh, her shoulders slumping. "You know, for fun."

Jackson raises an eyebrow like they have very different ideas of fun.

"And I couldn't do it!" Midnight continues, tossing a hand up in the air.

"Well, is that so bad?" Rafe asks, cocking his head at her. "I mean, at least you know Darkness can't get you anymore. And you can enroll in the Academy and all."

"Yes, Rafe, it's bad," Midnight says, rolling her eyes at him like he's completely stupid. We all grin widely at that. "That's how I get around al sneaky like, even in the Academy, I could flash to Darkness and then back and appear on a completely different floor. It's very useful for spying and I'm sad to have lost it!"

She sighs and looks down at her chest, the little smile on her lips suggesting that

it was worth it, for her wolf's sake, even if she is sorry to have lost a skill.

"Oh!" Jackson says, suddenly getting to his feet.

We all turn to him but he just walks away into the bedroom, oblivious to our attention.noveldrama

"He's still weird, Ari," Jesse murmurs, frowning after my mate. "You've still got a lot of work to do on that one."

I laugh and shove his shoulder, making him grin. Marigold laughs too and Jesse snaps his gaze her.

"And don't get me started on you,

baby weirdo! Jesse says, grinning at Marigold, pointing a finger right at her face. She cracks up laughing falling back into the couch cushions. "Little miss I don't even know what a lollypop is and just try to bite it!"

She laughs harder and happiness spreads through me, delighted at how much my little girl is already a part of the family.

"Does this help?" Jackson asks, coming back into the room with something held out on his palm. We all look towards him with interest, Midnight getting to her feet to peer into his palm.

When she sees what's there, she gasps, looking up into his face with big round eyes. "Jackson," she whispers, staring at him like he's magical. "Where on earth did you get that!?"

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