Unveiled: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Three, Betty Legend [thriller book recommendations TXT] 📗

My mother calls as they head toward the living room.

Rachel and I laugh from our spots at the kitchen counter. Rachel pats her pregnant belly.

“I love how well they get along.”

“Me too.” Grabbing a peanut butter blossom cookie off my mother’s plate, I take a bite.

“Where are all the guys?” Mom asks, sliding another tray of cookies into the oven.

“Phoenix and Pierce are visiting grandpa Kristo.”

“Ha,” my mom laughs. “Grandpa Kristo, bet he loves that title.”

Rachel giggles between bites of her cookie.

“You can’t tell that man he’s getting old,” my mother quips.

“Nope, but Phoenix likes to, anyway.”

My mom laughs as she removes the oven mitt. Edric flies into the kitchen, coming down on his feet and resting his wings on his back. Devon comes running in behind him.

“Grandma, can we have a cookie?”

Placing my hand on Edric’s dark hair, I caress his head. Looking up at me with bright blue eyes, he smiles.

“Love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, my little angel.”

Edric scrunches his nose. “Mom, I’m not little.”

“I know, but you’ll always be my little angel.”

My mom slides the plate of cookies closer for Edric to reach them. He grabs two, handing one to Devon. “Let’s go!” They run off, and we watch them, mesmerized by their joyful innocence and their friendship.

“So, where are Killian and Kaiden?” Rachel asks.

“Killian took him to visit his cousins, the Redwood pack. Lexi’s older son is the same age as Kaiden. They play together as well as Edric and Devon do.”

“That’s wonderful.” My mother beams. “All of you have done a wonderful job of raising my grandbabies.” Reaching over the counter, she squeezes my hand and pats the top of it with her other hand. The gesture makes me smile, my heart warmed by the affection.

“How about Griff and baby Giselle?” Rachel asks. “And Cy and Cayson?”

“They are home on diaper duty. Mommy needs a break.”

Opening the refrigerator, my mom pulls out the mix she made for pina coladas. Pouring some into three glasses, she hands one to each of us.

Taking a drink of the delicious icy treat, I point a thumb at myself. “No more babies for this gal. I told my guys, one baby each is enough. After Giselle was born, I had my tubes tied.”

“Poor girl.” Rachel chuckles. “She’s the baby sister of four older brothers.”

Pointing to Rachel’s belly, my mouth tilts. “Poor girl. She’ll be the only girl between two brothers.”

Rachel’s eyes widen. “It’s a girl?” Rachel’s excited tone has me smiling from ear to ear.

“Yep,” I confirm. “I saw an image of her and Giselle playing together.”

Rachel claps her hands together. “I’m so happy it’s a girl! I want a girl!”

“Do you have any names picked out?” My mom asks.

Taking another drink, I lean back on my stool to check on the boys. They’re buzzing around the living room, laughing. Looking back at Rachel’s rosy cheeks and bright eyes, I await her answer.

“Lucas and I like the name Sarah.”

“I love it.”

“Me too,” my mom agrees.

Edric walks into the kitchen and takes another cookie off the plate.

“Can I have some of that?” he points to my drink.

“Nope, this is an adult drink.”

“I’ll get you something.” His grandma tells him. “What would you like? Chocolate milk, juice, or tea?”

“Chocolate milk,” he mumbles, his mouth full of cookie.

I give him a pointed look, and he grins.

“What?” Finishing his cookie, he climbs atop the stool between me and Rachel. “When is Dad getting here?”

Devon climbs atop the stool on the other side of Rachel and reaches for the plate of cookies. She slides it closer to him.

“Your dad and Uncle Lucas should be back soon. Lucas is teaching your dad how to fish.”

“Dad, fishing?” Edric laughs as he takes the cup my mom slides toward him. “I’d like to see that.”

“It’s supposed to be relaxing. He’ll probably enjoy it.”

Edric brushes a hand through his dark hair, exposing the strip of white hair from his temple to his ear. “I bet dad threw the fishing pole in the water.”

All of us laugh. “We’ll see how it went when he gets here.”

As Edric and Devon finish their cups of chocolate milk, Emeric and Lucas step through a portal on the back patio. Fishing poles, tackle box, and a cooler in hand, they’re smiling and laughing as they come through the sliding glass door.

“Babe! I caught a trout!” Emeric points to the cooler. “We’ll have it for dinner tomorrow.”

“Sounds like the fishing trip went well.”

Lucas pats Emeric on the shoulder. “It was a little rough at first, but he got it.”

He and Lucas exchange a comical glance as Emeric drops his gear. Coming to our side of the counter, Emeric bumps fists with Edric before he puts his arms around me and kisses my cheek.

“Missed you, babe.”

“Missed you too.”

Putting my fingers on his chin, I angle him to face me better and kiss him, slipping my tongue between his lips.

“Eww,” I hear Devon groan.

“They do it all the time,” Edric informs him. “You get used to it. Dad!”

Emeric winks at me, those sultry eyes teasing me. Pulling his sexy gaze away, he gives Edric his attention.

“Yeah, son?”

“Will you and Uncle Lucas play video games with me and Devon?”

“Yep.” Stealing my drink, he takes a few swallows. “Get ready to have your butts kicked.”

“Yes!” Edric and Devon run into the living room.

“We’ll be right in after we put the fish in the freezer,” Lucas tells them.

“Okay!” Devon shouts back.

Putting his arms back around me, Emeric teases my ear with his lips, then whispers. “The guys and I have something special planned for you tonight.”

With a quick and teasing lick of my ear lobe, he pulls away and winks when he sees the goosebumps on my arms.

“Ma, can I get some of that pina colada?”

“Of course, Emeric.”

As I watch his ass round the counter, I grin. I’m so looking forward to whatever the surprise is.

Emeric puts an arm around my mom and gives her a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Have the boys been behaving for you?”

“They have.