Accidental Surrogate

Cora glares at Roger, her arms crossed, as he almost literally rolls with laughter inside of the RV, doubling over so hard he has to lay back on the white leather cushions of the kitchenette. “I still don’t see what’s so funny about this,” Cora snaps. I wrap my arm around Sinclair’s waist, grinning widely and listening to the furious sound of the rain pouring on the RV.

I can feel my mate chuckle a little, likewise enjoying the scene. “It’s just too good, Cora!” Roger says between laughs as his father shakes his head, also smiling, and rolls away into the living area with Rafe in his lap, clearly not wanting his daughter-in-law to see the amusement on his face. “What!” Cora snaps, and I have to cover my mouth to hide my own laughter when I see how pissed she’s getting. The rain hits harder, now including little bits of hail.

“It’s just,” Roger says, working hard to sit up and wiping a tear of mirth from his eye, “we had no idea you could control theweather -” another burst of laughter”- but you wanted meso badthat you created ahurricane-” he roars with it again “- justto trap me in a motel, so you could get me in bed

“Oh mygod!” Cora snaps, blushing beet red and striding forward a few steps to smack him on the arm, which just makes him laugh harder.

I have to turn my face in Sinclair’s shoulder now – because as much as I want to support my sister, Roger is totally right. And it’shilarious. Sinclair wraps an arm around me, holding me tight, openly laughing himself and watching with glee as the scene unfolds before us.

“It’s true!” Roger continues as the wind howls around us, shaking the RV a little bit with Cora’s embarrassed rage. “For heaven’s sake, Cora – you didn’t have to nearlydrownus to get me in bed, a little light rain would have done it – you could have just given us a flat tire – ”

onto the little kitchen bench seat, reaching out to smack Roger again, though

mutters, “or I’ll strike you with lightening

kind of foreplay, Cora? You’re already

body shakes against Sinclair’s as I give up pretending and laugh so hard that my sides hurt. Because, as much as Cora hates it, Roger’s reading of her is perfectly accurate – she was so pent up emotionally, and loved him so much, that something about it must have activated her gift that day. The storm wasn’t sent by

though I’m sure he didn’t feel any pain. He talks to her softly, still laughing and teasing her in the way she needs to be teased but likewise letting her know that he thinks

and nudging hischeek with her nose in a particularly wolfish way. “You’re just jealous of my powers.” “Yes, little demigoddess,” he murmurs, kissing her forehead but still grinning with his glee. “I’d have frozen you away in a

eager, looking up at the ceiling. “I, for one,” I say, pitching my voice a bit loud to remind them thatthey’re not the only ones in the room, especially as I see Roger’s hand slipping a bit lower on Cora’s waist than he’d usually venture in mixed

them, still excited that

my head. “Do you remember when, that awful night, the faux priestess froze me to the floor? Well, when mom unlocked my gift, I was able to melt the ice. And that hasnothingto do with healing powers, so,” I give a little shrug, looking up at Sinclair, seeing what he thinks. ” Maybe it’s… the crossover that mom was talking

down at her hands as if she can read the magic there. Then she holds her hands out towards Roger, her fingers splayed wide. “What are you doing?” he asks quietly. “Trying to freeze you,” she murmurs, concentrating. “What!” he gasps, smacking her hands away, which just makes her laugh. “Well, I