“That’s the last tour bus for the day,” Sky said as she closed out the cash register, and watched her aunts restock their supplies of homemade soaps, essential oils and charms.

“The tourists love our crafts!” Windy exuberantly announced.

“That’s because we’re real witches, not the fake kind in the next village over. And we have a lovely garden, and a picnic ground. We have the most wonderful sandwiches and sweets. Tours are booked up solid, for the next six months,” Eartha replied.

Rowan watched the two older women as they busily placed new goods on the shelves. “I’d better get Ariana upstairs for her nap. Then I’ll be in the woods finishing up the last wall on the cottage where Sky and I will sleep this winter.”

“Are you sure it’ll be warm enough for both of you and the baby?” Eartha asked as she walked forward and touched little Ariana’s cheek. “She’s such a perfect child.”

“Perfect in every way,” Windy reiterated. “We’d hate to see her catch cold.”

Sky walked forward and put her arms around each of her aunt’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. Rowan has built a very large fire pit. The three stone walls and roof will reflect the heat. I’ve been inside it. It’s like a cave with all the comforts of home. The one wall was left off only so Rowan could be near the forest while protecting us from the elements. We’ll be fine. Besides, I’m not about to spend one night away from him.”

Windy giggled and waved one hand in acceptance. “Of course not. We’re just being silly old ninnies! Don’t mind us.”

Rowan picked up their green-eyed, brunette daughter, and carefully nestled her in his arms.

Ariana had been born six months ago. As was normal for little Faunlings—which was what she was—the baby’s green eyes sparkled incessantly. She smiled and cooed at everyone, with great affection. Oddly, only he and the witches in is life noticed the baby’s glittering eyes. For some odd reason—probably due his grandmother’s magical protection—humans overlooked those eyes. Probably a good thing. As things were, humans weren’t ready for magic. At least, not all of them.

He turned, kissed Windy and Eartha on their cheeks, then smiled warmly at them. “What would we do without your support?”

Sky nodded. “Indeed!”

Apparently overcome with a sudden bout of emotion, Eartha took a hanky from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “You youngsters put the baby down for a quick nap. Windy and I will refill the shelves, and get dinner started. Go on…off with the both of you.”

* * *

Later that night, Rowan and Sky were happily ensconced in each other’s arms—on makeshift cots in their little cave-cottage. Though the weather was still quite warm, little Ariana slept nestled in blankets next to them.

Something woke Rowan, though he wasn’t sure what it was. A presence in the vicinity of the cottage just didn’t feel right in the human world. He shook Sky awake. “Something in the garden isn’t right. I can feel a difference,” he told her.

Sky quickly sat up and pulled her robe on even as Rowan pulled a soft towel around his waist and tied it.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she quietly asked.

He looked toward the herb patch. “Someone is out there. Very big and powerful.” Sky protectively reached for the baby, but Rowan held out his hand to stop her. “Whoever is out there isn’t dangerous. Just very…present. I can sense them the way I would be able to sense them if I was in the Fairy Realm. They mean no harm.”

“They? You mean…there’s more than one?” she quietly asked. “What should we do?”

“Leave the baby here.”

He had designed their resting spots, wherever they were, so that he would never be more than a few yards away from the baby. With obvious total trust in his decision to leave the little girl a short distance away, Sky nodded at him. She followed when he walked into the garden.

“I can better deal with the power that’s here by changing,” he quickly explained, then proceeded to shapeshift. “There’s no danger, but I want to sneak up on whoever this is. They shouldn’t be here.”

“If you say so, then they shouldn’t be,” she agreed.

Quietly, stealthy as any deer or predator, Rowan crept forward and Sky followed. They were both unprepared to see Windy and Eartha sitting on a bench, with two large and nude older men on either side of them. The men had sparkling, gauze-like wings spread out behind them, like banners.

Rowan snorted. “Butterfly Fairies! It’s been ages since I’ve come across one; much less two of them.” He stood to his full height.

Sky walked forward with her hands on her hips.

At the same time she walked forward, her aunts saw her and stood. The Fairy men also rose.

Momentarily shocked, Sky stopped and gawked.

“Let me handle this,” Rowan said. He looked at the two older men. They were like others of their race; exceedingly attractive, with bright, captivating smiles. Their wings shimmered in the moonlight, like diamonds on black velvet. “Ladies…would you like to introduce us to your friends?” he reproachfully asked.

“Oh…yes! Uh…this is Rigel and this is Orion,” Eartha explained as she pointed to the man on her left, then to the other giant on her right.

“I checked every word of the spell,” Windy defended. “I promise, it was all correct this time. I swear it!”

Finally finding her voice, Sky spoke up. “What have you two done?”

Eartha bowed her head. “Well, you see…we just wanted to bring the butterflies into the garden. Rowan mentioned that he’d love for the baby to see them, and they seem to stay nearer the woods than the flowers by the cottage. Since he wouldn’t use his powers to summon them—”

“We lit a candle and burned an incantation in the flame. We asked for the Monarchs of the forest to come to the cottage,” Windy finished. “But our enchantment was properly spelled. I promise!”

Sky moaned and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger.

Rowan began to laugh.

“It isn’t funny,” Sky warned. “Don’t encourage them!”

“I-I can’t help it,” he gasped in mirth.

Eartha walked forward. “What did we do wrong?”

“My dearest Eartha and my adorable Windy,” Rowan laughingly began, “while Monarchs are butterflies, the way you phrased the spell was incorrect. You see, Monarchs of the forest is another way to refer to Butterfly Fairies. You’ve summoned two very sensual creatures right into the middle of our garden.”

“Like someone else we know,” Sky muttered.

Ignoring Sky’s offhand comment, Rowan held out his right hand in greeting. “Welcome to the world of humans, my brothers of the forest.”

The Fairy men happily shook his hand in greeting.

Orion spoke first. “Good eve to you, Rowan Sultmhor, the lusty one. We bring greetings from your grandmother and the rest of your family. Your parents have asked us to pass on a message.”

“Which is?”

“That they are heartily sorry for not having tried to be more persuasive with your grandmother. They were ordered to stay away from you and keep themselves deep within the mountains while your grandmother, our illustrious queen, made up her mind concerning you and your lovely witch! Then, she bid them stay away until your child was born, and during the first months of the baby’s life. It was our queen’s wish that you and your mate have time alone. However, your parents and your extended family finally have permission to see you. They are eager to meet your mate, the lusty one. They are most ecstatic to meet the new baby…in your woods…on the eve of Samhain,” Orion finished, with a cordial nod toward Sky.

“That explains where my parents were all this time,” Rowan mused. “I thought the queen might have told them to stay away. Now, I know for sure.”

“Indeed, the lusty one!” Rigel confirmed.

“The lusty one?” Sky queried as she turned to Rowan with her hands crossed over her chest.

“It’s my surname, love. Sultmhor in Fairy Gaelic means lusty, happy and even joyful. These gentlemen weren’t referring to my sexual habits back in the Fairy Realm.”

“Of course we were!” Orion proclaimed. “Why, there was never a more randy Faun to tumble a magical lass. Roman Sultmhor’s antics are legendary where we come from.”

“Uh…that’s quite enough about my former life,” Rowan proclaimed as he made slashing, shut-up gesture across his throat.

Sky sidled up to him. “We’ll talk about your former antics later. For now, I suggest you gentlemen say your goodbyes to my aunts, and get yourselves back into the Fairy Realm; before the queen takes exception to you being gone. We need to get ready for Rowan’s parents, since you were good enough to bring news of their coming. I’m sure you understand!”

“No,” both men gaily and simultaneously announced.

Sky stood there, staring at them with her mouth open.

Rigel held out his hand in supplication. “The queen says that, as long as Rowan has done so well in this world, we can stay if we want to. That’s why, after these goodly ladies summoned us, the queen bid us to bring a message from the lusty one’s parents. Their arrival is imminent.” Rigel glanced between Rowan and Sky. “We are invited to be here. There is no mistake. The spell these lovely ladies cast was quite insistent. We could have ignored it, but why in the world would we? Eartha and Windy are both so…cuddly.”

“Quite true!” Orion added.

“Oh, no…not again!” Sky whined, then sighed in frustration.

“Why don’t we settle this tomorrow? It’s late in the night and if the Fairies won’t go now, there’s no using arguing over it,” Rowan suggested.

Against her arguments, Rowan talked Sky into going back to bed, and their fast-asleep child. Despite the evening’s shenanigans, Sky soon rested again, in her comfortable space beside him.

An hour later, however, Rowan was still listening to Windy and Eartha, and the two Butterfly Fairies. Apparently the four of them had set up a wild game of chase, through the garden. When it became decidedly quiet an hour afterward, Sky sat up.

“It’s too quiet. What, by the stars, do you think those men are doing with my aunts?” she asked.

Rowan suppressed a grin. “Snuggle back in, my love. Get some rest. Your aunts are adults and so are those men.”

“Do you think they’re…you couldn’t possibly think that Eartha and Windy would…would they?”

“Sky, my darling witch, it’s their business. If they’re happy, why interfere?”

When he rolled on top of her, Sky sighed and spread her thighs. “I guess this is what comes of incorrect spelling.”

Rowan burst out laughing, then proceeded to reintroduce her the delights that such a wonderful mistake had to offer.

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