Chapter 257 Never Meant To Be

• Emelda
• In the week since the twins were born, I’ve been busy with the final touches on my cottage. I spent days this past spring digging in the front garden, planting herbs and vegetables, and fixing the front path. I hired a group of shifters to replace the roof and update the inside, installing new plumbing and electrical, all while I spent hours pouring over Emory’s wallpaper samples and deciding whether or not to keep the slightly warped wood floors.
• The queen has been visiting, bouncing between my cottage and the manor, which is finally completed. Faye and Michael will be moving in next week, which means I’ll have a real job again–managing their house, their maids, and their lives. It’s been an interesting seven months, to say the least. Without a household to run, I found myself leaning into habits I haven’t experienced since I was a witch, a mortal. I spent most of the summer foraging for herbs and making potions. I spent my evenings hanging herbs to dry with Alma while Lowe ran his bar.