The God of Calamity’s Wife

(The next moment I was engulfed with a bright light and a surge of electricity went through me and the next moment, I was waking up. I was back in mom and dad's room, but they were gone. I wasn't sure how long I had been sleeping. I gave a small sigh. They hadn't even told me what the Dísir were. The Norns never just tell it to you straight. Worst bosses ever.)

Sirius and Saoirse quickly found Linus, or Linus found them. As they exited the apartment, he was busy supervising the construction of the various tents and market booths that the werewolves would use for the festival.

Linus smiled at them as they came over. He looked at Lachlan in Sirius' arms and addressed them enthusiastically,"I see you met my little gift!

Sirius scowled at him.

By the way that Sirius' aura eluded a quick bond and protectiveness over his son, Linus hadn't expected him to become upset at this. "Do you not want him?" He asked confused.

Sirius had to hold back his beast, but despite his efforts, he ended up yelling at him, "Do we not want him?!" Sirius' beast yelled in his deep, brooding voice. "What were you thinking!"

Saoirse looked at her husband in shock. Did his beast just yell? She thought she must have been mistaken, but sure enough, she saw the sweat running down Sirius' face as he struggled to keep his eyes their red color. His neck veins were bursting a bit as if something was trying to get out of him. His fists were clenched and black, scaly talons had fought their way out of his fingertips. Black sharp scales lined his ears, which had become a bit pointier.

Linus noticed this. His smile faltered, what kind of monster was Sirius? Nevermind the shape shifting, that voice just now made him sound a bit like a demon. He took a slight step back in case Sirius would lash out. He took a fleeting glance at the baby carrier on Sirius' chest. Concern for his son showed a bit on his face.

Soairse saw this placed her hand gently on Sirius' shoulder. "Hey Sirius, you're going to scare Lachlan."

He glanced at her sideways through clenched, sharp teeth, his pupils thin slivers of black in his red angry eyes. Then he glanced at Lachlan who was looking up at him, an uneasy look on his face as if he was deciding if this person was scary or not.

A few people were staring, wondering who would yell at the Alpha like that. Not everyone in the town knew what transpired at the banquet the night before.

Sirius unclenched his fists and his features returned to normal. "I'm sorry Linus." He sighed. "I was very upset that you would leave him in his room without telling us that you intended to do so. He could have gotten hurt, or gone hungry, or sat too long in a wet diaper. Any number of things."

Linus relaxed a bit. He assumed his normal easy manner. "But he didn't, did he? Believe it or not, I only left him there once you two returned home. That was always his room, I don't think he even noticed."

Saoirse shot a look at her brother, "I hadn't even asked Sirius yet about it. He was still unaware of what we talked about."

Linus shrugged, unbothered, "He knows now right?" Then in a cheerful tone he added, "So no harm done!"

Sirius' scowl deepened again. Linus was unbothered by it this time. He waved him off arrogantly, "Honestly, I don't know what's got your guys' hearts all in a knot, but it's about time you have a kid, so you're welcome!"

Saoirse gave a sigh and Sirius was reminded that her hand was still on his shoulder, grounding him. Taming his anger.

"Please Linus, communicate better with us about things like this. We would have gladly taken him without the theatrics. I know having kids for us is…complicated…but we have actually been very comfortable around Lachlan and he is a joy to have around, so thank you. But don't do that again."

Linus smiled. "No doubt you two will do a great job. I expect him to be honored as your first born, remember that ok? He was conceived first."

(He was conceived first, I mocked Linus in my head. If only I could let my parents know how offended I was by this grubby, stinky poop machine! I'd… I'd… Then I stopped, staring at Lachlan in shock. I could smell something. Smells had never entered my nose before. Was this because I was a Dís? Some kind of new magical power? I could smell the world now?)

Suddenly, Saoirse's face went pale, and her shoulders convulsed. She turned to the side and vomited—right onto the cobblestone path.

Sirius and Linus froze.

"Saoirse, are you okay?" Sirius asked, concerned.

"I… I…" She gagged again, clutching her nose. Her face looked even paler as she turned away and hurled again, adding a second puddle to the mess. "It's the diaper… My sense of smell is really strong today. I can't—"

Sirius wrinkled his nose but managed to keep his composure. He could smell it too—he always could—but he didn't have Saoirse's difficulty with the smell of feces. "Don't worry, Saoirse. I've got it," he said, scooping up Lachlan and grabbing the diaper bag. "Excuse me, I'll be back in a minute."

As he walked off, Linus shook his head, staring at Saoirse. Then, he clapped his hands together. "Anyways, as I was saying," he said cheerfully, as though nothing had happened. "I know you two will do your best. Lachlan is in good hands. Even with your…inexperience…you'll figure it out."

Saoirse gave him a weak nod, wiping her mouth as Linus waved over someone to clean up the mess. The few people still lingering quickly returned to their work, though some cast sideways glances at them.

(I stayed by Mom, watching as she steadied herself. I couldn't shake the feeling that by me smelling something—and reacting the way I did—I had somehow affected her. It worried me. What if I couldn't control my powers?

(I should tell you a secret: I'm terrible at controlling my powers. When I was a Fylgia, I ended up in the Norns' council room more times than I could count. None of those meetings were pleasant.

(This new power? It had to be something to do with protecting Mom from danger. That's what I decided it must be. Poop and nasty smells? Those were definitely dangerous. Uck! Just thinking about it made me wonder why I'd ever desired to gain a body in the first place.

(But I was determined to experience the world. Even if I had to hold my nose around Lachlan sometimes. He must have done it on purpose. He must have known how much I hated him.

(As Dad returned with Lachlan, fresh diaper and all, my brother turned his wide, innocent eyes to me and gave me a friendly, toothless smile. Too friendly.

(I narrowed my eyes at him. Oh, he knew.

(My biggest, most cynical smile stretched across my face. "I'm the dominant one in this family," I whispered under my breath. "Even if my parents don't know I exist. You're just an outsider."

(Lachlan, the little schemer, responded by blowing spit bubbles. He was making sure he got the last word.

(We glared at each other for a long moment, neither backing down. The feeling was mutual.)