Yule - Luke's POV

Dodgeballs zoom and my students shriek.

Miach's sneakiness is rubbing off on the children. The children had banded together and convinced their parents and guardians to take them to the park. While school had been in session, they'd managed to puppy eyes them into doing so at least once a week. Now, that it's winter break I find myself being carted off by an sexy god to the park every damn day.

It's sweet how excited Miach is to see the children. He'll claim otherwise. That it's practical to instruct them in the Olde Ways often but I knew the truth. They adored him and he returned their affection ten times over.

"Who knew Celtic gods were so fond of dodgeball?" Elara giggles.

"I think he just likes any excuse to watch people throw things, honestly." A snort escapes me as I remember back to my first 'proper introduction' to Miach.

Of course, I had to invite Elara to join our supernatural adventures. She was the reason I'd met Miach in the first place. It only seemed right to introduce them especially since Miach's mother was her patron.

"I think they're both just ridiculously competitive." Elara's green eyes sparkle with mischief that could rival any leprechaun's as she glances towards the ever growing piles of balls.

I still didn't understand the relationship between the mother and son but if there was one thing the two of them had in common - it was their competitive streak. Whenever the parents would look away, they were both conjuring balls for the children.

Yes, Elara wasn't the only person to join our excursions. Morrigan had invited herself. First, she watched us as a raven. When my best friend had felt magic, she called out to her. The ancient goddess had revealed herself and Miach had begrudgingly allowed her to join us.

Morrigan had wasted no time in endearing herself to the children. I'd seen her transform into birds, dogs, people, and even...a horse. After that, there was no going back. The children weren't about to forfeit free pony rides.

"Probably." I chuckle as Meave hurls a rather brutal throw at Hiroto.

"That's for cheating last time! I know it was you!" She huffs.

He starts yelling at her. Trying to defend his honor only to get smacked in the shoulder.

Lately, Morrigan had taken to showing up at these meetings as a youthful fifty something, brunette. Her eyes were the same shade of green as Elara's and Meave's. She could easily pass as their mother.

It's cute how much it annoys Miach.

"Must you continue to use that guise?" Dr. Sexy hurls a ball at the shapeshifting goddess in a ruthless display of might.

Had Morrigan gotten hit with it and been a human, I'm pretty sure it would have broken her arm.

It didn't and she wasn't, though. The ancient goddess dodges the attack with the grace of a giant cat. "Of course. It seems unlikely but there is always the chance some of the park goers may possess an open mind and eyes that can see. So, I thought it best to blend in."

I'm pretty sure that's bullshit. By the look in Miach's eyes, so is he. I better do something before this escalates into a bloodbath. "Right. Well, it's kind of you Morrigan to always make the weather so lovely for our outings. I know it's a tropical island but we haven't even had a thunderstorm or anything."

It would have believed it was dumb luck if it wasn't for all the inaccurate weather reports. Sure, they couldn't get it right every time but this was getting ridiculous.

"I'd like to take credit but you have Granny Callieach to thank for that." Amusement dances in her knowing as her gaze turns towards an old woman sitting upon a bench.

When I say old, I mean the woman could have been Mark Miller's mother. She was likely closer to a hundred than not but seems perfectly content to feed the birds. They appear pleased by her offerings and fascinated by her mane of silver hair. Her face is crowned by a garden's worth of wrinkles but her brown eyes are kind, vibrant, and...cheeky?

Elara blinks as though Morrigan had lost all her mead. Mead because that's far more precious to a Celtic goddess than marbles. "Did you just call the Queen of Winter, Granny Callieach?"

Morrigan stretches, making the mundane gesture appear enchanting as the old woman watches us with those knowing eyes. "Aye. I did. She's everybody's granny. Callieach and Bodach are among the first of our kind. It is she who brings winter. A time of rest and who shapes the landscape like a clumsy chef. She's always dropping rocks from her apron and forming new islands and the like. Then again, she might just do it on purpose. I suspect the Christians made up that Devil's Apron nonsense."

It's strange but I'm almost used to it at this point. Meeting one ancient god was a revelation. Two was shocking. By the third, I almost expected it. Maybe deities are like potato chips for pagans. It's almost impossible to have just one after you've encountered the first.

"Is she shy? Can she speak?" Maybe she was like Miach and in a transitory stage. Perhaps that's why she hadn't approached us yet.

"Aye, she can speak but she usually doesn't unless she deems it important." Miach nods before evading a slew of dodgeballs coming at him.

Looks like the kids wanted to catch him while he was off guard.

It's been almost two months since I've met him. Miach is as unpredictable as the wind and as reliable as a clock depending on his mood.

He captures the balls only to toss them back at children. "Now, as I was saying does everyone have their salt on them?"

Miach is also relentless about the children's magical education.

Tiffany is the first to speak. "We've all got our salt but what do we need it for?"

Miach is spending more of his time in a solid form now. Well, at least he could touch and interact with objects easily more often than not. Most people still couldn't see him but Mr. Miller had begun asking why me why my 'boyfriend' was spending so much time at school. And he'd informed me in no uncertain terms that if he caught us in a janitor's closet like a pair of frisky teenagers, he would report us to the principal.

My patron smirks as he gathers the children closer. "I would like for you all to pour a circle of salt around yourselves. Once that's done, Mother will try to hug you."

Morrigan gives her son a venomous look but complies. She couldn't get beyond the circles.

Miach grins like a child who managed to steal all the cookies from a jar. "A circle of salt is an excellent form of protection from our kind. If you do not have time to put one around you then pour it on the ground. They'll be forced to stop and count the individual grains."

I couldn't help but frown. My favorite physician had been on a crusade since November. Miach had confided in me about Dian. How he had sensed his father's magic.

I couldn't blame my prince for being jumpy. The man had murdered him once. His own son. While I didn't really see a reason why he'd go after my class, I wouldn't put anything beyond that leech.

Hiroto beams. "That's so cool!"

"You idiot. This means that not all of them are friendly." Jonathan grimaces.

"You're a clever one. You listen to Miach and you'll be fine. I'm a bit mixed on whether or not following the Morrigan's advice is wise but he's a good lad." I shiver as a gorgeous swirl of ice and snow appears out of nowhere. Only to disappear and reveal Callieach patting Johnathan's spiky head.

Morrigan places her hand over her heart as though mortally wounded. "Grandmother, I'm offended. I'll have you know that I give excellent counsel."

The children and Elara were just as entranced as I. After all, it wasn't every day that one saw snow, ice, and frost in Hawaii. Or...a teleporting grandmother who looks like one good wind would blow her over.

Callieach snickers. "Cattle raids, war, and chaos are your hobbies, my dear. You know it's true as well as I."

It was bizarre to see them all behave as if they were a normal human family.

Miach laughs as if delighted by his 'grandmother's' assessment. "It's not often that you're bested at your own game, Mother." He turns his attention back to the children, ignoring Morrigan's protests. "As I've said before, if you're ever in danger you can call out my name. If I have the power I will be there far faster than whoever answers 9-1-1. If you're desperate enough, you may even ask my mother for help."

I didn't doubt him for a second. The children were spoiling my prince with their attention. Drinks, food, candy, sweets, tributes from their little piggy banks, shiny stones, prayers, songs, and even just their adorable babbling had resulted in Miach's vigor returning by leaps and bounds.

Though he always did return the money.

"What do you mean by DESPERATE?" Morrigan glowers.

"Miach, be nice. Morrigan is an excellent patron." Elara was quick to aid her chosen goddess but also to infuse a bit of normalcy into the situation. "I'd still call 9-1-1 just to be on the safe side. It never hurts to have more backup."

I nod in agreement but I couldn't resist teasing her. "Speaking of 9-1-1, is the new doctor still getting under your skin?"

Elara crosses her arms and huffs - a scorching ferocity blazing in her eyes. Only Liam could bring out this side of her. The side that I was sure would somehow borrow a spear from Morrigan and launch into a frenzy. "Of course, he is. Half the hospital is in love with him and the other half want to be him. I swear, he purposely tries to corner me whenever he gets a chance. Always asking me obscure medical questions just to prove I don't know what I'm talking about. The ba-bad boy is trying to embarrass me but I won't give him the satisfaction. He has yet to stump me! Liam could ask any of the other nurses to assist him - they all want to have his babies but no, I'm the one he chooses to stalk. Liam Spearman is the most insufferable..."

Damn. Liam really was driving Elara crazy. She'd almost called him a bastard in front of the kids. Elara was pretty obsessive about not swearing in front of them. It was sweet but I was the one who would get the earful if they all started talking like Hiroto. Not her.

Didn't mean I wasn't going to have some fun with this. Elara delights in teasing me about Miach whenever his back was turned. Fair was fair. "They want to have his babies? Aren't some of the nurses men, though?"

Elara scowls at me. If looks could kill, I'd be six thousand feet under. "Yes, they are but they'd STILL try to have his babies. Because the smug bastard looks more like a supermodel than a doctor."

Ah, she'd slipped.

"You said a bad word!" Hannah stares at Elara in shock.

I chuckle shooting a sly glance at Miach. "A smug supermodel doctor sounds awfully familiar."

If a picture could paint a thousand words - Miach's smirk was worth a thousand libraries.

"Aye, it's a love match then. It's not love if you don't contemplate killing them at least once a century and strangling them on a daily basis." Morrigan's smirk was identical to her son's.

Chapter 8 Word Count According to Wattpad: 1953.

Total Word Count According to Wattpad: 11,269.

Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to weigh in on the following questions if you'd like to indulge me:

What did you think of our round two of dodgeball?

How are you feeling about Luke's and Miach's relationship so far?

How are you feeling about the new characters - Cailleach, she's been mentioned before but now she's officially here, and Liam Spearman, he's new. He's on the board!

This chapter is dedicated to WinterSleep85. One of my oldest and dearest Wattpad friends. If you like LGBT stories, humor, and superheroes, I highly recommend checking out her ONC entry this year, Fall With Me (ONC 2023).