“I know this is a wild theory,” Tim said from the stairwell that led down to the infirmary and guest rooms. His voice carried up before we could even see him. “But you two also need to eat and rest. It’s actually equally as important as the rest of us. Who will heal us if you go down?”

“You have a point, doll.” Katherine giggled and bounced into sight in the doorway. Then she stopped and sniffed the air like a dog. “But you should have led with Em’s fried chicken and you wouldn’t have gotten a fight.”

Myrtle appeared behind her. “After all, it’s important to know how to fight all your battles.”

As both women danced over to the table to take two empty seats, Tim stepped into the living room with a smile on his face. “I hadn’t realized fried chicken was on the menu or I would’ve just called you and got my plate ready.”

Everyone laughed. Several people lifted their empty plates into the air to show they’d done just that. I smiled and reached down to pet Houdini who’d rested his face on my foot.

Constance rubbed her belly. “Is everyone steady down there?”

“As steady as can be,” Myrtle said softly, avoiding everyone’s eyes. “Olli and Albert are on guard down there. They’ll howl if anyone needs medical attention.”

Cooper leaned back in his seat and frowned. “Aren’t you missing one?”

Myrtle smiled. “I told him he had three minutes to get his behind up here or I’d whoop it.”

Emersyn carried out a plate full of fried chicken and sat it in front of the empty seat at the head of the table right next to that glass of tea. Then it hit me. That was Tenn’s seat. She pointed at us and glared, a flame dancing along her finger. “Any of you touch that and I will set you aflame.”

We all stared at that fresh mountain of fried heaven, but none of us moved an inch.

We were probably drooling though.

The front door opened, and Daniel hurried over to his wife, then leaned down and kissed her forehead before taking the seat beside her. “Kylie and Kendall are with the Coven’s younger siblings at Monica’s house with Aspen. They’re having fun.”

Constance let out a deep breath. “Good.”

“Do we . . . do we tell them about Libby?” Lily asked softly, her purple eyes haunted. “Feels wrong to hold on to that knowledge when they’re hurting.”

Easton cringed. “They’re hurting so much. I don’t want to tell them until we know what’s going on. False hope is . . . dangerous.”

Everyone nodded.