Thanks to Aelwyn’s savvy financial foresight, the taxes and mortgage were both paid for the next few years. Which meant we were keeping the house until after our trip. I didn’t want to think about it right now, but I’d probably never sell it. It was home in a way Faerie could never be. Rhysagreed.
“All right, I think that’s everything. Oh,” Elsmed held his arm out. “You’ll want him back Isuppose.”
I returned Ethan safely back to my skin, and then Elsmed surprised me by offering his gloved hand for a shake. A handshake wasn’t all that foreign, but I’d never really seen him touch anyone before. Another thing I could blame on the mistletoe. Maybe this was what it felt like to benormal?
I shook and gave him a smile. “Thank you for arranging all this,” I told himearnestly.
“It’s the least I could do.” He bent lower, his voice dropping as if he were sharing private information. “Speaking of arrangements, I wanted to let you know that there are... circumstances at work regarding your blackmailing problem. I think, by the time you return, that particular problem will have worked itselfout.”
I blinked. “Wow. Thank you somuch.”
Elsmed’s eyes seemed to twinkle, and then he moved on to Rhys. “Son.” They shook stiffly. “You don’t need me to tell you, but keep our girl safe, will you? Bring herback.”
“Willdo.”
Rhys was so solemn, their handshake so formal, I rolled myeyes.
But then Elsmed stepped back. He closed his eyes and murmured words in a language I’d never heard before. A moment later, the rock façade that loomed before me began to move. Small ripples started in the center and ringed outward, like the surface of a lake after throwing a rock intoit.
I watched in awe as the ripples spread and the liquid grew lighter—until I wasn’t looking at a surface so much as seeing throughit.
Rhys slid his hand into mine andsqueezed.
My stomach tightened with nerves again as a figure came into view on the other side. A woman, tall and slender with flowing hair, stood just beyond theveil.
“Isthat—?”
“Moonlaith,” Elsmed said from behind me. “Sure looks like. Give her my regards, wouldyou?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t speak around the lump in my throat. My hands were clammy inside mygloves.
Rhys looked over at me. “Are youready?”
I nodded, knowing full well I wasn’t ready. How could anyone ever be ready for something they were positive would never happen? My whole life, I’d believed my mother was dead. Never coming back. Gone. And now, here she was, standing just on the other side of this portal. A few stepsaway.
Hell no, I wasn’t ready forthat.
But I also wasn’t going to stand still any longer. I was going to live my life moving forward. No more hiding what I was and what I coulddo.
With feet that felt like lead, I took one step. Then another. With each footfall, they became easier. Until I was passing through the strange gel of the portal and through the magic to the other side. The woman waiting smiled at me, her hair white like the moon. Her smile soft and warm. Like a mother’s. I kept walking—straight into her open arms. And I knew I’d always look back on this moment and think,This is when it allbegan.
* * *
