SAMANTHA
Imoved faster than should be possible, like the human women who somehow lift cars off their children in times of panic and fear. In this second, I felt like I could lift this damn world to get to my daughter.
“Enough!” Len bellowed, and the lights ceased their glow. At this point I was all but pressed into him, wrapping my hands around Tabitha to examine her.
“Is she okay?” I cried, not seeing anything wrong. She had stopped crying the moment the lights faded, and was once again waving her hands, looking as content as anything.
Len captured my flailing hands. He held them both, his palm large enough to contain them. “She’s fine. Tyrin’s burst of energy triggered the crystals into reacting. They shine brighter for royals, but I usually stop them before they flare when I approach. The energy would have felt odd for Tabitha, stirring up her fae side. She only reacted in shock.”
Tyrin, who was still standing, blinking, stunned, shook his head. “I apologize. It was not my intentions, but brother, you must tell us how this happened!” Without waiting for an answer, he reached out and extracted one of my hands from Len, kissing it gently. “Mother of fae children. You are a gift from the gods.”
Len’s chest rumbled, which I only knew because I was semi-plastered to him still. As I removed myself from both of them, I wondered if my face was as red as the heat in my body suggested.
“Last. Fucking. Warning,” Len bit out. “Don’t test me.”
“She’s exquisite,” Tyrin said with a smile, but made no attempt to touch me again. “You cannot expect me to ignore such a precious gem.”
“I can and I do,” was the reply.
Tyrin held both hands up, his shit-eating smile returning once more. “Okay, so how about you tell me why there’s a shifter and a half-fae child here. Spill or I’ll fight for their honor.”
He produced a sword from somewhere, and I subconsciously found myself stepping between him and Tabitha. For all of three seconds before I was whirled behind the prince.
Tabby was in my arms in the next second, and I was once again witnessing all the fury that Len could bring. Meanwhile, Tyrin was still grinning, the sword relaxing in his hand, before it vanished just as quickly. “Come on, Len. You know I’d never strike at you. I just wanted to see how far the beast had come from its cage. Quite far by the looks.”
From what I could see, the silver prince relaxed, but a buzz of his energy remained across my skin. “Word of warning,” Len said, feral in his tone. “Until we sort out whatever sorcery has caused me to lose time with my child, and leave Tabitha and Samantha undefended, it’s best that no one comes too close to either of them.”
I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit to a tinge of disappointment that his protectiveness might just be about the mystery. It wouldn’t surprise me to find my feelings were deeper. He was a fae prince after all, and I was just a shifter.
“They have my protection too,” Tyrin stated, standing taller again. “My sword is yours. You know that. I will stand between all harm and your family.”
Len reached out and Tyrin met him halfway. They clasped hands, or more like forearms, in a handshake of sorts. “I will let you know everything as soon as we have answers,” Len told him. “For now, can you advise the others that Fredrick is sending his guards out to ensure everyone is at a meeting three days from now. They’re readying to sever the Great Queen’s line faster than anticipated.”
In a blink, the relaxed Tyrin was gone, replaced by a fearsome warrior. It was a similar transformation to that of Len when he iced out, and it was both fascinating and terrifying to witness. These fae lulled you into a false sense of calm and security before they brought forth their beast and ripped you in two. And so quickly, that I wouldn’t be surprised if you were still smiling as you died, not even realizing what happened.
Not a race of beings to be underestimated.
“I will inform the queen,” Tyrin said. “Then we will call on our allies to form a strong front when we stand against them in three days”
Len nodded. “Thank you.”
Tyrin nodded decisively, before turning to me. “My lady, you take care, and we’ll catch up soon.”
Len smacked him hard across the back of the head, and Tyrin just howled with laughter. He went from jokester to scary bastard so effortlessly that I was impressed. He wandered off then and I focused on Len. “He’s an interesting character,” I said, hugging Tabitha closer, enjoying her in my arms once more.
He nodded. “Tyrin and I have been through a lot. Almost as much as I’ve been through with my other brothers. I’ve been lucky to find such a strong family unit.”
“You have,” I acknowledged immediately. “As a shifter, all I’ve ever wanted is a strong pack, and it’s the same hope I have for Tabitha.”
Len’s stare was intense. “You both have a family now, no matter what the suppressed memories reveal to us.”
In one sentence he hit on a fear that I hadn’t even consciously allowed myself to acknowledge. The fear that when we figured out our secrets, and the reasons for the Faerie glamour, that it might destroy this fragile family unit we’d been building. Len’s words were reassuring, but at the same time there was no true way to predict what we’d discover and how it would impact us all.
“We should continue,” Len said softly, distracting me right when I needed it. “You look drained. It’s been a long day and I want to get you settled and rested before we attempt to break the glamour.”
As if he’d gave me permission to feel it, every iota of exhaustion crashed into me, and I held Tabitha a little tighter, to ensure I didn’t drop her. “I am rather tired,” I admitted, forcing myself to straighten. Len had this way about him that allowed me to express weaknesses without making me feel weak for them.
Before I could say another word, he leaned down and wrapped his arms around me, lifting me wedding-style. Tabitha let out a low squeal, clearly excited by the chance to ride in both her parents’ arms, but I was freaking the fuck out. “Put us down!” I demanded. “I can fucking walk.”
