Mal reached down and took the little snot monster without thinking. “You don’t have to live in the Real to work there, Red.I’ve got more than enough juice to portal us there and back every day.
“Us?”
“You don’t think I’m going to let you go there alone, do you?”
“I’m sorry, but have you seen me? I’m officially amazing now and can do anything I want.”
“Not in the Real,” Mal reminded.
“Oh… right. That’s how this conversation started, isn’t it?” Clayton’s face reddened, and Mal unconsciously formed a tentacle to stroke it.
“Do you want to live in the fae realm, Red?” He drew Clayton to him and only realized he'd done it with tentacles when he cupped Clayton’s face between his hands while still holding his man tightly against him. He also realized Tommy had been transferred back to the ground with another tentacle.
All of his new power was going to take some getting used to. His essence well was easily a hundred times larger than it had been before. He could get up to a lot of fun with all that power.
Clayton stroked the tentacle at his waist and asked, “Do you think Astraea would let me?”
“Only one way to find out.” Without another word, Mal opened a portal and dragged Clayton through. Merry chased after him with Tommy in tow, barely making it through before it slammed shut behind them.
They came out directly in front of Astraea’s tree, and without preamble, Mal said, “Hey, can we move our family to your realm?”
:Hello, Mal. Thank you for bringing my children back. Clayton, dear heart, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like, but I don’t think you’ll want to.:
“Why not?” Clayton asked.
:You aged rapidly in the Real as a reaction to living with creation magic instead of chaos magic. If you move back here, you’ll return to the age you’re supposed to be.:
“Oh.” Clayton’s face fell.
“Do it, Wynwyn!” Merry said. “I’ll take better care of you this time, I promise.”
Clayton shot a glance at Mal, “Ah, no. I won’t be doing that. Thank you, though. I guess we’ll have to live in the Real, then.”
“Then we’ll stay with you, right Tommy?” Merry said, grabbing Clayton’s leg and clinging to him with her whole heart.
“Right,” Tommy agreed, clinging to Mal and smearing snot onto his pants.
Mal dematerialized it immediately, though he knew more would inevitably follow.
Clayton smiled noncommittally, but his face was pinched with worry. “Thank you, Astraea. I think we solved your kidnapping problem, by the way.”
:Oh, I know. I was listening when your mother informed the Queen. She’s sending soldiers as we speak. I’m very impressed with you all. You’re welcome in my realm any time, Clayton, my little traveler.:
“Thank you.” Clayton gave the tree a little bow and turned to Mal. “Mal, can you take us back, or do you need to rest first?”
Clayton’s tone wasn’t half as polite and proper as it had been while he was speaking to Astraea. However, he wasn’t being rude so much as deeply preoccupied.
Mal opened a portal with little more than a thought. “I could open a hundred right now and not notice.”
“Show-off,” Clayton scoffed, though Mal could tell he was only pretending to sass him. His mind was leagues away.
Clayton had just said he didn’t want to become a child again, but he was clearly unhappy about something. He wasn’t considering de-aging in the fae realm, was he?
Mal didn’t love the idea, but he was eternal. If Clayton wanted a second chance at his childhood, Mal would wait.
They portaled back onto the boat, and Clayton slid on the deck for about a foot before he caught himself and Merry. Mal shot out a tentacle to keep Tommy stable until the boy could right himself.
“We really need to fix this before someone gets killed. Can you do something temporary, Mal?”
