“I’m coming from a different point in time, so I need to return somewhere else. But you’ll see me, and we can talk about it. Then I’ll know how you feel.”
His eyes looked into hers, and his breathing seemed to be a little shallow. Then, he took her hand. Leaning over a little while maintaining eye contact, he kissed the back of her hand. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Before she could respond, he rushed over to his siblings. Not sure what to make of the strange burst of affection, Maya headed over to the group. “Okay, Honeysetts, before I send you back, I need a promise that you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.” As she spoke, Maya used a spell to ensure that they would all keep the promise. As much as she wanted to trust them, she was all too aware how children could speak without thinking. To keep her secret safe, she had to protect it. All of the kids agreed to stay quiet, and they watched her eagerly, excited to see what it was like to experience time bending.
Since Maya had never made a habit of using time bending for more than just herself, she quickly found that she needed a lot more magic than she had anticipated. Pulling time to her, she began to wrap it around the Honeysetts. They started looking around them, murmuring about the sensations they felt. In less than two minutes they were gone, moved back to the time right after Cullen had left the wedding venue.
Maya stumbled once she finished. A pair of hands caught her, and she felt the warmth that she had come to associate with happiness as the comforting smell of vanilla surrounded her.
Apollo’s quiet voice spoke near her ear, “It seems someone has overused her magic for the day.”
“No,” she shook her head but did not move away from his touch. “I still have enough to get Misty back home, then to getus back to our time. I’ll be very weak when that happens, so I’m trusting you to take care of me while I recover.”
“After everything you’ve done for us, I feel that it won’t be nearly enough to repay you.”
She looked up at him. “You brought me back to life, so I daresay that I’m still vastly indebted to you.” Maya then put a finger over Apollo’s lips to stop him from speaking. “No. Getting you off the island by making a lot more work for you was hardly something for which you should be repaying me. That’s the whole reason why I’m indebted toyou.”
His eyes flashed, and Maya watched as his lips puckered a little, then he kissed her finger. “Fair enough, Maya. I will happily accept that you are indebted to me, even if I feel differently.”
She blushed and looked down, realizing even as she did it just how ridiculous the response was.
“Misty, it’s time to go,” Apollo called his daughter as she chased something around the shop. The little girl immediately came over to them.
“Is the pretty lady coming home with us?”
“She’s going to help us get home. Then she’ll come back in a day or two. Miss Strife is one of my patients.”
“Oh. Okay.” Misty reached up, and Apollo released Maya as he took his daughter’s hand. It was only when she was no longer touching him that Maya felt a twinge of jealousy for his daughter.
Now, that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever thought. What is wrong with me?
To her surprise, Apollo carefully pulled Misty over toward Maya and held out her hand. “If you would please hold onto her.”
Looking between father and daughter, Maya quickly nodded, “Of course.”
As soon as she took the child’s hand, Apollo started shifting, his body quickly growing so that they were quickly swept up on his back. He held out his wings, ensuring they remained firmly in one place. Then he let out a single powerful stroke, and they rose into the air.
When they returned to his home, Apollo sent his daughter inside where one of his relatives was waiting to give her dinner. Maya watched Apollo as his eyes followed his daughter inside. It was so easy to tell how much he loved her, and Maya felt a mixture of happiness and longing as she watched. When he turned to her, she tried to look away, hoping he wouldn’t realize she had been watching him.
“Are you ready?”
Maya considered saying she needed a bit more time, to ask for a walk around the expansive grounds, but there wasn’t time. Resigned to return while knowing that her body was going to be in really rough shape upon their arrival, she stole herself for the task. “Ready or not, there is no time to wait.”
Maya closed her eyes. Then he asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
She opened an eye and looked at him. Without a word, Maya reached out and took his hand. Then she closed her eyes and started to pull time around them, although with a bit more trouble this time. For some reason, her heart seemed to be going a little faster. Concerned that it might mess things up, Maya squeezed Apollo’s hand as she focused on pulling time around them.
As soon as she finished bending time, Maya started to sway a little. “Okay, I think that’s quite enough activity for one day, Maya. Let’s get you to bed so you can rest.”
He wrapped an arm around her back and helped her walk inside, and Maya thoroughly enjoyed the feel of his body as they made their way inside.
As soon as they walked past the entryway, Noami’s voice called out, “When did you two go outside?”
Maya looked up, her expression guilty. “We were just—”
“We went out into the yard so Maya could get some fresh air. She’s been trapped in the bedroom for the better part of a week, so I figured a little excursion would help her feel more normal. Where’s Misty?”
Noami laughed, “Misty is off playing with a couple of the Honeysetts. I think she’s already got a couple of admirers.”
