“They were wrong. Very, very wrong. And they were mean. We don’t listen to mean people, remember? Mean people’s opinions go straight in the garbage where they belong.”
He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me. “You love me? After I made things fly and scared people?”
I held his face in my hands, making him look directly at me. “Always. Forever. Nothing could ever change that. You hear me? Nothing in any world could make me stop loving you. Even if you made a million things fly. Even if you opened a thousand portals. Even if you accidentally turned the whole castle upside down and we all had to walk on the ceiling. I would still love you.”
“That’s a LOT of things, Mama.”
“I’d still love you. Every single time. You’re stuck with me, kid.”
“Forever?”
“Forever and ever.”
He stared at me for a long moment, searching my face. Whatever he saw there must have reassured him because he finally smiled. Hesitant and a little wobbly, but real.
“Really?”
“Really really. Cross my heart.”
His smile grew bigger and he threw his arms around my neck, hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. I held him close, feeling tears prick my eyes.
“I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. So much.”
Over his shoulder, I saw movement. Mal was approaching across the garden, looking like he’d barely slept despite the few hours he’d gotten. Rumpled clothes, dark circles, the whole exhausted king aesthetic. But he was smiling at us softly.
“Look who’s awake,” I said.
Killian turned and his face lit up. “Papa!”
Mal reached the bench and sat down heavily beside us, like his legs had finally given out. “That was beautifully handled, little mate,” he whispered to me.
“He needed reassurance.”
“You always know exactly what he needs. You are remarkable.”
“I’m running on spite, caffeine, and sheer maternal stubbornness. But thank you.”
Killian climbed off my lap and into Mal’s without hesitation. “Papa! Look! I can do my ears! Watch!”
He concentrated and his wolf ears appeared, fuzzy and adorable.
“They’re beautiful, pup.” Mal’s voice was full of genuine pride. “I am very proud of you. That is perfect shifting.”
Killian beamed, making his ears disappear and reappear a few times. Then he showed Mal the claws, extending them carefully and retracting them smoothly.
“See? I can do it whenever I want. But I’m only supposed to do it when you or Mama say it’s okay. Right?”
“That is correct. Very good remembering the rules.”
Killian glowed under the praise, sitting up straighter. For a moment, he looked just like his normal self.
I watched them together, warmth and worry tangled up in my chest. Over Killian’s head, I caught Mal’s eye.
“What does it mean? Why does he have powers like that? Wolves don’t have magic. This shouldn’t be possible. Unless...” I paused, a thought occurring to me. “Maybe it’s because of me?”
“What do you mean?”
