He tore across the apartment at full speed and launched himself at me. I caught him easily, spinning him around as he wrapped his arms and legs around me like a koala.
“Hi baby! I missed you!” I said into his hair, breathing in the scent of him.
“I missed you MORE!” he declared, pulling back to look at my face.
Mal stepped up beside us, his arms open. “What about Papa?”
Killian transferred to Mal, jumping from my arms to his father’s. “PAPA! Look! I learned SO MUCH!”
Mal caught him easily, holding him close. “Tell me everything.”
Words tumbled out in an unstoppable torrent. “Auntie Krystin let me help make breakfast! And Auntie Bella showed me Earth books with PICTURES! And Auntie Daphne played games with me! And I learned about car races and TikTok and so many things and I portaled cookies and nobody got hurt so it was fine and I can make my portals even SPARKLIER now and...”
He barely paused for breath.
Krystin walked over, grinning. “He was an angel.”
“Who the h-e-c-k taught him about freaking TikTok?” I scowled.
The girls stared at each other, Bella coughed, then proceeded to ignore my question. “He portaled treats constantly! We found chocolate in places chocolate should never be.”
“That too,” Krystin admitted, smiling innocently.
Sorcha emerged from one of the bedrooms, looking content but weary. “He did not sleep much,” she said, then smiled warmly. “But we had wonderful adventures. I’m ready for a break, though.”
“That sounds like Killian,” I said.
“We loved having him,” Krystin said, hugging him and squeezing until he laughed. “Come back anytime.”
“We really did,” Bella agreed, ruffling his hair and smiling at Killian’s small protests.
Daphne joined us, already packed and ready. “I’ll come back with you.”
“Oh, yes. Aurion told us to get you. He’d probably kick our asses if you stayed here without him. He was making those puppy eyes.”
Daphne rolled her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Yes. It’s time I return to him.”
We said our goodbyes quickly. Grateful hugs for the friends who’d kept our son safe. Promises to visit again soon. Then we gathered everyone and stepped back through the portal.
Back in Lytopia, Killian was still going strong, telling us about every detail of his Earth adventures as we walked back to the throne room with everyone in tow. But the moment we arrived, he noticed Tyreen standing slightly apart from our group.
He went quiet, suddenly shy at the sight of a new face. He moved to hide behind me, peeking around my leg at the stranger. The banquet episode had left him with aftereffects I fucking hated.
Tyreen smiled and knelt down to his level, her movements slow and non-threatening. “Hello, young portal caster. My name is Tyreen. I knew your great-grandmother.”
Killian’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Really. And I hear you are a very talented portal caster.”
That was all it took. Killian’s shyness evaporated. He stepped out from behind me, puffing up with pride. “I AM! I can make them sparkle! Watch!”
He opened a small portal that shimmered with rainbow colors, showing off with the confidence only a four-year-old could muster.
Tyreen’s delight was genuine. “Beautiful. You have remarkable control for your age.”
Killian beamed. “I practiced every day on Earth. Grandma Sorcha helped me.”
“She taught you well,” Tyreen said, glancing at Sorcha with approval.
