Chapter Three
I didn't take Lesya to Faerie, but I decided to pop over for a quick visit myself. Since I used my Ring of Remembrance to travel back to the moment I last left Faerie, and would then travel back to the moment I left the God Realm, it didn't really matter how long I spent there. Not normally, at least. With the time threat hanging over my head, it was a different situation entirely. The only comfort was that Faerie was currently behind the other realms for me. In other words, the last time I'd left Faerie, I'd had to go forward in time to come back to the God Realm, and the realms hadn't caught up to each other yet. Which meant that I could travel there and have just over 24 hours of stress-free time to spend with Arach and my boys. After that, time will have evened out to this present, and I'd need to return to help the Squad find Aion.
I kissed my husbands, boyfriends, and daughter goodbye, even though I'd return in what would only be a few moments for them. Then I went up to my bedroom and used my ring to travel to Faerie. I preferred to travel from a relatively empty room so I could be sure that I wouldn't knock into anyone when I returned. And yes; it's happened before.
When I reformed in Faerie, Arach was standing right where I'd left him. Brevyn and Rian—both the size of a nine-year-old human child now—stood beside their father; Rian with his arm around Dexter's neck. Dexter was my six-legged nurial; something like a fox and a dog combined. The Fox and the Hound all in one; I'd never thought of that before, but it was pretty accurate. Anyway, they all looked happy to see me, but that lasted only ten seconds; long enough for Brevyn to have one of his visions.
“Mommy!” Brevyn cried as his blue eyes went wide. “Please don't forget me.”
“I would never forget you,” I bent over to stroke his face. “Why would you say that?”
“Because I'm going away,” he whispered.
“What are you talking about Brevyn?” Arach growled.
“Mommy knows,” Brevyn said as he kept his eyes on me. “It will be all right as long as you don't forget us.”
“I can't possibly forget you.” I kissed Brevyn's cheek and pressed my face to his as my heart raced.
“Vervain,” Arach growled. “What is he talking about?”
“I don't want to go anywhere,” Rian said furiously as he clenched his hands into fists and narrowed his green, dragon eyes.
“You won't care,” Brevyn said patiently. “We won't feel anything.”
“No.” I swallowed roughly. “I won't let that happen, Brevyn.”
“I love you, Mommy,” Brevyn said more calmly. “Don't forget me.”
“I won't,” I promised again.
“Vervain!” Arach shouted.
“Okay.” I held up a hand. “Let's get the boys in their bedroom first.”
“I don't want to go anywhere!” Rian said again. He stomped his foot and smoke came out of his nose.
“Calm yourself,” Arach growled. “Dragons cannot afford to lose their temper. Do you understand? You could hurt the people you care about.”
Rian's face fell, and he nodded solemnly. “Okay, Daddy.”
“Good.” Arach nodded. “Now, you and your brother are going to play for a few minutes in your bedroom while I talk to your mother.” Arach turned the boys toward the door. “Go on now.”
Brevyn took his brother's hand. “Come on, Rian; I'll tell you what's going to happen.”
“Brevyn, no!” I snatched up Brevyn's other hand. “Don't say that to him. That will just scare Rian for no reason.”
“I'm getting scared rightnow!” Rian's eyes went wide.
“That's it!” Arach declared. “You're telling all of us what's wrong, Vervain.”
I sighed and looked from my boys to my husband. Dexter whined, and I scratched him absently. Tears started to fill my eyes as I realized all I had to lose; my husbands, my children, my friends, and my furred family. I could lose all of Faerie. And Faerie could lose the seasons while the Fey lost their fertility.
“Vervain!” Arach snapped.
“It's okay, Mommy,” Brevyn said. “As long as you remember us, you can bring us back.”
“Bring us back from where?” Rian asked.
