“Do you know who I am?” The steely voice swiveled my head in its direction.
I'd forgotten about Thrud.
“Hello, Sister,” Brevyn said solemnly.
Thrud's stern expression cracked. “Ull?”
“My name's Brevyn now,” my son said gently. “I'm different, but I still remember you.”
A tear dripped down Thrud's cheek as she held her arms out to Brevyn. Thor passed Brevyn over to her, and she hugged him tightly.
“It's okay, Thrud,” Brevyn said. “I wanted this. I'm happy now.”
I gaped at my son. I knew he remembered a lot of things, but I hadn't known that he remembered how he had wanted a new life. Something inside me shivered. I was glad that he had his memories but at the same time, I felt as if he shouldn't. A new life should come with a fresh, blank slate. Otherwise, what was the point?
“I love you, Brother,” Thrud said as she finally let Brevyn go. “I'm happy for you.”
Brevyn kissed Thrud's cheek before he got passed along to the next person. Rian and Lesya had watched the exchange along with the rest of us. Brevyn caught his brother's eye and nodded so Rian just shrugged and let it go. But Lesya was still frowning.
“Hello, Lesya.” Arach bent to greet my daughter and distract her. “Will you give your Uncle Arach a hug?”
Lesya launched herself at Arach and giggled as he lifted her up to hug her and swing her about. Lesya loved Arach; her Dragon Uncle. Every time I brought her to Faerie she got so excited. I think she particularly liked how he could blow fire from his mouth, just like Mommy.
“Uncle Arach, I have a birthday soon too,” Lesya said with a serious expression.
“Do you?” Arach asked her and glanced at me with a grin. “And when is that?”
“June 19th,” she said promptly.
Funny how children can never remember their bedtimes but have no problem with their birthdays.
“And is there something special you've been wanting?” Arach knew exactly what his line was.
Kirill and I both groaned. Lesya had been going on about a tea set for months. I knew it was coming, and then I'd have to get firm with her; something I didn't want to do on this trip.
“I want to be a dragon-lion like Mommy,” Lesya said gravely. “Can you change me with faerie magic?”
We all went still. I glanced at Kirill in shock, but he just shrugged with a smile that seemed to say; she's your daughter. I scrambled for a way to tell Lesya that she couldn't be like me, but Arach beat me to it.
“I would never do that,” Arach said with just as much seriousness as she had shown. “You are the only you, Lesya. I don't want you any way other than as you are, and you shouldn't want that either. You were born to be a lion princess and help your mother lead the Intare. You will be even better suited to it than she is because you are pure, my darling. Please, stay as you are.”
Lesya beamed up at Arach, and I gave him a grateful look that may have been a little watery.
“Okay, Uncle,” Lesya gave in. “Then, I'd like a tea set.”
I laughed, too amused to reprimand her.
Kirill did it for me, taking Lesya back from Arach to say, “Enough vith tea set, Kotyonok. You have chance to ask faerie king for present and zat is vhat you ask for?” He tsked. “Vhat a ruined opportunity.”
“Well, I asked him for magic first.” Lesya scrunched up her face petulantly.
“I hadn't realized how much like you she is,” Arach murmured to me.
“But she looks so much like Kirill,” I countered and then blinked as I realized it was similar to what Trevor and I had been saying about Vero. Perhaps I'll have more of an influence on my children than I thought.
“Not entirely.” Arach pulled me against his side. “You are definitely there, A Thaisce.”
“Thank you for what you said,” I told him. Then I went up on my toes to whisper into his ear, “I'm going to rock your world tonight.”
