“Uh, now there's something you don't see every day—lions fighting Angels. I think I'll take a closer look.” Thor speed-walked toward the training yard.
“Let's sit down.” I waved Brevyn toward a stone bench that stood alongside the palace moat and after we got settled, I asked, “Brevyn, what did you see?”
“I can't tell you.”
Well, that was new. “Why not?”
“I'm afraid it would change the outcome.”
“But you want me to break my promise to your father?”
“It's the only way. Please, trust me, Mom. I need to be here.”
“I don't like this, Brev. I promised to keep you out of harm's way and the only reason you would need to be here is if you expected to be a part of this war.”
He remained silent.
“No, you're going home.” I stood up.
“Mother!” Brevyn's voice was suddenly deeper and resonant with power.
I sat down, gaping at him.
He was panting, obviously upset. “I have to stay. If I don't . . .” His eyes teared up.
“Okay, okay.” I pulled him into a hug. “You can stay. Your father will be furious with me, but I'll deal with it.”
“Thank you.” He crumpled into my arms.
“Just tell me that you're going to be okay.”
Brevyn looked up at me. “I will. Remember that.”
A sliver of fear sliced through me. “Brevyn.”
He straightened out of my embrace. “I'll be fine, Mom. I promise. Please, trust me.”
“I do, kid. I trust you more than most people. I just don't like you being involved in this. You shouldn't have this weight on your shoulders.”
“I was given a gift for a reason, and I think it's to help you. To help everyone I love.”
“You're a child, Brevyn, no matter how old your soul is. We should be protecting you, not the other way around.”
“I'm more than a child. Don't discount me because of my youth.”
I shook my head. His vocabulary came from being raised in Faerie but it still felt strange to hear him speak like that. “I would never discount you, honey. You were a hero before you were even born. You're a twin because of your heroism. And you have magic inside you that we still don't fully understand. You can do anything you set your mind to. But you still have a lot to learn in this life. A lot to experience. I want you to have the freedom to be a child.”
“I do have that.” He smiled, banishing the gloom from his face. “I've had a great childhood, and I love my life, Mom. Helping you doesn't change or hurt that. It makes me feel strong and gives me a chance to hone my magic.”
“You're not actually going to fight, are you?”
“Mom, I really can't tell you anything this time. Just have some faith in me.”
“All right.” I sighed and looked over to where Thor stood. “Do you want to go home with Thor?”
“No, I need to be here with you.”
“Well, at least there's that.” I put my arm around his shoulders.
