“You're one to talk. You abandoned an entire kingdom,” Medea went on. “And sure, I can sense a little fey in you, but it's obviously not enough to teach you what it means to be Fey. You certainly don't understand what it means to be a monarch.”
“Oh, fuck,” Daxon whispered, his eyes wide. He had a past with Medea, one that went further back than mine, so he knew what was coming.
“Let me tell you something, fucker.” Medea's snakes hissed violently at my husband. “I've fought beside your wife in battle. We've bled together. That means something. Queen Seren is a warrior-queen. Mother to us all. She doesn't abandonanyof her children. Leaving Duchess Mirielle behind will be hard on her. These are precious days that I've asked her to give up. But the lives of good fairies are in jeopardy. So I asked, and she has agreed to help. It will cost her dearly, and I will be indebted forever. That is what is between us now. And yet you stand there, thinking you're special because she let you inside her, and your seed took root. Yes, you're special. You're fucking blessed that the Trinity Star loves you. You're blessed to be welcome in Danu's realm, and you're blessed to be the father of that wondrous baby. But you are nothing more than a king who gave up his kingdom because he couldn't fucking hack it!”
Sever's expression crumpled throughout Medea's speech. By the time she finished, his wings drooped and his lips trembled. I was about to stand up and go to his defense when he rallied.
“You don't know me, Gorgon,” Sever snarled, his wings lifting. “You have no idea what I've gone through or what my motives were for leaving Heaven. And you have no right to judge me. I gave most of my life to my people. I will not apologize for taking the rest of it for myself, certainly not to you.” He growled and stepped forward, forcing Medea back. Her wings folded as the ex-King of Heaven turned the tables on her. “I don't know what your problem with men is and I don't give a shit. This is my home now, and this is my family. I have done more than bleed for them. You sense that feyness in me because I have a piece of Seren in me. And she has a piece of me!” He brought up his hand and pointed in her face. “We share a bond beyond any you could ever have with a lover or even your warrior-queen. But since you don't know me as this is our first interaction, I will let you off with a warning. Come between me and my wife again, and I will slice every snake from your head and shove them down your throat one at a time.”
The room went quiet again, but this time it was a ringing silence, the echoes of Sever's fury vibrating in the very air. And that wasn't an exaggeration. Sever's Air Magic was literally thrumming through the air.
Medea was cringing. Huddled. Claws curled under and wings down. She stared at my husband in awe.
“He's hot, huh?” I asked. “Making you think of switching teams?”
Snorting, Medea came out of her stance, straightening to grin at Sever. “No, but nearly. Well said, Your Highness. Although you should not have accused your wife of abandoning your daughter.Thatwas not well said.”
Sever grunted. Then he frowned. “Switching teams?”
“In her words, Medea is particular to pussy,” I drawled.
Medea chuckled at Sever's shocked expression. “What? Did you not catch that I'm a lesbian?”
“No. I heard you,” Sever said. “And I understood. But you put it very politely. My wife did not.”
“A little stuffy, this one,” Medea said to me. “But I can see why you put up with it.”
“He's loosening up,” I said.
Miri finished eating, so I cleaned us up and put a cloth over my shoulder before propping her there to burp her. As I bounced her, Medea resumed her seat.
“I may have been a bit harsh in my wording,” Sever said to me. “But you must admit this is unheard of. You don't leave your daughter on the day of her birth.”
“Women in history have been known to strap their babies to their backs and go to work,” I said.
“Or war,” Medea added.
I lifted my brows at her.
“You're not suggesting that you take Miri with you?” Raza asked.
“No,” I said. “Just that it's notunheardof.”
“I can't believe this is happening,” Sever huffed, then collapsed into a chair. “First, Anu crowns her, then the fucking Host shows up, and now, this.”
“Crowns her?” Medea asked.
“Danu let Anu visit us to bless my daughter,” I explained. “While he was here, he crowned her. We didn't know it until a bunch of Angels showed up to swear fealty to the new Queen of Heaven.”
Medea snorted. “A queen already, little one?” She tapped Miri's cheek as I bounced her. “And learning what that means on the first day. I'm so sorry.”
“She won't remember any of this,” I scoffed.
Right on cue, Miri burped.
“Seren!” Tiernan frowned at me.
“What?” I cleaned Miri's face and resettled her in her swaddling. “Even if she does seem to be more aware than other babies, she won't remember this. It will all be feelings to her one day. The most important thing is that she's surrounded by love. And she will be.” I leaned over and handed her to Sever. “Because she'll be with her daddy.”
