I chuckled as I shared an adoring look with her daddy.
“Congratulations,” Uncle Dylan said.
I think he was speaking to Sever, but it was hard to tell. With him in Fairy, he had dropped the glamour that made his eyes look human. Without the mask, they were completely blue from rim to rim. They had pupils, and that helped, but he was too far away for me to see where his pupils were pointing.
“Thank you,” Sever said, leaning over to shake Dylan's hand. “And thank you for coming. It's nice to meet more of Seren's family.”
“We're your family now too,” my father reminded him as he drew Bress and Raye forward.
“Yes, especially now that you've produced offspring with my niece,” Dylan said in his tactless way.
“Really, Dylan?” My father rolled his eyes.
“What? This child has cemented the relationship between Heaven and Fairy.”
“I'm no longer the King of Heaven,” Sever said.
“You are still an Angel. A powerful one.”
“And she has just been crowned Princess of Heaven,” Henry said brightly. “Crowned by Anu himself.”
The room went silent.
“Anu was here?” Rowan asked, looking around.
“That's a good question, sweetheart,” I said, turning to Sever. “How did that happen in Fairy?”
Sever shrugged.
“Danu would never deny the crowning of a royal,” Henry said. “She gave her blessing.”
That prompted another round of silence.
During the silence, a glorious energy filled me, and I heard Danu in my mind.
May I speak through you, Daughter?
Yes, of course,I replied silently.
Power rushed through me and suddenly, there was more of me. A divine presence stared through my eyes and felt through my hands. Danu cradled my daughter closer and as she kissed my baby's forehead with my lips, I felt deep gratitude for her. Danu hadn't blessed this child before she had been born, as she had my other children. This child didn't need her magic to be conceived. But the blessing of a god is always good to have.
“I allowed my brother to lay his blessing upon your daughter, Severriel of Heaven,” Danu said as she lifted our face.
Sever's expression went slack. Then he bowed his head. “Danu. We are honored by your presence.”
“Danu,” my father whispered and went to his knees.
“Danu?” Shazy cried.
The fairies all followed my father's lead and knelt. All but my children, who rushed forward to hug the deity through me.
“Hello, my children,” Danu said warmly. “How happy you must be. Oh, my Catriona, come closer. You've done well, looking after our girl.”
Cat made a wuffing sound and laid her head on our knee. Danu leaned down to kiss her silky head.
Then she looked around at my family, through my eyes, and I felt her love for everyone. So beautiful. So pure. “My children. What a wondrous day this is. What a wondrous time. When first you came forth, I never thought you would become so great. And that you would share your greatness with my brother's children, mingling our magic.” She looked at Sever. “You're my child now too,Sever,” she emphasized the name I'd given him because it meant so much to her and us. It represented his severance from Heaven and Anu. His freedom to walk the worlds with me. “I want you to be happy here. But this child must be allowed to make her own choices.” She looked down at our daughter. “Do not restrict her because of your beliefs. Perhaps she will want to rule Heaven.”
“I don't want that for her,” Sever said.
