“Vines?” Kill shook his head. “I don't like this, Seren. Do you think what you did could be considered pruning? Maybe you weren't hurting it but helping it grow.”
“This is why we need more information. I did the only thing I could to free those fairies. If it made the blight stronger, we need to find another way to fight it.”
“Yes, I agree. But I'm interested in what else Rowan said.” Tiernan lifted an eyebrow at me. “Is there a truth you'd like to reveal, Seren?”
“Oh, fuck me,” I muttered.
“Wait. What truth?” Kill leaned in. “Are you hiding something from us, Seren? Again?! I swear to the fucking Gods, if this is about that damn Demon, I'm going straight to Hell to kick his red ass!”
Several fairies hurried out of the library.
“Falcas, baby, could you give your father and me some privacy?” I smiled at him. “This is grown-up talk.”
Falcas, my darling little boy, looked me right in the eye and said, “Mother, I know about the King of Hell's lust for you.”
I made a choking sound.
“Son, it's more complicated than lust. There are feelings involved,” Tiernan said calmly. “You know how Danu called your uncles and me to your mother?”
“Yes.”
“It is a similar situation with King Astaroth, except that it is Anu doing the calling.”
“Oh, I see. Then it is the hand of God upon Mother and Uncle Astaroth? As it was with Uncle Severriel?”
“Yes, but that doesn't mean we must accept it.”
“Because you are Fairies?”
“Yes, and because . . .” Tiernan trailed off.
I gaped from him to our son and back, unable to process how nonchalantly Tiernan was discussing the Star issue with Falcas.
“Because your mother doesn't need another man,” Killian jumped in. “That's why. And because it pisses us off that this is even a possibility! There are five of us. Five!”
“Killian, enough!” I finally recovered and looked at Tiernan. “Both of you. And Falcas, this is not your business. I love you, but my love life is not a subject for you to discuss.”
“I'm sorry, Mother.”
“It most certainly is for him to know and discuss.” Tiernan crossed his arms. “Didn’t you hear what Rowan said? You are leaving us, Seren. Your love life is affecting him.”
“Tiernan, a premonition is given so that it can be changed. It's a warning. I'm not leaving. And Falcas shouldn't have to bear the weight of that worry! What's wrong with you? You would never discuss this . . . Dear Goddess, it's the blight. You've been affected more than you know.”
“It is not the blight, Seren! It is you! Your choices will affect our entire family. They will affect Falcas. He made incorrect conclusions because information was withheld from him. He's not an infant. He sees and understands what's going on around him. And anyone who has seen you with Astaroth would have come to the same conclusion—he lusts for you. Isn't it better that Falcas hear the truth from us?”
“Exactly what do you think the truth is, Tiernan?”
Tiernan's face twitched. “I think that it was too late.”
“What was too late?”
“Anu removing his influence. It was too late. You and Astaroth had already fallen in love.”
“Motherfucking Demon!” Killian cursed.
I lifted my chin. “All right. You want to do this here, in front of our boy? Fine. Let's lay it all out. This little revelation of yours isn't a revelation. I told you I love him.” I looked at Kill. “I told all of you. We know this isn't about lust; it's about love. Yes, that's worse, but I can't help what I feel. What I can help is what I do about it, and once Anu removed his influence, we both became strong enough to stay away from each other.”
“Have you?” Tiernan narrowed his eyes.
