Father ground his teeth together in the silence, yanking his gaze away from the pig trotting across the royal room, and glaring at the shaking elves below him.
With extreme patience, he growled, “Where is my soul mate?”
One of the twenty—not sure which one—stated quickly, “She is in the barn, Your Royal Highness.”
Father blinked. “Why?”
A throat cleared to my left, but I didn’t look.
The same servant’s voice called out, “She is trying to decide what the menu should be for your five hundredth soul-mated anniversary that is to occur at the end of the month.”
I jerked my head to look at the pig that was currently munching on an expensive plant that heralded from the Caster Kingdom, but Father turned on his heel and stomped back outside. I swiftly followed close behind him, a semblance of relief shining in my eyes as our boots started trampling colorful flower petals the closer we walked to the barn. Little by little, the black petals completely disappeared and were replaced with yellows and pinks.
Father’s shoulders were still stiff.
Javon and Penelope scampered behind us, curious as I was.
Another pig trotted by, heading toward the castle.
My lips twitched. Mother was up to no good.
Father held the barn door open for me.
I swiftly shut it behind us, keeping our Fae-gifts out…
Because all of the animals were loose. Feathers and fur flew through the air, along with squawks and chirps and neighs attacking my ears. The barn cat wound its way through my legs, meowing up at me for comfort in this maelstrom.
I quickly set the kitty outside and shut the door again. I plucked a feather off my mouth that landed there and tossed it aside in disgust. I grumbled, “Father, where do we even start looking?”
“You go left. I’ll go right,” he growled.
I nodded and started lifting my legs over animals, maneuvering between the larger ones, and batting away horses’ tails that whacked me in the face. I slid on feces and righted myself on a cow that shouldn’t even be in the barn—the creature rewarded me with a dark scowl. I patted its dirt-crusted side and pouted in disgust as I passed along, dragging my right boot on the ground to rid myself of the literal shit.
Seafoam green hair sparkled in a muted light that passed through a slit in the barn’s wooden side. I narrowed my gaze right at it and headed in that direction, the far left corner. I hopped over a chicken and shooed a pesky rooster until Ifinallylanded right next to my mother.
She was hugging a pig…
While Uncle Marlon lounged on a long bale of hay.
He twirled a piece of the hay between his fingers, and his lips were tipped up in an amused smile as he watched over her. Mother hadn’t noticed me yet, but my uncle stated, “Minnie, you have a visitor.”
“Who?” Mother’s head popped up from the pig’s back, her many thick braids flying behind her. Her golden, expressive eyes lightened on me. “Oh! My Trixie!”
“Hello, Mother. I see you’re making new friends.” I grinned full out, unable to contain it. “I take it pork will not be on the menu for your anniversary?”
“Fae no.” Mother patted the pig’s head and stood, with a twinkle in her eyes. She swayed to the right, and I quickly grabbed her shoulders to steady her. She didn’t even notice, smiling from ear to ear with her blinding beauty. “Marlon here has decided to name this pig.”
Uncle Marlon snorted. “I did no such thing.”
She waggled a finger at him, still inside my steadying hold. “But you will! I know you were getting close.”
My uncle chuckled under his breath and kept twirling the piece of hay. His violet eyes captured my gaze. “Where’s your father, Trixie?”
“It’s good to see you again, too, Uncle Marlon. Yes, I’m doing just fine. Twelve years, you say? I guess it has been that long since I’ve seen you. Imagine that.” I shook my head and scrunched my nose at him, teasing as I always did with my quiet relative. Then I tipped my head to the right. “He’s over there searching.”
“Sassy as always.” Uncle Marlon winked and tossed his silver braids over his left shoulder, turning his head to the side. “Traevon! We’re over this way.”
I quickly hugged my mother, knowing Father would be wrapping her in his arms shortly. Against her ear, I whispered, “I missed you.”
