“You saw me not even a full moon ago.” She chuckled and kissed my temple. Mother shook me in her arms, gifting me a little wiggle. “But I missed you too. I’m glad you’re home now, where you belong.”
A heavy body charged right into my left side.
“Oomph.” I coughed, almost landing on my ass. Uncle Marlon reached out a quick hand and gripped the back of my torn shirt to steady me. I lifted my brows high on my forehead when he released me, crossing my arms over my chest. “Father, you could have just asked me to move.”
King Traevon’s face was smashed against my mother’s neck, her entire body enveloped inside his protective embrace. His voice was muffled against her skin. “My apologies, my daughter.”
Mother snickered softly, holding him close. “I am fine now. You don’t need to worry. I only feel as if I’ve drunk an entire bottle of shifter wine…maybe three bottles. I took another pill not long before your Fae-spark lit up my heart again.”
My brows stayed raised. “How long do they last?”
“About a day,” she stated in a singsong voice.
“Have fun with that, Father.” I snickered and turned away but stopped a moment and glanced at my uncle. “Actually, Uncle Marlon, do you have a moment to speak with me?”
He lifted a brow. “If it is important.”
I waggled my dirty hand in the air, ignoring the wet sounds of my parents kissing behind me. “It is more of a curiosity.”
“I am intrigued then.” Uncle Marlon slid his lithe, toned body off the bale of hay, his dark red robe as the king’s advisor utterly covered in animal fur from the roaming creatures. He walked next to me as we maneuvered our way back to the barn’s front door, glancing in my direction. “You’ll need to make it quick, though. As you can imagine with what you’ve seen so far, I wasn’t able to get a lot of work done around here while you and my brother were gone.”
“Was she as bad as the petals indicated?” I asked quietly.
“It was worse than that.” He ruffled my hair on top of my head. “But don’t fret. Minnie is fine now, as she said. Your mother is extremely strong.”
I stepped outside the barn, nodding to the servant who was tending to Father’s and my Fae-gifts. I ordered brusquely, “Make sure to give Penelope as many blue apples as she wishes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The servant bowed low.
I kicked at the yellow and pink petals as we walked, pulling my thoughts together. My uncle didn’t push. He was the quiet type, always watching and speaking only when he felt the need. I tipped my head back and subtly acted as if I had changed my mind about what I wanted to speak on. “Never mind my curiosity. It is unimportant. I wish to talk about you.”
His silver braids swayed behind him as he strolled peacefully beside me. He turned those violet eyes on my emerald green gaze, patiently observing me. “Go on.”
We’d reached the black petals now. I pointed down at them. “You said that my mother was worse than this emotional mess. So how is it that you function so well after you lost your soul mate during Caspian’s birth? What is your secret?”
Uncle Marlon stared for a few moments, and then stated evenly, “That is a bit blunt, even for you, Trixie.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I know that over time, the pain in a Fae-spark decreases, but I thought that took thousands of years. Caspian isn’t quite five hundred years old yet.”
I needed to know his secret.
My uncle turned his attention back to where we were walking, his features shutting down to a coolness that sent a shiver down my spine—the face he showed to everyone else outside our family. “The pain does lessen as you said, but it never goes away completely. Some hide the pain better than others.”
My stomach churned, and nausea rose in my throat.
I would have to keep my soul mate alive.
My shoulders sagged in defeat.
“It’s still bad for you?” I asked cautiously.
He didn’t answer, his jaw hardening.
That was answer enough for me.
I placed my right hand on his left arm, and stated gently, “I apologize for bringing it up. I believed you were doing better than others who have experienced what you have. I didn’t mean to offend.”
Uncle Marlon growled softly and then sighed. He yanked me into a tight hug and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t trouble yourself over my welfare…but you do stink. That, you can apologize for.”
