Euan Gillies would die before the clock struck midnight.
Alistaire enteredthe Hannigans home quietly and went straight for his and Fox’s bedroom. Kneeling, he pulled out the cherry wood case. Taking out his father’s sword, he turned the blade towards him—looking at his reflection in the shiny silver blade that would soon be stained with Euan Gillies blood. Grabbing the black leather sheath, he slid his sword inside of it. He set the sword down and went to take care of a few things before leaving.
He went to Ava’s room and wasn’t surprised to see Genesis sleeping in her bassinet beside the teenager’s bed. Leaning down, he kissed both girls on their foreheads, then quietly left the room. He’d promised Ava she could spend the night with her friends, but after Fox ended up in the hospital, he’d asked her to stay home. Not only that, but the small party the Hannigan family had planned to bring in the New Year was also canceled because of what had happened. Alistaire headed back downstairs. He stopped when he saw Aria standing at the foot of the stairs waiting for him.
“Aria, I thought you were sleeping.”
“How can I sleep when all I can think about is my son?” She sat on the stairs, and Alistaire saw a photo of a baby in her hands. Sighing, he sat beside her. “I knew he was different from the moment I held him in my arms. Do you know why I named him Crevan?”
Alistaire shook his head.
“When I found out I was pregnant, Barret and I started picking out baby names. Barret and I went through so many names we couldn’t decide on any of the ones we liked. I knew the baby was going to be a boy, but I had a few girl names added to the list.” Aria smiled, and so did Alistaire. “On the day I gave birth, we still hadn’t decided on a name. But I wasn’t concerned, I knew it would come to me the second our eyes met, and it did. Most babies aren’t born with such distinct eye colors, but his were—one blue and one green. I could see a wealth of information shining back at me. It was as if he’d lived so many other lives before he’d come to be with me. His eyes spoke of mischievousness, a trickster, and sly cunning little fox. I knew he’d bring a lot of delights to my life. I went with Crevan because I knew it meant fox.”
Aria smiled as her fingers traced the baby’s face on the picture. “I know he’s changed since the accident. It’s as if he's become someone else. With the same name but a completely different personality.” She turned to look at Alistaire. “Does it make me a bad parent, that I don’t care how much he’s changed?”
“Why do you say that? You’re a great mother, and I know Fox loves you.”
“I love him, too, Alistaire. But I can’t stop thinking that’s not my son lying in that hospital bed.”
“What do you mean by that? Of course, that’s your son.”
Aria shook her head. “A mother knows certain things like magic. I know how magic works and our family has never been magical. Sure, I’m slightly empathic. But not the degree of magic that can heal his heart. I know he was supposed to die two years ago, but I was surprised when he got pregnant with Genesis. I know on the night you saved his life something happened you refuse to tell anyone. How long was he not breathing, Alistaire?”
Alistaire looked away from Aria.. The night he’d saved Fox’s life, he’d known for sure the man had stopped breathing for more than five minutes.Alistaire hadn’t been sure he’d be able to bring him back. After a couple of minutes of CPR, Fox had let out a scream that almost shattered his eardrums.
“What does it matter?” Alistaire asked. “He’s alive.”
“I suppose you’re right, but what if another person’s soul took over my son’s body? What if that’s not the real Fo—”
“Would it change how you love him if what you’re thinking is true?” Alistaire asked, cutting her off, not wanting to hear what she was thinking. It would be impossible.
How could another person’s soul live in another body?Alistaire mentally shook his head at the thought.Not even the gods are powerful enough to make something like that happen.
Aria shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Sadly, no. Even though he seems different, I can feel his love for me as his mother.”
“Then why do you question things? The boy you gave birth to is the same man I love. He’s the same man who went out and got pregnant because he felt lonely and thought if he died, he’d leave a piece of himself for his family to love.”
“How do you know all of that? How do you know he was lonely and that was why he got pregnant?”
“Because I can see it in his eyes. He thinks this is all a dream, and one day he’ll wake up, and it will all be gone. Don’t let his nightmare come true.”
Aria sighed and started cleaning off her face. “You’re right,” she said after a few minutes. “I guess it’s all the talk of Fox becoming magical. I let my imagination get the best of me. Thank you for listening to me.”
Alistaire smiled. “Isn’t that what sons-in-law are for?” He wrapped an arm around Aria, pulling her close to him. “He’s going to wake up. Whether he has magic now or not, we’ll still love him.”
Aria nodded against his shoulder. “Can you keep this conversation between us?”
“You don’t need to worry. I won’t breathe a word.”
“Thank you, son.”
He kissed her on the top of her head, and they sat on the steps in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Alistaire might have said one thing with his mouth, but his mind kept running over what Aria had said.
Could Fox be someone else? If so, who did I fall in love with? And does it matter in the end?
Although Alistaire had questions, he had to put them in the back of his mind for now since he had to take care of something.
Chapter Eighteen
