My entire life, I’d grown up without my mom. I knew she’d loved me but was taken early. In the mortal realm, Mother’s Day had been a painful human holiday I’d mostly ignored.
Something tugged at my navel, and then my soul slipped from my body, and I flew over to the Realm of the Dead. I recognized the white stone castle of the Keeper and spotted the horsemen riding through the jewel-toned orchard. Behind the castle, I spotted the expanse of the lake where we’d found Honor and where I’d seen my parents before.
People were milling about, walking, or having picnics. The sun was setting, and everyone seemed to come out and watch. A beautiful cluster of weeping willows was planted in a circle as children ran about laughing and screaming with joy as they played some form of tag.
There was peace here and happiness, too. I thought of gramps giving his soul stone to me to bargain with the Keeper, and I could imagine him here with family and friends, and I came to peace with it. I hadn’t yet glimpsed much of the spirit realm, but what I’d seen seemed to be an elevated form of this part of the Realm of the Dead. This wasn’t a bad kind of eternity.
I scanned the crowds as I flew above them like some superhero. Then … I spotted her.
She and my bio dad sat on a red blanket, right in front of the lake. Her silvery hair was braided over one shoulder, and she threw her head back and laughed at something he’d said. As I got closer, she spotted me and froze, her entire back going rigid. Merely a thought was enough for me to lower my spectral self to the ground, and at the same time, she stood and faced me.
My throat tightened with emotion upon seeing her face, so much like mine, and she stood, mouth open in surprise.
“You finally came,” she breathed, her voice flooded with emotion.
“Mom,” I choked out and was unable to keep my cool. Maybe I was supposed to be here for a lesson, but right now, that was the furthest thing from my mind.
Her expression softened, and she opened her arms. “Nai.”
That. Was. Everything. All that I needed was for her to open her arms, her permission for me to fall to pieces inside of them with her. I burst forward, colliding with her as our two spirits wrapped each other in a hug. As her energy surrounded me, we both burst into laughter, and an effervescent joy built within me.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come,” she croaked.
“I’m sorry it took so long. Life is kind of crazy right now.”
She pulled back, smiling at me. “Tell me everything.”
I opened my mouth to speak when I saw my bio dad rise. I’d spent my entire life, thinking of my uncle as my father … but this man…
He stood just behind her, watching us with unshed tears in his eyes.
I swallowed hard and glanced to my mother.
She nodded. “He loves you too.”
Stepping away from my mother, I approached him.
“Hey, kiddo.” He rocked on the balls of his feet like he was nervous. “I know my brother raised you and that you consider him your father, and that doesn’t bother me one bit. We can take it slow. You can call me Mackay.”
I threw myself into his arms. “Hey, Bonus Dad.” I squeezed him. Hard.
He remained frozen at first, but then he brought his arms around me. As we hugged, I felt his chest shudder with a half-swallowed sob.
“I like Bonus Dad,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He spun me around toward my mom, and I burst into giggles.
How was it possible … I hadn’t known until this very moment that something had been missing from my life? My father did a great job raising me, with help from Lon too. Rage was an amazing mate, butthis… the love of my mom and bonus dad made me feel complete.
We both grinned with joy, and my mom stepped up to his side and wiped a tear from her cheek.
“We’re so glad you came, Nai.” She took a deep breath. “How’s my dad?”
Reality came crashing down. Our happy meeting was over; it was time to get down to business.
My mom and I sat down on the red blanket, knees touching, and my bonus dad made an excuse and went for a walk. I told Mom …everything, including all about Rage and our sealing of the mate bond. She listened to all of it raptly, her emotions dancing over her face as I spoke until I got to the part about the high mages threatening to close the portals. Then she let out a growl that would make any wolf-shifter proud.
“How dare they!” she snapped.
I nodded. “So Gramps thought I should see you for a pronto lesson on portals, in case they try to keep Rage and me apart.”
