ALL THE EMOTIONS I’dheld back over the last few days of unknowns came pouring out when she wrapped me in a hug. Embarrassed, I hid my face in Mom’s shoulder so Soren wouldn’t see.
When I dared lift my head to ask for a tissue, Soren stood ready with a handkerchief.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, forgetting the rule.
But Soren only rolled his eyes upward and held in whatever he wanted to say.
Sniffling, I tried to use only the edge of the fabric, giving it to Mom next, who needed it just as badly.
“Gross,” she said with a lopsided grin, making me laugh. She still sounded so human, despite me knowing she wasn’t. So...Mom.
“Did you see Dad? And Rissa and Olive?”
She nodded, sniffling. “I just spoke with them. They told me where to find you.”
I turned puffy eyes to Soren and then back to Mom. “Are you... a prisoner here?” The second the question came out, my anxiety spiked. What if she was? She didn’tseemlike a zombie, but the idea of being this close only to lose her again made my chest feel like it was being ripped open.
“No.” She laughed, but then her face darkened with a fury I’d never seen before. “Though they wouldn’t allow me to come for you. When they first took me away, I threatened to break my contract and return to you all. They haven’t given me my wings back yet for that reason. But if I’d known before today that you’d all been taken, nothing would’ve stopped me from coming for you.”
Soren’s brows rose slightly at her vehemence.
My brain caught on something different. “Did you say... your wings?”
Mom grinned. With a nod, she tipped her head deferentially to Soren, still smiling. “They’re not as strong as some, but they get me around fairly well. I imagine it’ll be an adjustment when they’re returned.”
Half laughing, half sighing, Soren rubbed a hand over his neck. “Oh, it will be. I’m already quite sore, I’ll admit. I’d forgotten the weight of them after so many years.”
“You’ll have to take it easy tomorrow,” she said, mothering him with a concerned look.
The shock on his face was comical.
Did his own family care that little for him?
“I will,” he finally replied.
I fought a smile. If Mom became a part of his life, he wouldn’t have that problem anymore. And then I flushed at the thought, because that would mean that I was part of his life too. And I startled when I realized that I wanted that.
Growing serious, Mom gently pulled me into her arms again, resting her chin on my head. “I owe a debt to your prince for bringing you here. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. You managed to do quite a lot with very little information.”
“About that,” I said sarcastically, twisting in her arms until I could pull back and glare at her. “More information would’ve beenreallynice.”
Her face fell. “I couldn’t tell you, Brynn. It was part of my contract before I ever came to the human world. But I always wanted to. Your father figured out a few small pieces of the truth, though I could never tell him directly, only confirm.”
That explained why Dad had seemed less surprised by the fae world. I’d have to give him a hard time next.
