It wasn’t often that she allowed herself to think of Finn – she felt, somehow, that it was dangerous, reaching out to him with her mind – but she couldn’t avoid it, being on the beach. It would always be a place synonymous with him.
Her and Finn’s connection was so strong that he’d been able to visit her in dreams and appear to her in the human world, but now, as she thought of him, she felt a curious nothingness, a slackness at the end of the line.Where are you?she thought fiercely, but there was no reply.
Faye closed her eyes, continuing to walk, holding her sandals in one hand, feeling the wet sand between her toes. She didn’t want Finn, but she wanted some kind of closure from him. That he wouldn’t bother her, but most importantly, that he would leave Alasdair alone. She believed in Morgana’s protection, but nothing had so far protected her from Finn Beatha.
Finn?Speak to me, she appealed again in her mind, and a sudden vision came to her.
Finn Beatha sat in a dark cell, shadows masking the ethereal beauty of his face. His knees were steepled, and he hugged himself in the dark.
Faye opened her eyes, startled. Her sudden stop jarred Alasdair, who fretted for a few moments until she began walking again and returned to sleep. Faye had never seen Finn look so small, so miserable; he had never been anything but tall, imperious, beautiful – he was a powerful being. She semi-closed her eyes again to try to return to the vision, but it had gone, and she had to keep her eyes open to walk, otherwise Alasdair would wake up.
He was still imprisoned in Falias. He was suffering and being kept against his will.
He deserves everything he gets for murdering Aisha, Faye thought, balling her fists up with the anger and grief of her friend’s death.And the others. See how you like it, she raged. Something had happened in the war he was fighting, and he was losing. She didn’t care which side won or lost: all Faye cared about now was keeping Alasdair safe.They may think he’s the child of a prophecy, and they can fight each other for him for a thousand years, but they will never have my child,she vowed, her heart full of such fierce love for Alasdair that it felt as if it would consume her. If Finn had to suffer to keep Alasdair from harm – or even if Finn’s imprisonment had no effect on anything – so be it. In fact, as long as Alasdair was protected, Faye didn’t care about the faerie realms at all. Her own half-fae nature was nothing compared to being his mother.
After she had walked home the long way, letting Alasdair sleep, she returned to find that Annie, Ruby and Susie had all arrived, and there was no opportunity to tell anyone about her vision. Even if she had had the chance, she realised she wouldn’t say anything. This was Alasdair’s day, and she wouldn’t ruin itby talking about Finn. Everyone was in the back garden drinking champagne. Susie handed her a glass.
‘We started without you.’ She kissed Faye on the cheek. ‘It’s so good to see you, Faye. And this must be Alasdair!’ She held out her finger, and the baby grasped it and held it firmly.
‘You too!’ Faye gazed around at the garden. Gabriel had been busy: the trees were draped in bunting and white paper garlands, a trestle table bulged with food and drink and music played in the background.
Annie enveloped Faye and Alasdair in a bear hug until the baby squealed, and she reluctantly let go.
‘Aye, he’s a bonny wee thing!’ she exclaimed, tickling Alasdair under the chin. Recovered from his squashing, he gummed a smile at Annie. ‘An’ what a smile, eh?’ She beamed at him and cast a concerned eye over Faye. ‘Ye all right, sweetheart? How’s he treatin’ ye, the wee bairn?’
‘I’m fine, I’m fine!’ Faye felt tears in her eyes and wiped them away. They were happy tears; she’d missed Annie so much. ‘It’s so good to see you.’
‘Stop it, ye’ll make me start,’ Annie chided.
‘Gabriel’s been a huge help.’ Faye smiled at Ruby and Gabriel hugging; they’d clearly missed each other.
‘He’s looking a lot better.’ Susie nodded. ‘You were kind to let him stay. It’s clearly done him the world of good.’
‘Honestly, it’s as good for me as him. I think if he hadn’t appeared on the beach that day, I dunno…I don’t think I’d have coped alone.’ Faye kissed Alasdair’s head as he fussed a little. ‘Gabriel was in a real state when he got here. But he seems to have turned a corner.’
‘Aye, well, the air’s good up here.’ Annie looked away, pretending to study the buffet.
‘What?’ Faye found Annie so easy to read after all these years; something was up.
‘Oh, nothin’. Just…’ Annie sighed. ‘Ah dunno, Faye. I’ve been away twice when ye needed me. It isnae right, that’s all.’
Susie hugged Annie.
‘Come on, babe, we’ve talked about this,’ she said kindly. ‘Faye’s a grown-up.’
‘I am,’ Faye agreed. ‘It’s okay, Annie. You’ve waited so long to get a job likeCoven of Love. You’ve got a life in London. We’ll still see each other.’ She held Annie’s hand, squeezing it. She would never tell Annie how much she missed her; that selfishly, she would love it if Annie came back to Abercolme. She wouldn’t tell her, because she loved Annie, and when you love people, you do what is best for them.
There was a pile of presents on the end of the table nearest to her, and Faye’s eye was suddenly drawn to a strange little woven basket sitting on top. Instinctively, she let go of Annie’s hand and picked it up.
Cradling Alasdair with one hand, Faye put the box down on the table so that she could lift the lid with her other hand.
Inside, there was a note.
Blessings on his naming day to my grandson. A baby without a name is forever in danger, the note read. It was written in a spiky, unusual script, in a dark brown ink on thick parchment.My grandson.Faye stared at the words in shock.
There was only one person this could be from.
Under the note, a small necklace of black tourmaline beads sat among red, gold and yellow autumnal leaves.Lyr.
