She awakened in the library with Jeremy bending over her. Worry flickered in his clear, green eyes. Murietta perched on her chest, brushing her beak up and down her cheeks, and Hector was curled on her feet. Her head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton. Keeping her eyes open was a struggle. The first thing she noticed, besides the resident menagerie, was a thick bandage wrapped about her right arm.
“Mother?” she called weakly.
“Yes, darling, I’m here.” Eleanora’s rich, throaty voice drifted in from the hall. “I was just making you a pot of tea and some biscuits. You’re far too thin, child. Did you stop eating this last year?”
“You should talk.” Cassie craned her head around looking for her mother.
Eleanora hurried into the room; her long hair had been brushed and braided. She set down a tray holding a steaming mug and a plate of cookies.
“Magic momma, awk. Momma magic,” the parrot quorked. She fluffed her mottled gray plumage and then flapped her way to Eleanora’s shoulder.
Struggling a bit, Cassie tried for a more upright position. Moving created waves of vertigo, so she gave up and shut her eyes, willing it to pass.
Eleanora settled cool hands on either side of her face and chanted in Gaelic. “There, now try to sit,” she urged, insinuating an arm under Cassie’s back and rearranging the blanket covering her.
“I can help.” Jeremy moved to her other side. Between them, they maneuvered Cassie into a sitting position with her legs stretched out on the coffee table. Hector gave a rather piteous meow before retreating to a fat pillow.
“Here.” Jeremy thrust a cup of strong, black tea into Cassie’s nerveless hands.
After a few sips, she glanced at her mother. “You put something else in here.”
Her mother nodded and smiled knowingly. “A strengthening tonic. You lost quite a bit of blood, but that was quick thinking on Fran’s part. Your blood severed the enchantment...”
“...and let me finish off Tyler,” Jeremy broke in grinning at her. “I wondered what the hell was taking you so long when I felt things shift.”
“Where’s Father?” She looked around, half expecting to see him floating somewhere in the ether.
“Projections are tiring,” her mother explained. “He did say he’d catch the first plane he could, though. So I expect he’ll turn up in the next couple of days.” Chuckling, she added, “He said you shouldn’t make a habit of sleeping with strange men. An affront to your British heritage and all that.”
“What British heritage? It’s not like he’s been much of a father—”
Eleanora shot her a look that silenced her. “I think he finally figured that out. He did drop everything and materialize when you summoned him, so you might give him some credit.”
“Dropped everything? I pulled out that stone he left me a couple of days ago.”
Her mother rolled expressive dark eyes. “Magical things work in their own time. You can’t judge them by computer standards.”
From no parents to both of them. It’s going to take some adjusting.
“Were you ever Murietta?” Cassie eyed her mother speculatively, remembering the bird’s warning earlier that evening.
“Sometimes.” One corner of her mother’s mouth turned down. “It was the most I could manage. That fae demon had me in such a death grip—”
Cassie wanted to ask more, but her eyes grew heavy. She suspected the tea. Fighting to stay awake, she said, “Was there really a connection between Tyler and what happened to you?”
“More like a nefarious scheme,” Jeremy snapped. He clamped his jaws together, obviously angry.
Eleanora held up a cautionary hand. “Time enough for long explanations later,” she murmured before turning to her daughter. “In a nutshell, Tyler bedded you during your moon flow and captured some of the fluid. Then he booked an appointment with me pretending to be another seer in need of mentoring. Once he got here, he used your blood to trap me. Blood to blood, Daughter. Never forget how much power resides there. Fran figured it out.”
“All this was my fault?” Cassie clapped a hand over her mouth. Guilt threatened to swamp her. “Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry...”
Eleanora hugged her. “Hush. Nothing to apologize for. You couldn’t have known. Rest now, dear.”
“Should we tell her about—?” Jeremy began.
“Yes, but later,” Eleanora cut in.
With her mother on one side and Jeremy on the other, Cassie floated in and out of consciousness. Their conversation flowed around her.
“...the fae bastard?” Eleanora inquired. “You never did tell me.”
“Dragged what was left out back when I was done with the Seraph blade and channeled lightning.”
Eleanora sighed. “Unfortunate he didn’t suffer more, yet I’m grateful for an end to this.” She blew out a breath. “Thank you for watching over my daughter.”
“My pleasure, Ellie. I’ve loved her for years. Breen finally gave me permission to follow my heart, so maybe...”
“I’m sure she’ll come around,” her mother said softly. “I can help with that. A charm here, a potion there—”
“You won’t need either of those.” Cassie curved her mouth into a crooked, sleepy smile. Prying her eyes open she focused on Jeremy. “’Cause I love you too.”
“Magic’s daughter. Magic man. Happy, awk. Happy.” In a swirl of feathers, Murietta landed between them, nestling close.
The last thing Cassie remembered was Jeremy’s arms around her as he lifted her from the couch, and her mother’s tender kiss on her forehead.
“Stay with her,” Eleanora murmured.
“Of course,” he replied and carried her toward the stairs.