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The next day, Maelíosa and Cyn sat outside of the castle playing with Braden and Kira. The twins were energetic, and although Maelíosa wasn’t a natural around children, she enjoyed spending the time with her nieces. Today, all she could think about was how big Kira looked.
“You’re growing up so bloody fast. In six months’ time, I bet you’ll be taller than me.” Maelíosa teased little Kira, who stumbled into her lap clutching a blade of grass.
Kira giggled and looked into her aunt’s face. She babbled something incoherently, spittle running down her chin. With an indulgent smile, Maelíosa reached forward and wiped it off.
Kira smiled and closed her eyes, snuggling against her tunic and clinging on tightly. Her grip loosened as she started to drift off to sleep in Maelíosa’s arms. A surge of maternal affection washed over Maelíosa and she stroked Kira’s dark hair. Suddenly, Carina popped into her mind. She’d looked so strong and confident standing next to Sage. As Maelíosa’s mood began to dim, she wondered what Carina would look like if Sage didn’t make it.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hm?” Maelíosa snapped her head up and looked at Cyn.
The two of them weren’t exactly best mates, but things had improved a great deal over the past year. Maelíosa secretly thought Cyn was a bit flashy, but she’d come to realise how much the woman seated beside her really loved Fallon. And since she’d come back from London to stay in the Realm, Cyn had proved her trustworthiness many times over.
“Your face. You’re pouting,” Cyn told her.
She had an easy grin on her pretty face, and her hair was coiled above her head in a ‘do that looked too complicated for babysitting. Maelíosa observed idly that Cyn never missed a chance to show off, but she looked beautiful, and if it made her happy...
“I was thinking about someone I just met,” Maelíosa said. She cradled the sleeping Kira in her arms and hugged her gently. “A man. A human named Sage.” She sighed as she recounted the events of the previous day for Cyn. “And now I’m thinking about whether or not I should offer to just mate with him myself.”
Cyn bit her lip and glanced away. That was unusual—most of the time she was the first in a group to comment on something.
Maelíosa frowned. “What is it? You’re quiet.”
Cyn shifted in the grass, sprawling out and reclining on her elbow. Maelíosa thought she looked like the subject of some bucolic painting.
“That makes me scared, Maelíosa.”
“Why?” Maelíosa frowned again. “How could that possibly bother you?”
Cyn sighed. “I don’t know, but it’s terrifying. Scarier than mating with Fallon was, scarier than being chased by those bloody paparazzi.” She looked deeply into Maelíosa’s eyes. “I know you want to help him. But I mean, what if he runs off? And you suffer, and then you die?”
Maelíosa shuddered. She knew that it was a distinct possibility. Even with all the safeguards that she and the other clan members had put into place, it was still possible their background check system wouldn’t be foolproof. She didn’t want to think about the risks. Her mare wavering from one moment to the next was enough to contend with, without considering that Cyn might be right.
“We may not have hit it off when I first came to the Realm, but you’re a generous person and you care deeply about the people you love. I know I’m just your step-mum, but I care about you. If it wasn’t so risky...” Cyn trailed off and reached down to pluck at a blade of grass. “Then I’d say you should just go for it. Help him and his daughter.” She glanced at Maelíosa meaningfully. “Especially if it means saving his life.”
Maelíosa’s laugh was shaky. “I’m the one who should be afraid.”
In truth, she was afraid. It wasn’t something that she wanted to admit—it made her think of her childhood, mourning the death of her mother, Aileen. She had died giving birth to Darcy. Maelíosa knew the chances of dying in childbirth weren’t that large, but it was more difficult for púca, and it wasn’t something she liked to think about.
A thundering sound approached Maelíosa and Cyn, growing louder by the second. She looked up to see a tremendous stallion galloping toward them. Clouds of dust billowed from his hooves as his immense strength churned the land. As he grew closer and closer, Maelíosa shielded Kira’s mouth and nose from the flying dust while Cyn did the same for Braden.
The stallion skidded to a stop in a manner that was somehow both dignified and comical. Then he shifted into his human form. Heat rose to her cheeks and Maelíosa looked away as a very sweaty, very naked Fallon strode toward the castle.
“He could’ve stopped,” Cyn said idly. “Although, I do like the view from behind.” She had a saucy expression on her face as she watched Fallon disappear into the castle, and she winked at Maelíosa.
“I’m glad he didn’t,” Maelíosa replied drily.
Moments later, Fallon reappeared, thankfully clothed in loose breeches and a linen tunic. Despite his ruffled appearance, Maelíosa could only think of how dignified her father appeared. It was obvious he was the chieftain of the clan.
“’Ello, loves,” Fallon said.
He leaned down over Cyn and they shared a kiss. It went on just a touch too long for polite company, and Maelíosa turned her attention to Kira instead. As Fallon straightened up, he plucked baby Braden from Cyn’s arms and brought him close, nuzzling his tiny nose.
Braden cried out and Fallon cradled him, cooing softly. Cyn got to her feet, brushing her hands off on her tight skirt, and sidled up next to Fallon. Maelíosa stared at them for a moment. They looked so happy! She couldn’t believe it—who would have thought that her father would recover and fall in love again? After Aileen died, Maelíosa had thought Fallon would mourn forever. She was loathe to admit it, but she’d been proven wrong.
Again, Maelíosa thought back to Carina. Maelíosa couldn’t get over how much that spunky, bright-eyed girl reminded her of a younger version of herself. Maelíosa had been serious and smart as a child, but with a fiery temper just like that.
Maelíosa and Fallon hadn’t always had an easy relationship. She remembered being close to her father when she was younger, always wanting him around. But Aileen’s death had changed everything. Maelíosa had found herself resenting her younger sister, Darcy. Even though Maelíosa had known it wasn’t Darcy’s fault, she couldn’t look at her sister without feeling a gaping hole in her heart. And Fallon was practically unreachable in those days. His despondence and heartbreak had sealed him in completely, in an emotional fortress tighter than anything in the physical world. Caring for her baby sister was a huge responsibility, and she’d stepped up to the plate, understanding that her father needed her and Ariel because he was lost in his grief.
She swallowed hard. Fallon playing with his grandchildren was sweet, but Maelíosa couldn’t watch without thinking about Sage and Carina. What would happen to the girl if her father was to perish? Where would she turn? A sharp pain spiked through her chest as she recalled the way Sage had spoken about his lack of family. There was no one else, no one save for himself and Carina.
Maelíosa’s mouth pressed into a thin line. I have to do something. Her mare pranced and whinnied, tossing her mane high in the air. We have to do something. We have to help save her father. If it means that one more little girl in the world won’t have to endure a heartbreak, we have to do it.
She felt a flicker of fear as she remembered what Cyn had said about being afraid for her. It’d be scary as shite being all alone and dying while her mate was cured and somewhere beyond the veil in the human world. If he decided to leave once he was healed... But if this was going to work, Maelíosa knew she couldn’t continue to think that way. She was going to have to trust Sage, much like he would have to trust her.
We’re going to have to trust each other. Maelíosa gulped back her fear. Somehow, that was the scariest idea of all.
