I let it go. We were all okay now, and that was the important thing. “So once the two pathways were stabilized, he just let you go? He does still realize I have to make the path to the Crystal Vale?” That was on the agenda for today, as well as bringing a dark vortex to leave behind.
“We were watching when you faced the darkness in Willowvale.”
I sat up straighter, sloshing my coffee on my hands. “What! You didn’t see—”
Her smile was serene, but her eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. “We could not see through the darkness, but one can guess at what was needed to create such an astounding light.”
“This is so embarrassing,” I groaned.
“Oh don’t be silly. If anything, I’m a bit jealous.”
“Not helping.”
She laughed. “Moving on. After you tamed the darkness, grandfather believed you were serving your true purpose. He believed you could restore balance, and he was right, even if it wasn’t in the way he thought.”
“So he let you go right then and there? Why didn’t I see you until now?”
Her knowing smile was starting to irritate me, but maybe I just needed more coffee. “You seemed to have things under control. You did not need my interference.”
She stood, then leaned down and kissed my cheek before stepping away.
I quickly set what remained of my coffee on the end table, preparing to rise. “Wait! You’re not leaving already, are you? I mean, you’re not on the run anymore.”
Her eyes drifted toward the door. “No, but I do believe your boyfriends are waiting to bring you breakfast.”
“You could stay for breakfast!” I blurted.
She arched one brow. “Are you sure it won’t be tooembarrassing?”
It would be, but wasn’t part of growing up supposed to be getting embarrassed by your parents? I had missed out on a lot of that. “Just the right amount of embarrassing.”
She straightened her top but didn’t move any closer to the door. “I’m supposed to meet with Lucas, but I suppose that can wait.”
“I guess he finally fulfilled his oath to you, huh?”
Returning to her seat, she waved me off. “I told him it was unnecessary, though I suppose it did work out alright.”
I waited for her to continue, but when she didn’t I pressed, “Okay, you really have to tell me why he owed you in the first place.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean you couldn’t tell?” She chuckled. “Lucas is your half-brother, Eva. Unfortunately he was born just before I had to sever the pathways. I was forced to leave him in his father’s care.” She shrugged. “It was probably the right thing to do, he does favor his angelic blood, but I can’t say that his father did the best job.”
Shocked, I managed to say, “Lucas is a psychopath who tried to kill me.”
She waved me off again. “He’s not all that bad. When he found out I was his mother, he helped me run, and insisted I take one of his feathers as his oath to do right by me.”
I sat back against the pillows, flabbergasted. “If I would have known during all those years of searching for you that I would also get an evil aunt and a psychopath half brother, I might have stopped looking.”
“You’ll forgive Marcie in time,” she chuckled. “Maybe we can even findyoursister and you’ll understand that type of bond.”
“My sister!”
Her eyes sparkled. “My dear Evelyn, you must understand, I’ve been around averylong time.” She perked up. “Now let’s see about that breakfast.”
26
The old pathway in the Crystal Vale had been at the center of a small spring bordered by snapdragons. Little colorful motes of light floated about, and small strange creatures watched us from the foliage. I no longer felt nervous about forming another pathway. If more darkness waited, we could handle it.
Penelope stood off to one side, eyeing both the small gathered fairies along with some of the larger ones, including Varian. Her imp was with her, which was a surprise, but I supposed Varian was so stoked about getting his pathway that he was fine with not only an extra devil, but an imp standing witness. The human, however… I wasn’t sure how Penelope had convinced Varian aboutthat. Isadora was beyond thrilled though. She had her little magic tracking device and a satchel full of who knew what. At least we could assume if any explosives were needed in the fairy realm, she would have us covered.
