Page 21 of Entwined

Chapter Eight

Bram sat in the soft mosses, rubbing his growing belly. He couldn’t stand to be around the others in his glen anymore. The withering had begun, and his energy had been steadily waning. Soon, he wouldn’t have the strength to leave the house to visit his beloved forest. He wanted to remain there for as long as he could until that time came.

“It’s okay, little one. Both me and your other da loves you—he just doesn’t realize it because he doesn’t know about you. I hope I get to see you and kiss your cheek at least once before I go to the Golden Light, but if I don’t…” Bram swallowed hard. He tried not to cry or fall into melancholy because he didn’t think it was good for the baby. “Please try not to forget me.”

He closed his eyes and pictured happy things like the waterfalls, the glowing tiger lilies by the sugar water pond and baskets of rubies.

“But don’t worry my sweet baby.” Bram stroked the rounded bump that rose above his glittering skirt. “Your grandma and grandda will take very good care of you. They can’t wait to see and hold you.” He sucked in a shuddering breath. “They’ll give you plenty of kisses for me.”

The effort of sitting up became too much for him, so Bram lay down and let the spongy moss hold his weight. Right as he was drifting off, a honeybee buzzed near him and he politely told it to find somewhere else to buzz. He didn’t want to snap at the bugs, fish or other forest creatures because he was feeling poorly. It wasn’t their fault.

Maybe reaching my maturity meant more than just being able to carry a child.

It was too bad he wouldn’t get to be the newly grown-up fairy he’d been meant to become.

“Bram? Can I come sit with you?”

Glynnis had been devastated when he’d returned without Darby at his side.

Bram patted the soft moss. “Sure, Glynny. Join me.”

She dropped down next to him then crossed her legs. They remained in silence will she tugged on one of her springy, toffee-colored curls. She wouldn’t get her silver streaks until later.

“I still don’t understand why your alpha didn’t come back with you.”

The last thing he wanted to do was discuss Darby, but he didn’t know how much longer he’d have with her either. He shared her need to understand. He was still trying to figure out the why of it himself.

“I’m not sure either, Glynny. But my best guess is that he was scared. He doesn’t know anything about the land of the fae, and he kept talking about supporting me. Da said that meant he wanted to be the one who took care of me and build our house. Maybe he doesn’t know how to build one. Or maybe he has a ma and da he didn’t want to forever leave behind.”

Glynnis wrapped the curl around two fingers, frowning as she seemed to contemplate what Bram had told her. “Don’t you think that if he knew about the baby, he would’ve come anyway? Even if he didn’t know about building fairy houses?”

Bram sighed. “You know that’s not allowed. He has to want me for me and not be coerced. The fae laws are very clear about such things.”

He didn’t want to add that he thought fae laws were stupid, just in case a sprite was nearby listening, then flitted off to tell on him to the council. Sprites were conniving little troublemakers and they lurked in the flower petals so they could spy on poor, unsuspecting fairies.

“Was he very nice?”

Ugh. Why won’t she quit asking about him?

The truth was that he’d been changing the subject every time she brought Darby up. Remembering how special and beautiful Darby was only made his pain that much sharper. However, it seemed to be bothering her enough that she couldn’t stop herself from talking about it.

Darby is half of her soon-to-be niece or nephew, so it makes sense that she wants to know something about him.

“Yes. Very nice. Even though we didn’t have much time together, he always made me feel very special. The way he looked at me made me believe as if I was the most important thing in the whole universe.”

Then why didn’t he follow you through the veil? Bram pressed his lips together. Shut up inner voice. Who asked you?

“Oh.” She didn’t appear convinced. “I guess you’re right. He must’ve had good reasons for not coming back with you.”

The silence stretched on again and Bram wondered if there was something else he could say to help ease her mind. He couldn’t think of a thing since he didn’t know what to say to himself about the situation either. Right as he was about to drift off like earlier, she spoke up.

“Can I get you some honey water? Or berries?”

Lately, he hadn’t wanted to eat very much, but he forced himself for the sake of the baby.

“Sure, Glynny. That would be great.”

He closed his eyes then listened to her soft humming as she gathered the fruit and talked several bees into sharing some of their honey with her. The baby moved inside him, tiny taps that weren’t much more than flutterings. He caressed his belly, hummed along with Glynnis and tried to pretend that he didn’t wish Darby was there singing with them both.