Page 92 of Fae Farewells

Reagan.

Saturday, June 20th

Morning

Immediately, I averted my gaze, looking at anything other than my mate’s naked father. I massaged my temples as I tried to understand what had just happened. But so far, all I could say with certainty was the winter king was alive.

My fae was speechless for long enough that I began to worry, then he finally whispered to me, “You were right. Clothing was important. Can you get more?”

“Nothing would make me happier right now,” I admitted, snapping my fingers and passing him a pair of lounge pants.

“Vaughn?” Reagan rasped, “How long has it been?”

“Five years,” my fae confessed. “How are you here? You died.”

When I squeezed his hand to offer comfort, he leaned closer to me and mumbled, “He’s dressed. You can turn around now.”

“No.” Reagan ran his fingers through his overgrown black hair. “Well, yes. Alric killed me.”

“I thought it was the power drain?” I inquired. “Kelvin Moore and the camp…”

“I knew who you were the moment I saw you.” He smiled sadly. “You came to the camp to save me and the druid prince, but Alric was already there.”

“Alric was there?” I repeated. “I didn’t know that.”

Reagan nodded. “He was. It wasn’t the power draining that killed me. That just weakened me enough to be vulnerable. And Alric thought he could kill me with only obsidian to the heart. But I knew that would happen. I couldn’t say anything—”

“Because he did the blood curse thing?” I guessed, glancing at my mate to make sure he wasn’t having a mental breakdown.

Vaughn wasn’t freaking out, but he was shell-shocked. I didn’t think he was breathing, either. He stared, his mouth opening and closing, though nothing came out.

“He did,” Reagan acknowledged. “I’d been under that curse since right after Tilly was born, right after Alania tried to kill Vex.”

“Wait.” I held my hand out, closing my eyes for a moment. “Back up. What does “tried to kill” mean?”

“She’s still waking up,” he casually replied. “She’s been asleep for much longer than I have.”

“Are you telling us—” Vaughn shook his head, attempting the question once more. “Are you saying my mother is in that bubble?”

Reagan raised his brows, pale blue irises shining brightly in the poorly lit cave. “Yes. That’s where she’s been for the last eighteen years.”

Vaughn scrubbed his hands over his face, pushing and tugging at his cheeks. “What the actual fuck is happening right now?”

“Let me start at the beginning.” His father sighed, leaning against the wall for support. “Alania wanted to rule the entire fae realm. Alric owed her for her willingness to give up their mate bond for his experimental children. But when he returned from the Underworld, he brought back the wrong plant.”

“He couldn’t find the lompus vine?”

That honestly shocked me more than anything else today. Those godsdamned plants made the entire coast of Voletan smell like rotting meat. I could taste the gasoline flavor just from thinking about them.

“No. Or thought he found it, but didn’t. Alric had already cursed me by the time I saw the plant, but I knew it was wrong. Knew whatever they were about to do would fail. I didn’t expect to watch Alania stab Vex, though that’s what happened. When they took her body away, I brought her to my father.”

“Valano?” I clarified, making sure I was following his story.

“Yes. I couldn’t tell him everything, but I was able to tell him she wouldn’t die; she just needed time to heal. But if she awoke before my curse was lifted, I wouldn’t be able to tell her what was happening or how to stop it. I… I panicked. Valano called in a favor from an old friend, and they made this chamber for us. I knew I would be next; I simply had to wait it out.”

Vaughn pinched the bridge of his nose. “Grandfather has known this entire time?”

“Aye. Did you never ask him about the cove?”