Page 95 of Fae Farewells

“New palace?” Vex interrupted in outrage.

“She took the doors gifted from Lilith,” he finished, as if she hadn’t interrupted him.

“That miserable witch,” she growled.

I chuckled. “I like to call her a cunt, but miserable witch works too.”

Reagan split his attention between Vex and Vaughn, worried about their mental situations. I dipped my chin, letting him know his son was okay.

My fae had his head cocked as his emotions settled. He stuck his hand out, index finger extended as he poked his father’s shoulder. Then he did it a second time, a little more forcefully. When Reagan didn’t move, Vaughn sighed in relief.

The winter king raised a brow, his cheeks rounding.

“I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating again.” Vaughn shrugged. “That cappa root beer in the Underworld—”

“Will get you every time,” Reagan chimed in. “Never drink the green beer. That’s the first rule of the Underworld, but one that was meant to be broken.”

I snorted. “Maybe if he did it on purpose, but he didn’t. What he did do was drop seventy-five snowballs on his face, trying to play catch while riding a hellhound.”

His father laughed, a deep rumbling from within his chest, as he pulled Vaughn into a hug. My fae cut his icy blue at me, and I winked. His worry eased from our bond, only to be replaced with a mixture of shock and happiness.

“Who’s shirt am I wearing?” Vex asked suddenly, pulling the neck out to glance down her body. “And why am I naked?”

“It’s my shirt,” Vaughn replied. “But I can’t answer the second question.”

Her shoulders dropped as she gazed lovingly at him. “When did you grow up?”

“Truthfully? About three days ago.” He chuckled when she furrowed her brows. “You’ve been asleep for eighteen years, Mother.”

I frowned when her eyes glossed over, her sadness clear in the slow nod of her head.

“I’ve missed too much.”

“No, you haven’t,” I whispered to her. “There’s still so much more to see your children accomplish.”

Reagan sighed heavily. “We can’t tell the girls yet. Frey will look for us, Alania will follow. We’re not ready to fight.”

Vaughn and I shared a glance. I nodded at his unspoken question. If he would keep their secret for another day, then I would, too. Telling them about Alania was one thing, but I wouldn’t, couldn’t, be the person who spilled this secret.

“We won’t say anything until Alania is dead,” my fae told them. “But that will be soon, so you need to be prepared for the fallout.”

Vex wiped at her cheeks as she grabbed Vaughn’s hand, tugging him into her embrace. “I can wait a little longer. What’s one more day?”

“Take us to Valano, son. We’ll stay out of your way.”

I laced my fingers through Vaughn’s as Reagan gripped his shoulder. It took my fae little to no effort to mist us across the realm. His level-up made me want to go back to the forest of North Fork and play tag on the pack property.

Would it be difficult for my guys to find me now?

We landed in Valano’s yard, though the old king didn’t react. There was no surprise or excitement. Just a grumpy man who was tired of us bringing bullshit his way.

“This isn’t a bed-and-breakfast, Vaughn. You can’t keep telling people to come to my house,” he called, not looking up from his flowerbed.

“Where would you have me bring them, then? A hotel perhaps?” Vaughn asked, humor twisted in his words. “And when were you going to tell me?”

“Ahh, but when were you going to ask?” Valano teased, tossing weeds over his shoulder. “Good to see you, son. Vex, lovely as ever.”

She scoffed. “Val, get your head out of the bushes and greet us properly.”