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“We can adopt her.”
“What?” Raven gasped, pressing her hands to Kellen’s chest, hope blooming in her heart. “You’d…but…we haven’t…”
“Talked about children? Yes, I want them. I want a life with you, Raven. I want to build a home, a family, a future with you. You’remyfated mate. Whatever you want, I want.”
“I…but…” Raven blinked at him. “I never considered being a mother. It was never in my future. I didn’t even—”
“Isn’t that what you’ve been doing all along? Mothering this Taryn?”
“I, well, I guess, maybe?” Raven bit her lip as she considered. “I don’t know. She just worked her way in. She’s a good kid, Kellen. She’s been dealt a bad hand, has her walls up, but she has nobody. We could give her a future plucked right out of a fairy tale.”
“Then we should. If it’s what you want. If you love her, then I will too.” Kellen rose, pulling Raven to stand with him, and she gaped at him as water ran in rivulets down his naked body. Distracted for a moment, just by his sheer beauty and the splendor of their surroundings, she lost the thread of the conversation. A knowing smile slipped across Kellen’s lips, and he bent over to brush his lips gently across hers.
“That’s for later, little nightbird. Let’s go rescue your girl.”
“Oh, this is so exciting. How will we do it?” Raven clapped her hands, accepting the towel that Kellen gave her. Much like any Fae magick, they were dry in moments and dressed, and Riker flew to meet them.
“What will make the most sense to your friend? We don’t want to scare her.”
“There’s not much that scares her, but I’m sure she’ll be overwhelmed.” Raven tapped her finger against her lips as she thought about it. “I think we need to go back, but I need to approach her alone before you reveal yourselves. And I think the Alicorns need to be there. I don’t know any kid that would turn down a chance to ride on an Alicorn.”
“Then we go. We find your friend, and Riker and I will conceal ourselves until you are ready for us. The ravens will come with us as well.” Kellen smiled down at her, and traced a finger over her cheek as she looked up at him in awe.
“I don’t know what to say. You have no idea what this will mean to her. What it could have meant to me as a child if I’d had someone rescue me.”
“But you rescued yourself, didn’t you, nightbird?”
Raven’s heart split open with love for this impossibly good man, and before she knew it, they were hurtling toward Galway, the wind blowing her hair back, her mission filling her with excitement.
They touched down in the empty alleyway behind the Youth Center, a few birds circling their heads, and Raven slipped from Riker’s back.
“You’ll be safe?” Raven looked up at Kellen, worry on her face.
“Nobody will know we’re here. Go get our girl,” Kellen said, and Raven’s heart filled.
Turning, she raced down the alleyway and around the corner, knowing that the center would be open soon. Typically, a few of the kids would mill about in the area, and if she was lucky, she’d be able to catch Taryn on the street. Sure enough, Raven caught a glimpse of a tangle of blonde hair and a thin flannel jacket in a muted purple that Taryn always wore.
“Pssst. Taryn,” Raven whispered, and Taryn, as attuned to the streets as Raven was, whirled at the sound. Her eyes widened at the sight of Raven, but Raven held a finger to her lips before the girl could say anything. Beckoning with her hand, she ducked around the corner of the building, hoping Taryn would follow. When she did, Raven turned and squatted at Taryn’s feet.
“You came back,” Taryn whispered. The happiness on her face was replaced quickly with suspicion. Raven couldn’t blame her. She was acting odd, and Taryn would pick up on any nuance in her tone. “I didn’t think you would.”
“I promised you, didn’t I? Fringe friends forever.” Raven glanced around, making sure they were still alone. “Listen…”
“Where were you? You’ve been gone, like, a month at least. I didn’t think you were coming back.” Taryn picked at a hole in her jacket, pretending nonchalance.
“I’ve always said that I would come back to you, Taryn. I don’t lie to my friends, do I?”
When Taryn shrugged one shoulder, Raven continued. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me if I tell you. But I canshowyou where I’ve been. The thing is…I have a really, really, big secret. And I want to share it with you.”
“A secret? I like secrets.” Interest bloomed in Taryn’s dirty face.
“I do too. See, sharing a secret means we trust each other. And I’m going to trust you with something really magickal, Taryn. Because I want to also ask you something.” Raven reached out, keeping her hand in the air in front of Taryn, allowing the girl the choice if she wanted to take Raven’s hand or not.
“What is it?” Taryn waited.
“I want you to come with me, Taryn. I want to take you away from all of this and give you the life youshouldbe living.”
Hope bloomed instantly in Taryn’s eyes, but quickly it was shuttered.
