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Prologue — Azure
22yearsago…
I trek through the forest angrily. It was one year ago today that our mate died. One year since the day that should have been a joyous occasion, turned into our personal hell.
For a moment, everything was perfect. We were stationed around our mate Demi, whispering quiet words of support as she strained to give birth to our little one. Then she fell unconscious. Suddenly, healers came pouring into the little room as blood stained the sheets around her. Our beautiful mate Demi died in labour and our sweet little baby girl didn’t make it either. No amount of modern medicine or magic could save them.
A sad smile touches my lips as I think back, remembering the day we found out that she was pregnant like it was yesterday. We were all so excited. Tears fill my eyes and I speed up my pace, my blood pounding in my ears as the cold late autumn wind whips against my skin. Bitterness has my stomach clenching with the urge to lash out. I let my shadow magic surround me and it curls out, brushing against the gnarled dead trees and ghostly figures that reside in our forest.Téras Forest.
I don’t stop until I reach the bridge. Slowing to a walk, I make my way to the middle. It’s a beautiful spot that overlooks a river. Bracing my elbows on the stone wall, I watch the inky water in silence and for a few minutes I just breathe, trying to calm my erratic pulse. My heart rate is just starting to calm when my shadows stretch to the right, tugging at me. Furrowing my brows and having nothing better to do, I follow them. Their wispy strands create a dark pathway for me. I allow it to lead me to the other side of the bridge, before veering off to the left of the main path. That’s when I hear it—a baby crying.
Anxiety pulses in my chest, and I tear off in search of the source that’s making the desperate sound.What the hell is a baby doing in the middle of the forest?My nostrils flare as I scent the air to sense whether there are other people in the area.Is it alone?The path is overgrown and is directly beside the river, the water gently lapping at the edge of the path. I slow down when the baby's pitiful cries grow louder and the stench of death assaults my nose. Brushing through a particularly thick bush, my steps halt and fury curls low in my gut at the sight that greets me.
On a small patch of grass lies a baby who can’t be more than a few months old. His or her lips are blue and they are visibly shaking. Their tiny body is clothed in a well-worn t-shirt and a pair of shorts, which provide very little barrier between them and the frigid night air. A blanket lies off to the side, like it’s been dropped haphazardly and I quickly tuck it around her. Not far from here I can scent a dead body. From what I can tell they have been deceased for at least six hours, but I don’t have time to examine it properly right now.
I reach for the baby quickly, scooping them up into my arms. “Hello little one. You’re okay now, I’ve got you. My brothers and I will keep you safe and get you all warmed up.” The infant’s cries cut off the moment it is against my chest and large teary eyes blink open, freezing me in place as their golden orbs clash with mine. “Yes,” I murmur. “We’re going to look after you, sweetheart.”
I hold the small bundle in my arms carefully, using my magic to keep them steady as I race through the forest towards home. We’re only weeks away from winter fully setting in, so going off the vague timeline I have of that person’s death, if this had happened in a few weeks time, this little one would have frozen to death before I got to them. I cradle them closer, letting out a sigh of relief when the house comes into view. Barreling through the front door, I call out for the others, “Morrigan! Diarmuid!”
Not stopping, I climb the stairs, throwing open the door to what would have been our daughter's nursery—which is untouched—without thought, my soul focus on the hypothermic baby that’s in my arms. Working quickly, I strip off my shirt and remove the baby's blanket. Their stained t-shirt and shorts are removed next, and leaving their soiled nappy on for now, I press their freezing body to my chest. Skin to skin contact is the best way to warm them up. In the background I hear my brothers Diarmuid and Morrigan breathing raggedly. I turn to find them standing in the doorway with tears glimmering in their eyes as they take in the baby in my arms. After a moment they leap into action. Diarmuid strips the stale sheets on the cot, replacing them with fresh ones and Morrigan leaves the room, returning with an unopened bag of nappies.
I sigh in relief when the baby starts to tremble. That’s a good sign, their body has kickstarted and is working to warm itself up. Every now and then they let out a little hiccup or small sound, but they’ve otherwise been quiet. Shifting them in my arms, I keep them pressed to my chest, wrapping a blanket around their shoulders as I look them over. The baby is filthy and damp, though, completely silent, with those golden orbs flicking between us. They seem more lucid now. Glancing at Diarmuid I ask, “Can you please run a bath?”
He nods, reaching for the baby tub we have resting against the cot. I continue, “Take the thermometer that’s in the third draw of the changing table and make sure the water is at body temperature. We need to regulate their body heat.”
Diarmuid silently does as I ask, both of my brothers yet to speak, seemingly in shock. After the baby's skin begins to warm against mine, I carefully place them down on the changing table, stripping off their nappy and disposing of it. She’s a little girl. Though filthy, she doesn’t have any visible wounds and doesn’t appear to be malnourished.Thank the Goddess. I clean her up as best as I can with baby wipes before pressing her to my chest again and heading for the bathroom.
Morrigan has organised everything, including having turned on the overhead heating lights and he holds out his hands to take her. Ignoring the slight tremor in his hands, I gently place her in his arms, mindful to support her head. I smile at the picture they make as Morrigan lowers her into the water carefully. “She’s precious,” he murmurs.She fusses for a few minutes as she adjusts, but quiets again when Morrigan speaks to her softly.
I nod grimly. “Yes she is. I found her abandoned in the forest, by the river.”
Diarmuid’s eyes glow green as his face whips toward me with a snarl from where he’s leaning against the bathroom door frame. “You found her where? I’m going to kill whoever did this.”
A small evil grin twists my lips, “And I’ll help.”
My expression sours for a moment. “I could smell someone’s body, the kill was fairly recent. I didn’t get a chance to check it out properly because I was worried about this little one.”
His face turns sombre. “We’ll have to go back later.”
I nod and we both fall silent. Once she’s clean, Morrigan dries off the baby, paying special attention to make sure her hair is properly dry. Then he passes her to Diarmuid who leaves with her, presumably to put a nappy on. I move to follow, but Morrigan places a hand on my shoulder. Meeting my eyes he says seriously, “Azure, you need to shower and sit down. We’ve got this.” I’m about to argue, but I look down at myself and realise he’s right. I’m coated in sweat and mud. With a slight scowl I lightly shove him out of the bathroom.
“Fine,” I respond, shutting the door in his face. I hear his light chuckle as I strip, then shower quickly.
***************
Freshly showered, I rush to the nursery and sigh in relief when I find Diarmuid sitting in a chair with the baby pressed to his bare chest. Her shivering seems to have almost stopped and her lips and cheeks have a healthy pink hue to them. The awful blue tinge is now gone, and sleepy gold eyes blink lazily as they move around the room, taking everything in. I move into the room slowly as a million questions and thoughts race through my mind, but one stands out the most.What are we going to do?I scan my brother's faces. We are brothers by choice not by blood, brought together by Demi but still a family even though she’s gone. I’m eternally grateful to still have them with me and I have no idea what I’d do without them. Clearing my throat, I speak up and voice my thoughts, “What are we going to do?”
Both of their attention snaps to me and Diarmuid’s arms tighten around the baby slightly. When neither of them speak, I wait them out. Diarmuid breaks first, he’s always been the most driven by his heart out of the three of us. “We can’t take her back, they could hurt her again,” he all but snarls. I look at Morrigan, not responding.
He has a dark expression on his face and he states firmly, “She’s not leaving, she’s staying with us. Where she will be safe and never want for anything.” He grits his jaw and sits up straighter like he’s expecting me to object to his words, but instead I sag back into my chair in relief.
“Then we’re all in agreement, she stays.” Even though it wasn’t a question, both of them nod firmly in response.
Morrigan says, “If she’s staying with us then she needs a name.”
A smile curls Diarmuid’s lips as he whispers, “Nessa, her name is Nessa.”Nessa, I roll the name around in my mind for a few seconds before nodding with a grin.
Looking at Morrigan who is nodding, I agree, “Yeah, Nessa sounds perfect.”
