by Amy Sumida
“They're unbalanced,” Teharon murmured with his eyes shut. “Their magic... it's broken. Or... something is... empty. I can't—I don't know how to fix this.”
“Your star, Vervain!” Horus shouted. “It saved my daughter; it can save your children too.”
I closed my eyes and sought the Trinity Star. Its light brightened and shone through me but it only seemed to make things worse. My stomach bulged with the flailing of my sons, and I shrieked again. I called the starlight back desperately but the pain didn't stop. Blood and water flowed out of me, between my legs. Men shouted and hands reached for me but all I saw was him—Azrael. I stared at him and wept. My nightmare was coming true; we were losing our boys.
“No!” Azrael shouted, his wings bursting open as he threw his head back to roar at the sky.
Points of light sparked across his dark wings and Azrael's body thickened. Claws popped from his fingertips and antlers sprouted from his head. The antlers gleamed gold. Azrael lowered his head, bent over me, and set his clawed hands to my belly. His stare met mine and blazed green.
“Azrael!” I cried. “No, baby. Please.”
“Trust me,” his resonant voice urged.
I nodded even as I continued to sob.
Azrael's hands glowed white. He pushed that pure light into my belly and the thrashing bodies inside me stilled. My star burst to life again, but I begged it to wait—to let Azrael try. The starlight didn't listen; its silvery glow swept through my body, protecting me from the invading magic... but it held back from my womb.
White light filled the empty patches that my star had left in the little bodies of my unborn sons when it had cleansed me of the fey magic. I had changed back to what I was, but they had been conceived in pure magic and had nothing to go back to. I wasn't given a choice with their souls as I had been with my other children. Or if I had, I had been too lost to the fey magic to make it. They had received pure fey essence along with god magic and it had helped to shape them—to speed their growth and form their cells. When the fey magic was taken from them—half of what they were—they started to die. They couldn't heal themselves with my fey essence; it was one element when they needed all. They needed their father.
Azrael became the Faerie God again to save our sons. He accepted the magic so he could send it into them and piece them back together with the power of a true god. I sobbed, my hand going to his cheek as he gave up all that he was for our children.
My belly tightened suddenly and Azrael jerked back, falling onto an elbow. I screamed as pain rocketed through me once more but then it ebbed and I knew that my sons were whole again. But wholly what? And what was my husband? I sobbed anew. Azrael slid beneath me, easing me onto his lap to cradle me. His lips brushed my cheeks, kissing away my tears.
“Don't cry, Carus. I'm here. It's still me; I swear it. You haven't lost me.”
I looked up and watched in shock as the golden antlers retracted. The blazing green of Azrael's stare softened to pale blue and the script on his cheek flashed to life.
“Az?” I whispered.
“I only took a little.” He smiled at me. “I think I can control it now that I know it so intimately. I'm fine, Carus. Focus on our boys. It's time to meet them.”
“Az,” I groaned in relief. Then I screamed, “Azrael!”
“Breathe, Vervain,” Teharon coached gently. He was between my legs, my shadow gown lifted around my waist. Oddly enough, though the magic had left my body, the element hadn't left my skin. Teharon placed his palm gently over me and pulsed warmth into my stretching skin. “I've got them. I just need one moment to prepare you.”
“I can't wait one moment!” I screeched.
A strong hand slipped into mine and I looked up into Viper's snake eyes.
“You can do this, Starlight,” Viper said firmly. “Just hold on.”
Viper's star magic seeped into me again and spoke to my star. Their light and strength filled me. I gnashed my teeth against the pain and the overwhelming urge to push as I looked around me. My husbands were kneeling in the grass, their hands upon me as if in benediction and their eyes full of love. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, my gaze roaming every face before settling on Azrael's again.
“That's it, Carus,” Azrael said, his voice once more his own. “Just breathe.”
“Now, Vervain,” Teharon urged. “Push!”
I clamped my jaw shut but my screams came through anyway. My body bent forward with the strain of labor. Azrael supported my back and sent his comforting magic into me. I snarled through the pain and just as my son started to emerge, it receded. Teharon's magic seeped up my belly even as he eased my son out of me. A twist of his fingers and the umbilical cord was severed and healed, then he passed the baby to Azrael.
My frantic gaze followed the tiny form—so very tiny—as my husband took it in one hand and gently swept another over our son. Water gathered beneath his palm to rinse the silent baby free of blood and fluids, showing off his freshly healed belly button and his fully-formed body. All fingers and toes were present and accounted for. But as soon as the water touched him, our son opened his eyes and shrieked in protest. A pair of tiny, dark wings unfurled from his back and flapped weakly as the crowd around us cheered.
“Hey!” I snarled. “You Demons better not be watching me give birth!”
Everyone who wasn't my husband or a god of healing backed up.
“Vervain.” Teharon grinned widely as he held up another little boy.
Viper helped me sit up higher against Azrael and I reached eagerly for my son. He was the size of my palm and utterly still. His little face was scowling and covered in blood. Azrael washed him clean as he had his brother but still, the baby refused to open his eyes or cry. I gathered him against my chest as his brother continued to wail, and stroked the thatch of dark hair on his head, knowing exactly who I held. I wept in joy and relief as midnight wings shivered into existence beneath my son. I stroked their sleek feathers and bent down to kiss his forehead. When I lifted my head, a pair of brilliant green eyes were staring up at me.
I gasped. Not because I was shocked by their color—which exactly matched the eyes of the Faerie God—but because they were the perfect shade. The correct shade. I had met our sons in another future and in that future, they both had green eyes—this exact shade of green. I had never wondered where that color had come from—green is said to be a mutation—but now, I knew. Maybe the Ring of Remembrance had been right. Maybe this was why my star had failed to act immediately. These boys had never been meant to be born as gods. At least, not only as gods.
Dominic blinked his fey green eyes at me and smiled.
Chapter Fifty-Three
My sons were born premature but not as premature as I'd thought. Over two months had passed since Azrael and I had become the Faerie God and Goddess. That doesn't sound like nearly enough time for babies to grow but when you add their god magic to the wild faerie magic, it speeds things up a bit. In addition to that, Azrael had pushed even more power into them when he healed them, forcing their little bodies to grow until they were able to survive outside of the womb.
I was worried about Azrael, despite his little show of control, but then he tucked our sons into my arms and lifted me in his.
Az looked at our family and friends and said, “Let's go home.”
Just like that, the Faerie God abandoned his citadel and I knew I had my husband back.
Cries of “Mama!” welcomed me home and I started sobbing again, thinking of how I'd left my children to join the faerie freak show. But children are resilient creatures and they had been through worse with me than a couple of months of separation. I suppose that shouldn't have made me feel better but it did. Plus, they hadn't been alone; they'd had the rest of our huge family to look after them. And one of them knew for certain that I'd be back. Brevyn had kept the other kids, and even some of the adults, from panicking.
When Azrael set me on my feet and I crouched down to show my children t
heir new brothers, they gathered around us with excitement and affection, stroking the boys' feathers and faces gently.
After they were swaddled and fed, the newborns were passed around the crowd that had gathered at Pride Palace. Sebastian had settled into a sleepy-eyed calm like his brother and the little Angel-Faeries stared up at Demons who cooed and coddled the new Princes of Hell with nearly ridiculous amounts of joy. And yes, Dominic and Sebastian were considered princes, even though they were a son of a prince because they were technically in line for the throne of Hell. Also, because Lucifer said so.
Holly, who had been waiting at Pride Palace for Luke and Azrael to return, wept blissfully as she held her grandchildren for the first time. She had hoped to get her husband back in one piece and her son back as himself but in addition to that, she got two babies. She couldn't have been happier. Lucifer was beyond pleased as well, having saved his son and witnessed the birth of his grandsons in a single day.
My mother, who was still ensconced at the palace with my siblings, her husband, and her kitties, got to hold her new grandsons too and spent a lot of time marveling at their little wings. My stepfather couldn't stop gawking at the Demons and I thought he was going to have a breakdown when they passed around the babies, but he got through it with the help of a stiff drink and my mom's assurances that Demons were just like other gods. I don't know what he was so bothered by, all of them had shifted into their normal forms, which meant that they looked pretty much human. But I suppose the word demon is disturbing all on its own.
“He's so tiny,” Persephone whispered as she held Dominic. “But still, those wings.” She looked up at me. “How did you manage to get them out of you?”
“The wings didn't appear until after they were born.” I shrugged. “But I don't think it would have made a difference; I was in so much pain that I wouldn't have noticed a little more.”
Persephone paled.
“But I'm sure you won't have to experience that,” I reassured her. “It was a unique situation. And once Teharon's magic took effect, I was fine.”
“Oh, okay,” she said in relief.
“Who cares about the pain?” Hekate nuzzled Sebastian's forehead. “Pain is fleeting. Just a physical sensation. These little guys are worth every agony in the world.”
“The world,” I whispered and looked over at my men.
“Yes.” Odin sighed. “It's rather fu...” his eyes landed on Lesya and he adjusted his speech appropriately, “messed up right now.”
“I don't suppose your star would help?” Viper asked me.
“I can give it another try.” I closed my eyes and reached within. The star glinted at me as if winking, then went dark. I blinked my eyes open without much surprise. The birth of my sons had cemented a notion in my mind—that all of this was indeed fated. “I think it's time for humans to get to know the Fey again.”
“That may be true, but things cannot remain as they are,” a voice came from the doorway.
We were sitting outside on the veranda/drawbridge, my family and closest friends gathered around me—including my human friends who had also moved in during the whole Faerie fiasco (Cowboy Cop too). The older children were on the lawn before us, playing in their miniature castle, and the Demons were hanging out with my Intare and Imps, grilling meat, swimming, and drinking Hellbrew to celebrate getting three princes back for the price of one.
“High King. High Queen.” Arach got to his feet and went to greet Cian and Meara. “What are you doing here?”
“I fetched them,” Lugh said as he stepped out beside his father and stepmother. “I told them what happened with Azrael.” Lugh spared a smile for me. “And about the birth of the twins. Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Azrael said for both of us.
I added, “Can someone get the High King and Queen some chairs and drinks?”
Arach went to fetch a couple of chairs from inside the palace and Kirill went with him to get the beverages.
“I would love to try a cup of coffee, if you have it,” Cian said to Kirill as he passed.
“Wine for me, if you please,” Meara added.
“Da, no problem.” Kirill nodded.
“I've always wanted to try coffee.” Cian grinned at us.
“Lots of cream and sugar!” I called after Kirill.
Arach brought out the chairs and the High King of Faerie took a seat but the High Queen was already on her way over to inspect the babies.
“Oh, how beautiful,” Meara whispered as she stroked Sebastian's face. “They really are a blend of fey and god.”
“Completely both, I suspect,” I said. “Though I can't be certain, what with being out of my bloomin' mind for most of my pregnancy.”
“Here, I'd better hand him over before you snatch him away,” Hekate joked and held the baby up to Meara.
“Thank you.” Meara slid her hands around Sebastian slowly, careful to not scratch him with her long, Leanan-Sidhe nails. “He's the size of an Imp baby. So tiny.”
At her declaration, the Imps—scattered across the lawn—cheered and then bowed to the High Queen as if she'd given them the greatest compliment. Damn good hearing, those Imps. The High Queen nodded regally at the little Fire-Faeries.
“Meara, my love,” King Cian said indulgently, “bring the child here and sit down. There is much to discuss.” Then Kirill handed him a cup of coffee and he brightened. “Oh! Thank you so much.”
“You're velcome.” Kirill presented Queen Meara with a glass of Duat wine after she settled herself beside her husband, Sebastian cradled in one arm. “High Queen.”
“Thank you, Kirill.” Meara took the glass absently, most of her attention on my son.
“Oh, my. This is good,” Cian declared of the coffee. “It's almost like a dessert.”
Kirill winked at me.
“Father,” Lugh said in a prompting tone as he slid an arm around Isleen, who had got up from her seat to stand beside him.
“Ah, yes.” Cian cleared his throat. “I can see, just by looking at you, Azrael, that you are still in possession of fey magic.”
“Not as much as I held before,” Azrael said. “But yes, I still have it.”
“Good.” Cian nodded. “I assume it's enough to connect with the well you created?”
Azrael frowned. “I suppose so. Certain bonds were forged. But I'm not certain. We left immediately after the birth of my sons.” Azrael's lips twitched up after he said the word “sons” and his gaze coasted around the group to the boys.
“I want you to return to the well, Faerie God,” Cian said sternly.
“What?” I snarled as I straightened in my seat.
“I am no longer that man,” Azrael said firmly.
“You will always be the Faerie God in the eyes of the humans,” Cian said sternly. “Because of that, it must be you who holds the castle and protects the rath.”
“What?” Azrael gaped at Cian.
“I will send faeries to help you,” Cian went on. “You will not need to be in residence constantly, but I want you to continue to be our intermediary with the humans. You have spoken well, if a little harshly at times, and they have established a rapport with you. That will be useful in the days to come.”
“Days to come?” Azrael frowned.
“Az, if you still have power over the well, maybe you could pull back the magic,” I said in epiphany.
Azrael blinked, then looked at Cian. “Could I remove the magic from Earth?”
“No,” Cian said gravely. “The creation of the Elemental Well has made that impossible. The magic is bound to the well and the Human Realm now.”
“The well,” I whispered. “Oh, my goodness... King Ruari and Queen Bronagh! They're stone!”
Sebastian whined in protest and Meara cooed at him.
“Yes,” Cian said soberly. “They are a great loss to Faerie, but we must focus on what we can change and move forward. I've considered what my son said when all of this began. He's right. You've
proved it, Azrael. The way to deal with this is through action and finesse. The humans must be helped to see that we are not their enemies. You scared them and fought them while the magic altered their world. You've established that we are the stronger race. But now, you can show mercy and pull back the magic to the area around the rath. Make it a... fey outpost or whatever you wish to call it.”
“An embassy,” I murmured and looked at Az. “It's what you were trying to do originally, just on a smaller scale. Or what the Faerie God was trying to do. His ideas weren't bad, just extreme.”
Azrael nodded thoughtfully. “It sounds like a lot of work, High King, and I retired so that I could be with my family. Now, I have even more family to be with and I don't want to miss a minute of their lives.”