Castle of Illusions (Wicked Kingdoms Book 4)

by Graceley Knox

  "She's perfect." Eryn, standing next to Amren, looks over at me, tears in her eyes. "She's got Dare's eyes."

  Relief swirls through me like a tornado and before I can do more than thank the gods that my little girl is healthy and safe, my body forces me to pay attention to her brother, ready to join us in this world.

  "Siana, he's coming."

  "I know. I'm ready for him. Listen to your body. We've got you." Her voice is calm, her tone soothing, and I lean back into Dare's stomach, his warm scent of earth and dried leaves helping to calm me.

  "Dare, I don't know if I can do this."

  "Yes, you can, love. You can do this. You're strong enough." He presses a kiss to my cheek and I groan, leaning forward again as a contraction hits me, and Ronan demands I focus on him.

  Instead of my vision going white this time, I see stars as my son makes his appearance into the world. Unlike his sister, he cries continuously, until he's placed in my arms.

  I stare down at his perfect little face, his ears pointed like his parents, his eyes just like mine although instead of lilac ringing his deep blue eyes, it's the deepest violet I've ever seen.

  "Dare, where is Raley? Let me see her." I shift Ronan in one arm with Siana's help and Amren places Raley in my other arm. Her eyes are just like Dare's. Candy apple red framing pumpkin orange. Her little nose is upturned, and when she gurgles up at me, my heart melts into a pile of goo.

  "Let's give them a moment with their parents, shall we?" Amren's words register, but I can't look away from my babies.

  "Dare, look at what we made." I whisper the words, unable to move my eyes away from their perfect chubby faces. Tears stream down my cheeks, and every fear of being like my mother, or failing my children, or not being able to protect me floods me alongside a love so deep, I can't put it into words.

  "Aye." His voice is gruff, and I glance up at him. Wonder paints his face in a soft light as his eyes shift from our daughter to our son. He traces a finger down Raley's cheek and she grips his finger in her little fist. He chokes back what I can only imagine is the same love I feel and falls to his knees in front of me. He cups Ronan's head in his other hand and presses a kiss to his dark chestnut-covered head.

  "She has your red hair, mo grá." Dare looks up into my eyes, the sheer love and devotion for me and our children undeniable in his gaze.

  "And she has your eyes." I laugh, the sound watery. "And our son, he's got your hair and nose." I lean forward and kiss Ronan’s soft forehead.

  Dare coos at each of them in turn, both of us completely swept up in the spell they've cast on us. As I watch their little faces, both an equal mix of both of us, I make them a promise.

  If anything harms them, I will obliterate it with brutal destruction.

  Should they cry, I will dry their tears.

  Should they doubt their place in this world, I will shelter them with my love.

  And should anyone attempt to take them from me, I will destroy heaven and earth to keep it from happening.

  Chapter 3

  I don't know how long we are alone with our babies, but at some point, Siana comes in and helps me clean up, crawl into bed with Dare, Raley, and Ronan, and then promises she'll be just outside while we sleep.

  Shouting from outside the door wakes me up, and I listen as Siana tells Teag, the king of the Goblin Kingdom, that he isn’t allowed to wake us up, and he can see the babies later on. She's got more balls than the average man, standing up to the king whose kingdom she'll be staying in for eighteen years to come, and I love her already for it.

  Instead of sleeping again, I spend the next hour staring down at the sleeping faces of my children, wonderment filling my chest until it feels like it's going to burst.

  Ronan pops one eye open and stares up at me, his expression serious as he looks me over.

  "Hate to break it to you, kid, but I'm your mom, and you're stuck with me." I tap the tip of his nose, and he gurgles up at me, kicking his chubby little legs in the air.

  I trace each of his tiny toes, smiling down at him as he wiggles around. At one point, his leg bumps into his sister, and she wakes up, a frown gracing her delicate features. She bumps her leg back at him, and I swear her little mouth forms a smug smirk, but I'm probably delusional from the whole birthing process.

  "Hey, little one." I brush a lock of her fiery red hair from her forehead and she coos up at me. "You two don't know it yet, but I'm new at this mom thing. So don't be too hard on me, okay?"

  As I speak the words aloud, letting my fears out into the open, I pray that whichever of the gods is listening will give me the strength to keep up with these two. Only hours old, and I can tell they're going to give me a run for my money.

  A knock sounds at the door, and I peer over Dare's bulky arm as Siana peeks around the wooden surface. "Everything okay? I heard you speaking, so I wanted to check in on them."

  I wave her over. "Yeah, everything's good. They're going to be trouble, I can tell."

  She chuckles. "Oh, I know they will be. We've already chatted about it."

  Half of me is jealous that she can speak with my children, where I can't, but another part of me is happy for it. There are just some things I'm sure I will not want to know about my children or what they're thinking as they grow older.

  "Don't worry, Ever. As they get older, I have a feeling they'll speak with you as well." Siana wiggles her fingers above them and they reach for her hand with their little fingers outstretched.

  "Yeah?" I ask, unsure that I'm good with them hearing what happens in my head.

  "It's not like what you're thinking. I can tell from the look on your face." She laughs. "It's more like, you'll just know what they need and want. It's a bit more than instinct but less than mind reading."

  "Oh, well, that will be super helpful. No wonder you're so good at this."

  "Yes, it comes in handy. Although, I'm curious to see what abilities these two will share as well as what they'll individually develop."

  "I'm really just hoping they can't throw things with their mind." I giggle at the thought of one of them throwing a shoe at Dare or something. "It would probably bring me endless amusement, though."

  Dare grumbles on the other side of Raley, blinking his eyes open. "How is a man supposed to get any rest with you two chitchatting over here?"

  I raise both eyebrows. "If I am coherent and want to chat after bringing these two into the world, I will damn well do as I please."

  "Of course, mo grá." He traces a finger down my nose to my lips and blows me a kiss.

  "Mmhmm, see, Siana. This is what you have to look forward to." I wink at her.

  "Oh, I'm fully prepared for everything. Just wait until you meet my clan." She looks at the door, almost as though she's seeing through the solid wood. "Speaking of which, I don't know how much longer I can keep everyone at bay from seeing the wee ones. Are you up for visitors?" She looks to Dare. "Your father came earlier, but I told him to go away. He was not impressed with my refusal."

  Dare guffaws. "I'm sure he wasn't, but I appreciate you letting us rest." He stands, placing a pillow on the other side of Raley so she can't roll off the bed. "I'll let him know he can see his grandchildren now."

  "My mother is here as well. She'd like to say hello and meet the twins, if that's all right?"

  I nod. "Yeah, might as well let everyone see them. Although, no one leaves the room with them. I want them in my sight at all times." I don't know where the sudden urge to keep them within my view comes, but I know I need to listen to the instinct.

  "Don't doubt your instincts. I will make sure that we keep them in the room and that guards are at the door."

  "Thank you, Siana."

  "I think the first visitors would be your little beasties, though." Siana walks to the door leading to the nursery and opens it. Both Anarchy and Chaos fly in, chittering and chattering at me, flapping their wings as hard as they can before they land on my side, peering down at their new charges.

  "Ra
ley, Ronan, meet Anarchy and Chaos." They both kick their feet in excitement as both gargoyles sniff at them, their pointed snouts inches from them.

  The door to our room opens, and Dare returns with King Teag and my father, Tore. Both men hustle to the bed and peer over the pillow at the twin smiling faces peering up at them.

  "They're perfect." Tore coos at them, and I watch my father, who I hadn't known growing up, by no fault of his own, fall in love with my children.

  "You both should be proud. They're healthy and very sturdy looking," Teag adds.

  I snort laugh at his appraisal. "Thank you, I think."

  "It's a compliment, I assure you." He smiles down at Ronan as he makes baby noises up at one of his grandfathers. "You will both be fine warriors, I'm sure."

  The thought of either of my children following in Dare's and mine footsteps sends a pang of panic through me as I imagine it. I would shield them from any harm or pain. I know, rationally, they will both learn to defend themselves, but I hope they never have to fight for their lives as I have. I hope they never know what it's like to defend their friends and family, unless it's from a gang of gargoyles causing mischief.

  "Don't worry, my love. I'm sure they will be the most protected children in all of the realms."

  "You aren't kidding." Kirin mutters from the doorway. "Can we come in now so we can see our niece and nephew?"

  I wave him in, and Axel, Dax, Dagan, and everyone else, files in behind them. It's a blur of happy laughs, silly faces at the babies, threats of harming anyone that would hurt them, and sheer unabashed love as our friends and family join us in welcoming them into the world.

  Axel picks Raley up, and she blinks up at him, grabbing at the empty knife sheath at his chest. He chuckles and lets her grab his finger instead. "Ev, I think she's going to be one to like the knives." He looks down at her and rocks her back and forth. "Don't worry. Uncle Axel will teach you how to master any blade you touch, little one."

  I shake my head, amazed at the power these tiny beings have to render hardened warriors into piles of mush.

  Eryn leans over Axel's shoulder and peers down at Raley's round face. "No, he will not teach you any of that until you’re much older. I think you will learn all about things little ladies should know first."

  "Pssh, don't listen to your Auntie Eryn. She's being silly." Axel tickles Raley's belly and she giggles, making everyone smile.

  Kirin holds Ronan in his arms as the little guy kicks and wiggles. "I think you'll be one of the finest warriors we've ever seen, little man." He smooths his hair down and grins at him. "Just wait until your Uncle Doyle is here. We'll teach you all the things you need to know to best any foe."

  His words both sadden me and bring me hope that Doyle will wake up from his strange coma and join us again. I wish that he could have been here to welcome the babies into the world with us, but I know he's in good hands with Amren and his son, Brodie. Even if Queen Mab's concoction helped reverse the effects of the poison, he’s still not showing any signs of coming back to us any time soon.

  "I think they need to meet their Uncle Doyle, actually, Kirin. That's a good idea." I push myself up from the bed, getting my feet under me with Dare's help as he moves to my side.

  Siana claps her hands and ushers all the extra onlookers and people out of the room, telling them to let us do our thing and that they can ooh and awe over the twins later. She'd said it nicer than I ever would.

  Anarchy and Chaos each land on one of my shoulders, nudging me with their snouts, and I trace a finger down their stony backs. Even though Doyle isn't getting worse, he still hasn't woken from his sleeping beauty rest, despite every curse and insult I've thrown at him in an attempt to wake him.

  Queen Mab of the Winter Court had given us an antidote, or so she'd claimed, after I'd promised her a future favor. I'd do anything to save any one of my crew. They're my family, even without the blood connection. She'd refused to get specific on the favor, which had annoyed me to no end, as owing someone a carte blanche favor, specially a Fae someone, is like selling your soul to the devil. Or so I've heard.

  Our pack of misfits hustle down the hallways to Amren's study in the library where Doyle has been since Cashel's knife poisoned him.

  Dare pulls out a chair for me, helping me sit by Doyle, and the rest of our crew circles around him, Eryn holding Ronan and Axel depositing Raley's wiggling frame into my arms.

  "Ronan, Raley, meet your Uncle Doyle." I smile at my best friend, his broad shoulders taking up most of the bed and his dark hair shining in the soft lights Amren prefers.

  "Did you hear me, D? You're an uncle now. So wake up already and greet the little monsters." Dare's hand grips my shoulder as my throat catches on the end of my sentence. I bite my lip, trying to keep my tears of frustration at bay.

  I'm sure the babies won't like it if I start sobbing, so I reach deep into my soul and wrap a cloak of strength around me. We'll get through this. And he'll open his gods-damned eyes and laugh at me one day, and then demand to see his niece and nephew. I just know it.

  Raley gurgles, swinging her arms around, and I lean forward, letting her see her uncle. "Do you like Uncle Doyle, baby girl?" I ask, kissing the side of her head.

  She flings her arm out, and her tiny palm slaps Doyle's bicep. A pulse of magic booms through the room like a bomb going off, and I sit back, shocked, staring at my infant in wonderment.

  "What the hell was that?" I ask no one in particular. I look around, the dropped jaws and wide eyes not giving me any answers. "Anyone? Dare? Siana? Amren?"

  "I do believe your daughter is quite powerful." Siana steps forward, looking between Raley and Doyle. "Do you mind if I touch Doyle?"

  "So long as you don't get frisky, be my guest." I shrug. What could it hurt? If that wave of magic didn't jolt him awake, gods only know what it's going to take. Maybe a sacrifice? Perhaps my third born?

  Siana lays both hands on Doyle's chest, her palms flat and she breathes in deep. Her dark lashes touch her cheeks as she closes her eyes, and she hums.

  "What is it?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of my patience.

  "Well, I do believe Doyle will be joining us soon." She opens her eyes and smiles at me.

  I stand up. "Are you sure? Don't fuck with me here. We've tried just about everything other than selling our children and souls."

  "Raley is going to be one of the best healers we've ever seen, it would appear." Siana grins down at the wiggling girl in my arms, tickling under her chin. "You're just full of surprises aren't you, little girl?"

  I look over my shoulder at Dare, unsure how I feel about this. If she's going to be a renowned healer, won't that put her in more danger? Other than the fact that she's my daughter and technically heir to both the Goblin Kingdom and the Light Elven Kingdom? Well if I accept that last bit. I still haven't decided.

  I rub at my forehead after Siana takes Raley out of my arms and blow out a breath. "What does this mean for her? I think there's already enough attention on the both of them."

  "You're right, mo grá." Dare scratches at the scruff on his chin. "This incident doesn't leave this room. It's need-to-know only. The last thing we need is the Order telling everyone she'll heal all their sick and dying. The extent of their numbers is still unknown to us."

  "They won't get anywhere near her," Axel says and Kirin nods, peering down at Ronan in Eryn's arms.

  "So what about you, little man? Going to wow us with some magic? Or are you going to let your sister get all the attention?" Kirin rubs his thumb over Ronan's head before he jumps back with a shout.

  "What happened?" I ask, moving to take Ronan from Eryn. "Are you okay, Kirin?"

  He nods, his Adams apple bobbing in his throat. "Ev. I know what his gift is."

  "Care to share?" I snap, rocking Ronan back and forth.

  "He sees the future. Like all of it. Not just bits and pieces."

  "And what did he show you?" I wave my hand in a circle. "Spit it out, Kirin."


  "We've got to cut this little visit short, find Kiara and Brigid, and ready for an attack." He claps a hand on Axel's shoulder. "I don't know how they found out, but the Order is on their way, and they're packing heavy heat."

  I glance around the room. "How the fuck did they find out so quickly?"

  "They might have heard you cursing Dare for miles, Ev. It's not like you were shy about yelling at him."

  "I'm serious. The only way they would know is if they've got someone on the inside. And if that's the case, we're going mole hunting."

  Teag clears his throat from the doorway and steps forward, his hand raised. "I think this is where I step in."

  I raise a brow. "Do you know who it could be, Teag?"

  "Remember when we first spoke about you living in Goblin? And I said I thought I had a mole problem?"

  I squint my eyes. "Vaguely."

  "Well, I'm pretty sure that us sealing off the hidden tunnels slowed them down and made it more difficult for them to get messages out to our enemies."

  "Can anyone get to the point quickly around here?" I ask, fear clogging my throat. I thought I'd have more time with my babies before danger came knocking on our door.

  "We will protect them, Ever. You know that I won't let them touch one hair on their heads." Dare kisses the top of my head, wrapping his arm around me. "Your head either."

  I lean into him, soaking up his assurance that we'll be okay. "So you think that this mole wasn't just talking to other kingdoms, but the Order, trying to get rid of all the people you've taken in over the years, then?"

  Teag nods. "I believe so, yes. I'm the only ruler that has allowed such a varied group of—let's use your term—misfits, into my kingdom."

  "And the Order is bent on irradiating any non-pure-blooded Fae or species." Like honestly, how the hell could any of them truly say that they're pure pixie, goblin, or elf? Somewhere down the millennia that the Fae have been around, I'd bet Grandma got frisky with someone not of her race. It's bound to happen when your dating pool is limited to those only with the same longevity of ours.”