by Janie Marie
“He didn’t kill him,” he said, bummed. “Daddy Ryder showed up. He’d been with Mama and Wendy at the cabin he built for Mama. It’s where they hid the stories,” he added with a whisper.
Kylie nodded, trying to keep up with him. It seemed Little Luc even switched between what life he was in.
“Mama tried to stop Daddy. Wendy was crying because Sissy was crying. I just wanted Daddy to kill that butthole.”
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t so cute. More like an adorable little assassin.
“Daddy said he was trying to steal Sissy’s virginity. I don’t know what that is, but it seemed important, and Daddy David was mad. So he was in big trouble. King Daddy, that’s what my dad told us to call him, never really got mad unless it was something with Mama, but he got really mad when he heard about Sissy’s virginity.”
Kylie had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.
“He became him,” he whispered, pointing to Ryder who lightly patted his baby’s back while scowling at David.
Kylie frowned, unsure what she should make out of Ryder becoming himself. “Brooding?”
The elder Godson was the one who chuckled. “He means he became what my little brother is—Death himself.”
Her eyes widened. “Say what?”
Luc gestured to his other brothers. “Four brothers, an archer in white. A warrior of red. Savaş is war in Turkish.” He chuckled, continuing, “Third, a deliverer of hunger in black. She loved when he spoke Italian, but she didn’t like the Italian translation for Famine, nor did she like the translation for third. She liked Tercero, which is third in Spanish. Part of her heritage, most likely.” An amused gleam lit his eye. “And finally, their leader, the fourth horseman who forces one to face every truth of their life—Death, the rider of the pale horse. Sorrow.” He smirked at her. “Did you really think Lucifer was the only son of God you were in the presence of?”
She gaped at him, then Ryder. “Holy moly.”
Little Luc smiled proudly at Ryder. “King Daddy showed that boy who he was—’cause he always hides who he is to keep humans safe, but when he becomes him, he scares everyone.”
“So how is that your favorite memory?” she whispered as her mind exploded with everything she’d overlooked all these years. Ryder had always told her she had no idea who they were. That he always saw the truth when it was time. No one escaped him. He was truth.
Little Luc gave her a big smile. “That was the first time King Daddy called Sissy his daughter. He called me, Jason, and Nathan his sons too. That was my happiest memory with my family. When we really became one. Daddy David always told us Nathan and Natalie had a daddy in the stars. We talked to him at night when they came out. His name was Jason, too.” He pointed at Logan. “His star is Mizar. We became a family under Mama’s stars. And it was all because that boy tried to steal Sissy’s virginity. Good thing she didn’t lose it sooner.”
Kylie nodded, still trying to process Ryder was Death and his brothers were the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but she couldn’t miss the truth of what Little Luc had told her. They had been a family.
Little Luc touched Natalie’s cheek. “Daddy David says this was really for her. She missed her real dad. Mama made a world for them to be together for real. That’s why my daddies helped Mama write her stories. So my sisters are never alone.”
Kylie hugged him. “Your mama and daddies were the best parents.” She kissed his head before letting him go. “You know, I know they don’t have your blood anymore, but if your mama and daddies are okay with it, you can call Natalie Sissy. And Nathan, your brother. Just now you’ll be the big brother.”
The elder Luc turned his head to stare at her, but he said nothing.
Little Luc smiled, touching her cheek. “You smile like Mama now.”
“Do I?” She felt her lips trembling as she tried to keep smiling.
“You glow when you’re with her—when you’re being silly together. And when you both dance around Maura.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “It’s pretty. Mama usually only glows with my daddies or my sisters. It’s nice she glows for herself.”
Her mouth went dry. “Do you think your Mama misses the twins?”
He nodded. “She cries with my daddies and Uncle Luc.”
Kylie kissed his forehead. “She has no reason to cry.”
“That’s what I told her.” He leaned away to play with Nathan again. “They’re right here with their real dad now. That’s why we came.”
She settled back, hugging Natalie. “Yes, I suppose I understand that now.” Logan peeked over at her, winking before focusing on Janie again. He appeared to be arguing with David on what stretch was best for Janie while she did little twirls around Ryder. It reminded Kylie of her vision of the gold flame dancing for the Angel of Death, and how Ryder had told her long ago that he couldn’t wait for the day she’d glow for them. “We’ll talk to her when she’s finished, okay? In our hearts, she’ll be their first mama.”
Little Luc nodded. “She was right—you’re a good mama, too.”
Her whole being warmed as she looked between the twins. “I’ll try to be. But I’ll always remember they had a great mama before me—that her sacrifices gave me this chance.”
“Two daddies is fun. They’ll like having two mamas.” He went back to playing with Nathan.
She rubbed under her eyes to keep from crying. Luc’s stare could be felt on her head, so she gave him her attention. “Is this what she’d want?”
“I believe this is something she never expected to be offered.” He rubbed his wrist, a faint smile on his lips. “Always expecting the worst outcome is her style.”
Kylie chuckled, rocking Natalie when she fussed. “I thought you liked her style.”
“She does make life and death exciting.” He dropped his gaze to Natalie. “The question you should ask is whether this is what you want? Do not worry about others, as she must.”
“I think I do,” she said with complete honesty.
“Then choose your new path. Just promise you will never give up on Natalie. She’s a challenging child, but she has a heart as big and as beautiful as Jane’s. That means they feel so much, and they often won’t know how to tell you when those feelings are out of control. Natalie will get angry when you try to help. Very much like you, she’ll want everything about her and not grasp you must be open to the outside world and understanding others’ feelings. And you must understand your painful life and experiences were merely preparing you to guide not just her, but others you inspire. Just always remind Natalie this was for her.”
“How come all this time Logan was told it was for him? For me?”
He smiled. “My queen’s mind rarely rests. Each moment, it’s for each of you, but we take turns seeing which part she created for you, thus it becomes yours, Logan’s, Natalie’s, and so on. It was always to give her children the best, though because Jane never believed she was enough.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yes. Would you like to hear a secret about what really sparked the idea of creating a world?”
Kylie couldn’t believe he would share something so important. “If it’s okay, yes.”
“One night, during the great war, Natalie revealed she did not believe her mother loved her. So much had happened immediately prior to this, and Jane was always emotional, but this, this hit her hard. Worse, Natalie screamed she’d rather Jane be dead than her father, who they had lost some time earlier.”
Kylie gasped.
Luc didn’t react to her shock. “Jane had the fate of the world on her shoulders. She struggled to come to terms with her failure that resulted in not just the death of innocents, but losing a husband and her own humanity. She had to be so much for all of them, and her daughter’s words brought her to her knees. Luckily, my queen found strength in darkness, and she created her own light when she stood again.”
Her breath hitched. “Natalie really said that? That she’d rather have her father back than h
er own mother?”
“Silly girls they are.” He chuckled, turning forward again. “But, yes. When you make one wrong move, say one wrong thing, they think the absolute worst. Natalie simply couldn’t comprehend her mother’s attempts to protect her, so she felt neglected.” He gave her a pointed look. “Not as bad as your situation, but still. When your mother is trying to save the world, and she leaves you to save you from monsters, including herself, the greatest monster of them all, you get confused.”
Kylie smoothed down Natalie’s blond curls. It was almost like everything had prepared her for being Natalie’s mother. “Did she have curly hair there?”
“Yes, but brown.”
“Will Janie ever forgive my soul?” She didn’t expect herself to even ask that, but she had to know something.
“She already did.” He chuckled, tucking his sleeve down. “Again, her style.”
“Far too forgiving,” came a voice she hadn’t heard in some time. Than Messor strolled up beside Luc. Damon King approached as well, taking Luc’s other side.
“Yes,” Luc agreed.
“Have you been studying, Mrs. Grimm?” Damon asked her.
“You mean the fairy tales or all the baby books you gave me?” They’d given her and Logan a valuable set of fairy tale books, the ones that had been in the Grimm collection for years, but they’d also given her every new mom book the bookstore offered.
He nodded. “The fairy tales, of course. We do agree you must be in the dark on your own story, but you will be ready when the time comes, if you get familiar with their tales.”
“Well, I learned the king and queen had right-hand men who did anything for those they were loyal to.” She started digging through her bag to get a pacifier. “I just haven’t worked out where all those loyalties lie.”
All three men wore devilish grins that had her rolling her eyes.
“Tell me the truth—are y’all really immortal or something?”
“Or something,” Than said, laughing quietly.
Kylie groaned, but she cheekily added, “I’m still waiting for the day the Wolves actually turn into werewolves.”
“Keep studying,” Luc said instead of humoring her. “There may come a day you have the chance to make things right for more than just yourself.”
“I hope you don’t mean the world will end, or monsters will start roaming this world.”
“Keep studying,” he repeated.
“Train,” Damon said.
“Have faith,” Than finished.
She huffed, keeping her eyes on Natalie, then she whispered, “And trust . . . and pixie dust.”
“Peter Pan,” Luc murmured. “Neverland. You were listening in the dark.”
The image of someone who looked an awful lot like Wendy at the clinic surfaced in her mind. She looked terminal though. “Stardust,” Kylie whispered. “She was a friend, wasn’t she?”
The men nodded, but Luc spoke, “The story began with death. Then it ended, only to begin again. Now we have peace with new life.”
Damon nodded toward the twins. “With youth.”
“Redemption for those who look up when light is burning for them,” Than added.
“What comes after this?” she asked.
“Everything,” Luc answered, then addressed Little Luc, “Stay with your brother and sister.”
“Yes, Uncle Luc.”
Luc Godson and his right-hands said nothing further to Kylie as they walked in Janie’s direction. When the girl spotted Luc, she bowed her head before doing a set of turns until she got closer to him. She did a series of cute stomps, making a circle in front of him.
A hint of a smile teased Luc’s lips, and Janie rewarded him with a chaste on the corner of his mouth before she twirled away. Ryder shoved Luc, causing Janie to giggle, but she never stopped dancing for them. Well, she did when David snatched her by the waist. He gave her a smile, and Janie touched his lips, looking so peaceful before the man kissed her senseless.
“I guess that answers my question about David and Janie.” She chuckled as her cheeks burned. “Your mama will always have all the boys, won’t she?”
“It’s for a reason,” Little Luc said, waving when David ended his kiss. The man darted his gaze from Luc Godson to where Little Luc sat with her. His lips moved, and Luc answered him. But Kylie knew what was wrong. He didn’t want her babies and Little Luc alone with her.
Kylie sighed, turning away. She hoped he wouldn’t come over, but she felt bad for him. She couldn’t imagine if someone were to come along and take her children as their own. Hopefully, he didn’t think she’d hurt the twins. Whatever her soul had done to make him angry, she was sorry.
“He will,” Little Luc said, holding out his arms for Natalie. “Can I hold her now?”
She wondered what he meant, but put it aside to show him how to sit. “I know you’re strong like your daddy, but keep her weight on your lap.”
“I know. Daddy lets me hold Jason.” He stayed very still as she put Natalie in his arms. He did perfectly, looking every bit like a big brother with a baby sister.
“Luc, what did you mean just a second ago?”
He glanced at David. “You’re worried about him not trusting you with me and the twins. He doesn’t now—but he will. He just misses them, and he loves Mama too much.”
She frowned. “Isn’t it a good thing he loves her a lot?”
“Sometimes. Daddy will make sure he calms down. That’s why he’s the way he is. They will trust you.”
“Well, I guess as long as you trust me, I’ll be fine.”
He grinned at her, reminding her of how Ryder smiled at Janie. “I trust you, Aunt Kylie.”
She gasped. “Aunt Kylie?”
“I only have my mama, but Daddy says it’s complicated, and the easiest way to think about you is like a sister for her. You were Mama’s Big Bad Wolf, but you’re a pretty Hood now. So if I say that, my daddies will be okay with you.”
“They trust your judgement?” She ruffled his hair. He talked like Ryder a lot, but he was a sweet little boy.
“Yes. I have what Mama and Daddy do.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll see.” His eyes glowed with emerald fire. “That’s a different story.”
Kylie stared at him for a moment before turning to pick up Nathan. She situated herself next to Little Luc, grinning when he kissed Natalie’s head. “You’re very much your father’s son, Luc.”
“Which father?”
Kylie gasped, realizing David stood just feet away. “Oh, hello.”
His intense blue eyes stared into hers, narrowed and calculated—he reminded her of Ryder. He was incredibly handsome, and she could tell where he got the name Knight Prince from. He looked like a knight in shining armor and prince charming with his golden skin, dark hair and sapphire eyes—and the smile he gave Janie was divine. None of that warmth appeared as he stared at Kylie.
David shifted his gaze to Little Luc. “Are you okay?” His voice was perfect yet terrifying at the same time. Goodness, she wondered how Janie really handled all this.
“Yes, Daddy.” Luc grinned, holding Natalie a little higher. “I get to hold Sissy now.”
David’s gaze softened as he took in the sight of them. That fierceness completely melted away the moment Natalie and Nathan opened their eyes to look at him, like they recognized his voice.
Kylie looked over at Logan. With an arm around Janie’s shoulders, he watched them, and Janie seemed on the verge of breaking down. “Um.” She cleared her throat, cringing when his fierceness returned. “Would you like to hold them? I know you never got a chance at the hospital, and we’ve kept them to ourselves this past month.”
He peered over his shoulder. Janie smiled sadly at him as Little Luc spoke, “Daddy, she says I can call Natalie Sissy, if it’s okay with you, Mama, and Daddy.”
David whipped his head around. “She did?”
Little Luc nodded. “And she said Nathan can still be my br
other.”
Those sapphire eyes focused on her, confused, hesitant. The muscles in his arms jumped, but he held himself back from doing anything. “I can’t,” he said, taking a step back. “My Jane is their mother to me. I don’t want to hurt her. I see you’re not the same.”
Kylie got up. She kissed Nathan’s cheek because she could feel this man’s love for her children. “I think you’ll find they really have two mamas. And I suppose, they’ll have three men who will argue over who is the handsomest daddy.”
David’s hand shook as he reached out to touch Nathan’s head. “Hi, little man.”
Kylie didn’t wipe away the tear sliding down her cheek, but she moved to place Nathan in his arms. “I might not be your favorite person—to any of you—but I hope I can prove I’m thankful for the sacrifices you all made.” She finally wiped her cheek when he fully held Nathan. He smiled at her son, and she saw it; he was their daddy, too.
“Thank you,” he mumbled. He kissed Nathan’s head before sitting beside Little Luc. He looked like a proud papa, and it actually warmed her heart the same way it did to see Logan holding them.
Kylie watched him put one arm around Little Luc. He spoke a foreign language, and Little Luc responded in the same tongue.
“I always hated when they did that.”
Kylie turned to, realizing Janie had come over.
David smiled up at her. “You love it, baby.”
“Yeah, she does,” said Ryder, smacking Janie’s ass before sitting on Little Luc’s other side. He held a sleeping Jason, but he reached out to caress both babies’ heads. Then he spoke the same language, his emerald eyes twinkling with mischief as he winked at Janie.
Logan came up behind Kylie, wrapping his arms around hers and Janie’s shoulders. “Okay, which of us is the hottest daddy? Baby doll, you really have to vote me because these two cheat.”
Kylie chuckled as she kissed Logan’s chest. “You get my vote, Grimm.”
He smirked down at her. “Of course I do. I’m fucking amazing, Hood.”
Janie giggled as David and Ryder stared her down, waiting. “I vote for Lance.”
The Godson and Knight brothers laughed as Lance gave Janie a high-five.