Page 115 of Fae Farewells

“Why not just tell them?” Briggs whisper-shouted at my fae’s back.

“Would you believe Baylor?” Palmer queried.

“Not at all,” my wolf responded. “But Bay acts differently than Freya does. He fucks around too much.”

My fae knocked on his sister’s door. I hung back with my guys, giving Vaughn space. There were scuffling sounds and incoherent mumbling as he tapped his foot, waiting for her.

No sooner than she got the door cracked, did he command, “Grab Ruby and Tilly, please. Meet me at Grandfather’s house.”

“Is he okay?” Freya demanded, a hint of panic in her tone.

“He’s fine,” Vaughn said softly. “Just meet me there.”

He wandered away, misting between one step and the next. We followed him through the void, knowing he was anxious about his sisters finding out he’d kept such a big secret. Even if it was only for a few hours.

The old king was waiting for us, but he didn’t speak until the Winter women arrived one after the other. Freya’s mates filed out of the void, hanging back with the rest of my guys.

“Is it done?” Valano asked, not moving from his perch on the porch stairs.

I tipped my chin. “Yes, sir. She’s dead, and so is Bowers.”

“Permanently dead?” he challenged, needing to feel the finality of our admittance.

“Sloane tore Bowers in two, leaving the vial and most of its contents inside him,” my fae explained.

“Vaughn plunged the poisoned dagger straight into Alania’s heart,” I added.

Valano wrinkled his nose. “I had my doubts that you enjoyed a messy kill—”

“Why did you bring us here if you only wanted us to report the same thing as—”

Freya’s words died in her throat as Reagan walked out of the cottage with Vex on his heels, stepping out of his shadow to see her children.

“My girls,” the Winter king crooned. “I’ve missed you.”

“They’re so grown,” Vex whispered sadly, wiping at her eyes.

Ruby and Freya rushed toward their parents, but the youngest Winter sister didn’t move.

“Why aren’t you happy?” I asked Tilly quietly, tucking my hand in hers to offer some comfort.

I knew the answer to my question, but I wanted her to say it. She and I were in similar boats, treading feelings we weren’t prepared to process. I’d had much more time to come to terms with my missing mother being alive, though.

“We thought he was dead,” she replied, squeezing my fingers. “Both of them. I don’t even know who she is other than the woman who birthed me.”

“You can still be mad at him and hug him. Give her some time, Tilly. She’s worried too. She missed her children growing up, and fears she lost too much time to be relevant in your life.”

Tilly scoffed, cutting her eyes at me. “Are you taking your own advice?”

“Always so truthful, Til.” I clutched my chest, then shook my head. “I’m in a different situation with my mother. She wants to save her brother. Your mother woke up ready to kill her sister for her wrongs.”

She nodded, slowly releasing my hand to walk toward Reagan. As she came into arm’s reach, he scooped her up, spinning her in a circle.

Vaughn leaned against me, watching his sister’s fuss at the king. Freya wrapped her arms around Vex, doing that weird cry-laugh thing that people do when they’re too excited to handle their emotions. Ruby was apprehensive, but settled as she joined her older sister in hugging their mother.

“Still a daddy’s girl, I see,” Vex murmured to Tilly, brushing her hand over her youngest child’s hair. “You were always a happy babe when Reagan or Vaughn held you.”

My fae sighed as he gazed at his family. “Now that I’ve had a few hours to process, I can’t help but wonder… Would things have been different if I’d have known they were alive?”