Chapter 25

Firo stood by the window and looked out it. Nothing outside was registering, but if he turned around and looked at Aireese, he was going to see the emotion on her face, and he couldn’t deal with that at this moment. He was having a hard time thinking beyond Ava and what she had done. When she’d stepped up onto the riverbank and her true form was once again revealed, he felt like he’d been bespelled by her. She was beautiful. She wouldn’t accept a description like that, he imagined.

“We must talk to her. We have to tell her, Firo.”

He heaved a sigh and turned around. “Tell her what? That she is your niece? That she looks like her mother? That she has power that makes ours look like fledglings?”

“The truth. We need to tell her the truth. We need to know what happened that day in the forest.”

“I am certain—” He walked over, stood behind the chair, and looked at her. “That her knowing that will change her in ways we can’t even imagine, Aireese.”

“I know, there’s that part of it too, but she needs to know more about herself.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “The look of confusion on her face was almost more than I could stand.”

“I was just as confused. The aftershock of her power that was forced to ripple back to her was nothing like anything I have ever felt.” He sighed and went around and sat in the chair. “We can’t tell her everything when we do not know all of it.”

She sat back and closed her eyes. “We need to go talk to Amyas again. Just the two of us.”

“And what do you plan to say to her? Do you want to tell her that your sister gave birth to a halfling? That she has powers that may be more powerful than any fae’s ever have been?” He leaned forward. “And what do you think will happen then?” He had spent three decades thinking of the possible outcomes to anyone learning of Avalie—none of them were something he could accept.

Aireese studied him for a moment. “If she has useful information, we’ll need to talk to Mother…”

Firo jumped to his feet. “Yes.” He nodded. “Let’s do that. I have always wished to have my powers locked away or be banished and my wings immobilized.” He paced over to the cabinet. If this continued, he was going to end up using the human alcohol as a crutch to impede his urge to go to Avalie and take her where no one would ever find her.

“Firo. I know this situation is…”

He snarled at the cabinet but left it closed and spun around to look at her. “This situation is about the one that is meant for me. The only one that will ever be meant for me.” He shook his head. “It’s no matter that I may never be with her, I just need to know that she is there and whole.” Closing his eyes, he pressed his hand against his forehead, hoping for some perfect answer to pop into his mind. Opening them, he looked at her. “Your mother isn’t going to take it well, in any form. If she did accept your sister’s child—I lied to her for three decades. The child is quite possibly more powerful than she, the queen, is. How do you see that ending?”

She looked down at her clasped hands. “I don’t know. I just feel that we need to talk to Amyas about it. I don’t know why, but my instinct says we need to.”

Firo squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled a deep breath through his nose. When he blew it out, he opened his eyes but didn’t look at her again. “I have spent her entire life looking out for her, and now I may lose her forever, and there is nothing I can do about it.” He heard her move but couldn’t bear to see her feelings at this moment.

“We’ll go see Amyas and show her the video and talk about that, then we’ll see if the time is right to discuss more.” She was in front of him now. He lifted his chin and looked at her. “Someone needs to help Ava harness her power, Firo, you know that.”

He sighed. “I do. I had hoped that she wouldn’t have the combined ability of both her parents. Prayed for it often.”

“But she does, and she has no idea how to use it. It is completely emotion-driven, and you know that is dangerous.”

He nodded slowly. He knew. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had known since he found her in the forest all those years ago. “I will contact Madoc and tell him we are coming back to speak with Amyas.”

She nodded and turned to leave. When she reached the door, she paused. “I’m sorry, Firo, but this is how it has to be.”

He didn’t reply nor look at her. When he heard the door close, he dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hands. He’d been a fool. When he was a young fledgling, he had spoken to the fortune seer, as all did to find their path, and she had guided him on this one—and he blindly followed it. Why would she send him on this one that was going to be filled with pain and anguish?

He’d served the royal family loyally for his entire life and climbed the ranks to the most coveted place in the court for a guard, and now he was going to be left with nothing. Dropping his hands onto his legs, he stared straight ahead. Worse than all of that, he was going to have to look at his fierce mate, who had the heart of a warrior, and watch her expression turn to hatred for him. The fault would be his own. He knew this, had known it since the first time he looked upon her when he held her in his arms as a new babe. Yet, somehow, he’d still allowed hope to seep into his mind.

Getting slowly to his feet, he closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself. There was only one thing left he could do. He would sacrifice himself so that she may live. He would bargain for her life—even if she were left with bound power, she would still be alive, and the universe would not be robbed of her presence in it.

Going over to his desk, he opened the top of the communication basin and placed his hand inside. He watched the mist swirl around his hand and lighten in color, accepting that he was allowed to use it. Closing his eyes, he focused on Madoc’s name in his mind. When he felt the mist still, he conveyed that Princess Aireese and her guard would be coming to speak to Amyas. Opening his eyes, he looked down to see the mist was gone. The message had been delivered.

Withdrawing his hand, he closed the lid and rested his hand on top of it. He wanted to go see Avalie, but he knew in his heart if he did that, he would do something selfish and try to take her away somewhere—and that she would never forgive him if he removed her from a place she could protect those she cared about.

Nodding to himself, he backed away from his desk. Squaring his shoulders, he exhaled slowly and then walked to the door to his princess’s room. Once they spoke to the elder, he would go check on Ava for what could be the last time.