Chapter 42

While she peered out through the misty window as the Riders made West for another skirmish, Mory rubbed away the cold, prickly feeling of dread from her arms. "Good luck, boys." When she noticed the blue glowing aura of the man who jockeyed toward danger, the new mother in her offered her best wishes. "Be safe, Teddy. Come home soon."

Somehow, Mory thought that when she came to a land full of immortal creatures, life would be more peaceful. But every day she spent in the Realm seemed to reveal yet another vision of terrible things to come. "This is the third time this week they've had to go deal with those goblins."

The strap of Mory's bad slid over Haldir's head and rested across his chest, and a heavy sigh passed through his nose. "It will only become worse, I'm afraid." His bag of holding dropped to the center of his back, and he shifted side to side to balance the weight of everything. "Things will be calmer in the city; the borders are enchanted."

She understood little about the world she was now part of, but she hoped at least one place would be free of danger. "So, the war won't come there?"

With no way to protect herself other than the few fighting moves he taught her, he understood there was no safer place for her. But a sinking sensation in his belly warned him no place would be untouched by the evil. "Let's hope not. Daniel expects to contain the evil to the South; he's been trying to funnel everything in that direction."

Her melancholy colors wove a tapestry over her like a heavy blanket that shielded her from Haldir's psychic eyes, and he gave her a quick half-grin as his fingers wiggled for her. "You about ready?"

"Whenever you are." One by one the shutters closed in front of her, and when she turned around, she grabbed her coat from the bedside. "Did you and Teddy get everything straightened out alright?"

A hip dug into the dresser, and Haldir wrinkled his nose as his hand rubbed over the hair on his neck. "About that"— both hands flung upward —"when Teddy was walking Tessa out the other day, he saw Rafik in the woods watching her."

The tips of her fingers covered her mouth as she gasped. "Shut up. You can't be serious."

"Come on." His eyes narrowed, and his head sliced right and left. "You really think I'd joke about some shit like that?"

He pulled her coat from her hands and snapped it out before he held it behind her. "Wherever this is going, it can't end well for anyone, especially for Rafik. He has no offensive powers at all."

The sleeves shimmied up her arms, and he dipped his knees just a little to look at her. "If you notice anything, anything at all, you need to tell me. Her mates will do anything to keep him away from Tessa. Do you understand me?"

A cloud covered her vision, and a throb started in her temple, and her fingers rubbed at it as she pinched her eyes closed. "I get it."

His tough rough hands gripped her face in them. "Are you alright?" Her fingers waved in front of her mouth to shake off the nausea. "Just a headache." The fingers swatted at her face to cool the flush on her skin. "All those colors I see on people now is just too much."

The pads of his thumbs rubbed circles into her forehead. "Leaving the castle will probably help. There's a lot of energy here, and it can be overwhelming."

His lips met the space between her eyes. "When we get to the Woods, Tessa can fix you right up with that. She's got a potion for everything."

"I can't wait to see this place." His scent was the one thing that comforted her, and she breathed him deeply as he rubbed his hands along the length of her back. "Should we tell someone we're about to go?"

She heard the huff of air as he smiled at her before he patted at her back and pressed her away. "Trust me, there isn't a thing these folks don't already know before you've even thought it."

The sleeves of her coat slid between his fingers, and he wrapped each one around his waist. "Alright, here we go." The first time Haldir misted her somewhere, it led her to the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, and she couldn't wait to find out what adventure he took her to this time.

Her shoulders bunched under her ears as she gripped him tight and buried her ear into his chest. "This is my favorite part right here."

When she closed her eyes as the tornado of black mist swirled around their feet, the squeal in her ears stabbed through her head like an icy pick. In the vortex of space and time, there is no air, and no matter how she tried to call out for him to stop, each word was stolen from her.

The soles of her feet met the green grass of the ground outside the city's gate, and as soon as she was free of Haldir's arms, she collapsed to her knees before him. Once she gasped her first breath again, she heaved and spit into the mossy cover.

"What's wrong?" Haldir covered her back with his body and brought her up with him as he rocked back. "What is it?"

Her heart raced under his palm, and she tried to match the rise and fall of his chest against her to calm herself. "Oh, I'm not feeling good at all. I think I need to lay down."

With the breeze that blew over them, Haldir rocked back and forth, and his hands rubbed over her hair. "I hate to break it to you, but our kind don't fall sick, Morana."

The bile churned in her throat, and she waved her hands in front of her like she could fight it away. "You need to tell my belly that. She's unconvinced."

He brought her with him as he rose to his feet, and he tucked her into the pit of his arm as he brought her hand to his chest. "I've been training you hard, perhaps a few days rest will do you well."

When they passed the gate guardians and stepped onto the cobblestone path, Haldir's hands flicked out to everything that laid ahead of them. "Honey, we're home."

His finger pointed right, and his head nodded toward the tiny houses that lined the street. "This way."

The man in long robes from her dreams flashed in her vision, and she looked in each direction for him. "This is like a dream I had."

A distant boat bobbed up on the water's horizon, and she yanked on his arm to stop him. "Hold up. I did see this place before."

When she smiled, her head shook no as she peeked up at him. "You won't believe me. Maybe it's not real; I don't know." The wound in her chest was healed, but she still felt the sting of it under her fingertips when she rubbed at it. "When I died, I came here. Just for a few minutes, I think."

Her fingers wiggled until one shot out to the little side street. "This way, he took me this way."

Two of Haldir's fingers rested in her palm as she jerked at his arm, and her feet went as fast as they could carry her. And when she came to a stop before the little dark wood and stone cottage with dark red shutters, she grabbed at his sleeve. "This is it. This is where he brought me."

Above the door on the lintel, Haldir's fingers slid across the wood carvings in the old language. "It says Morana and Haldir."

"I know it does." As she nodded, fat drops of tears fell from her lashes, and her voice squeaked as she clutched at her chest. "This is our home."

The door swept inward, and Haldir stepped aside to let her pass through. "What do you think?"

Old photographs of Haldir and his children lined the bookshelf, and as Mory picked one up, she hugged it against her. "I love it." A long breath of air rushed through her nose as she captured the earthy smell of the fireplace. "This is perfect."

As she sank into the soft, cloth couch, Haldir put their bags down on the floor by the stairs and started to remove his chest straps when two crooked fingers dug into his sides. "This is a stickup, give me all your money."

When his fingers grasped her wrists, he crossed his arms and gave her a twist until he had her draped over his knee like a ballroom dancer. "I wondered how long it would be before the wicked old witch showed up."

While she giggled her witchy cackle, she patted at the arm that restrained her. "Alright, get the fuck off me. You know I don't like dirty old bastards touching me."

Her tiny body disappeared into his arms as he yanked her into a hug and rubbed his nose at the mess of hair she had pulled into a bun. "Are those two dipshits taking care of you?"

Two hands rose as she shrugged her way out of his hold, and her lip curled at the mention of them. "I guess." But when she caught Mory on the couch, Tessa poked at Haldir's shoulder. "She sure is pretty, old man."

The palm of his hand smacked at her bottom as he shoved her into the living room. "Keep your grubby little hands off; she's mine."

The air shifted as she dropped herself into the chair across from them, and she snapped her fingers. "Damn." She leaned back in the seat, and as her foot bounced, she rolled her eyes across the room and her finger pointed at them. "I hope you don't mind what I did with the place."

"Thank you." Mory leaned into Haldir's chest and covered her hand over her mouth as she yawned. "Jeez, I'm so sorry. That trip here wore me out. I guess all this training and stuff is kicking my ass."

"Mmm-hmm." Her fingers rolled over her cheek as Tessa's eyes moved over Mory, inch by inch. "I really don't think that's what it is."

His fingers rubbed at Mory's arm, and Haldir's shoulder jerked upward. "She's been having headaches. Thought maybe you could mix her something up."

Unlike Haldir, Tessa was a highly tuned predator, and her eyes were sharp like an eagle, and even from across the room she could spot the light around Mory. She came to the coffee table in front of her, and when she sat down, she leaned over to feel Mory's hands. And as she pretended to inspect her, Tessa flipped her palms over and shook her head. "There's not a whole lot I can do for you two right now."

He understood Tessa better than she did herself, and his eyes narrowed to how easily she surrendered. "That doesn't sound like you at all; I thought you were the best of the best."

"I am the best at everything I do, believe that old timer." Tessa slapped Haldir on the shoulder as she passed by him. "But I'm a killer; life isn't really my area. I'll go find out if the midwife has a minute to come take a look at her."

Before she reached the door, Mory was chasing after her, and she grabbed her wrist as she reached for the knob. "Tessa, did you say midwife?"

When her arms wrapped around Mory, she rocked her back and forth, and Tessa smiled over her shoulder at her father. "Congratulations, Mom and Dad; I'm so happy for you."

Though he stood by her no matter the danger that faced them, Tessa understood it was time to let him free of his promises to her. All he ever wanted was a family he didn't have to share, and she meant to see he had it. "Because I know better than anyone that you're going to be the best parents in the world."