Chapter 23 #4
Waiting for us by the statue is Sera and a wide-grinning Sunny on top of their kelpie. They both wave at me before they suddenly spur their creature into a run, disappearing.
My breath hitches, my heart pounds, and Melek growls in unison with my sudden distress. Our son has disappeared into literal thin air. “Where is he? Where’s Sunny?” I turn to Ren, panicked.
“He’s fine. Sunny is just on the other side of the barrier. All who cross the barrier are invisible to the naked eye. Another security measure in case any Halo keepers stumble onto our location.”
My heart slows down at the news, and I breathe a sigh of relief, leather, spice, and fresh pine filling me on my inhale, calming my senses. I release my hand from Melek’s hair and squeeze his fingers. “I’m okay.”
He snuffles into me, taking a long exhale, warmth tickling my hair.
“Come on,” Ren urges. I nudge Dulse closer to the invisible barrier. There’s a shimmering glow to the air in the right light. Beyond that, it shows more trees. Nothing of a promised village.
Our kelpie has no qualms walking through it. A slight zap travels over my skin as we enter. And I’m not prepared for what we find on the other side.
A blinding sea of colour, it’s a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, purples, pinks, blues, and greens.
I’m unsure how to place or name some of the tones.
Shades I’ve only ever seen in my dreams, so foreign to me, unmatched.
A flower sprouts from a tree, stretching down, that I first caught as a violet hue, but has now changed to a colour that reminds me of yellow or orange, but is also neither of them at the same time.
It’s like my eyes are playing tricks on me.
Or it could just be the magic of this land. It’s hypnotic.
Voices spin around us. Dulse keeps at Ren’s kelpie’s backside. The tinkling nature of the sounds is a melody to the harsh tones I’ve grown up with.
Little fae children with delicately pointed ears of all varying degrees of colours run up to Ren, offering him an array of flowers.
Their blue, pink, and orange faces are alight with wonder.
Thatched wooden houses line the grassy streets, with gardens everywhere.
Hulking trees tower over us, some with staircases leading up to treehouses.
Sunny. The world has opened up to me, and hope no longer feels like a fancy term for working through the sludge life has thrown at me to achieve a morsel of happiness. It feels real.
This is it.
We have made it. This is hope and dreams and happiness. Freedom and safety. I’m sure of it. Tears linger in the wells of my lower lids, waiting to spill.
The more we walk, the more little details pop out at me. Small winged people shot from every direction, wings fluttering furiously. One glides effortlessly by my face, lavender with orange hair, giving me a chipped, “Excuse me.”
Fae children are free to roam the streets, playing games. A harmony of glorious delight surrounds us. Mothers are shouting for their children to come eat. The scent of decadent, fruity pies hits directly at my gurgling stomach.
It’s overwhelming but relieving at the same time. He was right. This whole time, Nix told me of this place. Of this utopia in the trees, and here it is. Without a doubt. It’s everything Halo isn’t.
A tear slips. I quickly wipe it away. This is for you, brother. I won’t let you down. We fought, and look where we are. I almost go to grasp his and Mam’s locket, but it’s still in the bag on Sunny’s back.
Dulse comes to a stop at a large wooden staircase ascending an ancient, thick-looking tree, its size rivaling the manor for width. Sera is helping Sunny off their kelpie. His little eyes and mouth are so wide that I can’t help but grin at him.
“It’s time to get down.” I pat Melek’s hand over my midsection.
He isn’t impressed, running his nose along my neck for a minute before jumping off.
Unable to bear the distance, he is pulling me from the kelpie straight after his dismount, holding my body to his.
My palms glide up his roughened cheeks, liquid silver swirling before me.
Come on, Melek, when are you going to come back to me?
I’m tempted to ask the question aloud. Instead, I tell my husband to put me down.
Once again, he’s not happy about our distance, but listens to me regardless.
I could get used to this side of him. Now that my husband is over his initial beat everyone up phase, he’s quite pliant to my will.
Though I know I will miss the sparring after a while.
“Mama, Papa! Did you see all the children?”
My mate pulls me into his side. I reach for Sunny, Melek rumbling under his breath.
Our son’s face falls at his father’s demeanour.
I turn into the gruff beast. “That’s our child, you stupid fool.
So you better start acting like his father, or you’ll never taste my body again.
” He squints down at me, trying to compute my ultimatum.
Finally, he nods.
Kneeling in front of our boy, he puts his hand out for Sunny to take. Our child looks up at me, confused. “Why is Papa not talking?”
“He’s just sad to be leaving home. Once we settle in, he will feel better.” I hope. This growly, protective Melek might be hot. However, I prefer the Melek who talks and plays with our son more.
Sunny is happy with my explanation for now, and wraps his much smaller palm around his father’s broad one. Pulling our child closer, my husband brings his hand to his nose and sniffs, continuing up his arm, making Sunny giggle until he’s wheezing.
“Mama, Mama! He’s tickling me. Make him stop.” He squeals.
“Okay, that’s enough, Melek.” He perks up at my voice, letting go of Sunny’s hand. Escaping his father, our son runs back to Sera. She kisses his temple, his eyes turning into stars for her. Oh, boy. I don’t know if I’m ready for Sunny to follow other people around who aren’t me or his father.
“This way.” Ren begins the trek up the winding circular stairs.
Grabbing Melek’s hand, I pull him up the ornately carved wood behind him.
The other fae males who helped to restrain my husband split off from our entourage after we entered the barrier, so only Sera trails behind us with Sunny in tow, excitedly explaining to her that he also has a treehouse at his old house.
And he wishes he could live in one here.
She’s so patient with him, sharing his enthusiasm.
My chest aches, and I have to stop watching their interactions for fear it will burst.
By the time we are a quarter of the way up, I’m puffed, and when Melek whisks me into his arms, I don’t complain, burrowing into his hard muscles.
I expect our destination to be a singular house.
That is not what we find. We arrive at a wide wooden platform with many intersecting bridges and stairs.
Leaves and branches make it impossible for us to see how far we have truly travelled.
“My residence is across the way.” Ren points to a modest-looking cottage-style house built into a thick yet smaller tree branch compared to the trunk we have ascended.
“It’s less likely to carry any scent markers since I’ve been away for so long.
” My head moves up and down, awed by this magical world, unaware of what I’m agreeing to.
“Seraphina and I can take Sunny to her home for the night, if that works for you, Storm?”
I’m taken aback. I can only imagine what Melek wants to do to me behind closed doors. There’s a need within me for all of us to be together as a family. As much as this place is idyllic, how can I spend a whole night away from my child?
“Oh, can I, Mama? I want to play with Sera.” New creases are forming in my brow. Having Sunny somewhere else and safe for the night would be the best. Melek’s power is unpredictable, and Sera is a healer. Technically, he’s safer with her than with me. Right?
Sera steps closer. “I promise to keep him safe. Above my own life. A child of yours is a child of mine.” There’s a purity about her, almost angelic. I don’t know if fae can lie like the hollow. The way she speaks and holds my eyes without wavering only declares the truth.
“If that’s what you want, baby?” I address Sunny.
He flings himself at me, squeezing my stomach. “Can I really?”
“Yes, of course, if it’ll make you happy.” I run my hands through his hair and bend down to kiss his cheek. “Tell Ren or Sera if you need us. You can come find us at any time.”
“Okay, Mama.” Sweet lips kiss my cheek. “Bye, Papa.” Melek grunts next to me.
We watch as the three of them walk down the opposite bridgeway, ending at another identical cottage to the one Melek and I will share.
Not far at all. I can do it. One night away.
Anxiety rising, a hand works its way around my hip, stubble prickling my ear as my husband’s lips almost make me forget.