Chapter Twenty-Four
I arrived in the nursery, standing before Mirielle's empty toddler bed.
Spinning, I shouted, “Sever!” I ran out into my bedroom. It was empty. “Severriel!” The hallway was empty. “Oh, fuck this. You think you can hide from me? I can laruk right to you!”
“Seren,” Sever's voice came from behind me.
I spun. He was coming up the corridor, a leather bag slung over his shoulder and Miri in his arms. She looked so small against his chest, even with his wings folded against his back. She sat on Sever's forearm as if it were a swing, her wings flapping in excitement and one hand on his broad chest.
“Mama!” Mirielle called.
“Miri!” I raced over to them.
Sever handed her over to me without hesitation. But then he said, “Seren, you need to let us go.”
I clutched my daughter so tight that she smacked me. “Sorry, baby,” I said to her before glaring at Sever. “No, this is stupid. You're safest here. Angels can't laruk to Fairy without an invitation.”
“No, but they could walk a rath.”
Which is why Raza wanted the raths warded. I'd considered that possibility too when Star had made his threat.
“Seren, I don't want to take her away, but this is what's best for Miri.” Sever's hand went to my cheek.
“I know this wasn't your fault. I don't blame you.
And I don't want to be parted from you either.
But Miri must come first. That's what it means to be a parent.” He looked at her, then back at me.
“Have you considered this could all be a plot to abduct her?”
“What?” I gaped at him.
“With you weakened and distracted, fighting with us, it would be easy for someone to creep in here and take her.”
“Then we'll watch her better. We don't leave her alone. Not ever. And we don't let anyone into the castle.”
“Seren, once an Angel got into Fairy, they could simply laruk into the castle. We are not safe here.”
“You're not taking her from me.”
“Whoa, what's going on here?” Killian walked up holding Rowan's hand.
I looked at Rowan.
“I'll go play in my room,” Rowan said.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” I said. “I'll stop by before I leave again.”
“Okay, Mom.” She gave her father a strange look before going into her room.
Once Rowan's door was shut, I growled, “Sever wants to take Miri to Earth and not tell me where they are!”
“What the fuck, dude?” Kill gaped at Sever. “Did you take a tumble while flying and land on your head?”
Sever crossed his thick arms. “Miri may be in danger, Killian. We discussed this.”
“Yeah, but that's no reason to go hideout on Earth. How is that good for Miri?”
“She's young enough that she won't remember this. Fairy isn't safe for her.”
My father had said something similar about me in Fairy. I winced.
“Seren, you don't believe that,” Kill said.
“I don't know.” I jiggled Miri when she started to fuss.
“Don't wanna go,” Miri said.
We all looked at her.
“Shoot,” Kill muttered. “We forget how much she understands now.”
“Miri, it will only be for a little while,” Sever said, holding out his arms.
“No, Daddy!” Miri clung to me. “Not going!”
I stared at Sever.
“Damn it, Seren. This isn't easy for me. I'm trying to do the right thing. I can hide her. Don't you trust me?”
“Of course, I trust you, but she's my daughter.”
“Yes, and that has put her in danger.”
I gaped at him.
“Dude!” Killian growled. “Take that back!”
“I can't. It's the truth.” Sever stroked Miri's dark curls. “That doesn't mean you don't love her, Seren. And it's not just you. It's who she is. It's us. We made a child whom Anu blessed.” His lips twisted bitterly. “Being favored by a god is not always a good thing.”
“Why would they take her?” I snapped. “She's just a little girl.”
“Who may become Queen of Heaven. If an Angel raises her, she'll be under their influence.”
“Anu wouldn't allow that.”
“Wouldn't he? With us, she is more likely to reject the Throne of Heaven. But if she were raised in Heaven, she would grow up expecting to rule. Wanting it.”
“Fudge,” Killian whispered and then looked at me.
I looked at Miri.
Miri put her little hands on my face, one on each cheek. “Mommy, don't make me go.”
I burst into tears.
“Mama!” Miri screamed and hugged my neck, my tears sending her into desperate wailing. “Mama!”
Weeping so hard I could barely see, I kissed and hugged my daughter. “It will just be for a little while, baby.”
“No!” Miri shrieked as I unwound her tiny arms from my neck. Her wings thrashed so hard that Sever had to restrain them in one hand before he took her.
“Stop now, my feisty girl.” Sever lifted his head to avoid Miri's punches. “It will be all right. Shh.”
“No, Daddy! Bad Daddy!” She fought him, kicking and punching.
“Miri, shh.” I stroked her hair. “It won't be that long. You're going on an adventure with Daddy. You'll be home soon with lots of things to tell us about. I love you so much. Be a good girl for Daddy.”
“Mama!”
His face set into broken but hard lines, Sever clutched our daughter to his chest and laruked away. Her cries echoed in my ears long after the wind of their passing settled.