Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,49

open her arms, her permission for me to fall to pieces inside of them with her. I burst forward, colliding with her as our two spirits wrapped each other in a hug. As her energy surrounded me, we both burst into laughter, and an effervescent joy built within me.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come,” she croaked.

“I’m sorry it took so long. Life is kind of crazy right now.”

She pulled back, smiling at me. “Tell me everything.”

I opened my mouth to speak when I saw my bio dad rise. I’d spent my entire life, thinking of my uncle as my father … but this man…

He stood just behind her, watching us with unshed tears in his eyes.

I swallowed hard and glanced to my mother.

She nodded. “He loves you too.”

Stepping away from my mother, I approached him.

“Hey, kiddo.” He rocked on the balls of his feet like he was nervous. “I know my brother raised you and that you consider him your father, and that doesn’t bother me one bit. We can take it slow. You can call me Mackay.”

I threw myself into his arms. “Hey, Bonus Dad.” I squeezed him. Hard.

He remained frozen at first, but then he brought his arms around me. As we hugged, I felt his chest shudder with a half-swallowed sob.

“I like Bonus Dad,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He spun me around toward my mom, and I burst into giggles.

How was it possible … I hadn’t known until this very moment that something had been missing from my life? My father did a great job raising me, with help from Lon too. Rage was an amazing mate, but this … the love of my mom and bonus dad made me feel complete.

We both grinned with joy, and my mom stepped up to his side and wiped a tear from her cheek.

“We’re so glad you came, Nai.” She took a deep breath. “How’s my dad?”

Reality came crashing down. Our happy meeting was over; it was time to get down to business.

My mom and I sat down on the red blanket, knees touching, and my bonus dad made an excuse and went for a walk. I told Mom … everything, including all about Rage and our sealing of the mate bond. She listened to all of it raptly, her emotions dancing over her face as I spoke until I got to the part about the high mages threatening to close the portals. Then she let out a growl that would make any wolf-shifter proud.

“How dare they!” she snapped.

I nodded. “So Gramps thought I should see you for a pronto lesson on portals, in case they try to keep Rage and me apart.”

My mother raised one eyebrow. “Oh yes, let’s do, Nai. I’ll teach you how to create a portal at will. That way, you’ll never be kept from your mate again.”

A triumphant thrill rushed through me, and then we got to work. She walked me over to a quiet stretch of beach where a sharp cliff face rose into the air over twenty feet.

“Did you know all of the permanent portals were created by a high mage of spirit?” my mom asked.

I shook my head.

She nodded. “Only those who can spirit walk the worlds can create them. It’s true Kian and the other high mages on the council can close, open, or even destroy portals, and they can create temporary ones, but those are only good for them to walk through, but then they close. None of the other high mages can ever create new, permanent ones.”

Whoa.

I inched closer. “How do you make one?”

She nodded. “I won’t be able to create one here because it’s against the rules.” She pointed to the white castle where the Keeper lived. “But I can show you how to with an illusion, here in the Realm of the Dead, and you can practice for real when you get home.”

I rubbed my hands together, 110.4% ready to nail this new gift so that nothing could keep Rage and me apart.

“Have you spirit walked yet? You must’ve when you passed your spirit test,” she said.

I nodded. “Hey, how did you know I passed?”

My mom grinned. “Dad keeps me posted.”

My heart pinched at the thought that Gramps was keeping her informed, and through him, she was watching over me.

“When creating a portal, you’ll need to go into spirit form like this.” Suddenly there were two of her. Two ghost forms.

I leapt backward into the sand, and if I had a heart in