The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,117
an expression on her face that was a mixture of dumbfounded, afraid…
And excited.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or charge after them and save her from Saturn’s version of courting,” Teddy told the door they’d disappeared through at which he was still looking over his shoulder.
“You told him to be him, bello,” Faunus reminded him, and Teddy swung his head around to look at his lover. “He is being him. If she does not like it, she will either tell us, or we will sense it, and one of us will intervene. But she did not fight at all, the walking out of this place on his arm.” He grinned. “So, I am thinking good thoughts.”
Teddy was thinking good thoughts too.
Thus, he smiled.
“Now,” Faunus began to push out of his seat, “we go deal with your father.”
And at that, he was no longer thinking good thoughts.
Thus, he frowned.
Teddy had learned much living with Lorenz and Nyx.
One of the things he had learned was that, when you loved someone, and it was clear they were intent to do something they felt they needed to do, even if you didn’t want them to do it, you let them.
And all right, there were occasions when Nyx did not do this with a great deal of grace.
But this was only about things she very much disagreed, like Teddy putting his life on the line to become a spy.
Other than that, if there was something in Lorenz that needed it, she gave it.
And Lorenz did the same.
He and Faunus had hardly begun to become what they were becoming when Faunus had declared he would do what he was now intent to do in the event of that becoming.
And as they rode ever closer to the farm where his father raised some sheep, and some goats, and alternated the fields over the years to grow wheat that was milled in town, seeing familiar landmarks he had not seen in years, and had thought he would never see again, he did what he had seen Nyx do. And Lorenz.
He kept his mouth shut and let the man he loved go about doing what he needed to do.
The day was growing late, the sun having begun its descent from the sky, and as Teddy knew from helping his father in his work, the day started early, in the dark, and ended early, when the darkness came again. Especially in the winters.
And then in you went for a hearty meal to begin to rejuvenate the vast amounts of energy you expended in the day. Then shortly after, you slept so you could finish that effort.
Thus, not long after they rode up the lane and dismounted, hanging about in wait, Teddy caught his father approaching from the north field.
His sire did not look happy to have visitors, but then he had never been a jovial man.
Life was toil, the earning of money from that, an occasional evening trip to visit the pub in town and listen to music, if it was on offer, while you drank your ale.
And not much else.
Thinking on this, Teddy found he was like his father in that respect.
He wanted a simple life.
He had had adventures, not entirely of his choice.
They were, until very recently, not enjoyable.
Thus, once he returned to Firenze, he wished naught but to embrace Nyx and Lorenz, settle Moira, settle himself with Faunus, teach his children at the school and spoil the ones Lorenz eventually gave to Nyx.
His father’s step faltered, and his expression grew astonished when he noted Teddy in the midst of his party.
And then Teddy watched his face grow hard.
He waited until he was close before he called, “In the company of Firenz warriors after alliance. What’s the poof done now?”
The instant fury seething from Faunus (and Saturn, not to mention Moira), made Teddy whisper, “Calm.”
“I am Faunus, of the Trusted of the King of Firenze,” Faunus decreed.
His father’s chin shot back into his neck as he came to a stop a few feet away from them.
“And this is Saturn of the Trusted,” he went on, indicating Saturn.
Saturn didn’t move. Just stared at Teddy’s father.
“And we escort Moira, of the Lesser Thicket, unblooded sister to your son,” he stated.
Moira wore an openly contemptuous expression.
Teddy’s father’s head ticked as he glanced at her before he returned his attention to Faunus.
“We are here to inform you we return to Firenze, taking your son with us,” Faunus continued.
“Like I said, what’s he done now?” Hans Swensson asked.