protect your futures. We’re not fighting this war just to fight; we are fighting it to save the world your grandmother created for us. Faery belongs to us all, and to protect it, we will go to war. Never think you make us weak because that is not possible.”
“Uncle Liam says loving us makes your enemies more willing to use us to force you to surrender,” Zander said, folding tiny arms across his chest to study our faces.
“Uncle Liam says a lot of things, doesn’t he?” I muttered.
“He does, he’s smart,” Zander agreed.
“Is he now?” I smiled, noting the pride that shone in Zander’s eyes as he spoke about his uncle.
“Unless he has that silly girl in the room. Then they just scream and jump on the bed,” Cade mumbled, shrugging. “He says we can’t jump on the bed, and he does it all the time. She also screams, ‘oh my goddess, harder, yes, yes, I’m coming…’” My hand covered his mouth as Ryder’s shoulders shook with laughter.
“Uncle Liam may not be as smart as he thinks he is,” Ryder chuckled.
“I think Uncle Liam needs to be spanked,” I teased.
“She likes that too,” Zander said, making a face of confusion while he put his hands up as if he held no answers for why a female would like a spanking. “Maybe she was bad a lot as a child and still needs a spanking.” He stared at us while we fought the need to laugh. “What? It’s possible she was a very bad kid. Liam is fair, so she must need it badly.”
Ryder burst out laughing while my face turned bright red. I elbowed him in the ribs, enjoying the grunt that exploded from his lips, barely containing the urge to join him.
“I’m sure Uncle Liam could use a spanking of his own. Now, are you little beasties ready to say goodbye to everyone else?” I swallowed down the lump in my throat, not wanting the moment to end. At their nods, I wiped away the silent tears from Kahleena’s golden gaze and whispered against her ear. “Be brave, my little warrior, let no one see your tears. And you two,” I said, turning to Cade and Zander, “you hold her for me when she is sad. You hold each other and remind one another we are waiting for your return. We love you so much, and I want you to remember that always. Hold on to it when you are sad, and when you’re happy, think of us. The second the war is over, we will bring you home.”
Destiny opened the door, and Ristan stumbled into the room, scratching his head, guilty at having been caught listening in on our conversation. Olivia waddled past him, taking a seat in the chair I’d brought in for her, added cushions included.
“Auntie Liv, you need to have the dangle,” Kahleena laughed, moving away from Ristan, who tried to hold her to place her hand against Olivia’s protruding belly. “Be brave, littlest cousin, I’ll be back soon.” Sad eyes peered up at Olivia as she hugged her around her swollen belly tightly. “I love you, Auntie Liv. Always, and always, remember that and be brave.”
Ryder held my hand as tears struggled to release from the tight hold I had on them. Ristan slid to his knees, smiling at Kahleena as she rushed into his arms, smothering a sob with her hand.
“Oh, my sweet little Kahleena,” Ristan chided gently, love filling his tone. “It will be okay. You’ll be back before you know it,” he reassured Kahleena, helping her to hide the tears that trailed down her cheeks as he wiped them away. “We just need to handle some business, and you’ll be able to come home soon enough, right?”
“I’m brave,” she sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her arm.
“You are. You’re the daughter of the Queen and King of the Horde, both fierce warriors. You’re going to be just fine, my little ones.”
“Stop hogging the children, Ristan,” Ciara said, holding Phoenix in her arms while Blane struggled with Fury,