a few minutes before Arach did since I had left the realm before he had. I used those minutes to mourn—to be weak for a moment when no one could see me. Then Arach arrived. We stood there looking at each other for a second and then I went into his arms and we just held each other. I stepped back when I felt the tears start to rise. I didn't have time for tears.
“None of this matters,” Arach said with a soft smile. “You matter. The boys matter. As long as I have the three of you, I will not despair.”
“We've been very lucky,” I said in agreement. “We've had a good life here. We've done a lot for our people. Maybe it's time to let go. Maybe this change will be for the best.”
“Maybe.” He took a deep breath and my hand. “Let's tell the boys first.”
“And Isleen,” I said. “She's family too.”
“And Isleen,” he agreed.
We found Isleen downstairs, checking on lunch preparations, and brought her back upstairs with us to the boys' room. The twins were playing cards with Hunter. I stopped when I saw Roarke's son and nearly burst into tears. I wouldn't see Hunter grow up. I already knew how he'd look and what kind of man he'd be, but I wouldn't have him in my life. Or his father.
My throat constricted and I had to turn away.
“My Queen?” Isleen asked in shock.
“Hunter, we need to speak to Rian and Brevyn,” Arach said firmly. “Would you mind fetching your parents for me? We'll need to speak with them afterward.”
“Yes, King Arach!” Hunter jumped to his feet and hurried out.
Arach drew Isleen inside the room with us, shut the door, and went to sit on the floor beside our boys. “We have something important to tell you.”
“I know,” Brevyn said, his blue eyes serene. “It will be okay, Father. Don't be sad.”
I barely managed to hold back my sob.
“What will?” Rian asked, his green dragon eyes not nearly as serene as his brother's. In fact, they narrowed at Brevyn accusingly. “What didn't you tell me, Brev?”
“I didn't want to ruin the time we had left.” Brevyn shrugged. “It will be okay, Rian.”
“What will?!” Rian shouted.
“We have to leave Faerie.” Arach laid a hand on Rian's shoulder. “There has been magic leaking into the Human Realm from this one. We tried to stop it and have failed. The only solution is to close the realm completely—even the Great Tree.”
“Will Mother be able to come home when she leaves?” Rian asked.
It was a silly question but that's what you do when you're in shock and denial—you ask the things you already know the answer to.
“No,” Brevyn answered for Arach. “So, we need to go with her.” He smiled brightly. “It will be such fun. We'll get to live with Lesya and Vero and Zariel. We can go swimming and play in their castle.”
“I don't want to leave Faerie!” Rian jumped to his feet and wailed.
“Brother, trust me.” Brevyn stood up and held out his hand.
Rian stared at that little hand and then at Brevyn. He finally took it. Nothing could separate those two for long.
Dexter, who had been sleeping in a corner with his daughter, Deidre, wandered over and nosed me, his crimson eyes wide in confusion.
I crouched down. “I have to go, Dex, and it's forever, but I want you to come with me. You and Deidre, if she wants to. It will be very different, but I promise that you'll have a good home with new places to explore and lots of new people to love you. What do you think?”
Dexter whined. No, he couldn't understand all of my words. Even with his fey intelligence, he was still an animal and only got the gist of it. He nuzzled my face as an answer but he didn't actually know what he was agreeing to. And I wanted him to know. I couldn't take him from his home without him knowing fully what his choices were.
“Faerie, could you help me out here?” I whispered. “I don't want to force them to leave but I don't want to leave them behind either. Can you make Dex and Deidre understand what I'm asking?”
I'll do my best, Faerie said gently in my mind.
Dexter's crimson stare went sharp. His fox-like head cocked as if he were intently listening to something. He sat down, crossing four of his six legs, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked at me