“Yes?” she asked and I could see she was internally struggling with what I’d just told her.
“Danu is my mother, but she can’t interfere or help me to physically protect my children. I am a part of her, but you, you’re my mother. Or at least I hope you still consider me as your daughter. You’ve held me in your heart and even though I’m not of your blood, I was hoping you’d still be my mother.”
“Oh. Of course,” she wiped at her eyes and hugged me again, and I smiled at her effort to hide the emotion.
“My children need a grandmother who can interfere and be there when they need them. One who can show them love and help us to direct them on the right path. I have no idea what it means to raise a child, and I have three of them now.”
“Three?” she asked, pulling back to look at me.
“Two boys and a girl,” I smiled at her bewildered look.
“That’s unheard of!” She gasped and then smiled. “Lasair, we have three more grandchildren!”
Lasair didn’t share in the joy. I could see him calculating the chances of all three being accepted by the land.
“That’s another thing,” I said as I read his mind accidentally. “We have to unite the Fae to help us take our babies to the Tree, and Danu will need to draw on all of your powers to bless them and, if they survive, they should begin the healing process for other babies in this world, and also help to heal the damage the Mages and Faolán have done.”
“You have my oath as your father and as the Blood King that we will do whatever is needed to save our grandchildren, and that Faolán is forever banned from my Kingdom.”
“There’s one more thing I need to ask you about,” I said softly.
“Yes?” Lasair asked.
“Cailean, why does he still protect me?” I asked wanting to know exactly what part this man had played in my life.
“Cailean was part of Faolán’s guard before he brought you to us; however he has not been seen since you left the Blood Kingdom so he was not able to be reassigned. If he has been protecting you, you will have to ask him. What I can tell you is that he is devoted to you; that much was apparent when he brought you back to us, and he is the type of man who’d willingly lay down his life to protect those he chooses to guard.”
“He almost did; he was there fighting for me when Faolán and the Mages tried cutting me open to take my babies. I want him; I want him to protect my children as fiercely as he fought for me. He should be rewarded for what he has done and I’d like your permission to give it to him.”
“You really are a Queen,” Madisyn said softly. “He is yours; may he protect your children as fiercely as he protected my daughter.”
The knock sounded again and this time the door opened and Ristan stuck his head inside. “It’s time for the Blood King and Queen to take their places, so we can begin the proceedings.”
“Thank you, Ristan,” I said as I smiled at my parents. Danu may be my actual mother, but Madisyn had grieved for my loss and had done what only a true mother could have. She sacrificed me for the greater good, and she’d taken my loss to heart. She loved me, and I could feel it.
Chapter Fourteen
Ryder had taken his Horde King form and was seated on his throne as the assembly watched him. It was as if they looked for a sign of weakness, which was common with the Fae, but it upset me that we had deal with treachery on a daily basis from his own people.
Like Claire.
She was seated in the front as if she was a guest of honor. I watched, cloaked in invisibility glamour, as she smiled seductively at Ryder. The woman had absolutely no brains. If I’d faced the Horde King after trying to kill his offspring, I’d be suspicious of why he’d invited me to the presentation of his children.
Not her; she wore a bright red dress which barely contained her breasts, and was smiling at Ryder, who was ignoring her. The old adage of wearing a red dress to a funeral popped into my mind and I wondered if she thought that she could just sex Ryder up and he would forget about what she had done. Zahruk was at Ryder’s side, as was custom as Ryder’s second-in-command, and the crowd was growing restless as they waited to see what was going to happen.