“No,” Zahruk says as he places a hand on my shoulder, and speaks. “We’ve figured out a way to help Synthia. Well, one we think will help cheer her up a little bit. Between me, Ristan, and the girls, we sorta think bringing in some Human holiday crap might work. It is the Winter Solstice on Tèrra right now, so it is their time for holidays and she is missing it this year. Humans seem to enjoy their holidays so we figure it can’t hurt. Ristan has already cast an illusion in the Pavilion to make it look like her hometown, and we’ve begun decorating.”
I exhale and shake my head. “You think taking her home will make her forget our daughter is dying?” I snarl, and then shake it off. “We can try, but don’t be offended if she doesn’t care. She’s breaking, and all I can do is watch as she shatters.”
“She’s a warrior, and a damn fine one at that. She might break for a while, but Synthia will always get back up. It’s just how she’s made, and that’s part of the reason you love her.”
~Synthia~
Ryder walked into the nursery, his eyes slowly taking me in as I stood beside the crib. I’d moved all of the babies into one crib, and Kahleena slept with her brothers on either side of her. Always protecting her, as brothers should.
Ciara had come in and we’d spent time with them and I knew she’d done it to watch over me more than the babies, but it didn’t bother me. I was prepared when Ryder wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek. “How is she?” he asked.
“She’s better with her brothers beside her,” I whispered.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said against my ear as he looked down at our children, “and for them as well.”
I looked up at him, and tried for a brave smile, but it wouldn’t reach my eyes and we both knew it. Reality was harsh, and even though I wanted to stay here where the babies were safe and protected from the world, I knew it wouldn’t keep them from what hunted them—the consequences of our failure to break the spell on the Tree.
“I’ll go,” Ciara said softly.
“No,” Ryder said, his eyes moved around the nursery to where Darynda had just walked in. “We’ll need everyone for this.”
He had everyone wrap the babies in warm blankets, and I carried Kahleena, while Ciara carried Zander and Darynda carried Cade, with Cailean walking behind them. As we walked to the pavilion, all of the Fae we passed in the corridor stopped to look at us; some with wonder on their faces as the new princes and princess were carried to whatever surprises their father had waiting for us.
When we stepped through the doors to the pavilion, I felt a tear as it slid down my cheek. The pavilion was filled with snow, and the temperature was chilled with the crisp bite of a deep freeze, just like it would have been in Spokane had we been there still.
The entire pavilion had disappeared, and in its place was Ryder’s glorious mansion in Spokane—or the image of it, anyway. It was decorated in Christmas lights, as was the fountain and the small shrubbery surrounding it. It was night, and as I looked up into the stars above, I smiled, noting they’d gotten every detail down perfectly, including the bright North Star which was even darker on the black-blue canopy of the sky.
The windows of the mansion were aglow from within, filled with warmth, and the enormous doors were open in welcome for our group’s approach. I moved to them, noting that the crisp air would be too much for the little ones, and was thankful for Ryder’s foresight and for swaddling them in thick blankets.
We stepped to the doors, and I looked around watching as Brownies and Fae women rushed around the main entrance, which had a ginormous Christmas tree set up that reached to the elegant glasswork ceiling. As I watched, a Brownie moved forward and with help from me, she took my cloak and then smiled.
“Merry Christmas, mistress,” she whispered and smiled.
“Merry Christmas,” I replied back and then felt my heart thump. “I forgot Christmas,” I whispered and felt my stomach drop.
“You’ve been dealing with a lot, so we figured you deserved this,” Ryder whispered against my ear. “I want our children to know your world as well as mine.”