“Just remember one thing today, Synthia. If the world doesn’t accept your little angel, you still need to become the leader to our people, one they would follow even if you lack a title. This world will still need you, just as Ryder and these boys do. Anyone can lead a garrison of warriors into battle, but only a few can lead them to be victorious, and the two of you, you can be the ones to lead this world to victory, but only if you gain the respect of the people.”
I looked at Madisyn and had to admit her speech was moving. “I want to be what this world needs, but how can I fight for a world that won’t accept my child?”
“You’re a warrior, Synthia. It’s in your blood, and you will have to fight and stand up for what is right. You’ll survive it, you may not want to, but you will,” she said softly; Darynda agreed.
“You’ll need to, for the lads. They need their mother, and, Goddess be willing, their sister. You came in here strong and you’ve only grown stronger. I know you can do this, and your mother is right. You may not want to, but you will, because you are stronger than you think,” Darynda said softly. “I don’t have very many friends, but you are among those I consider as such. I’d like to think it gone both ways.”
“It does, Darynda. I just can’t stomach the idea of losing something so precious.”
“We won’t lose her,” Ryder said.
I turned to ask Madisyn if she would assist us in carrying the babes to the Tree, but she was frozen in place, as was Darynda. I looked up to find Danu watching us.
“We’re out of time,” I said as I stood.
“I know, I felt her,” she said as she walked over to Ryder and caressed her granddaughter’s cheek. “She’s growing weak, even with the jumpstart from Destiny. There is something you both should know. Destiny was here for a reason. She’s a sly one. She didn’t make you an offer, did she?”
“No,” I said as I narrowed my eyes on Danu, who looked healthier than she had in a while. “She said my pain was almost over.”
“She knew I didn’t want her help, and yet she still somehow managed to learn about you,” she whispered as she bent down and kissed Kahleena. “Has the Demon been feeding her?”
“Why would Ristan feed a Goddess?” I asked, and watched as a guilty flush stole across her cheeks.
“I meant your daughter. Ristan has different power than average Fae,” she whispered. “Kahleena has been given strength.”
I remembered Ristan’s kiss, and I also remembered the raw power that I received from it. Then it hit me. “Uh, please tell me he didn’t kiss my daughter like that!”
Ryder lifted a brow and smiled. “I asked him to give her a little jolt—and no, Synthia, he only kissed you like that because he wanted a taste. His nose healed nicely considering how hard I hit it for overstepping. Hence why his lips haven’t touched you since,” Ryder said with a knowing grin in his eyes.
“How exactly did he manage to feed her?”
“His touch; when he holds her. He’s been helping to keep her alive long enough to get her to the Tree,” he said.
“It was the least I could do after what I’d done to bring her into this world,” Ristan said softly from the door, but his eyes weren’t on me or my child; they were on Danu with something dangerous in them. “I just came to see how she was doing. I’ll come back when it’s less crowded.”
I handed Zander to Danu and walked over to Ristan. I didn’t know what was going on between him and my mother, and I seriously doubted that I wanted to know. I wrapped my arms around him and held him, but I felt his body tense uncomfortably, and I wondered at it. Either he didn’t want to be touched, or something else was going on with him.
“Thank you, Demon,” I whispered and lifted on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You’re her protector, and I’m glad it’s you. Cailean said you’d been staying in the room more lately, and I’d wondered if it was because you needed her, or she needed you. But, it seems it’s both. Carry my daughter to the Tree, please.”
“Flower,” he started to argue but I shut it down.
“No, she needs it. She’ll need all the help she can get right now and if you feeding her can make her stronger, do it. Please,” I whispered as I watched the indecision play in his eyes.
“Fine, it would be my honor,” he said softly as he kissed my cheek back. “It’s hard to resist her anyway; she’s as beautiful as her mother. She’s also as smart as her mother, and is already showing some sass.”
“Is she now?” I asked, but my eyes were on Danu, who was watching Ristan uneasily.
Okay, something was not right here, and I needed to know it. Problem with knowing it was I couldn’t un-know it afterwards if it was what I thought it was. I fought a battle, inside my head on whether I should ask, or just stay out of their damn business. I lost. But, on the bright side, I didn’t need to know it all, just one thing.