~Ever your servant, Rumpelstiltskin
“That was his final note. There all there.” She sighed. “One letter a day.”
“Oh my gods.” Shayera covered her mouth, eyes glistening with tears. “He never told me of these.”
Betty’s grin was short. “And now I see you here, hale and whole, and my heart is glad. And yet I know you are not, and it shatters me. When I met your father, everyone told me I was a fool to believe in him, to trust in him.”
Gerard stood and wrapped his arm around her mom’s shoulder. “Mon ange, I’m so glad you did not listen.”
She sniffed. “Me too.”
Gerard nodded. “I was the devil in disguise until I met your mother. We can change, little one. And as much as it galls me to admit it, I do believe the man may love you too.”
Danika sniffed. “Gods, love, it does it to me every time.” Then she grabbed a hanky and cleared her nose very loudly before sighing. “And now comes the bad news. He’s dying, love.”
“What!” Shayera blinked, because that was the very, very last thing she’d expected to hear. But when she looked at her godmother, hoping it was just a very ill-timed and horrible joke, Danika did not grin.
“Aye. You stole a part of his soul.” Her look was knowing and thoughtful.
“But, how did I do that? And why wouldn’t he let me know?”
“You did it when you left, dear. You won the games, and a price was to be paid. He paid it. By leaving, you took his joy with you. A demone can only live if they’ve got goodness to counterbalance the darkness inside them. Didn’t you know that?” She slathered some lemon crème onto her scone and, smiling, took a huge bite. “Oh Gerard, mon dieux, mon ami, this is simply heaven!”
But Shayera couldn’t smile. She’d never known, he’d not told her anything. Grabbing hold of her mother’s wrist, she squeezed it hard. “Mom?”
Betty patted her shoulder. “How long does Rumpel have, Danika?”
“Oh, hours I’d say.” She smiled again.
“What is so bloody funny about this?” Shayera shrieked, jumping out of her chair and knocking it to the floor.
“Oh, no no, don’t mistake me, love. The moment you arrive, he’ll be right as rain.” She chewed some more, swallowed, and then took a sip of her juice. “It’s just that I love love and this couldn’t have turned out more perfect. Don’t you think?”
“But his son…” Shayera’s heart beat harder with mixtures of excitement to see Rumpel again and dread for his boy.
“Will be fine.”
“Because I’m returning?”
“Oh no. No, I wish. Although, you did see the boy in the bowl of water, correct?”
“Yes, but how…”
“Oh shush, dear.” Danika wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin, “I’ve got spies everywhere, as I’ve said. I’ve thought long and hard on it and have determined that you can affect the boy by using your charms. It’s not a permanent solution, mind. But it’ll do, and at least it’ll sustain him long enough until you return from your quest.”
“My quest?”
“Mm.” She nodded and pointed at her empty plate. “Amazing, Frenchman. Always amazing.” She shoulder-bumped Briley and he gave her thumbs-up and a toothy grin. “Now, the quest.” She patted down her rose-petal gown. “Yes, right. Quest. I’ve learned of an amulet, said to bring sanity during a werewolf’s full moon. In theory, that very powerful amulet could also work to stave off the boy’s madness. He’d have to wear it eternally, but, it would be the good counterbalance needed to save his soul. So.” She dusted off her hands. “Who’s ready for a new adventure?”
Blue eyes glowed and Shayera laughed. All would be well.
“Mom. Dad. Briley. I promise not to stay away so long from now on, but—”
“It’s time to go,” Betty whispered and then drew her into her rose-scented hug.
Giving all of them kisses and asking Briley to tell Uncle Kelley that she loved him too, Shayera turned to Danika.
“Take me home, fairy.”
“With pleasure.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Rumpel!” She shrieked his name to the heavens the moment Danika deposited her on the drawbridge.
She wasn’t sure if he’d hear her, but suddenly the gate groaned open and a lone figure stood staring at her.
Blond and sexy and looking for all the world completely bewildered. “Carrot?”
Biting her bottom lip, she ran for him, stopping when she was within an inch of his arms. The sky cracked open and rain poured down, soaking them both to the bone, but neither one was ready to move.
“I love you.” She said it, poured it out there, and held her breath.
His lashes fluttered shut. “I thought you’d never forgive me. I.” He grabbed his chest, wincing. “I was ready to go.”
“You idiot,” she growled at him. “Why would you do that for me?”
He smirked. “Because if you love something, you let it go.”
She licked the rain off her lips, heart trapped in her throat. “If it stays away, it was never yours.”