How to Keep a Fae (Coveted Fae #1)

Epilogue

Adaline

One year later…

I ’m standing in the doorway of the nursery when August slides up behind me. He smells of pine needles, the forest, and of him .

His lips press against my temple, full of promise. I have missed my mates while they have been away.

They only left this morning…and it is midafternoon. There are no words I can speak in my defense. Any moment without them is already too long.

I turn, putting my fingers to my lips, my smile shifting to Jayga who approaches behind August.

They turn to follow my line of sight.

“…and your namesake was a fine warrior, so you have that in your blood. He used to read this story to Adaline. He did all the voices. I don’t have that skill, but I shall do the best I can… ”

Caius, my son, is nestled in his grandmother’s arms on the infamous chaise longue gifted to me by the king, listening intently to what she says. He’s still too young to speak, but he already loves story time with my mother before he has his afternoon nap.

I was surprised and delighted, when she first started visiting me and not long after I was mated.

It wasn’t easy between us at first, but like all things, practice creates a bridge that makes the crossing from one place to another easier.

“Is she talking about your father?” Jayga whispers, brows raised as he sidles up on my other side.

I nod. There is a telltale sting of happy tears at the back of my eyes that accompany every time I catch her doing as much.

My mother finally found the courage to gift me my father’s name not long after she first began to visit.

Caius, the man she loved, mated, and lost.

The man I named my son after.

The father I never got to meet, but whom I’m learning about now through the words my mother speaks to my son.

“…and the bear went growl, growl, growl …”

“Aye, those voices are spot on,” Jayga whispers. “Better than August’s attempts.”

“What’s wrong with my animal voices?” August says, his voice getting louder.

“Hush,” I say, taking them by the hand and leading them away, lest they get Caius, whose eyes are already drooping, excited.

“You just don’t have the skill for it,” Jayga says. “It’s obvious our son likes my character voices better than yours… and the bear went growl, growl, growl …”

I snicker at Jayga’s surprisingly good impersonation of August’s accent .

“I don’t sound like that,” August says, scowling. “Caius likes my voice. He’s asleep in moments when I read to him.”

“Exactly,” Jayga says. “You’re better at diplomacy. Which is why you get to explain to one of the mothers that they should anticipate taking care of Caius for… oh, a week or so… imminently.” He nods toward the bedroom door and winks dramatically. “You’ve seen the nest? Can’t squeeze another cushion in there. Our mate is getting broody. Time to make baby number two.”

Thank you so much for reading How to Keep a Fae.