These Wondrous Moments (Fates)

1. Ellis

Ellis

“I have no fucking clue what to get her,” I grumble to Allie as we walk down the street, bundled in our coats. “What do you get someone who has been held captive by a sociopath for half of their life?”

Allie sighs, her breath fogging in front of her. “Shit, I have no clue. Maybe books? Something she can lose herself in?”

“Maybe. I mean, I lost all interest in reading when I was going through my ordeal. But, I guess it’s better than nothing?”

“We can at least check out the bookstore. At the very least we can buy ourselves something!”

I laugh and link my arm with hers. “Always the optimist.”

“How is she doing?” Allie asks, sobering.

I shrug. “About as well as can be expected. I don’t think she’ll ever fully recover from it. She’s doing better about being around more people, but men still make her nervous.” I shake my head, my heart squeezing for everything my sister has gone through. While Sam didn’t treat her the same way he treated me, she was surrounded by guards who leered and made comments. Not to mention all the torture at Sam’s hands. “I don’t know. I just wish there was something I could do, but I know it’s just going to take time and patience.”

Allie squeezes my arm where hers is linked with mine. “You’re doing everything you can, El. Don’t beat yourself up over it. She might not say it, but I know she appreciates everything.”

I swallow back the lump that tries to choke me. It’s been three months since I killed Sam. Three months since I freed my sister from his cruelty. Three months since I freed myself from that monster’s clutches. A weight has been lifted. I finally have relief and comfort I hadn’t known since before my mother’s death. Killing Sam didn’t solve every problem. I still have moments of panic and wake from dreams screaming and sweating. But my guys are always there to bring me back down. To remind me I’m safe. Loved.

We’re still fighting for humans and weaker magicals. It’s a fight we’ll probably always be fighting, but it feels good to be doing something. And doing it with my Shields by my side has been everything I’ve ever needed. Learning how to live again, how to be normal—or at least as normal as I can be when I’m a Harpy with three mates—has been fun. Stressful at times, but truly an amazing experience.

Allie and I push into the bookstore. Warmth surrounds us, thawing our frozen exposed skin. Winter in Altair is brutal with the icy wind blowing off the river and streaming between the buildings. I stomp my feet, trying to regain feeling in my toes despite the fur lined boots Sterling bought for me.

Allie grins. “Meet back up in thirty?”

“Thirty minutes will do some serious damage to our bank accounts.” But I grin back and we separate, each going to the section of books we prefer.

Allie is a mystery and thriller lover. I prefer romance. The spicier the better. But before I head to that section, I browse the aisles for something my sister may possibly like. We were so young when everything happened. I have no idea what her taste in books would even be, but I find myself in the inspirational section, and while it might be cheesy, it feels right.

My fingers brush the spines of books, not really reading the titles, but trusting my Harpy instincts. Something inside me tells me to stop, so I pull out the book my fingers rest on. A collection of inspirational quotes. Better than a book about healing and learning to live with your trauma. I tuck it under my arm and turn to head toward the romance section.

Before I get there, I pass a row of poetry books. Gracie used to love to write poetry. I walk down the aisle, stopping when I feel like I should, and tug a book off the shelf at random. The cover is beautiful with flowers and stars, so I add it to the quote book. And then I find the crown jewel. On the endcap of the poetry aisle is a selection of notebooks. A deep purple leather notebook with golden stitching and shiny golden edged paper catches my eye. I grab that as well. Maybe she’ll be able to journal her way through her trauma. Or start writing poetry again.

With my sister’s gift selected, I head to the romance section to do some serious shopping.

The first thing the guys did after things settled down was have a driveway put in so we didn’t have to drive over the rocky terrain to get to the cabin. So, Cade’s red Corvette smoothly climbs the mountain. Despite my first attempt at driving being an epic fail, Cade is a great teacher, and it only took me a few weeks to get the hang of it, and now he trusts me enough with his car to let me borrow it. It’s nice to have this bit of freedom. Something I’ve never had before in my life.

The cabin comes into view, the sun just starting to sink below the horizon, and I grin. “What’s this?” I ask, climbing out of the car with my bags.

Sterling waves his hand toward the house. “We’re decorating for Christmas. Wanna help?”

“I don’t know, guys,” Cade says, eyeing my bags. “We might need to return all of the decorations just to pay for the books she bought.”

I flip him off as I walk past, swaying my hips enticingly. “I’d love to help. You could use some pointers, anyway.”

I set the books just inside the door and when I return outside, Kai takes a chair from the porch and puts it in the yard, facing the house. “Your throne, my queen.” He bows dramatically with a grin. “You can sit here and direct us peasants where to put the decorations.”

I spend the next two hours, wrapped in a blanket with an endless supply of hot chocolate, and watch my guys string lights and hang garland. Sitting back and watching them bicker and tease makes my heart swell. And Kai wearing a Santa hat makes me chuckle every time I look at him.

By the time they’re done I can’t say they did a good job, but it’s festive. The lights are droopy in places, the garland is wrapped asymmetrically around the porch pillars. A sad looking gingerbread man made of lights is about to lose an arm, and poor Frosty’s hat won’t stay on his head. It’s a bit messy. Sloppy even. But I love it.

“I bought a tree and a bunch of ornaments, too,” Sterling says tugging me inside. “Do you want to put it up now or later?”

“Now, please.” I can’t keep the smile off my face.

Kai steals me from Sterling and wraps me in his arms, pulling me to his chest. “It’s our first Christmas together,” he says, lips brushing against my temple. “I knew that would make you happy, but being able to actually sense the joy this brings you is truly special.”

I don’t have the words to tell him how this makes me feel. My first Christmas with my guys, totally free and able to live my life. Luckily, I don’t have to find the words. Kai can sense it all. He kisses me gently, and I melt under his touch.

“Gross,” Cade says, slipping a hand between us and shoving us apart. “Get a room.”

I bite my lip and giggle, stepping away. With the three guys, the tree is assembled in record time and we get to work hanging the generic ornaments Sterling bought. When it’s done, we all step back to admire our work.

“Not too bad,” Kai says.

“It’s just missing one thing.” Sterling hands me something wrapped in white paper.

I peel the wrapping away to reveal a delicate spun glass golden feather. It catches the light as I hold it up, and my breath sticks in my throat. “It’s … beautiful,” I whisper.

Sterling leans over and kisses my cheek. “Seemed appropriate for our first tree.”

I squeal as Sterling crouches down and shoves his head between my legs. He stands, making me grab his hair for support as he lifts me onto his shoulders. Once I have my balance, I place the feather on the top of the tree where everyone will be able to see it. I’m pretty sure my smile will remain permanently on my face this entire holiday season.