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“Aspen said she’d bring up tea and scones shortly. Why don’t we go on the veranda? There’s a chill, but it’s not unbearable.” Moira jutted her chin toward the invisible barrier protecting the room from the cooler air. “In fact, the night looks beautiful. Peaceful.”

“Shall I fetch you a throw? Shawl?”

“Nope. Body temp’s gone up a bit while baking my little bun.” She gave her belly a loving pat. “I feel bad for Shaye some nights. It’s like my internal thermostat is on the fritz. Hot, cold, tossing covers, pulling them back on. Ugh.” She linked her arm around Rihanna’s and led her toward the balcony. “I often wonder how he could bear a night’s sleep in the same bed as me.”

“Oh, sweet Moira,” Rihanna breathed. “My brother adores and loves you so much that he’d endure the worst torture to stay by your side. If he could, he’d take away any and all of your discomfort and suffer them for you.”

“I know he would. I sensed on numerous occasions his magic trying to ease my nausea in the beginning, and the aches now.”

“Aye.” Rihanna paused at the magical barrier to the veranda and lifted a splayed hand. A dim white light began to glow around her fingers as she wielded an essence of power that effortlessly disengaged the spell protecting the room from the elements. A wash of chilly air greeted them on a subtle breeze, ruffling the gauzy curtains around the doorway. The waterfall that fell into the grotto lent a subdued melody to an otherwise quiet eve. “Come.”

They settled onto the sofa beneath the trellis awning and a canopy of lush, winding vines and fragrant roses. The glowing white of the moon lit the rushing water, pouring a beam of light into the enclosed grotto and feeding the pools below with moon magic. The flicker of rainbow lights trailed in the path of faery and frost flies as they flew about in a twinkling performance. Their mountain castle home thrived on the magic of the land, the spirits of the elements. Naught was taken away from the land, each and every aspect of Talaenian Fae life incorporated into what the land provided. Their castle home was a symbolic example, expanding from the mountain without destroying it. Vivacity filled the eve, a resonant hum in the floor, the plants, the world around them. A world untouched by humans, save for those one of Fae blood brought to the magical realm.

Rihanna wished one day that Moira could experience the true essence of Fae magic. Dagda had gifted her brother with a means of making it happen, but Moira refused to accept achange from mortal to Fae while carrying a child. She had confided her concern about Chase and how the rare Fae potion might affect him.

“How’ve you been feeling,chroi?” Rihanna asked.

Moira lounged back in the sofa, stretching her legs out on the veranda floor with a sigh. Rihanna stifled a laugh as she watched her sister slouch in what looked to her to be a very uncomfortable position.

“Pregnant. Very pregnant. Still can’t believe I’m only six months along, and that Terrek will be born soon. One good thing about Fae babies and their shorter gestation periods. Unfortunately, I’m as big at six months with this one as I was at nine with Chase. This little one isn’t easy on my weight gain, or my belly, for that matter.” She rolled her eyes before her gaze leveled on Rihanna. “Shaye made the damn scale disappear, sneaky bugger.”

Rihanna shook her head. “He mentioned you’d become obsessed with weighing yourself multiple times a day. You’ve naught to worry over. You’re beautiful. Radiant, actually. This pregnancy has made you glow. My brother’s love and adoration for you grow each day. The look in his eyes and the expressions he wears when he speaks of you touch a place within me, since I can understand the power of such love.”

Moira shifted in the seat, pressing out of the crease to straighten up. Her humor died as she turned to Rihanna, her blue-gray eyes glinting with concern.

“These Court stints Shaye attends at Dadga’s requests are more and more unbearable. I’ve no idea when he’ll return, what he’ll be facing while he’s gone. All I know is that hewillreturn, and I have Chase, you, and my new family here to alleviate the pain of being separated from him.”

“I’ll always be here for you,chroi.”

“Somehow, I wonder about that.” Moira tilted her head,her eyes narrowing. “I never needed a man until I met Shaye. Until I realized how powerful and consuming a soul mate bond could be. I know in my heart I wouldn’t survive losing him, but I’d have to figure out a way to do just that for Chase and our child. But you? You have survived losing your soul mate. I can’t imagine the grief and agony you’ve suffered all these years.”

Moira clasped Rihanna’s hand between her own, a faint crease forming over her brow. Rihanna looked away, unable to hide the war of emotions Moira’s words stirred alive.

“You’ve lived without him for over a century, but you don’t have to live without him any longer. Why do you do this to yourself? Why do you stay here, Ri? Why don’t you go back to my world and try and find him? If I lost my soul mate and had a chance to reunite with him, I’d jump on the opportunity without a second thought.”

A familiar dull pain spread through her chest, filling her vessels and constricting around her heart. A faint burn started at the corners of her eyes and she worked her jaw to hold back tears. Moira’s astute words hit their intended target, as they always did.

But how could she bring herself to come between two people who’d already made a promise to each other? How could she destroy another woman’s heart when she understood the pain of having her own heart torn to shreds?

“After all the advice you’ve offered me since we’ve met, all the times you consoled me, provided me with support and assurance, I’m certain you know what you should be doing. I don’t have to tell you.” Moira’s fingers tightened around Rihanna’s hand. “Look at us. We can’t even drown our sorrows over a bottle of wine. Well, I can’t. What fun am I to you?”

“Don’t speak such nonsense, Moira. I enjoy spendingtime with you,” Rihanna said, her voice thick and her words strained as she fought the stubborn ache in her chest.

“You might enjoy spending time with me, but we both know what would bring you true happiness. What would put that spark back in your eyes like I saw after you spoke with him at the club. You’ve mourned him for over a century, have become resigned to his death. But he’s been reborn, and I finally saw hope fill some void in your expression the night you two crossed paths. Hope, Ri.”

Rihanna clenched her teeth, her throat tightening. Tears brimmed against her eyelids. If she blinked, they’d fall, and she couldn’t let them fall. Those tears would weaken her resolve to do what was right.

To stay out of the current-day Mikhail’s affairs and let him live his life as if he’d never spoken to her.

“I’m going to ask you a question I’ve refrained from asking all this time. Why do you insist on punishing yourself here when the only person who can make you happy and whole again is in New Jersey?”

“I must agree with Moira, sister.”

Her brother’s deep, rich voice shook her resolve, lancing through her immediate thoughts. She sucked in a slow, controlled breath, using Moira’s momentary excitement to compose herself. Mattered not. Shaye would see right through her mask. He always did.

The click of Shaye’s boots drew closer as he approached the veranda. The subtle crackle of his power lent a renewed energy to the air around them. It touched her soul, a soothing balm she desperately needed.

“I see you’ve returned earlier than anticipated, dear brother.”