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“I’ll make a few plates for everyone to eat. Moira, once Chase eats his fill, you should administer the potion. He’ll sleep well afterward.”

“I don’t have it. I wasn’t given a chance to get it before Shaye sent us here.”

Horano smiled, digging into a pocket of his vest. “He made sure I had it.”

“But never once did he go to the dresser…” Horano lifted a single brow, a silent hint as to how he received the gold vial he held pinched between his fingers. Moira rubbed the heel of her palm against her forehead. “Okay. Maybe I need to eat and rest some more. I obviously forgot the, well, obvious. Magic everywhere.”

Horano held the vial out to her. She took the delicate object and clenched it in her fist. “Thank you.”

“I’ll bring dinner over shortly.”

When she looked at Chase and Bryce, she caught Bryce’s green gaze before he looked away, but not before she saw his wistful expression. He understood what she held, the promise that resided inside the small catalyst.

Her heart gave a thump as she rolled the vial against her palm. Her son came first. He would always come first.

But if there was potion left over…

It was a gift for her and Chase, but she couldn’t let Rihanna suffer a broken heart again. Not when she held the means of preventing it.

Dagda would understand, wouldn’t he?

“Horano, how much would Chase need?” Moira asked, tipping her head to catch Horano portioning out shredded chicken and green beans. His honey-hued hair fell over his shoulders, hiding his face from her, but she caught the faint shrug as he laughed silently.

“You have plenty there,chroi.” He tilted his head and cast her a knowing glance over his shoulder. “Plenty.” His gaze lifted toward Bryce before he continued preparing their dinner plates. “To answer your question, though, a few drops will suffice for little Chase.”

“I’m not little, Uncle Horano! I’m a big boy. I’m the big brother and Shaye put me in charge of Mommy,” Chase argued.

Moira laughed, propping her head on her fist. Chase sat up on the mattress pad and smacked his hands down on the rough material. Bryce rolled onto his back, a smile stretched across his mouth, but stopping short of his eyes.

“Of course you’re not little, child. You’re simply”—Horano twisted toward her son and tapped his chin thoughtfully—“how shall I say this? A wee bit smaller than me.”

Chase scrambled off the mattress and stomped up to Horano, craning his neck to look up into the man’s face. He crossed his arms and huffed, little legs spread. “You can be bigger than me, but I can still make Bryce lose. And he’s bigger than me, too.”

“He’s got a point,” Bryce agreed, dropped his arms out to either side. “I surrender.”

“See?” Chase puffed out his chest. “I’m big here.” He bent his arm and pointed to his biceps. “And strong.”

“That I do not doubt, coming from you.” Horano ruffled Chase’s hair. He took a plate from the table and handed it to her son. “Eat so you can grow stronger.”

“I’ll make you lose, too. You’ll see.”

They all ate in silence, even Chase, who picked at his beans with a scrunched face. Terrek roused from his nap, smacking his lips and sucking his fist. Moira turned over on the mattress to feed Terrek while she continued to toy with her chicken, her appetite poor while she wondered what was happening wherever Shaye might be. The soft glow of their bond was her only link to him in this desolate hideaway, a reassurance that he was alive.

At some point, she began to hear whispers. Voices. They filled her mind like airy breaths, touching something deeper than shallow senses. Seeped through mortal barriers to reach a place within her soul that resonated with what she could only describe as some ancient language.

A casual glance at her companions provided no evidence that they heard the same.

“Is there dessert, Uncle Horano?”

“Aye. I believe there’s some of that chocolate cake that you enjoy so much. Finish your greens, child. Your mother won’t allow you to have cake unless you finish your plate.”

“But—”

“No excuses,” Moira interrupted. “Listen to your uncle.”

“Yuck,” Chase muttered. She smiled to herself, picturing the exaggerated pout on his mouth as he played with his food.

“I don’t know about you, kiddo, but I want chocolate cake,” Bryce teased, the edge of challenge in his voice. “I betyou I’ll finish my beans before you and I’ll get the biggest piece.”