Page 16 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

On a quiet laugh, Sebastian drew his wife close to his chest and kissed her cheek before wiping away the tears that fell. Gracie looked up, laughing as she fanned her face.

“I’m a mess.” Her words came out in a self-deprecating laugh. “These pregnancy hormones are driving me crazy. I’m just...we’re incredibly grateful for everything. Thank you doesn’t feel like enough.”

I caught the scent of Teddy just before I heard the front door close. A sense of peace washed over me when I heard the girls' voices with her.

I couldn’t stop the way my lips spread into a smile.

“If you’ll follow me downstairs, I can show you around, but first, I have to say hello to my mate.”

I didn’t wait to see if they followed me. Didn’t hear their footsteps behind me as I focused solely on Teddy. I saw her from the top of the stairs and rushed down to meet her.

Teddy laughed when she saw me, probably noting the ecstatic panic reeling inside me.

“Will you catch me if I jump on you?” she asked as I reached the last few steps.

“Always.” My grin grew.

With that, she ran to me, and when she jumped, I caught her in my arms. She pressed her head against my throat, where her laugh warmed my skin. Her arms twined behind my neck while her legs circled around my waist. With her wrapped around me, I scented her excitement, which resembled mine.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she said against my throat.

“I think that’s how you should greet me every time you see me.”

She pulled back, and I took my time looking at her and memorizing every angle of her face so I could tuck it away and pull it out when I left again.

“Every time?” she asked.

“Every time,” I said, my lips ghosting hers.

I pressed my lips to her, intending to give her a quick, chaste kiss. Instead, it was more—a lingering, slow, torturous kiss where her lips melted against mine.

With my hands on her ass, I pulled her closer to me as she squeezed her legs around me tighter.

“Gross,” Jasmine muttered.

Teddy laughed against my mouth, and slowly, regretfully, I put her back down.

After kissing her forehead, I knelt on the hard stone floor with my arms outstretched.

As always, Victoria was the first to jump into my arms, but Juanita and Jasmine were close behind.

I kissed each girl on the head, and when Juanita smiled up at me, I saw she was missing the front tooth that had been loose before I left.

“Your front tooth is gone!” Although it came out excited, it bothered me that I’d missed it.

Her grin grew wider. “It fell out.”

“And I bet it wasn’t as scary as you thought it’d be.”

She shook her head. “Wasn’t scary but”—she pouted—“Uncle George said the tooth fairy doesn’t come to Niev.”

“What’s a tooth fairy?” I questioned, sending Teddy a confused look.

Teddy’s fingers slid into my hair, making me bite back the rumble of pleasure that built at the back of my throat.

When I stood, I stepped behind her and held her back to my chest, with one hand circling her stomach while I used the other to sweep the thick strands of her red hair over her shoulder so I could kiss the back of her neck.

She peered back at me from over a slender shoulder. “I’ll explain who the tooth fairy is later.”

She took my hand and turned toward the stairs where Sebastian and his family watched us.

“Why don’t you introduce us to your new guests?” she asked me.

I gestured toward Gracie and her younglings, watching Grandma Richter slowly make her way down the stairs. “This is Gracie and her two sons, Ethan and Wes. Ethan’s the same age as you, Juanita.”

Juanita gave me another toothless grin while Teddy shook Gracie’s hand. It didn’t take long for Juanita to befriend the two boys, who followed her to where Victoria and Jasmine played to the side of the foyer, away from the adults but still within eyesight.

“Sebastian,” I said, motioning toward him, “knows where our fae are and will be helping us.”

Teddy gave him a careful, measured look. “We appreciate your help.”

Sebastian’s throat bobbed while Gracie smiled.

“We appreciate you allowing us to stay here,” Gracie said. “You’ve been incredibly kind to us, especially after . . . everything.”

I gave her a stiff nod and moved to stand by Grandma Richter when she reached the foyer.

“This is Grandma Richter,” I told them.

Once I gave Grandma Richter their names, she narrowed her eyes at Sebastian, taking in the uniform he still wore. “Seems the least you can do is help our prince Elias since I’m sure you and the other soldiers who kicked us out are the cause of the fae’s disappearance.”

My chest swelled at the way she stood up for me while Sebastian shifted his weight from one foot to the other. It was good to have people look out for me while I did my best to tend to everyone else.

“Yes, ma’am,” he muttered.

I kissed the top of Grandma Richter’s graying head. She turned to Teddy and the girls, and I noted the dark circles under her eyes. I wasn’t sure why she’d made my mother her responsibility, but I was grateful for it. I was grateful for a lot from this old woman who’d taken me in as her own.

“Did Mother have another bad night?” I asked her quietly when she stood next to me.

She patted my arm. “She’s trying, Elias. Give her time.”

I was selfish in my desire for her to improve, while a part of me knew no amount of time would help her. I miss him too, Mama, but I hate that I’ve lost you as well.

I tugged Teddy closer to me and breathed in the soothing scent only she possessed.

And not for the first time, I was grateful I didn’t understand the depth of my mother’s grief.