One month later
Cali found Cillian outside on the deck. He did have enough magic left to build a nice cabin, with the help of some of his sasquatch relatives.
Aoife also asked her husband Adam to take care of Cillian and her unexpected new sister-in-law. Plus, Honk had ingratiated themselves into their half sister’s heart, too, and completely doted on little Aren, who resembled his mother more than his father, except for a prominent brow.
Their home didn’t take long and Cali loved her life in the woods with all the sasquatches and wolves and other assorted magical beings who were moving into the neighborhood. Cillian was quite grumpy about it, but she found ways to make him quite happy. Nightly. Daily. Often.
Right now, he was staring out over the snow-covered clearing and drinking a cup of coffee.
“How do you like coffee?” she asked, knowing he didn’t really eat much before, when he was in his realm, but some of his human traits were taking over.
“It’s tolerable.” He gave her a half smile. “Did you make it or Honk?”
“I did.” She sat down next to him.
“Honk’s is better,” Cillian mumbled, teasing.
Cali nudged him playfully. “Shut up.”
Cillian chuckled. “Are you happy here?”
“I am. I adore your sister and Bernadette.”
Cillian grunted. “Not sure I’m well-liked.”
“Well, you are still a bit grumpy.”
“You would be too if you lost your realm.”
“But it was worth it, right?” she teased.
His expression softened. “Yes. It was.”
She kissed him softly. “So, what’re you thinking about so intently?”
“Oh, whether I tell Caleb some news I’ve had for some time. I mean, it could start a conflict. It’ll probably start a conflict.”
“Does it have to do with that woman in the orb?”
Cillian nodded. “Caleb usually passes by about now. I’m waiting for him.”
“You’ve grown soft.” Cali kissed him on the tip of his nose. “I like this caring Cillian.”
He grunted again. “No. It’s a matter of power.”
“Uh-huh, nothing to do about love?”
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, maybe a little bit about love.”
Just then, Caleb walked through the tree line. Cali had only known him for a month, but she always thought him sad, and if he was separated from someone he cared about, then she could understand why.
“Caleb,” Cillian called.
Caleb glared at them, but walked over. “What do you want, wraith?”
“Oh, that’s not nice. I was going to be nice to him,” Cillian teased.
Cali elbowed him in the ribs. “No games.”
Cillian winced. “Fine. I have some information for you.”
Caleb crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow. “Really? I’m listening.”
“Colette is alive,” Cillian stated. “And, she has a child. Your child.”
Caleb’s eyes widened. “How do you…”
“I used to read minds,” Cillian explained. “I found her, before I lost my realm. She is alive, as is your son. He’s about two now, but they’re both being held captive. As collateral.”
“Where?” Caleb asked, his voice cold, which sent a shiver down Cali’s spine.
“Tiene’s prison. Elven realm. Before you march off there, you’ll have to formulate a plan and you’re going to need help. Not hotheaded punching and chest beating. You’ll need your brothers.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me this? What do you want?”
“Nothing,” Cillian stated. “Tiene did you wrong. It is your revenge to take. I know what it’s like to be separated from a loved one. You deserve your happiness. You all do.”
Caleb nodded. “Thank you, Cillian.”
Cillian nodded. “No sense in hiding your secret any longer. You might as well tell your siblings. Go save your loved one, Caleb.”
Caleb disappeared, back toward where Adam lived.
Cillian sighed and turned to Cali, finding her eyes filled with tears. “What?”
“You are a softy.”
Cillian groaned. “I think I should be rewarded for my good deed, don’t you think?”
Cali chuckled and stood up, pulled her sweater off and tossed it at him. “Oh, I think we can work out an arrangement.”
The next day
“I can’t go up to the door with you,” Cillian said, standing back.
“I wish you could meet my biological mother,” Cali said.
“I think I might scare her and I don’t have enough powers left to hide what I am.” He brushed back a strand of her brown hair. “You have to do this on your own.”
She took a deep breath. “I know. I’m nervous.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? You have contacted her and she’s excited to meet you.”
“Lots to be nervous about.” She wrung her hands together. “You’re going to be waiting here for me?”
Cillian smiled. “Yes. I’m going to fetch Honk some ingredients at the local store here in Kenora. It’s run by a particularly grumpy vampire.”
Cali chuckled. “Ingredients?”
Cillian rolled his eyes. “Don’t ask. Now, go. Go meet your mother.”
Cali kissed him one last time and then walked up the sidewalk to her mother’s home that overlooked Lake of Bays at the end of a serene street. She looked back, but Cillian had disappeared, but she wasn’t worried. She knew he would be back.
Her body was shaking with nerves and she knocked.
It was the longest minute of her life, but then the door opened and a woman, about seventeen years older than her, but with a familiar face, opened the door.
“Cali?” the woman asked softly.
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me neither. I…I didn’t know I was adopted.”
Her mother nodded. “I thought you were dead. I thought of you…I dreamed of you.”
“I’m sorry you were lied to.”
Her mother wiped away a tear. “I’m sorry you were lied to as well. You said you are happy?”
“I am.” Although she really couldn’t tell her mother yet about Cillian, but she planned to. She just had to get to know her mother first, before she fully trusted her with the secret world that seemed to coexist in the world she was raised in.
“I’m glad. Your brothers and sister are so excited to see you. Would you like to come in?”
“I would. I’m…sorry it took me so long to find you.” Cali’s voice broke. “It’s been a long journey to get here.”
Her mother’s brown eyes filled with tears. “Can I hug you? I’ve dreamt of hugging you for so long. Ever since I was pregnant with you. When I woke up and you were gone…I never got to see you, so if you wouldn’t mind a hug, I would really like that.”
“Yes!” Cali exclaimed, her voice breaking. “I would love a hug.”
Her mother wrapped Cali up in her arms and Cali closed her eyes. Between finding her mother, remembering who she really was, and having the love of her life, she realized she had everything she wanted.
Everything she had sold her soul for months ago.
She just had to go to hell and back to get it.