Page 35 of Straw and Gold (A Realm of Revelry #2)

Morella

Killian’s body, warm, but heavy, sprawled across my chest as he finally slept. I squirmed, adjusting my wings and lifting my head with a pillow as he passed out entirely. I didn’t think he’d meant to fall asleep.

The stubborn ass was planning to stay awake forever, just waiting for Céad to come slice my throat and take me from him for good.

I smoothed his red hair back from his face, admiring the few freckles across his cheeks and neck.

I grinned like a fool in love because this was what I’d wanted, what I’d waited for and convinced him we could have together.

Kissing his hair, I adjusted him further, gently lifting his head to rest below my breasts so I could actually breathe. I reached for the thirteenth book in the Language of the Changelingfae series and opened to my current place, held for me by a long strip of crimson ribbon.

This final volume was an assortment of many subjects.

It taught the Céaduah names for different animals in Revelry, climates, and weather systems. I was skimming over these words carefully, looking for anything that could relate to Killian.

I’d said so many words at the edge of that cliff on so many chilled mornings—combinations of things that could lead to just one correct pronunciation of his true name.

I knew it was there—somewhere between the pages of those books was the key I needed to save my sister from a human death and my husband from losing his powers forever.

I absently stroked my fingers through his hair, covering us both before allowing Alista into our room to deliver two bowls of mutton stew and fresh baked bread.

She took one look at our position and grinned with a knowing smirk, backing out of the room quietly.

I heard her insistence in the hall, telling Fedir we were occupied and he’d have to wait to check on the state of my wounds.

All was as it should be, but the nagging in my head would not leave. I had a task and I had to focus. I loved my husband, and he loved me, and now was the time to prove how clever his wife truly was.

My stomach gurgled and I glanced longingly at the bowls of stew, but I wasn’t ready to wake him up just yet. I flipped to the next chapter and gasped at the footnote of the illustrations.

Morelli .

Mushrooms of all shapes and sizes littered the page, each with colorful details and defining features written in common and Céaduah.

Morelli.

Of course .

My name meant mushroom. Our mother had told Korven and me this, but we never bothered asking in which language or even why . Instead, he nicknamed me “Little Fungi,” bringing out the moniker when I did something he found particularly humorous because who names their daughter after such a thing?

I held in my squeal, kicking my feet and covering my mouth.

This was it . Killian said I had all I needed to guess his name. He said I knew it. Intimately. He must have meant because it was a variation of my own.

I took a deep breath, leaning down to kiss the top of his head again and again.

He stirred, but I soothed him back to sleep.

I wouldn’t be able to say his true name until morning anyway and it was best I kept it to myself.

I could just see it—in the morning, we’d be ready.

I’d shout his name across the valley below us and his power would return.

Maybe Céad would finally show her face and congratulate us both.

Maybe we’d shift right then, finding ourselves in front of Seraphine and Korven’s door and he’d transform her into fae.

Forestfae, I’d imagine, considering her upbringing and considering his own.

If Seraphine was Forestfae, she’d be able to shift through the trees and travel would be trivial for visits.

They could arrive for solstices and birthdays.

I breathed a sigh. I’d never miss one of my niece's birthdays.

Ever. They could bring her for visits, they could drop her off and Killian and I could keep her here, giving Korven and Seraphine time to themselves.

And when Killian and I had our own children, we could?—

“What has you smiling like that, Moh Dhóches?”

His voice was gravelly as he blinked up at me, head still resting on my belly.

I bit my lip in my grin, shaking my head. “Shhh. Sleep, husband. I’ll tell you in the morning.”