Page 28 of Tempting the Fae Lord (The Gatekeeper’s Weakness)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Gale

My father is a blacksmith, but there’s no smithy, no forge, no shop where Ezra remembers one standing long ago.

No second story above where a small young family made their residence.

No hint of what I seek.

Only a cobblestone corner with a shuttered wooden vending cart and a crooked Closed sign resides here now.

I stare as though expecting something to change if I wish hard enough. A childish inclination, but I can’t help trying. “Are you sure this is the spot?”

“It was, yes.”

“I don’t understand.”

Ezra’s expression is grim. “It’s been many years. Things change.”

“But they lived here.”

“They did once. But that the entire building is gone could mean many things. A quake or perhaps a fire. Not uncommon for a forge.”

“A fire?” Tears well in my eyes. My vision clouds pink.

“We don’t know yet.” Ezra swipes my cheeks gently with his thumbs. They come away red. Blood tears. “Don’t lose all hope.”

I sniffle. “This isn’t what I thought would happen.”

He rubs my shoulders. “I know, love, but there is more we can try.”

“What more?”

“The fae I swapped with you is likely still living. If we find him, he might have the answers you seek.”

“How will we find him?”

“There are ways. Messenger channels of the earth side preternatural that we can access. I’ll show you. If someone knows something, we’ll find out. A slow process, but one we can pursue if you like?”

It’s good to know there’s an option.

That this isn’t a dead end.

But the longing stirring in me now isn’t for an unknown, long-lost family.

It’s for the comfort of Eulie’s arms. Her assurances.

Chester’s quiet calm. Marissa and Jack’s camaraderie.

Even pesky Amaris and her weird penchant for spitting.

Because as much as I’d like to find the family who birthed me, it turns out I’ve been with my real family all along, right under my nose.

Ezra awaits my answer.

“I don’t know. I miss home.”

“That’s all right. There’s no need to make any decisions right now.” He pulls me into a welcome embrace. “We have time.”

I bury my face in his neck. “We do, don’t we?”

“We have an eternity.” The low rumble of his voice vibrates where my cheek is pressed to his throat.

I sigh against his cool skin and wrap my arms around his middle. My ears are so sensitive I hear blood flowing through his veins, and it stirs in me a powerful thirst. I welcome the craving as something else to focus on.

Something new.

Something we now share.

I straighten and take another long look at the empty corner where my parents’ home once stood, where my life would have been. I need to move on.

For now, at least.

There will be time to be sad later, to search later, to find them, or to mourn them later. Because Ezra has given me that time.

An eternity of laters at my fingertips.

Right now, I want to use my time for something new.

“Teach me to hunt.” I meet his dazzling dark gaze. “Teach me how to drink from strangers but leave them living, as you do. I want to learn.”

“You’re sure?” He arches his brows. “You don’t have to. I can go on feeding you from my vein with no ill effects for some time.”

“I want both.”

The corner of his lip raises in a slight smirk. “Greedy thing.”

I kiss him. Because I can. Because he’s very kissable. “You’ll show me how to do it?”

His smirk widens to a wicked, toothy smile. “Oh, Mooncalf, I would love to.”