Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
But she knew just where to find him.
A sting of concern prickled her as it had almost every night for the past nine months. Getting out of bed, Rose’s feet hit the cold flagstone floors for two seconds before she tiredly conjured a pair of slippers. Their home, a castle Fionn called An Caomhnóir, wasn’t the most eco-friendly home in the world. During the summer days, the flagstone floors were a saving grace, but when the temperature fell at night, it was a different story. Technically, they could keep the castle at whatever temperature they wanted, but Rose was too tired to expel that much energy.
Leaving their large bedchamber, Rose walked sleepily down the hallway. The castle had two wings, and Fionn wanted everyone in one wing, keeping them close. Quietly opening the second doorway on the right, Rose peeked into the room. Moonlight spilled through the window, falling across the beautiful face of their daughter Saoirse. She insisted they leave her curtains open at night because she loved falling asleep to the sight of the moon and stars. In a few months, she’d turn five. The years had passed so swiftly since her birth.
Rose had known she was pregnant when she’d walked into battle that day in Edinburgh. It had been the most difficult decision of her life. However, she’d also known she was pivotal in the fight. And that if they’d lost, there would be no real future for their miracle child, anyway. Fionn had told her it was possible they’d have a child, but that it happened rarely for the fae, often taking decades, sometimes centuries. It was a miracle they’d fallen pregnant so soon.
Fionn had to abide by her wishes, though he’d been angry and terrified of losing another child.
Thankfully, it had all turned out right in the end. Six months after the battle, Saoirse was born. However, for the first year of her life, Fionn had woken in the middle of the night while their daughter slept to watch over her. He feared being away from her side. It had taken a lot of reassuring and talking for him to relax into parenthood alongside Rose.
But now they were back here again.
Rose blew a kiss into their daughter’s room and used her magic to shut the door without making a noise. She padded down the hallway to the next door on the left. It was already open.
Stopping in the doorway, Rose felt an ache of compassion score across her chest as she took in the sight of her mate and husband.
Fionn Mór was every inch the hulking warrior, his broad shoulders almost impossible. Right now, he used his strength to gently cradle their baby son.
Their son who had come quickly after Saoirse. A miracle upon a miracle.
Ardal, at only nine months old, was proving to be a sleeper. While Saoirse had woken them all through the night with her cries for at least the first year, Ardal slept like a dream. Rose hoped long would it continue. Right now, he was safe and content in his father’s big arms.
Fionn looked up at her, and her heart crashed against her ribs. So much pain and worry in his beautiful green eyes. He was terrified of losing their children. Centuries before when he’d been a Celtic king, the Faerie Queen had stolen Fionn into Faerie to punish him for killing a fae prince. In doing so, she took him from his children and his then wife. His wife ultimately betrayed him when he returned as fae. He never saw his son and daughter again.
“They’re not going anywhere,” Rose whispered, giving him a sympathetic smile of reassurance.
An Caomhnóir was wrapped in powerful spells that hid their estate from the human and supernatural world. There was nowhere safer for their family. Having grown up human, Rose worried for the kids’ socialization, but as two of the rarest beings in the world, it wasn’t safe for them to attend a human school.
Their kids were pure fae.
While five years ago they’d eliminated the greatest threats against them and the world, it didn’t mean there weren’t supernaturals and humans alike who wouldn’t kill to have fae powers at their disposal.
It meant keeping them close until they were grown and strong enough to protect themselves.
Fionn was the most well-read being Rose had ever known, and together they were homeschooling Saoirse. To socialize her, they took regular trips to Scotland to spend time with Thea and Conall and their hybrid fae children. It was a relief to know Saoirse and Ardal would have a community of other fae to turn to. Visits with their friends’ kids were enough for now.
Fionn glanced down at their son. “He’s so small.”
“He is. But it’s temporary. One day he’ll be as tall and powerful as his father.” Rose couldn’t quite imagine that day yet, but she knew it would come far too quickly.