Everest rubbed his eyes. His cheeks were flushed. “It’s time for you to go before we break all the rules of time.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

FRANKIE

My hair smelled like a baby. Apparently babies always smelled like babies, even seven centuries ago. I pressed my hands to my face and inhaled, trying to memorize that scent. I’d only gotten to hold him for a matter of minutes, but I was going to cherish that memory. When tears splashed onto my palms, I wiped my face then pushed my hands into the Seelie tunnel wall.

Bring me where I need to go.

The tunnel wall opened instead of the floor, so I hopped out. Then froze. I was back in the oasis. Our cottage stood right in front of me looking exactly the same way it did a moment ago. I cursed and spun back around but the tunnel opening was gone. I cursed. There was no other option than to go inside so I stomped up the steps and pushed the door open.

Everest stood a few feet inside. He froze mid-step like he was walking toward the door when it opened. His eyes widened. “It is you.”

I groaned. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did wrong, I came right back⁠—”

“Mother?”

“Hi, Auryn⁠—”

“MEEMAW!” A little voice shrieked.

I jumped and turned toward the sound as a little boy half my height tackled my legs. He wrapped his arms around both of my legs and looked up at me with big black eyes. He blinked and his eyes were pink like mine. Then he giggled and his eyes were white and blue like Everest’s.

My breath left me in a rush. “Raeven?”

“YOU DO REMEMBER!” He squealed and bounced. “Mamman, she remembers me!”

I looked to Everest with wide eyes that were filling with tears by the second.

He gave me a small smile. “It has been five years.”

I crouched down so my face was level with Rae’s. “Look how big you are. Look at your eyes, they’re so pretty like your father’s⁠—”

“And he can’t control them yet.” Akecheta stepped out from around a corner. “He cannot go out into the world until he can.”

Auryn rolled her eyes, which were still the black they were when I was here last. “We’ve taken him into the world, we just cannot linger too long. He is working on it.”

“Why leave when this is home?” I grinned and ruffled his hair. “You know who I am?”

He nodded. “The paintings.”

“Oh, right, the paintings in my room⁠—”

“And the little one!” He spun away from me then charged into mine and Everest’s bedroom. Before I could even stand or ask the others what was happening, Rae was back. He clearly inherited that vampire speed. He grinned up at me, holding the printed picture I’d given them. “This painting. With baby me.”