45

ADRIAN

THE longest week of my life . I knew this set-up would be hard on all of us, but fuck, I hadn’t expected it to hurt so much. The feeling of hopelessness seemed to grow the longer I waited for her to return.

I just had to remind myself that I would be her personal mentor soon, and in the meantime, my presence was needed here.

And I’d much rather be with the children, over going to meet my mother and father for lunch.

The elevator doors opened, and for the first time since we returned to Avalon, the halls were alive with workers. There had always been a large staff at the palace, but with my mother’s deteriorating health, the workforce had been cut down to only a few trusted families. But now, there were planners and decorators everywhere, and my stomach twisted.

The Nyx Ball. It was fast approaching and would likely change the game. Ivy would have to be announced as the Daughter of Nyx, as was tradition. I doubted even my mother could hide that. It meant powerful creatures from all the realms, converging in one place, all with the same hope: finding their mate, if they hadn’t done so already.

The chances of Ivy finding another mate was high. I vaguely knew there had been tension between my mother’s other mates when my father and Magnus had come into the picture. After over three hundred years of having my mother to themselves, it had been a hard transition. But they’d worked it out.

I knew we would too, when the time came, as hard as it might be. The dynamic would change, I understood that better than anyone else.

I walked the halls unnoticed, the staff too busy with their tasks to recognise me. It didn’t take me long to reach the large walkway between the main palace and the Queen’s wing. The set up was similar to the guest suites we were currently living in, though rather than different floors with apartments, the entire building across from me was designed for the Queen and her mates. I’d done the walk a thousand times, and yet I found myself hesitating at the end of the hall. The guards were heavily geared, their weapons at the ready. I recognised a few from my childhood, and some from my time at the Phoenix Compound.

Where there used to be six lining the bridge, there were now at least two dozen. They were a mixture of different creatures, but all powerful. It made my stomach twist, wondering whether my mother truly believed herself to be in this much danger.

And it pissed me off, knowing we didn’t have half the number of guards on our floor.

Squaring my shoulders, I stalked the length of the bridge, barely feeling the protective charms roll over my skin. There were hundreds woven together like a net over the wing, and yet I felt only a hint of them. The guards didn’t stop or check me. But I recognised my father’s magic in the charms; they tingled over my skin, checking me for any of my own that might be a threat.

The doors to my mother’s wing opened, and an attendant bowed their head as I entered the main foyer. There were grand stairs leading up to the next floor and in between them, an elevator. The entire main floor of the wing was for formalities, despite the fact my mother rarely let anyone other than our family into the wing.

My stomach bottomed out, and I hesitated. So many memories came rushing back; of midnight escapades with Lyra when we were children running through these same halls. Of my father, after being told not to, teaching me how to rollerblade on the marble and almost cracking a tooth after falling.

There were fond memories here, and harder ones. Like realising my mother’s other mates cared little for the children that weren’t their own. That my mother allowed it.

I couldn’t imagine that. Hating the children born of Ivy and her other mates. The idea of disregarding a child because they had been born not of my seed made me ill. I wouldn’t be able to hate the sibling of my own kid, whether it be Rowan’s or the bastard mystery mate’s.

That was a life I feared.

Sighing, I moved through the wing, finding no one else around. Unlike the rest of the palace, there was a coldness, a quiet that chilled me to the bone. Once, it had been alive. Now, it resembled a tomb.

One thing I never doubted was my mother’s love for her children. As I walked the hall towards the large kitchen, I stopped to take in the hundred or so photos and paintings. There were two large pieces done with all of us, and surrounding them, little photographs; some black and white, others grainy. But they all revealed when in time they’d been captured, highlighting moments throughout the lives of my siblings.

There were a few of me and Lyra from our childhood. Being the youngest, I always thought time would reveal we were the forgotten ones, but that hadn’t been the case at all. The twins, Falena and Esmeray, were in most of ours, too. I spied some of Sylvia and I with our father, of Griffon and me. Dante at one of his parties. Group shots when we were all home.

“There you are.”

I jumped and turned to find my father standing at the end of the hall, with a wide smile on his face. “Sorry, I got caught up with all of—this.” I motioned to the photos, a lump forming in my throat as he joined me.

“You should take a few,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Your siblings will be stopping by over the next week or so to take what they want.”

I nodded slowly. “It would be nice to have some for my room,” I admitted, turning to him. “Sorry to keep you and Mom waiting.”

Dad shrugged, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “It’s all right. Your mother wants to spend as much time with you all before…” He trailed off. The sentence didn’t need to be finished for me to understand what he meant.

Before she returned to Nyx.

Death was too easy of a word to describe what would happen to my mother. It was more than death. It was a complete dissolution of her physical body as her magic finally transitioned into Ivy. There would be nothing left of her when it was done.

He guided me towards the kitchen. “Will anyone else be joining us?” I asked.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Just you, me, and your mother.” We entered the kitchen, and I frowned at the few plates gathered on one of the counters. “Here, take these. I was going to take the rest up myself. We’ll be eating in your mother’s sitting room.”

I didn’t argue; taking the plates from him, we didn’t speak as we made our way towards the service elevator in the butler’s pantry. The kitchen on the main floor was large, opulent, and meant for kitchen staff, and the service elevator allowed them to take meals to the dining room unseen.

We took it quietly, each holding onto plates of my mother’s favourite dishes. She’d always had a love for pasta, and the trays were laden with some of her favourites. She’d always told me, if she were to return to the human world, she’d be in Italy. Not just for the pasta, but for the wine, too.

My throat tightened, and as soon as we were let off the elevator, I started down the familiar hallway towards her bedroom. The suite was at the end of the hall and sat between the rooms of my father and the other mates, and the bedrooms for the children.

The doors to Mother’s bedroom were open. I inhaled the familiar scent of lavender and citrus that reminded me of childhood. The curtains were open to let in sunlight and revealed the mountain and trees beyond. The rest of the space was as I remembered it; there was a large fireplace centring the room, with sofas surrounding it. There were doorways on either side of the fireplace leading into her actual bedchamber and a small office.

My mother sat at a table in the corner of the room, one with windows overlooking the grounds, and she offered me a tired smile as I walked up to her.

“My son,” she murmured, holding her hand out to me. “You got sidetracked, it seems.”

I lowered the plates and immediately went to her side. “I was looking at the old photographs. Father found me.”

I gently took her hand and leaned down to kiss her cheek. But rather than rising, my mother held me to her. “I am so proud of you, Adrian. I need you to know that,” she whispered.

My throat tightened again. “I know,” I replied, breathing her in. It was harder than I thought it would be. Knowing that this could be our goodbye. “I know you are.”

She released me, and I rose. My father had already taken his place at her side, so I slid into the chair next to her. “Tell me everything, Adrian. I want to know all about your life right now. Your plans for the future,” she said tiredly.

“You know most of it,” I replied, reaching for a bowl of salad. Out of habit, I scooped a portion onto her plate.

“Just a small amount, honey. I don’t have as big an appetite anymore.”

I stiffened but forced myself to nod and added some to my own plate. My stomach churned; I doubted I’d eat much today, at least not until I had Ivy in my arms again.

So, I told her as much as I could bring myself to. Any of my worries washed away with each question she or my father asked. I had to remind myself that after she left us, he would, too. They all would.

It made the afternoon harder, realising that soon, my parents would be gone from my life. That this really was goodbye.

~

The suite fell quiet when Ivy returned. Elias entered first, exhaustion written across his face, but I pushed past him to find my girl in the entryway. My heart stuttered when she came into view, relief flooding me when our eyes met.

She was out of her uniform, instead wearing jeans and an oversized sweater, with her hair braided back how she preferred it for class. There was a slight flush to her cheeks, and as soon as our eyes met, she dropped her book bag and rushed towards me.

Fuck, it felt good to have her in my arms. She buried her face in my chest, hands clutching the back of my sweater. I brushed a hand over her hair, hugging her tight to my chest as anxiety and pain from earlier finally washed away.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” I murmured into her hair.

Her arms tightened around me, and she sighed. “It’s good to be home.”

I held onto her longer, very much aware of the others. But I was grateful they were at least giving me a moment with her. I fucking needed it. The hopelessness from being with my mother didn’t feel as heavy now that I had Ivy in my arms again.

“Don’t be a prick, Kingsley. Let her greet everyone else,” Elias muttered, earning a soft chuckle from Ivy.

With a groan, I released her into Rowan’s embrace. He took the opportunity to press a kiss to her lips, which had the children gagging. Ivy laughed against his mouth, and when she pulled away, she hugged him while turning to the children.

“You’re going to have to get used to this, you know that, right?” She raised her brows, but the kids shook their heads.

“It’s so gross,” Ginny muttered, hugging Ivy’s side. “I missed you.”

Ivy released Rowan and she hugged Ginny back. “I missed you too, Bub. You and Maisie and Eloise.”

That had the other children gathering around her. Ivy hugged each one with a ferocity that let me know the life I wanted with her—the one I hadn’t had with my own family—was within reach. She’d never let any of that happen.

Will you come out with me? I asked through the bond hopefully.

Her dark eyes found mine, and she frowned. Is everything okay?

I tried to offer her a smile, but my heart raced. Of course, but I wanted to show you something.

She nodded silently before pressing kisses to the tops of each girl’s head. “Love you guys so much. I want you to go get ready for dinner and I’ll be back soon.”

There were moans of dissent, but Thea gathered them up and moved them out of the entryway. She spared me a knowing look, one I decided to ignore.

“And where will you be going, Angel?” Elias asked, crossing his arms. Though, rightfully so, he looked to me.

“I’m taking her out for a bit. No longer than a few hours, and we’ll be back for dinner,” I told him. “There’s just something I want to show her, while it’s quiet—and before the rest of my family shows up.”

Ivy’s brows furrowed, but she joined my side. “The rest of your family?”

I nodded and took her hand. “Yeah. My mother’s final goodbye, for the most part. Everyone is coming to see her. All my siblings. Their mates, too. The suites and Queen’s wing will be busy, and preparations for the ball are underway. I want to show you the wing.”

Her eyes softened, and she gripped my hand tightly. “Are you sure?”

I nodded sharply. “I want you to see it before it all…changes.”

“Okay,” she murmured. “I’d love to see it.”

Her gaze drifted from me to the others, and she offered them soft smiles. “Help them get ready for dinner?”

“Of course, a mhuirnín ,” Maeve murmured. “Let us know if you’ll be longer.”

Ivy nodded. “I will.” Then she glanced back up at me. “Take me to the Queen’s wing.”