My heart wrenched at that. How to keep these two worlds one, so a family like this could live together?
“She stays in her room now, which I’ve lined with tourmaline and shugnite. They’re stones that absorb the fae crystal’s energy, giving her a safe space to be human.”
I’d had no idea any Earth crystals could do that. “But she still has cancer?”
He nodded, exhaling. “Yeah. Last year, we tried Western medicine. Chemo and surgery and all that. It didn’t do much.”
How awful to be in your early twenties and have to take care of five younger brothers while also watching your mother slowly die. At least my mom had gone quickly. As awful as that was, I was grateful that moment hadn’t been dragged out.
“Remember the healing stones Kira gave us?” he asked.
My heart sank into my stomach. “You didn’t…”
He nodded, clearing his throat and wiping his eyes. “I thought Mara might have been lying. I gave her one, and she got worse.”
“Liam.” I reached for him.
He stood, brushing off his pants. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
He was far from fine—it was written all over his face.
“And your dad, he won’t help her at all?” I felt stupid for asking, but surely, since they had had all these children together, he would care for her wellbeing.
Liam barked a laugh. “My father came to Earth twenty-two years ago and met my mother. Seduced her, swept her off her feet with his magic and power and promise of undying love.”
I stilled, not daring to say a word. I needed to hear this story, especially after Indra had told me some of it.
“Their first son died on Earth; they didn’t know about the crystals or any of that. My dad tried to bring my mom to Faerie when she was pregnant with me in order to keep me healthy, and she got sick for the first time.”
My heart pounded in my throat. I was suddenly so overcome with emotion.
Liam looked haunted by some memory. “He had no choice but to come to Earth and take one of the crystals to keep me alive.”
I kept quiet, not sharing my opinion on the matter. That wasn’t important right now.
He sighed. “They were really happy for a few years. My mom said he was a powerful fae, but also like any other doting husband and father. He cooked, cleaned, and cherished her.” A cloud must have passed over the moon, because shadows danced across his face now. “But then he changed. He got restless. Asked my mother if she would mind if he took other lovers, had more children. He started talking of plans to grow the ‘Halfling’ race.” He used air quotes over the word Halfling.
I frowned. I couldn’t imagine. You think you’re in a happy, monogamous relationship with someone, and they pull that shit on you. I’d freak out.
Liam started to pace the carpet, hands clenched at his sides. “He broke her. I saw my vibrant, loving, happy mother reduced to constant tears. She allowed him to do whatever he wanted in order to keep our family together, and it ate her up inside.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. I wasn’t a mother, but I could understand putting myself through pain for the happiness of someone I loved.
“He started to stay away longer, and we found out he had multiple families. So finally, on my fifteenth birthday, we all ran away.”
Whoa. That was a lot for a fifteen-year-old to take on.
He didn’t speak for a long moment.
“What happened?” I asked.
He swallowed hard. “He found us…and nine months later, my littlest brother was born.”
Shock ripped through me. What was he saying? His dad had…raped his mom?
Adrenaline was rushing through my body. “How did you get away?”
His eyes met mine and glowed a silvery blue. “I Seeked my first crystal. Brought it home for my brothers, made a few fae friends who were also in need of a crystal, and started my own little resistance.”
Wow. He’d built an entire life by himself from the age of fifteen, all while taking care of his sick mother. I didn’t know what to say.
“All fae should have access to the crystals,” I said aloud. It was true. Light, dark, horned, winged—we were all the same, and just as I wouldn’t deprive any human of air or water, we shouldn’t deny any fae from the life-giving source of energy that flowed through those crystals.
“You’re just now figuring that out?” He gave me a lopsided grin.
I chuckled. “Yeah. I guess.”
I stood, swaying a little, and he reached out and caught me. When his arms gripped my elbows, he tucked his face in my neck, inhaling my scent.
“I fucking missed the way you smelled.” His voice was gruff, and his breath tickled my skin.
Heat traveled down my neck to my navel, and my belly warmed. “What do I smell like?” I was entranced by him, always. My body ached for him to touch me, to kiss me.
“Flowers. Vanilla. Home.” His lips trailed my collarbone as he clasped my upper arms tightly.
Suddenly, something stirred in the room. “You fucker!” Elle shouted from behind us, and we broke apart quickly to see her holding her head, wincing in pain.
Liam shrugged. “You were armed to the teeth and peeking in my windows. What did you expect my guards to think?”
Elle grimaced. “Touché.” Then she looked at me. “Did you ask him for help finding the next crystal?”
That was Elle, always right down to business.
I looked at Liam, and he just seemed tired.
Taking a deep breath, I let the word vomit come. “So…there is a Seeker stone in Central Park that keeps saying to come here, but I knew you lived here, so I tried to avoid it, but there was an earthquake, and the queen is getting sicker—”
“The queen?”
Oops. Maybe it was for the best that more people knew about the queen. Especially since I suspected Indra
