“A Thaisce, I don't believe an entire planet could hold you down.” Arach kissed my forehead.
“Not if that planet is trying to keep me away from you.”
I snuggled in against Arach, and we stayed that way until the carriage rolled to a stop. Then I jolted up, realizing that I was still naked. Arach chuckled and casually tucked himself into his pants as I hopped into mine. I had just gotten my vest zipped when Fearghal, our Red Cap Captain, opened the carriage door for us.
“Welcome home!” Fearghal declared boisterously.
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I stammered as I jumped out. “Good to be home.”
I cleared my throat as Fearghal frowned at my flushed cheeks.
“You okay, my Queen?” Fearghal asked in concern.
“She's fine, Fearghal.” Arach slapped the Red Cap's arm since he couldn't reach his shoulder. “Just anxious to see our sons.”
“Oh, yes. Of course!” Fearghal bowed.
“Actually, I am anxious to see them,” I murmured to Arach as we headed inside. “Someone made me wait.”
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” Arach said innocently.
I waved at the welcoming faeries as I rushed through the hallway and up the grand staircase. It magically shortened the trip for me as was its habit. I was particularly grateful for that today. At the top landing, I turned right, Arach close beside me. We strode past our bedroom and continued to our boys' room, one door down. I stepped inside with a wide grin.
Rian and Brevyn's beautiful cribs were packed away in storage. Part of me missed them but another part of me enjoyed seeing the evidence of the Twins' growth. The little boy beds, one to either side of the room. The little boy toys; blocks, castles, wooden swords, and mini sets of armor. The bookshelf with children's books and stuffed animals. New wardrobes had replaced their old ones and had been set in the corners near the door. In the opposite corner near the window, a mini castle tower had been built to replace the scratching post that Rian didn't need anymore. Rian hung out of the top of the tower, firing arrows with padded tips at Brevyn, who was in armor, batting away the arrows with his shield and sword to protect Dexter, our nurial, and Deidre, Dexter's daughter. The nurials yipped at Rian, their fox ears lifted into points and their six legs tapping the floor excitedly.
Brevyn deflected one last arrow and then shouted, “Cease fire! Our parents have entered the battlefield!”
I chuckled at Brevyn's dramatic tone as Rian set aside his bow and climbed down the ladder inside the tower. Brevyn cast aside his sword and shield and hurried over to me for a hug while the nurials chased after him. Rian popped out the tower door seconds later.
“Hey, baby.” I hugged Brevyn and then looked over his costume. “You look very dashing, Sir Brevyn.”
“Thank you.” Brevyn straightened and posed for me; chin lifted and hands on his hips.
Brevyn's hair was getting darker every year but still had some gold in it, enough to make him look like a miniature Lancelot. Those blue eyes that always reminded me of Ull had darkened a shade as well, but they still held the ancient spark that betrayed his soul's true age. I had a brief moment to admire them before I was attacked by savage beasts.
I laughed and hugged both of the nurials, smoothing their fur back from their slim faces. Deidre had taken awhile to warm up to us and find her footing in the castle but now she was as confident and loving as Dexter. I gave her an extra kiss on her long nose just for being brave.
Rian was hugging Arach when I eased away from the nurials. He moved over to me, Brevyn slipping smoothly behind him to give his father a greeting as well. I hugged my little dragon and smoothed his wild, crimson hair down. Rian grinned up at me, his emerald, dragon eyes and the matching scales at his temples gleaming in the light.
“My beautiful boys,” I said with pride and love. “I missed you.”
“We missed you too,” Rian said. “Father told us that you had to fight a war in the Human Realm.”
“I told you that she'd be fine.” Brevyn nudged his brother with his elbow.
Brevyn has an unusual magic that allows him to borrow—or copy, rather—another god or faerie's magic. To help him decide which magic to use, he was also equipped with prophecy. It was nearly impossible to hide anything from Brevyn. As a parent, that can be especially annoying but it's also been tremendously helpful.
“Yes, I had to go to war again,” I confirmed. “But I had your father with me, and we had the help of these people called the Jinn.”
Rian looked at Arach with wide eyes. “Are those the desert fire spirits you told us about, Father?”
“Yes, those are the Jinn; beings born of dragon breath,” Arach said dramatically. “They fought beside us, and we prevailed. All is well.”
“Yay!” Rian and Brevyn cried and high-fived each other. “Fire wins!”
Arach and I exchanged smiles.
“How about we go for a flight to the hot springs?” I suggested.
“Yay!” They shouted again.
“All right; get out of that armor, Brevyn, and both of you get into your swimming trunks,” Arach said in his daddy voice. “Meet us in the hallway.”
Arach and I went to change into some simple robes and grab our swimwear as well.
The hot springs aren't as fun for the boys as the pool at Pride Palace—the pool I'd be recreating soon—but it was better than nothing. The boys had begged Arach to build them a pool behind the castle, and Arach had agreed, but he kept putting it off, citing all sorts of obstacles. I finally told Arach that he should build it in his own way; making it warm and bubbly like the hot springs so the Fire Fey would enjoy it. He liked
