“Good afternoon, Lily,” I say with a grin.
She rolls her eyes, but her mouth shows unavoidable traces of a smile. “I thought you were gonna find me a man, Merick?”
“Still working on it, but it's gonna take a special kind of man to handle you, Lily.”
“Well ain’t that the truth.”
I find myself wondering if it will always be like this between them. If when the baby comes things will change for them. Or if things really begin to change for us will Taryn be forced to choose between her family and friends for her new life.
The idea of that breaks my heart.
“Merick,” Asta offers me a simple nod as I step on to the porch of the old colonial home. One that has only been kept by the grounds people for more than fifteen years. Fiona stands back allowing the elder to observe me, waiting patiently to proceed and offer her own form of greeting.
“You have your mother’s eyes,” the acknowledgement made my chest grow tight. “And her kindness I’ve heard.”
I know word has traveled, the ancestors that still mourn the loss of my mother feel as though they need to watch over me somehow. But I am stronger than they presume, now I need to prove that. I don't want to be seen as weak, I wanted to be a leader, a warrior and a protector.”
“My kindness is only extended to those that deserve it. Don’t doubt my ability for vengeance and my force when it comes to those I love. I will stop at nothing to protect what’s mine. No one will destroy what I am building that I can assure you.”
“I must say, I am greatly impressed with your confidence.” Asta steps aside and motions to the front door. It is then Fiona feels she had been cleared to offer her own form of acceptance. Hers of course comes to me in a warm embrace.
My mother and her were very close. She was a mother figure to my own after she lost hers at a young age. Fiona nurtured my mother, she guided her. When my mother looked to anyone for advice on life she’d gone to Fiona. That made her a strong presence in my life too. But Asta he was harder to penetrate, harder to break.
Much like a long line of the older generation of shifters, Asta showed very little emotion. He was all business, all power.The difference between him and my father was that Asta never allowed it to consume his every move. There was still a man inside of him, one with a heart, only very few people were allowed to see.
I was one of those people.
“When will we get the chance to meet this beautiful Angel of yours?”
Fiona was beaming as she guided me inside.
“Rowan speaks highly of her, in fact I think her words were the sister she never had.” I can imagine Rowan describing Taryn that way. They are very close.
“Rowan and Jonathan are with her now.”
Immediately I see the surprise in Fiona’s eyes. “Is that safe?” The history between Jonathan and Rowan is still a mystery to us all. But what we do know is that rarely are they able to be together in the same place without a battle breaking out between them.
“Taryn seems to provide a calm they can’t otherwise find.” Another one of my amazing girl’s abilities. She soothes Rowan without really even trying.
“Hmm, interesting,” Asta adds as we all take a seat near the fire in their expanding great room. “That is a great deal when it comes to those two. Rarely are they able to be together five minutes without wanting to rip one another apart.” he was not joking in the least.
“Soothing powers and an ability to hear thoughts.” Taryn is still a mystery to us all. “Premonitions were her great great grandmother’s gift.” I nod until his words register in my mind.
“Wait, what?”
“Abigail helped us many times, warning us of the visions she’d have. For years she was our guide, our warning system, until others found out her gifts.”
“Others?” I fear I already know where this story is going but I wait allowing him to continue hoping that I am wrong.
“Our enemies, those that wanted to destroy us. They looked for weaknesses and she was one.”
I look between Fiona and back to Asta, observing the solemn face they both now wear. “They killed her?” my heart feels as though it seized. I feel empathy for Taryn though I’m sure she has absolutely no clue of her great great grandmother's demise.
“They took her, and forced her to use her own powers against us.” I swallow hard the sound of it echoing in the silence as the words penetrate the haze I feel.
“Are you saying,” I can’t even bring myself to continue.
“Taryn’s great great grandmother is one of the biggest reasons why our enemies won.”
A part of me breaks right then and there. The one I love, the woman I am forever linked to and have been since the very first glance is linked to the one person that helped destroy my ancestors. Linked to those that killed my mother, only it was not by choice.
How am I supposed to tell her?
I’m not sure I ever want her to know.
Taryn
While Merick’s been gone I’ve been hanging out with Jonathon and Rowan. I’ve spent hours watching them avoid each other.
They’ve been very agreeable to everything I’ve asked them to do while they’re giving each other the silent treatment. So far, we’ve painted the nursery and put the baby furniture together.
I stand up and look around the room. We went neutral even though I’m more certain than ever that this baby is a girl. The walls are a light mint green with grey trim. The furniture my parents bought so beautiful.
I place my hands on my belly and begin
