Blood of Time: Book 18 of the Witch Fairy Series

by Bonnie Lamer

  Raziel shakes his head in frustration. “Kallen, Xandra, I’m sorry. I truly am. But I have not seen children in your future. Ever.”

  That little bombshell of information drops from Raziel’s mouth and onto the table where everyone gazes at it. Ready for it to either explode or eat through the countertop like acid. What a horrible secret to keep from us. Even if it’s not true, Raziel believed it was. My heart aches. Both because of his words, and the fact that he would keep such information to himself. I don’t care about the rules. He’s supposed to be our friend. He should have told us something that big.

  The tense silence in the room is finally broken by an amused young voice coming from the doorway. “Oh, Uncle Raz, that’s because you tattled on us for using our magic when we were little. So, we took away your ability to see us.”

  Chapter 3

  “And now we’ve moved on to the ‘interesting’ news,” Kegan smirks, as all eyes lock on the three kids standing in the doorway.

  The room is suddenly flooded with magic. Isla and Dagda rise from their stools and arm themselves in preparation for an attack. It takes everything I have to not draw my own magic in response. But I force myself to remain calm. I don’t want to give them the incorrect idea that I’m siding with them, nor do I want to draw magic to use against them to protect my children. I will if it comes to that. I hope that it doesn’t.

  “You were supposed to stay upstairs,” I remind the children through gritted teeth as I rise from my own stool.

  Hands planted on her hips, Zyla insists through teeth gritted in the exact same pattern as mine, “You need us to help explain things. You just wouldn’t listen when I tried to explain that upstairs.” If throwing herself into a chair and being sarcastic is her way of explaining things, I see serious issues regarding our future communication.

  “Who are these children?” Isla demands.

  She is practically vibrating with hostility. So much so, that I can no longer keep magic from seeping into me in response. Dagda has moved to her side to form a united front. His own anger and distrust growing by the second.

  I suppose it’s our soon-to-be parental instincts that motivate us. Because as a unit, Kallen and I get up and move closer to Xavion and Zyla to create our own united front. Kegan and Alita do the same with Keelan. The shock on the faces surrounding the counter is palpable, and even more magic swells into the room. The air is shimmering with it now.

  Which means we could easily cause an imbalance, and that never works out well for anyone. Something I know from too much experience. The situation needs to be diffused before someone gets hurt. Someone on the other side of the room, of course, because it’s grossly apparent that most of the magic is on this side.

  I’m the first to force my magic back to the earth because I have no intention of harming anyone I love. “Everyone,” I begin, keeping my voice calm and strong. “Despite what Raziel may believe, I am pregnant. These are our children.” I point to Zyla and Xavion. “And this is Keelan.” I gesture to the taller one. “They have come from the future to warn us about something.”

  It doesn’t take long for certain people to find their voices again. Dagda’s is the loudest. “What foolishness is this?” he bellows.

  Isla’s voice is a close match in decibel level. “That is impossible,” she insists.

  My biological father is staring at Kallen and me as if we’re the stupidest beings in the multiverses. “Obviously, it is magic. A cloning or shape shifting spell of some sort. Something so strong that even your internal lie detector is being fooled,” Dagda insists to me. So much for bringing that up as a defense. I was thinking that could be an ace in the hole for me. “Where are your Familiars? They are supposed to be able to detect such things!” Dagda’s eyes can’t help but flick in Tana’s direction for a second. After all, it was my Familiar that first determined she was using a cloaking type spell when she returned seeking revenge for my conception.

  Mom’s voice is soft when she speaks. Walking on eggshells, don’t agitate the crazy person, soft. “Xandra, what is going on?” she asks, edging closer to me but not getting too close to the kids. Her eyes keep flicking between us like she’s considering a plan of action. What is she going to do, reach out and try to grab me away from them? Kallen must believe that because he grasps my hand tighter, ready to play tug-of-war with my mother if it comes to that.

  This is getting ridiculous. I understand the reluctance to believe us, but I didn’t expect the outright hostility. Or the shouting. Because everyone is shouting now. Kegan and Alita have chimed in, trying hard to convince Isla and Dagda of the truth, and the argument just keeps growing. My ears are beginning to hurt. The voices all mingle together until their words become indistinguishable from each other’s. It’s just one loud, vicious assault on my ear drums. My temper begins to rise, and my magic floods back into me so fast and hard that out of the corner of my eye, I see Kallen flinch ever so slightly. My magic is causing him pain as he tries to keep it from using him as a conduit. I do my best to pull some of it back, but I’m pretty pissed off right now so it’s not working. I never thought I would lash out at anyone I love, especially my immediate family, but I will protect my children at any cost. At the very least, I am going to take away all their voices because I won’t listen to one more mean word from those on the other side of the room about the kids. Which will make them all even angrier and likely to respond with magic of their own, but I don’t care.

  A shrill whistle amplified by magic cuts through the cacophony and makes everyone cover their ears and close their mouths. Including me. I can’t help but notice the relief on Kallen’s face when I break contact with him to press my palms against the sides of my head. I know he would have held my hand forever if it meant protecting our children, despite the pain, so I don’t begrudge him the relief that I let go first.

  Silence descends on the room. A tense silence filled with ugly accusations and disappointment on both sides. We have had arguments before as a family, but never over anything so dividing. For the first time, Kallen and Kegan are ready to fight to the death against their grandmother, and it shows on their faces and in their protective stances. The hurt and betrayal in Isla’s eyes is difficult to witness. If it were anything besides our children they were fighting over, I would insist Kallen try to make up with her right this minute.

  “Finally,” Tabitha exclaims, hands firmly planted on her hips. “Now, you three,” she points at the kids and then toward three stools she creates at the counter apart from the others. “Take a seat right there.” Eying the rest of us, she declares in a voice that makes it clear that any and all arguments to the contrary will be handled with guillotine-style magic, “We shall get to the bottom of this calmly and quietly. Now sit your butts down on your stools, speak one at a time, and listen to each other.”

  Tabitha’s eyes land on Dagda and narrow to slits. The King of the Fae opens his mouth to argue but thinks better of it. This Fairy raised him, and he knows exactly how terrifying she can be when she’s angry. I may have more magic than both my biological father and Tabitha, but I will never be able to put fear in his heart like she can.

  I’m going to assume that our children have all had their own experiences with Tabitha’s wrath, because it doesn’t take them long to cross the room and grab a stool. Not a snarky word or eye roll between them. Once they are seated and have their most innocent expressions in place, Tabitha smiles at them fondly. Still, she’s not buying it. Shakes her head, Tabitha declares, “Just like your fathers. Those sweet faces didn’t get them out of any trouble, and I doubt you have been any better at fooling me with them over the years.”

  The rest of us stare at her in shock. Despite his fear and respect for the older Fairy, Dagda just can’t keep his lips together any longer. “You believe this nonsense?” he growls in disbelief.

  Tabitha is unfazed by his tone. Waving her hand at the kids, she says, “They are almost exact replicas in looks and behavior. How can you not believe
it?”

  Isla, trying to be the voice of reason as always, points out, “Perhaps that is the best indication that they are not who they say they are. Most children have similar traits, but do not so closely resemble their parents. You can feel the powerful magic emanating from them just as well as the rest of us can. They are obviously capable of casting strong spells and are likely talented in the art of cloning. We should not be taken in by their overzealous attempt to prove who they are by resemblance.”

  Clones. Fine. I guess we should take a moment to at least consider the possibility, if only to appease Isla and Dagda. I stare more closely at Xavion and Zyla. Aren’t clones supposed to be exact replicas of just one person? These two are clearly a genetic mix of both Kallen and myself. Nope, I’m not convinced. The argument just doesn’t fit.

  “They are not clones,” Alita whispers confidently in confirmation of my own conclusion. Her voice is strong and clear, which is not always the case for my somewhat shy friend when the King is around. Especially if her opinion differs from his. But this is about her child. She hasn’t had a moment of doubt since spying her grown son upstairs, and even Dagda isn’t going to shake her confidence.

  Now I feel badly doubting for even those few seconds I took to consider the possibility of clones. “Of course not,” I whisper back, making my voice just as confident.

  Meanwhile, the argument is still waging around us. Just quieter than before. To my left, the dispute has taken a new direction. “Do you really expect us to believe that you could take away Raziel’s omniscience?” Adriel demands of Zyla. The Angel of Death is insulted on her significant other’s behalf, and nobody likes an insulted Angel of Death.

  “Yes, Auntie, that is exactly what we expect you to believe,” Zyla replies sweetly, completely unfazed by Adriel’s Angel of Death reputation. And what did she just call her? Auntie? The familiar term takes Adriel aback, too. I believe she’s actually rendered speechless for a moment by it. Amazing.

  Keelan leans forward and whispers conspiratorially to Adriel, “We would have brought Cas with us, but he offered to stay behind and…Ow!” A sharp elbow to the ribs cuts him off. Rubbing his abused bones, he glares at his cousin Xavion.

  This brings the Angel of Death back to her senses. “Who is Cas?” Adriel demands. But her voice is a little less steady than it was a moment ago.

  Raziel reaches over and wraps his hand around hers on the table. His face is blank, but I see a tiny kernel of doubt forming in at least one of his eyes. He’s trying to take hold of it before it explodes like popcorn in his brain. Okay, I want to know who Cas is now, too. Because just the mention of his name made Adriel falter and Raziel doubt himself. Adriel never falters. And Raziel doubting himself? That’s a miracle in itself.

  Eying my Fallen Angel friend a little closer, I notice a few other things I’ve been too busy lately fighting the Phoenix and saving the universe to see. Her face is a little fuller and her clothes seem to fit just a bit tighter than in the past. Gasping, I blurt out, “You’re pregnant, too!”

  A mix of embarrassment, joy, nervousness, and what I now recognize as post-morning sickness clamminess washes over Adriel’s face. Her lips clamp together in a thin line. I’m not sure if she doesn’t want to answer, or if she’s trying not to throw up. Probably both. Gripping her hand tighter, it’s Raziel who responds. Not to me. He directs his response to Isla. “Adriel was concerned how you would take the news as we are not bound by mortal matrimony and are here as guests in your home.”

  To my surprise, Dad chuckles and pats Raziel on the back. “I don’t believe anyone in the house thought the two of you were celibate.”

  It’s official. My lack of tact is just as much nurture as nature. Several chuckles around the room are masked by coughs and throat clearings. Alita lightly jabs Kegan in the ribs to keep him from laughing out loud.

  Clearing her own throat, but more to hide her annoyance than a chuckle, Isla adds with a bit more decorum than Dad, “You have said your own vows to each other in the way of the Angels. That is enough. You are also family, not guests.” Aw, that was sweet. I knew she felt that way, but Isla rarely shares her feelings like this. Proving her heart is not made of marshmallow though, her eyes narrow at Raziel, and she adds, “I am certain it would not have done harm to the universe for you to put her mind at ease.” Implying that Raziel knew that Isla would not freak out at the news, and he was a jackass for not telling Adriel this.

  Raziel flushes but doesn’t respond. Adriel pushes past her embarrassment, squares her shoulders, and comes to his defense once again. “He tried. I was afraid he was simply trying to spare my feelings.”

  Huh. Angels don’t lie, so I wonder why she would have thought that? Then again, they can weave the truth in creative ways to mislead. Not to mention, Adriel’s raging pregnancy hormones are probably clouding her mind. I suppose it was reasonable for her to think that.

  Smirking, I can’t help but say, “So, you’re planning to name the baby Cas?”

  Adriel scowls at me. “Of course not. His name will be Castiel.”

  “A name he hates,” Zyla stage whispers around her palm to me from her perch on the stool Tabitha created. “He prefers Cas.”

  Adriel raises her brows in Raziel’s direction. Cocking her head, she demands, “Is that true?”

  Growing even less comfortable by the second, Raziel admits, “Yes.”

  Xavion glares at his sister. “We’re supposed to keep those kinds of details to ourselves. Who knows what damage we could do to the future if something as simple as a name change occurs?”

  To my surprise, Zyla actually seems contrite after her brother’s chastising. I expected an argument. Then again, time travel is not something I completely understand and Xavion could be right. A fact his sister is acknowledging with her silence.

  “Can we please move on from baby names,” Dagda grinds out. “We have bigger issues to discuss.”

  “He is correct,” Tabitha concurs. Another shocker. Even Dagda’s face falls out of the scowl I thought was going to be a permanent fixture, and an expression of sheer surprise washes over his features. She never agrees with him. “Oh, put those eyes back in their sockets,” Tabitha grouses at him with an impatient wave of her hand. “Even you can be right once in a century or two.” And my father’s scowl is right back where it should be.

  “For argument’s sake, let us say these children are who they say they are,” Isla begins. Her voice drips with so much skepticism, I feel the need to hand her a napkin before it stains the countertop. “It is still inconceivable that any of them can generate enough magic to render Raziel blind to their existence. I sense powerful magic, but not that powerful.”

  Dagda is quick to get on the ‘aha, we got you’ train. “Nor do I.” Turning to his wife, he asks, “Do you?”

  Tana has been quiet compared to the others since my announcement. She is now staring intently at our children with an indiscernible expression on her face. When Dagda repeats his question, she replies slowly, “I suspect we are not seeing the full picture of their power.”

  Dagda stares at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Xavion and Zyla exchanging a look. A look I suspect will be something Kallen and I will dread seeing over the years. It’s conspiratorial in nature, and not in a good way. They’re hiding something.

  Hands on my hips, I demand, “Spill it.” When the twins stare back at me with looks of utter innocence, mixed with just the right amount of ‘what do you mean’ and a dollop of ‘we would never keep anything from you’, I just roll my eyes. “Now.”

  With a sigh, Keelan rises from his chair and gestures to his cousins to do the same. “Come on, let’s get this over with. We knew we’d have to offer proof eventually.”

  With a surprising amount of reluctance, Xavion also rises from his chair. “Great Grandmother will kill us if we do this in the house.”

  “Again,” Zyla adds with the hint of a mischievous smile
in Isla’s direction. A smile I recognize all too well. I’ve seen it on her father’s face a time or two. Usually when he’s plotting revenge against Kegan over something.

  I’m convinced. Whatever they want to show us should not occur inside the house. Glancing at Kallen, I see my conviction mirrored in his eyes. Turning back to Xavion, I ask, “The beach?”

  Xavion nods. “That will be the best place. We should move far from the house just to be safe.”

  I give him an encouraging smile. I like that he’s so responsible. Kallen and I must have done something right over the years. “Alright then, down the beach it is. We’ll follow you.”

  Across the counter, I hear Dagda muttering under his breath about this being ‘ridiculous’, but he still rises from his stool. “By all means, lead the way,” he snarks with an exaggerated wave of his arm. “I have a busy day scheduled at the palace. I would like to get this resolved, and the three of you on your way, so I can get back to it.”

  Xavion ignores his grandfather’s snark and walks with his cousin toward the door. His sister is not as forgiving. Zyla puts a hand on her hip and quirks a brow in Dagda’s direction. “You know, you are much nicer in the future. Mom said you used to be a jerk, but I never believed her until now.” With that, she turns with a flounce and follows her brother and cousin out of the kitchen. Leaving my biological father staring agape after her. I really should reprimand her for speaking to her grandfather like that, but honestly, he had it coming.