by Bonnie Lamer
Pointing behind him, I say, “See for yourself.”
Slowly, my brother turns. I move so I can see his reaction and almost laugh when I see how wide his eyes get as understanding sets in. When his brain registers what he is seeing, he dashes to the bed. Climbing on, he begins shaking Dad by the shoulders. “Wake up!” he shouts. Why didn’t I think of that? I let him try it his way.
After a little more shouting and shaking, Dad’s eyelids flutter. They actually flutter. Moving closer, I sit next to him on the bed and take his hand in mine. “Dad?” Meanwhile, having accomplished his mission on one parent, Zac moves to the other. He is now shaking Mom awake.
Dad’s eyes come open fully. It takes him a moment to get oriented. He is, after all, somewhere different than he last remembers. I know that feeling and it sucks. It takes several tries, but he is finally able to make his lips move. “Weak,” he whispers.
I nod in understanding. “It’ll probably take a while for you to get your strength back. Your body has been dormant for a long time.”
“Mom!” Zac shouts and he is no longer shaking her. He is hugging her. She must be awake, too.
I brush at the tears that are now openly streaming down my cheek. It feels like Christmas. When else can miracles like this happen? “Hi, Mom,” I say as if I didn’t see her just an hour ago.
Kallen rests a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Tabitha should examine them,” he says quietly. I nod and stand up. I don’t make Zac get off the bed, though. Tabitha will just need to work around him.
Giving them a quick once over, including a peek at their souls, Tabitha announces, “A little rest and some work getting those muscles built back up and you will be just fine. I’m going to whip up a nice broth for you with some healing herbs to start you on your way.” When she turns, I find I am not the only one with tears in my eyes. The old softie. To the rest of us, she says, “Go on, now, and let them rest.”
“Can I stay?” Zac pleads.
Tabitha glances over his head to Mom, who nods. “Yes, you can stay.” The rest of us she shoos out the door. Now that I know they are going to be fine, I’m okay with it.
Dagda turns to me as soon as we are in the hall. “You can explain to everyone what happened. Tana and I will head back to the palace and see about the Pixies.”
Biting my lip, I have to ask, “You’re not going to hurt them, are you?” Or worse.
My father scowls at me. “We have been given the chance to study an enemy of the future. Opportunities such as this do not come along very often. We will learn what we can from them and maybe someday, if they can be proven trustworthy, they can be given a home somewhere. Far from here,” he adds. Turns out, Tabitha’s not the only softie around here.
Tana beams up at her husband. “There is the Fairy I married.” Dagda grunts in response but there’s a tiny smile trying to form around the corners of his mouth as he takes her hand in his and leads her down the hall.
Yawning wide, Alita says, “I do not know about you, but I could use a nap now that the excitement is over.”
Kegan leans over and whispers something in her ear that causes her entire body to turn red. Satisfied, he wraps his arm around her waist and whisks his grinning wife down the hall. I do not even want to think about what he said to her. With a little shake to get the image out of my head, my eyes find Raziel and Adriel who have also made their escape down the hall.
“I believe they all have the right idea,” Kallen muses with a sexy smile on his face. Pulling me into his arms, he kisses me passionately. “Ready for a nap, my lovely miracle worker?”
Snaking my arms around his neck, I shake my head. “No, but I’m ready for bed.” Which is where I teleport us.
