“So, you’re not into lovey-dovey stuff and babies, then?” Herakles asked me, his voice low as he gave me a sideways glance. His arms were still crossed, and I had a feeling he wasn’t all that comfortable here.
“Not exactly. I’m just not ready for it,” I replied. “I may never be ready, and that needs to be okay with everybody else.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, I came out of a glass dish. I have no idea why your family’s opinion is so important to you, since I never had one,” Herakles replied dryly. “My maker tossed me out like an old shoe. But I do know that happiness is all about doing what you love and being whoever you want to be, so there’s that.”
I nodded faintly, surprised by his simple yet profound reasoning. And he was absolutely right. I did appreciate his admission regarding a lack of understanding where family approval was concerned. It made me feel a little sad, though. He’d never experienced the loving embrace of a mother. The nurturing of a good father. The safety of a true family. It actually tore into my heart, if I thought about it for too long.
“You can make your own family,” I said, then chuckled. “You don’t have to marry them, though. They could be your closest friends. Family isn’t always in the blood ties.”
Herakles seemed to like that idea. He looked at Raphael for a moment, then back at me. “So, what you’re saying is that I could make my own family, and include this arrogant idiot in it, too?” he asked, pointing a finger at Raphael.
I laughed. Maybe a little louder than I should’ve.
I instantly shrank in my chair, as all eyes were suddenly on me.
“Isabelle, we welcome you into this world,” Safira said, diverting attention back to the delightful little baby nestled in Serena’s arms.
“Congratulations!” Sofia cheered.
Soon enough, we all stood and clapped. Whistles and whoop-whoops made it across in vibrant ripples, as Serena and Draven soaked it all in. For a moment, the world seemed right again. And Isabelle was off to a great start, I thought.
“No… Stop him!” Someone gasped a few rows behind us.
Raphael and Herakles were the first to turn. All the other guests froze. Taeral only looked over his shoulder, then vanished. My heart stopped for a moment.
“What’s going on?” Nuriya asked.
We all heard the scuffle. Steps on the marble floor. Boots sliding. Grunting. There was a fight somewhere at the back.
Raphael and Herakles darted toward the aisle, then to the back. Someone barked an order.
“Grab him!”
My blood curdled.
I couldn’t see Herakles and Raphael anymore. Taeral was gone. Sherus gripped Nuriya’s wrist firmly, looking at us, too. “Don’t. Whatever it is, someone’s handling it.”
“Screw this,” I muttered, then zapped myself away, to the back of the terrace.
The scene unraveling before me didn’t match my speed of thought. Before I could even realize what was going on, I was pulled back by a pair of strong arms.
I caught a glimpse of Taeral bolting into a group of struggling fae, as if to break up a scuffle of sorts. He wound up pushing through the other side, his hands gripping one guy’s tunic collar.
“Taeral, wait!” one of the other fae shouted.
Too late, I thought. Taeral did the unthinkable and hurled the guy he’d caught over the edge of the terrace. Only then, as he was momentarily suspended in the air, did I see all the warning signs. It was a fire fae, young male, wearing a military uniform. Strange symbols had been carved into his cheeks and palms, but he was too far away for me to make any of them out.
He vanished below, shrieking. A second later, the explosion boomed across the land.
We all stilled, staring at the terrace edge, where Taeral stood, panting and sweating.
“Dude… are you okay?” Raphael asked him.
I didn’t see the other guests leaving their seats and coming closer to the scuffle scene. I even forgot I’d been held back by someone. Heck, that someone was still holding me! I looked back and found myself ogling a broad, muscular chest. The uniform seemed familiar.
Then, I lost myself in a pair of lime green eyes.
“Um… What are you doing?” I whispered. I’d lost my voice.
Herakles instantly let me go, then stepped back, blinking rapidly. “Sorry,” he grumbled. “You were too close to the guy.”
“I can teleport, if I need to,” I shot back. “While I appreciate your concern, it’s not needed.”
Why was I being so sharp with the guy? He’d only wanted to help. A deep sigh later, I gave him a soft nod.
“Thank you, though,” I added, my tone softening.
“Taeral, what the hell just happened?” Ben asked as soon as he reached the end of the aisle.
Taeral turned around. He was genuinely distraught, and I couldn’t blame him. He’d just pushed a fire fae off the terrace edge. Granted, the guy exploded; however, I did see how the whole episode could affect Taeral. He hated killing, even if it meant saving others or himself.
“He was about to blow up, too, wasn’t he?” I asked.
Taeral nodded once. “I heard the scuffle.”
