Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Of course, he could continue to keep Bella and the pregnancy a secret, until she was well, and her aura regained the witchy sheen. He hated the lying though, the need to evade his brother’s questions, the secretive life he was leading.
He was glad he no longer had any responsibilities to the clan, having shrugged off the leadership mantle the week following his brother’s healing ritual to ensure Oberon couldn’t take advantage of Fosch’s position. He’d played with exposure a few times, just to ensure that he no longer was worthy of the position, acting reckless and adventurous to keep the clan, and his brother, from suspecting anything, any alternative reason for his sudden change of character. He had made himself a kind of intermediary between the human government and the clan, so that he could never again assume the role of leader. And he had never regretted it.
There had been challenges issued to Archer over the leadership, as there should have been, and Fosch had counseled and attended them all, giving his younger brother all his support, helping him fit and mold the mantle onto his shoulders.
Now, almost two centuries later, and Fosch had never felt happier for his renegade status.
He glanced down at the faint flickering of Bella’s aura, the small lump over her belly. The child wouldn’t be a pure blooded Dhiultadh, but then, neither was he, even if his mixed status had made him stronger than a pure blood. And his child would be strong, of that he would make sure of. A child he’d be proud to teach all his parents had taught him. The fact that Bella was a witch – albeit a watered down one – meant the scion would be able to power runes also, hopefully manipulate energy as well, instead of merely being able to identify them.
Fosch felt a frisson of adrenaline, and couldn’t wait to start teaching his son, or daughter, the art of magic. Will the scion be able to shift? Probably, since the alternative form was a dominant trait, even weakened as it would be. Closing his eyes, Fosch leaned his head on the sofa and dreamt of a future.
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Bella dreamt of Mattie again. The black woman was familiar, though Bella had only met her in her dreams. She beckoned to Bella, but Bella didn’t follow. She knew where the dream would lead her. She’d had this dream over and over. Once or twice before she had conceived, and often after. These days she might dream of her twice on the same day.
Like most times, Bella was in a strange, yet familiar forest, the trees tall, the animals strange. Here, in the dream, she recognized the land, knew it was the Sidhe land. Mattie called, and when Bella glanced up, she was looking into a mirror, but the woman who looked back was not her reflection. She had long, straight black hair that shimmered in the moonlight, soft green eyes that gleamed with intelligence and power. In the dream, Bella knew this woman was her reflection, but Bella’s hair was short and dark brown, her eyes more hazel than green. There was a resemblance, yes, but again, the woman in the mirror was not her. She had a leaner face; her body was thinner.
They were both tall, had similar light complexions, high cheekbones. Bella always thought that the woman looked like she had been eaten from inside, like she had suffered greatly.
Mattie called again and, like in the way of dreams, the mirror disappeared and she was now standing in the Seelie court, facing Queen Titania and her royal entourage. Queen Maeve entered the room from a doorway to her left, moving regally to stand beside Queen Titania. The courtiers knelt and bowed to both queens, Seelie and Unseelie alike, but Bella did neither.
A royal fee, a Seelie, whom Bella recognized in the dream to be Oberon, detached from the group and approached her, radiating sadness, even if his eyes remained flat. He knelt in front of her as he took her cold hand in his.
“M’lady.”
She already knew what was to come, so she braced herself. Something brushed against her cheek, and jolting, Bella awoke, still on the sofa, the face of the man she loved above hers, his eyes concerned.
“I fell asleep,” she said apologetically.
“Bad dream?” he asked, brushing a knuckle over her pale cheek again. Another one, he thought, stifling his concern. She needed a healer, but not a human one. Where could he take her and still keep her a secret?
Chapter Eight
The Vigil…
On the other side of the street, Oberon watched the exchange unseen. He knew this chain of event would be problematic, even if he had refused to interfere. But it struck him then and there, while he kept watch over Bella that perhaps this was meant to be all along. Now he waited. If the dark witch was right, at the end of the next trimester, Oberon would be taking Bella and the offspring to the Seelie land with him.