“I love my life,” I murmured, opening my eyes to look into hers. “But if things stay the way they are, I’m going to miss out on the one thing I really want.”

  Understanding flashed on her face and she cupped my cheeks. “I see,” she whispered. “You want children.”

  I nodded. “I do. And I don’t want them to be cursed.”

  My mother pulled me into her arms and sighed. “I wish I knew what to say, Lia. I understand your need to want to have children with the men you love.” Her arms tightened around me and I rested my cheek on her shoulder. “However, there is something I really want you to think about.”

  My tears fell down my cheek and onto her dress. “Tell me,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

  She rubbed a hand soothingly down my back before letting me go, her expression serious and determined. “Bayleon and Bastian need you, Lia. If you go searching for Diawen and something happens to you, you would condemn the men you love. If you are no more, they have no one to heal them. And we both know what Bayleon and Bastian will do.”

  They wouldn’t go back to seducing women . . . they would choose to die. My heart ached as I thought of what might happen to Bayleon and Bastian if anything ever happened to me. I remembered the pain and fear when Diawen and the Tyvar took them away, and it hammered at my chest like a drumbeat.

  “If I don’t kill Diawen,” I said, “what happens if she takes them again?”

  My mother’s eyes softened as she looked at me. “There will always be what-ifs,” she replied quietly. “When that dark sorcerer took your father, I wanted nothing more than to kill him with every fiber of my being. But in the end, none of that mattered—all that mattered was getting your dad back safely.” She reached out her hand and smoothed my hair back. “Vengeance didn’t bring me happiness, Lia; only your father did. And in the end, I wasn’t the one who killed the sorcerer.” Her eyes swirled with power as she looked at me. “Diawen will pay for what she’s done, that’s for certain. It may not be today or in ten years, but it will happen. Let the vengeance go.”

  It was easier said than done. Everything she said made sense in my heart, and it would be stupid of me to pursue Diawen. But my mind wanted to challenge and force me the opposite way.

  Before I could even respond, a figure caught the corner of my eye. I looked over to see Shaylah running out of the palace and through the garden toward us, holding the hem of her emerald dress up in her arms.

  “Your Highness!” she shouted, waving her free hand in the air.

  There was a huge smile on her face, so I knew nothing could be wrong. My mother and I started toward her so she wouldn’t have to run so far. When we met her, it was at the edge of the gardens. Shaylah clutched her chest as she sucked in a much-needed breath, her honey-colored eyes lit with excitement.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, laughing.

  Shaylah’s cheeks were red from exertion and she beamed. “Good news, Your Highness,” she said, still gasping for air. “We just got word at the palace that Ember and Ren just welcomed their daughter. They want you there.”

  So much happiness burst through me that I didn’t even know if I could keep it contained. Ember and Ren’s daughter was the first to be born in my court. I had to see her.

  As I sprinted toward the cottage, I could see Ren and his parents standing outside. Ashur stood beside Elissa, a full head taller than her slight frame. He was my mother’s Guardian and Elissa was my mother’s best friend. Although time had changed much about them, their warm dispositions remained the same.

  When Ren and I were kids there was a time when my mother and Elissa thought we would end up together. Little did they know his heart belonged to Ember the entire time. As I neared, they bowed in greeting and I hugged them quickly. My eyes were drawn to Ren’s beaming smile as he opened the cottage door and gestured graciously inside.

  “Ember’s waiting for you,” he said.

  “Who does Korra look like? You or Ember?” I asked with a grin, eager to meet my best friend’s daughter.

  An amused smirk graced Ren’s lips. “Me, of course.”

  I chuckled and hurried through the door. Ren and Ember both had blond hair, but Ember had beautiful curls. I could just imagine Korra having the same.

  My heart raced as I tiptoed down the hallway, cautiously trying to be quiet in case Korra was still sleeping. Sweet fragrances filled my nose from the flowering potted plants that lined the walls.

  When I reached the bedroom door, I slowly turned the handle and peeked inside. Ember, her hair still a little messy from the delivery process, was carefully cradling a bundle of blankets against her chest. She hadn’t noticed me yet because she was lovingly gazing at her daughter. My breath caught when Korra let out a tiny yawn and a small hand peeked out from under the blankets.

  Ember lifted her gaze and gasped when she saw me. “Oh Lia, come here! I want you to meet Korra!”

  Tears began to form in my eyes as I crossed over to them. I sat down on the bed beside Ember and looked down at this perfect little being who had just graced our lives with her presence. Her eyes were closed, but I smiled when I noticed the tiny blonde curl on top of her head.

  “She’s breathtaking,” I whispered.

  Ember nodded. “She is. Do you want to hold her?”

  I eagerly outstretched my arms for the little bundle and Ember gently placed Korra into them. I brought her close to my chest and took in a deep breath of her unique baby scent.

  “Hey, Korra,” I said softly, “I’m your faerie godmother.” Ember snickered at my words, and I winked back at her. “Well, I am. This little girl is going to have everything she could ever want. I’m going to spoil her as often as possible.”

  Ember shook her head with a knowing smile. “At least until you have your own kids. Then you’ll be too busy spoiling them.”

  My smile faded and the lump that had been lodged in my throat for days resurfaced again. Ember noticed my pause and put a comforting hand on my arm.

  “Lia, what’s wrong?”

  An emptiness began to creep up inside me, but I tried to fight it off. Bayleon and Bastian were enough; I should be happy with just them in my life. But still, the pain of never getting to experience motherhood was almost too much to bear. And if I did happen to get pregnant and had a son, he would be doomed with the Tyvar curse.

  “I still want to break the curse,” I confessed. “But there are too many risks. In the end, if I don’t find the cure, I’ll never be able to experience this.” I nodded down at Korra. “It makes me sad.”

  Ember nodded. “I understand that. Honestly, I was hoping to have a heart-to-heart with you.”

  My brows furrowed as I kept my gaze on hers. “What about?”

  Her expression saddened. “The curse. I know you’ve been preoccupied with finding the cure. I’ve been worried it’s consuming you.”

  Guilt spread through my body. “Has it been that noticeable?”

  She nodded. “Very much so. I don’t want to see you unhappy, Lia. If you want to go after Diawen, I’m sure no one will be able to stop you. If anyone can break the curse, it will be you. I’m your best friend, Lia, and I love you. I just hope you see what’s in front of you before you go out and put it all at risk.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “You sound like my mother. She said something similar to me today.”

  Ember beamed. “She’s a smart woman. The question is . . . are you going to listen to us?”

  Korra cooed and it warmed my heart. These were the moments I didn’t want to miss. Tears filled my eyes, and they ran warm down my cheeks.

  “I know it’s hard, Lia.”

  “It is,” I admitted shamelessly. I blew out a heavy sigh and smiled down at Korra. “But I can’t give up on this.”

  Ember hung her head. “So, you’re going after Diawen, then?”

  I looked at her until she lifted her gaze to mine. “No,” I answered.

  Her eyes widened. “No?”

  I shook my head. “I won’t go searching after Diawen, but I am going to keep hoping for a change. There must be another way to find the cure and if I get the chance, I’ll go for it. And I’ll do it in a non-dangerous way. No risks to those I love.”

  A tear slid down Ember’s cheeks. “I think that sounds like a plan.”

  It wasn’t my first choice, but I had to think of Bayleon and Bastian. But most of all, I had to have faith.

  Chapter 25

  Lia

  The savory aromas of roasted meat, vegetables, and fruits filled the hallway, a welcome reprieve since I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. As I approached the dining room, hearty laughter emanated from within, lifting my heart and making me smile.

  When I entered, I was struck by the changes in Bayleon and Bastian—they seemed more relaxed and open, their smiles filled with joy. They were dressed in beige tunics that showed off their taut physiques, paired with brown leather pants. Aidan raised his glass of faerie wine in salute, his smile wide. Bayleon and Bastian bowed to me as usual, despite my insistence that we were equals and they didn’t need to do that.

  “It’s about time you got back,” Aidan teased, “we were about to eat without you.”

  With a shake of his head, Bastian extended an arm for me to take; I kissed him and then Bayleon, tasting sweet faerie wine on their lips and wishing for more.

  Bayleon pulled my seat back from the table and smiled. He had a ruggedly handsome face, framed with tousled, long blond hair that glinted in the candlelight.

  “How was your visit with Korra?” he asked.

  I couldn’t help but feel my heart fluttering as I sat down. “It was fantastic,” I said, gazing up into his face.

  As usual, his eyes were covered by the silver mask he and Bastian always had to wear. Bayleon took the seat to my right and Bastian to my left while Aidan sat across from us and poured more faerie wine into our glasses.

  “It’s going to be a long time before I have any kids,” he said casually.

  A spark of jealousy ignited in my gut at his flippant attitude, but I quickly pushed it away. If Bayleon and Bastian noticed anything amiss they didn’t let on, instead piling food onto their plates and laughing about stories from their adventures of the day. We enjoyed our dinner together, drinks in hand.

  Lifting my glass, I held it out to Aidan. “I’ve enjoyed having you here, cousin. We need to do it more often.”

  Aidan raised his glass. “I agree. Next time, you three need to come to my court.” He smirked. “And maybe we can get the rest of our cousins to come. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together without our parents. Traditions are nice, but I think we need to make new ones.”

  I drank to that. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”

  Shouts of alarm erupted from outside the castle, and Bayleon, Bastian, and Aidan were on their feet instantly. Before I could react, Bastian and Aidan ran out the dining room door and Bayleon blocked my path.

  “We’re staying here,” he growled.

  Outside the walls, the clamor of voices swelled until it seemed to shake the palace. I wanted to investigate, but Bayleon stood in the way. Frustration boiled within me; if Diawen attacked, I wanted to be part of the fight. I stepped forward, meeting his mask-covered eyes with a steely look of determination.

  “Let me out of here, Bayleon.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Not until we know what’s going on.”

  With my fists clenched at my side, I stepped up to him. “I love you and I know you want to protect me but I’m going to get out of this room. You and Bastian didn’t train me just so I can sit on my ass. Hurting you hurts me, and I don’t want to fight you, but I will if it gets me out of this room.”

  Bayleon exhaled softly before nodding in agreement. “Forgive me, my love. You can’t fault me for wanting to keep you safe.”

  I smiled and cupped his cheek before dropping my hand. “From here on out, our duties are to protect each other. If there’s a battle, we’ll ride into it together. When I told you we were equals, I meant it. I know you’ll sacrifice your life for mine, but you need to know I’d do the same for you. Now let me out of here so we can deal with whatever’s going on together.”

  Bayleon quickly stepped aside, and we ran toward the palace entrance where Bastian and Aidan stood ready, swords drawn and eyes steady. The shouts of the approaching enemy grew louder, and in an instant, a familiar woman with wild, caramel-tinged locks raced through the door only to be tackled by two of my warriors. They tumbled to the floor in a heap.

  “Lia, it’s me!” Lerissa called out from underneath my warriors. “I don’t want to do you or your people any harm. I need help. Please! I’m in so much damn trouble.”

  My heart raced as I glanced at Aidan, who gave me a nod—his eyes assured me she spoke the truth. Knowing what I had to do, I motioned for my warriors to let her up. They lifted Lerissa up by her arms but stood close, their bodies tense and ready to react at a moment’s notice. I could see the desperation in Lerissa’s crystal blue eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” I inquired, my voice full of suspicion.

  “I can’t go back home,” she said quickly, her breathing labored. “If I do, Diawen will come after me.” She stepped forward, clasping her hands over her heart. My warriors blocked her from getting closer. “Please, Lia. I can help you break the curse. There’s so much I have to tell you.”

  Her words caught me by surprise and I froze. There was no hint of deceit or mischief in them. Aidan stepped forward, resting a hand on my shoulder as I studied her carefully.

  He nodded his head. “She’s telling the truth, Lia.”

  I considered this for a moment before motioning to my warriors. “Let her go,” I said. They stepped away from her and I motioned for her to come closer. “Come on. We’ll go somewhere more private.”

  Bayleon and Bastian led us down the hallway while Lerissa walked beside me with Aidan trailing behind us. Bayleon and Bastian led the way into one of the sitting rooms, their polished boots clicking against the marble floors. We followed them, our footsteps muffled by thick rugs that hugged the corridors. Aidan shut the door behind us with a resounding click and stood guard while Bayleon and Bastian flanked me as I settled onto the plush couch. Lerissa took the chair opposite me, her hands shaking violently as though she’d just run a marathon. But it was more than exertion that spiked her adrenaline; she had accomplished something no one else had ever dared to do—she broke into the grounds of my palace.

  “I didn’t think I was going to make it here alive,” she said, voice cracking. “I thought for sure your men would kill me.”

  A low chuckle rumbled from Aidan’s throat. “You’re obviously very clever to have gotten as far as you did. I’m intrigued.” He smiled at her and I had a feeling that wasn’t the only thing he was interested in.

  “Tell me everything, Lerissa,” I commanded. “You said you can help me break the curse. I want to know how.”

  She nodded. “And I’ll tell you, but helping you comes at a great cost. That’s why I need your help in return. It’s the only way I can tell you everything.”

  Aidan cleared his throat. “Truth.”

  I hated that I had to have his assurance on whether she spoke the truth. Yet, in my heart, I wanted to believe her words.

  “Why did you turn your back on Diawen?” I asked. “If you were able to do that with your own kin, why should I put my faith in you?”

  Lerissa’s eyes darkened. “Because Diawen’s evil. I felt it the moment I touched her.”

  My curiosity was piqued. “You felt it when you touched her? Is that a siren power?”

  She shook her head. “No. It’s something only I can do. Most sirens just mesmerize men. But since I come from Diawen’s line, my magic is stronger. I can do things no others can.” Her shoulders rose with her intake of breath, and she let it out slowly. “I can feel a person’s true nature,” she confessed. “Take, for instance, the first time we made contact. The second you touched me, I could feel the purity in your soul; it was like a beacon of light.”

  I glanced at Aidan and he gave a slight nod of approval, a sign that Lerissa’s words were genuine.

  “So, when you touched Diawen . . .” I said, letting my query drift off.

  “It was dark and menacing,” she said in response. She exhaled deeply and held her stare with mine. “Diawen has kept me on the run for the past week, refusing to let me return home. My mother is unaware of my location or situation. Coming here was a risk, but I’m hoping it pays off in the end.”

  “That depends on what information you have,” I replied.

  Lerissa gave a small nod of acknowledgment. “I know why Diawen doesn’t want the curse broken—if the Tyvar are healed, her bloodline, which includes me, will lose their ability to live on land. That was her motivation for creating the Tyvar in the first place. She was tired of being confined to the waters; she wanted the luxuries of living on land. The more Tyvar there are, the stronger her family becomes; we’re all connected.”

  My stomach churned as her words sunk in. Bayleon and Bastian both had somber looks on their faces. If Lerissa helped me break the curse, they would be free, but she’d have to give up living on land.

  “You’ll be stuck living in the water? Is that what you’re telling me?” I asked.

  Her anguish hung heavily in the air; I knew this decision couldn’t possibly be easy for her. Lerissa’s eyes began to mist over, and her bottom lip trembled.

  “Yes,” she whispered, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks as she hastily brushed them away with the back of her hand.

  “Why are you telling us this?” I felt my chest tight with emotion for her.

  She took a deep breath before continuing, “Because what Diawen did isn’t right. I don’t want to condemn others so that I can have power. That’s why I’m hoping you will agree to my next request.”