The Incandescent | Book 7 | The Fairy arc

Chapter 10 ~ The Report to the Fairy Queen

It was raining by the time Killian and Mara went inside the house. They stood at the window, listening to the steady rainfall, when they heard a knock at the door.

Killian answered, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw Drave standing in the nighttime rain, holding Ireyna in his arms. It was Erasmo who knocked.

"What happened?!" Killian exclaimed, alarmed to see his wife in tears. He knew she was crying because of the opalescent tears on her face; fairy teardrops were the color of holographic bubbles. The tears glimmered in the wetness of the rain, a holographic shine amid the darkness.

Erasmo went inside the house and shook rainwater off his form. Drave transferred Ireyna over to Killian's arms, the movement allowing his hands to brush against his father's trench coat, the first physical contact with his father in years.

Rainwater dripped from his wet hair as Drave looked at Killian, his jaw clenched. He knew that if he didn't explain the situation, Killian would accuse him, faulting Drave as the reason for Ireyna crying, regardless if Ireyna tried to defend him.

Therefore, Drave took the initiative and spoke first to avoid any misunderstanding. His words were curt and formal, directly to the point. "We were at a library. Ireyna was upset and knocked over bookshelves with a telekinetic wave. She wouldn't tell us what happened. She wanted to go home, so we took her home."

"Did someone hurt you?" Killian asked Ireyna, but she shook her head no. He glanced at Drave, ordering, "Go make chamomile tea."

Surprised that his father spoke to him without a glare or a scowl, Drave obediently went to the kitchen.

Mara hung back, watching as Killian went upstairs with Ireyna. After hearing the bedroom door shut, Mara and Erasmo went into the kitchen. Mara stood near Drave as he heated water in the tea kettle. Erasmo helped Drave, selecting a purple cup from the cabinet.

Mara waited until Drave finished making tea before she dropped the bombshell. "Father told me why he killed our mother." As Drave's eyes widened in surprise, Mara said, "Let's go in our room so he won't hear."

Drave handed the tea to Erasmo, who took it upstairs. Mara took Drave to their room and told him everything Killian told her.

After a speechless moment, Drave murmured, "That's horrible. No wonder he killed our mother. She would've killed him if he hadn't killed her."

"That still doesn't excuse him from hating you. Just because you look like our mother doesn't mean you share the same deceitful heart. We'll have to prove to our father that you are nothing like our mother."

"Good luck convincing him," Drave said miserably. "I doubt he'll ever love me. Especially now that I finally know why he hates me."

Needing to be alone, Drave went up the stairs to his room, shutting the door. Mara sighed, not sure how long she should hope for. Now that she finally knew the reason why her father killed her mother, Mara didn't want Killian to allow the past to interfere with the future, the present held at a hesitant imbalance that could teeter in any direction. Mara hoped it would be a good direction.

Meanwhile, Killian heard a tentative knock at the bedroom door. He opened the door and saw Erasmo with Ireyna's tea. He took the tea, smiling warmly at Erasmo. "Thank you, Vanquesha."

Erasmo sparkled in response. He glanced at Ireyna, who was sitting on the bed. The silky purple bedcovers and fancy bedframe were illuminated by the glowing lamp at the bedside table, powered by one of Ireyna's fairy wing feathers. There was a purple blanket around Ireyna to keep her warm.

Sensing Erasmo's concern, Killian reassured him, "She'll be fine. Thank you."

After Erasmo left, Killian gave the tea to Ireyna, pleased to see that Drave prepared the tea exactly as Killian requested.