The Incandescent | Book 7 | The Fairy arc

Chapter 11 ~ The Form Taking of a Fairy Stepmother

In the morning, three cups of tea awaited Mara, Drave, and Erasmo. Tiramisu cake towered three lavender plates, and sparkling blackberries completed the delightful sight. Mara sipped the fragrant tea, thinking what an excellent way to wake up.

Erasmo sparkled excitedly when he saw the tea and tiramisu, but Mara forced him to share, indicating there were three plates, with three forks and three cups.

"If you want extra, ask Killian or Ireyna. And don't you even think of stealing a slice!" Mara said, tossing the Vanquesha a warning look.

"Ask me for extra what?" Killian asked, walking into the dining room. Dressed finely in a deep purple long-sleeved shirt and slim black pants, he slicked back his neatly brushed, long black hair. He paused when he saw Drave and Erasmo at the table with Mara.

"Extra tiramisu," Drave answered, speaking in place of Mara. He locked eyes with Killian, relieved to see that for the first time since the reunion, Killian looked at him without any hostility or resentment.

Killian was caught off guard for a moment. Assuming Drave was the one that wanted extra tiramisu, he quickly said, "Sure, I'll get you some."

Mara's eyes widened in surprise and Drave froze in startlement. Erasmo dropped his fork, the metallic purple utensil clattering on the plate.

Not only did Killian bring extra tiramisu, he brought extra tea. Killian took a seat beside Mara, sitting across from Drave. The Decuir siblings were silent, extremely astonished that Killian was at the table with them. He always ate alone or with Mara, never with Drave. This was the first time they had sat together as a family.

To break the spell of surprised silence, Mara asked, "Where's Ireyna?"

"Asleep," Killian said, his voice serious at the mention of Ireyna. "Mara, come with me to the stable after breakfast. I need to speak with you regarding Ireyna."

He still doesn't trust Drave whenever he wants to discuss something, but at least he had breakfast with him for the first time, Mara surmised.

After finishing her tea and tiramisu, Mara went outside with Killian. Drave and Erasmo remained at the table.

The teal stallion and the mulberry red mare neighed in greeting at the sight of father and daughter. Killian ensured the horses had clean water and fresh oats before he addressed the matter he wanted to discuss with Mara.

"Ireyna is a rare immortal fairy from another world. As her husband, I personally monitor the use of her power, so it isn't misused, and that her great power doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

Mara's eyes widened as she remembered the Glittered Inktraitor mentioning portals and doorways to other worlds. "Wait, so the Glittered Inktraitor was right? There are portals and doorways to other worlds? My stepmother came from another world? And she is immortal?"

Killian's eyes narrowed. "What Glittered Inktraitor?" he asked, not liking the sound of his character.

Mara told him about the assignment on Ghatom, of the encounter with the Glittered Inktraitor at the ink factory.

Alarm appeared, along with an urgency to protect his family from such a person. "Let me know if you see the Glittered Inktraitor again. Always keep the Rose Dagger with you. Drave should keep the Ivyslash with him. I will give Erasmo a weapon of his own called Confettra, made of intricate diamond dust. I have my dagger, the Emerald Glare. The one Ireyna gave me when we first met." A fond smile touched his face at the memory.

The smile faded when Killian remembered what he wanted to ask of Mara. "Mara, I need you to stay with me to help with Ireyna, especially since she became aware of this secret information that was kept from her."