Page 136 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

After many moments, Pila is the first to break it, stepping forward from the raised garden beds by Willow’s chicken coop. “Where did you getthat child?”

Castor chuckles. “I do believe you already know. I also believe you should stay where you are.”

Stopping her advance, Pila wraps her arms around Terra’s body. “You brought an ent forth from my saplings? How did you manage this on your own?”

“Please. Don’t speak as though I didn’t have any help.” Even though he’s blindfolded, I feel the weight of Castor’s attention when it shifts toward Alexios and me. “Isn’t that right, Xios?”

Alexios frees a puff and spreads his gloved hands. “So this is how you spill the beans?”

“Xios.” Pila’s voice wavers. “What is he talking about?”

Pollux mutters, “Xios stole the sapling from the dryads.That’swhy he met me in the nursery when Pila and I went after Kassandra and Meda.”

Cael’s wings buzz as his amber eyes cut toward the dream eater. “And you knew?”

Laughing awkwardly, Ollie scoots Brittny behind the three men near us, toward me, and offers the hint of a smile as he separates her firmly from where Castor is standing. With my baby. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for—”

“Reasonable?” Pila whispers. “What could possibly make thisreasonable? Castor has a baby frommyseason. He has one ofmybabies. The only thing sparing him a branch to the throat is that I might hurtmy baby.”

Dread wraps a cruel fist around my heart andtwists.Mybaby. Nothers.Mine. She already has one. Ash ismine.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, little flower.” Castor’s mirth falls. “Did no one think I might want an invitation to my closest friend’s celebration?”

“You are not welcome here.” Cael’s wings spread, blocking my line of sight to Ash. I grip Alexios’s shoulder as Cael takes a step forward. “Leave the babe, andgo.”

“Hold on,” Willow snaps.

“Starlight—” Zylus attempts, but she’s already marching forward.

“This is my house, not yours, Cael. I say who is or isn’t welcome. Castor is more than welcome. I’ve even invited him to movie nights before. And guess what today is?”

Splaying her own wings to match her husband’s, Alana marches “We’ve talked about this, Cael.”

“We have,” Cael mutters. “We’ve yet to reach a conclusion I am comfortable with. Treating an enemy like a friend on every account is storybook fantasy. I must think about the good of my people and not welcome monsters into their midst just because you favor their archetype.”

Castor’s soft laughter rises into the breeze. “Well, well, well. Isn’t thischarming? My villain girlies stepping in to commit treason.” His head tilts. “Or should I say,moretreason?”

Cael bristles, pinning Alana with a look. “Have you keptsomething from me as well?”

“Once again, I identify as asomeone, and I dare say,” Castor purrs, “most here have been keeping secrets…”

In a split second, Castor’s standing in front of Alexios, my babyjustout of my reach as he begins to whimper and writhe in his swaddling cloths.

Castor hisses, “I would have hoped you’d tell me of your plans torehabilitateme, Xios. Leaving me to discover the schemes of this…Villain Protection ProgramAlana runs by myself is cruel, isn’t it?”

Out of the corner of my eye, Alana pales.

Alexios hums. “How did you find out?”

“I have my ways of learning a grand many things. Now, step aside. I havebusinesswith the foster mother of my child.”

“Mychild.” My voice breaks. “You said he wasmine.”

Gazes burn into me, but I can pay them no mind. My eyes are locked on Ash as he fusses, fighting Castor’s hold.

In my head, I picture him vanishing as swiftly as he appeared, taking my baby away, never to be seen again.

Castor exhales a depraving laugh. “At one point, he was yours. Whether or not he continues to be is entirely up to you.”

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