I gripped her heart and ripped it out. She gasped her last breath then Aiylee snapped her body away. I’d asked her to do that immediately since I didn’t want Cora’s family to have to see her out here. They were devastated by her betrayal. We didn’t hold that against them though since it wasn’t their fault. My mom had made them tell the truth. They had no knowledge and no contact with the family members Cora reached out to for help. Jed even tried to get her help.
I held up the heart, “Pro nostro honore, Pro populo nostro, pro imperatore nostro (For our honor, For our people, for our Commander).” Everyone cheered and started making out. I pushed my Hackura side down because the need to pop to Cayden was growing, but I knew he was busy.
I popped to the gym. Specifically, the women’s locker room. I chanted and encased Cora’s heart in glass and magically affixed it to the wall across from the door. Everyone would see it when they came in. I snapped the sign I wanted and put it above the heart.
My mom popped next to me and gave me a hug. She told me, “I’m so proud of you, Cass. OH MY FUCKING GOD! THAT IS THE BEST SIGN EVER! Why didn’t I have a sign?!” I laughed, “A head is a pretty clear sign mom.” She shrugged, “I like the sign. ‘If you come for Cayden, I’ll rip your heart out.’ It’s genius but that’s not surprising. My baby is smart.”
She paused then admitted, “I’d have added I’ll rip your fucking heart out, but it works.” I smiled, “I love you, mom.” She smiled and snapped me into a white one piece swimsuit with asymmetric cutouts. I surmised, “So we are going to a pool?”
My mom answered, “My baby loves the ocean. So, she gets to play in the fucking ocean for her bachelorette party.” I laughed and my mom popped me to the group. I looked around taking it all in. There was a big floating trampoline, a slide, floating devices, and a floating bar IN the ocean. She also had a bar on the sand. I hugged her, “I love it.”
Aiylee popped over with a drink. I asked, “You’re having them serve sex on the beach?” My mom smiled, “It matched the theme and Cayden will be back later. You could have sex on the beach.” I laughed when she bumped my hip. I smiled, “I think you’re the only one, besides Aiylee and Beagan, in the family that admits I have sex.”
My mom rolled her eyes, “They can all smell you’ve had sex.” I snorted, “But they pretend they don’t know.” My mom rolled her eyes, “Well that’s just fucking crazy. What are they going to do when you decide to have kids?” I smiled at her.
My mom and I hadn’t talked about kids, but I was thinking she’d be the best person to tell all my fears to. She could understand better than anyone else. Aiylee winked at me and popped away. I snapped my mom and I more drinks. I quickly slammed two of them. My mom laughed, “That’s the spirit.”
I took a deep breath requesting, “Space unheard.” My mom quickly did as I asked. I asked, “You’re not going to ask why?” My mom rolled her eyes, “One, google told me a long time ago you cannot upset the bride. Two, you are my kid. When my kids ask me to do something like that, I don’t need a reason. What’s going on?” I snapped us beach chairs and sat down.
I sighed, “Kids.” She jumped in, “I didn’t mean anything by that comment. You’ve always told me you wanted kids. If you’ve changed your mind, that’s fine. You don’t have to have them. It’s your fucking body. No one can make that decision but you.”
I shook my head, “No, I do want kids. At first when I met Cayden I just wanted to wait. After that whole Cora fiasco, it morphed into a different reason. The whole thing scares me. What if we have a little girl who is a Truth Seeker, like me? What if some psycho decides my son is theirs and uses magic on him like they did to his dad?”
I whispered, “I feel like I’m paralyzed by fear. I don’t understand how you did it. You were in the Ring, but you still had all of us. How are you so brave, mom?” My mom told me, “Some days I don’t feel so brave to be honest. Truthfully, I didn’t know I would likely give birth to another Truth Seeker until fucking Fabian told me. But I would’ve made the same choice with your dad to have you even if I did. Because you are someone the world needs to know. We wanted each and every single one of you kids so much we could barely stand it.”
She took both my hands, “Don’t think I wasn’t worried. I was so worried about you triplets. I worry about all my kids. I cried to your dad asking how we would protect you all once you started using your powers from the womb. I was scared; however, I grew up very differently than you all did.”
I squeezed her hands. My mom smiled, “I know what living in fucking fear does to you. I know what not breaking out and carving your own path does. I won’t ever let fear like that run my life. I will always worry about you kids. Those who are mated and those who are not. You are my babies. That worry will never go away.”
“It is scary to know there are those out there that want to take what you don’t even have yet. That there are probably plans. I hate that for all of you, I really fucking do. We are who we are though. Even without being Hackura or Fae your wolf side would’ve been coveted. Your dad will always be sought after, and that extends to his kids. We are strong enough to protect you all and I will ALWAYS fight for you guys. Anyone who comes against my babies comes against every fucking person I can convince to fight with me. Which is a lot of people.”
I put my head on her shoulder, “Someone got to him here. He was in the care of someone, and they didn’t watch him properly.”She told me, “I think you need to talk to Cayden about this. I will put protections on your kids and so will your Aunt Katie and Aunt Megan. No one will do this shit to your kids. I will Truth Seek the fuck out of any babysitter or nanny. Plus, there are several members of the family that would take that position/job for you if you wanted. Besides, you have time here. You’re still young. I know I had you guys young, but that’s not for everyone. It’s what your father and I both wanted.”
She admitted, “I never thought I’d have this beautiful family. I never thought I’d be able to let a man touch me. I didn’t even have a peaceful pregnancy with you guys. I spoke to our pack therapist for YEARS about my trauma. I had PTSD, which triggered again when I was pregnant with Max and Wesley. I was so worried the second I found out about them. I was so unbelievably happy too and you know I have a lock on the bond. Poor Lindsey had a time convincing me to open up to everyone about the fact that I was also really paranoid and worried about everything.”
I hugged her, “I hate the for you mom.” My mom smiled, “Your dad noticed before I said anything, of course. As did your grandparents and uncles. Your dad had things to deal with personally about the pregnancy too. He felt like a failure when I was taken from him. Which made me want to kill that damn Vampire King all over again. Your dad is nowhere near a failure, and we all know that, but feelings and emotions aren’t always rational.”
“If you’re ready to have kids sweetie, then you're ready. If you want to wait longer, you do that. I’m sad for all you kids that there will never be a perfect fucking time to have kids because of who you are. I wish I could change that for you, I do. We are who are though, and I wouldn’t change that either.”
She encouraged me, “Trust your instincts here. That’s what I’ve always told you. No story has the perfect journey that’s rainbows and sunshine. That story keeps going when you know the person standing beside you will be there no matter what. You have the person that will always fucking be right there beside you. Not just when it’s easy, but when it’s really fucking hard. When it seems like you can’t breathe because so much is happening. If you can look at the person beside you and get a breath of fresh air, that’s what matters. Your dad and I have had a bumpy road because truthfully everyone does.”
She took a breath, “Everyone has fights. It’s about not giving up on each other. Ever. When I’m scared, your father is my damn Ginkgo Tree.” I went to explain the saying but she held her hand up continuing, “Yes, I know people say rock but we are Earth Fairies. Trees make more goddamn sense. Ginkgo trees can adapt, they don’t get diseases, they can live for hundreds to thousands of years, and theyare pretty. When your dad is scared, and yes he does get scared, you best believe I’m his goddamn Ginkgo tree.”
Rain chuckled, “That’s such a mom speech.” It was true. No mom could give advice like mine, and I’d die on that hill for the truth of it. She told me, “I’ll be there for you every step of the way whenever you decide to have kids. There’s just someone right there beside you who is your other half.”
I nodded, “I know he is. I love him.” My mom smiled, “I know you do. The way you two look at each other tells me. You look so much like me it’s easiest to see your dad and myself in you two. At least at the moment, from all the mated kids we have. When you decide you’re ready to have kids I am a portal or pop away if you need a shoulder to cry on. Or just a phone call to vent your fears. I’ll always be there for you because you’re my little girl. Your dad would talk to Cayden if he had those fears. We understand more than anyone probably could.”
She admitted, “We were in unfuckingchartered territory when we had each and every one of you kids. It won’t always be easy, but you do what you can. You love your kids with everything in you. You make sure they are loved, happy, and fed. The things you can control are what you worry about.”
I acknowledged, “I need to talk to Cayden.” My mom smiled advising, “Have some fun at your party first. My suggestion is to have a few more drinks. Get as tipsy as you can, then pop to your man, and rock his socks off. The pack girls told me that means good sex.” The pack girls were crazy to tell her these things, but it was true.
I snorted, “He’s with a source that only wants to see him or Micah.” My mom shrugged, “Wear a fucking blindfold then. He’s your man, and you need him. You’ve got Fairy blood Cassie Conners, be mischievous.” I laughed, “I love you mom.” My mom replied in kind, “I love you too. Now, go have a really good time.” I kissed her cheek and took off.
First my grandpa and now my mom said there was no perfect time to have kids. Cayden and I needed to talk about it together though. I didn’t think I was ready yet, but maybe I would be soon. I did need to talk to him about my fears. My mom was right about that. My mom’s analogy wasn’t one humans would ever adopt, but it was also right. Cayden was my Gingko tree.
I popped to Aiylee and Beagan on the trampoline. Both squealed. Elise climbed on with Buttercup, Tory, and Gia. We all jumped together for several minutes. I jumped into the air and did a flip into the ocean. I came up to see Milana mess up her jump. She ended up doing a belly flop.
She surfaced yelling, “It hurt. It hurt a lot!” I laughed and snapped her a drink. She raised a glass, “Snap yourself a shot, little Miss Bride!” I laughed and snapped shots for myself, Aiylee, Elise, Beagan, Tory, Gia, and Buttercup. We all took them together.
