Page 20 of Storm of Summer (Wild Haven 3)

I shoot a panicked look at Ruby over Birdie’s shoulder. I’m stiff as a board with my arms at my sides in Birdie’s embrace.

“Okay, Birdie. Let’s unclench from around Zara and let her get some oxygen into her lungs.” Ruby gently pries Birdie from me. I don’t know if I should thank her or not. That hug was both uncomfortable but also… nice. “Let’s go inside, shall we?”

Birdie wipes at her face and bestows a watery smile on me. She hooks one arm through mine and her other through Ruby’s.

“Yes, let’s go inside. I think we have some things to talk about.”

The inside of the house is tidy and welcoming. Everything is decorated in soft creams and grays. It’s very soothing. Birdie has to let go of our arms in order to usher us into the kitchen and I follow behind Ruby obediently.

“Would you like some coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?”

I perk up at the offer of hot chocolate. That was a drink that the High Fae would often have in the morning, but I was never allowed as a drudge. The smell was enough to make my mouth water, but it was never worth the punishment to sneak a drink. My longing must be evident because Birdie’s face lights up with a smile.

“Hot chocolate for you, then?”

“Please,” I murmur, returning her smile. Like with Ruby and Rhys, I’m finding it comes naturally with Birdie.

“You’ll have some too, Ruby,” Birdie says without giving her a choice.

“I’d rather have some booze,” Ruby grumbles but doesn’t say anything else.

“You know the answer to that. No one made you drink half a bottle of Goldschläger and throw up in my poinsettias, that one Christmas.” Birdie admonishes and waves us over to a table with long bench seats. Ruby looks guilty for all of two seconds before she chuckles under her breath.

Ruby and I sit on the same side as we watch Birdie move throughout her kitchen. Like what I’ve seen of the house so far, this room is open and airy, with white cabinets and gray counters. Little touches around the room make it feel warm and lived in. Like the black and white pictures hanging on the wall, and a jar full of cookies on the table. Ruby doesn’t hesitate to pluck one out and takes a big bite while Birdie finishes up our hot chocolate.

Birdie delivers our drinks, and I wrap my hands around the mug. Steam rises off the top and I dip my head to inhale the delicious scent. I blow on it, but don’t take a drink yet, not wanting to burn my tongue.

When Birdie sits down, she has her own hot chocolate in front of her. Her eyes travel back and forth between me and Ruby. The rings on her left hand clink against her cup as she presses her lips together, blinking a few times like she’s holding back tears.

“Do you know how old you are, dear?” Birdie finally breaks the silence.

“I don’t. Possibly around twenty-five as best I can guess.”

Birdie nods and lifts her mug to blow on her drink.

“I never told you, Ruby, that your mom was pregnant when your dad left.”

My eyes dart over to Ruby, and her face loses all color.

“What?”

Birdie nods, her fingers turning white as she squeezes her cup. “You were barely a few months old when your mom got pregnant again.” Birdie shakes her head, her eyes taking on a faraway look as if she’s remembering a frustrating conversation.

“She must have been 8 months along when your father took off. Piece of garbage. The only good thing he ever did was give me you.” Birdie huffs. “It devastated your mom. She was having a hard time of it anyway, having such a young baby and then being pregnant on top of it. And then your dad took off. She told me…” Birdie chokes on the words, having to swallow a few times before she can’t go on. “She told me she lost the baby.”

Birdie’s hand floats up to her mouth, and she pinches her lips together. “Years later, when she was in the depth of her addiction, she would rant about what he did. He took her daughter away, he stole her. The Fairies stole her baby.” Birdie breaks down at this, tears streaming down her face.

Ruby is stiff next to me, her face locked in a mask of shock. The pieces of what Birdie is saying are slowly starting to click together.

“She was involved with Anthony and that damn Axis. All of those fools thought that some ungodly amount of power was just beyond the reach of their fingertips.” Birdie lifts her eyes to look directly at me and goosebumps break out all over my body. “You’ve been in Fairy for twenty-five plus years and I think it’s possible Anthony somehow sent you there.”

I take my first drink of hot chocolate, but I don’t taste a thing.

* * *

“Are you okay?” Ruby and I are laying in her bed, facing each other. We both have our hands tucked under our cheeks in a mirror image of one another.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Ruby smiles at me, but it’s sad.

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