Page 53 of Beta Hybrid

As the warrior reaches us, he sweeps my mother up into his arms and presses his lips to hers. For a beat, I think it’s incredibly sweet and romantic, how happy they are to see each other. I wonder how long it’s been.

I take him in. That’s my father. His lower-half is covered with starlight material, wrapped around his waist, showing off a well-muscled torso. His hair is hard to see, translucent among the Hunt.

Then he lowers my mother onto a bed of clouds, deepening the kiss. Woah. No. Nope. I try to turn away, closing the gap where my mother broke our circle.

Andrea chuckles. ‘Nicholas, my love, we have company. Special company.’

The warrior, Nicholas, smiles without making a move to release her. ‘Aldrich knows how long it’s been, he will forgive me.’

I clear my throat. ‘I think she means me, actually.’

Nicholas blinks, tucking a curtain of my mother’s hair behind her pointed ear. He takes me in, then stares, wide-eyed at his wife. ‘Is—is this real? Has my time in the Hunt finally deranged my mind?’ He gently sets my mother on her feet, takes her hand, and starts toward me.

‘No, my love. It’s real.’ Andrea runs a hand through my hair. ‘This is our baby girl.’

Tears fill both their eyes.

My father’s mouth drops open a little. ‘No, but… we had you… just a short time ago. You cannot be grown already.’ He reaches out, as though to touch me, but holds back.

I frown. ‘What are you talking about?’

Andrea takes my hand. ‘Time moves differently in the Hunt,’ she says softly. She places my hand in my father’s. ‘This is her, Nicholas. Really.’

Nicholas squeezes my hand as gently as though I were a newborn. ‘Oh, my stars. My little girl.’ He takes a step closer. ‘You’re as beautiful as your mother.’

Andrea’s eyes sparkle.

I try to smile. Everything is so surreal. ‘How—long have you been—’ I look around, the Hunt still passing through the sky. ‘Here?’

‘I cannot tell,’ he says softly. He holds a hand up. ‘May I?’

I nod.

He brushes my cheek with calloused skin. ‘Oh.’ Dawning comprehension fills his eyes. ‘She is grown.’ He looks sadly to his wife, then back to me. ‘You must… be very angry with us.’ He holds me so delicately, with such love, that I can’t find any anger right now.

‘I’m sorry,’ Divina interrupts. ‘We shouldn’t stay here. We… we need to find Gaia.’

Jana cuts her a glare.

I whip my head to her, anger sparking to life. ‘No. I don’t want to leave.’ I turn back to my parents. ‘I finally found them.’

My mother and father wrap me into a hug; for the first time in my life, I’m squished between them. Tears spill down my cheeks, my hand still behind me, clutching my mate.

‘Our little girl,’ my mother coos. ‘The witch is right. The Wild Hunt is a place for visiting. If one stays too long… things get blurry.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve lived and fought with my ancestors for many years,’ my father says. ‘Time and reality blur. So much so I could easily believe you were born only days ago.’ He runs a hand through my hair. ‘If you were to stay here, you would have to leave your wolf, everyone without Faerie blood, behind. Time would pass slowly, and in the blink of an eye up here, they would age and turn to dust.’

Cai’s grip on my hand tightens. Zenna.

‘Then you—you come with us.’ My voice is strangled.

My mother smiles and presses a kiss to the top of my head. ‘This is our home, my girl. But I promise you, we will visit.’

Tears stream down my face. ‘But—but I just got you back.’

My father hugs me tight—and even pulls Cai in close. ‘You are not alone, little one. Over time, we can answer your questions, soothe every part of your fears and worries. I want you to know one thing before you continue on your journey.’ He cups my face. ‘You have always been deeply loved.’

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