Page 138 of Madness of Her Mages

My heart twisted and ached as I cautiously approached. “Hello, there,” I said as I knelt in front of them, setting my bag on the ground beside me.

The child with the loose hair stepped forward while pulling back her shoulders. “Hello.”

My heart pounded a drum in my ears. She was so close, I could’ve reached out and grabbed her, but I didn’t want to scare her away, though I longed to hold her. “You must be Aurora.”

She tilted her head, giving me a curious look. “How did you know?”

“I don’t know how,” I said. “I just do.” I smiled at her sister. “And you’re Ember.”

A wave of relief washed through me when Ember stepped up next to her sister. “Yes.”

“Do you know who I am?”

Ember pulled her thumb out of her mouth. “You’re our mommy.”

Tears welled in my eyes and emotion tightened my throat, making it hard to speak. “That’s right.” I heaved a shaky breath while praying I didn’t scare them away. “May I hug you?”

My heart stopped when they nodded. I held out my arms, choking back a sob when they fell against me.

My daughters. My beautiful daughters. I would rather cut out my own heart before ever leaving you again.

I clutched them to my bosom, hugging them as if my heart would stop beating if I let go, and all my tumultuous emotions converged into that one moment as the world stopped spinning long enough for me to cherish this reunion with my children. I couldn’t help the tears that escaped my eyes or the sobs that claimed me when they wrapped their arms around my neck.

My daughters. My beautiful daughters.

I looked over their shoulders at my sister, her image blurred by my tears, and I mouthed my thanks, though I knew I would never be able to show her enough gratitude for keeping my children safe. I thought I saw her nod while wiping her eyes.

Aurora was the first to wriggle out of my embrace. I tried not to show my disappointment when she pulled back, her brow drawn low.

My arms already felt too empty without her in them, but I didn’t dare press her for another hug and risk scaring her off.

“Why did you leave us?” Aurora asked, hurt flashing in her eyes.

I swear I thought I heard the sound of my heart splitting open.

“It wasn’t by choice. I was taken from you.” I cast my parents an accusatory look as my father returned with a handful of firewood. “And my memories were stolen.”

My sister’s mates returned from the hut with extra blankets, cooking utensils, and a bag of grains. They joined my father by the fire, an awkward encounter, I was sure, after they’d once tried to kill him.

“By Thorin?” Ember asked as she, too, pulled away, though she remained attached to me by leaning against my knee.

“Yes.” I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands. “You know about him?”

She nodded. “He’s a bad man.”

I had a feeling they were right, and they knew far more about Thorin than I did.

Aurora tugged on my sleeve, pointing to the two pointy black ears poking out of the sack by my feet. “What’s that?”

“That’s my rabbit, Demon,” I said as I pulled him from the bag, setting him on the dirt.

Both girls squealed in delight.

I pulled the white rabbit out of the bag next, and she hopped up to Demon, nuzzling his neck. “And this is Angel, my other rabbit.”

Their eyes lit up like starlight, making my mother’s heart soar.

“May we pet them?” Aurora asked.

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