Page 58 of The Rebel Seer

Rhys is quiet for a moment and his eyes are bright as he takes in this version of his twin. “She was taken from me, too. From us. Me and Lee and Evangeline. Myrddin took our father’s crown and sent them through a portal. They did not return for years. We were on the run, and each night I would close my eyes and hear her voice and feel her kiss on my cheek. But I also heard my papa telling me he loves me. I remembered my dad hugging me. They weren’t good to me. They were everything to me.”

Tears cling to my cheeks and I make eye contact with Devinshea, who watches our sons, absolutely feeling our loss, hearing our son say he missed us, loves us. Wishes we had that time together.

But we must appreciate the time we have now.

“And we are brothers in your time?” Lee sniffles but holds it together.

“You are my deeply obnoxious brother,” Rhys returns. “How we are twins, I have no idea. You create chaos wherever you go.”

“So pretty much the same,” Other Neil snarks. He’s beside my Neil, who has no problem standing there with his dingus hanging out. I’m suddenly worried for his husband. They might decide to date.

“I love you, brother. I say that unashamedly and without hesitation. I would give my life for you and I would trust you with everything that matters to me. We are more than brothers. You are part of me,” Rhys vows.

“In another time,” Lee says softly.

“In all of the times,” Rhys replies, his voice strong, unwavering. “Even if you turned out like your father, but you should know I would protect the world from you. I will help you take out this version of the man even though it makes my heart ache to do so because somewhere in there is my papa. He just took a wrong turn.”

“A wildly insane turn,” Dev complains. “I don’t even understand what he’s doing. He gives up his Green Man powers? Chooses to not ascend?”

Other Neil moves to Lee’s side, seeming to get serious. It’s easy to tell that he is Lee’s second in command. He likely had a large hand in raising him after his mother was murdered. “He went insane after he learned of Zandra’s death. The king was not always as he is now. He was selfish, but I do believe he truly loved Z. He came to our village many times after he pledged he would not marry her. He was even a halfway decent father to Lee for many years. But then the queen declared he must marry.”

“My father did not wish to marry,” Lee continues. “He was content to be something of a husband and a father two or three times a year. He would come to our village and it would be good for a few weeks and he would be gone again. Mother had a friend who constantly told her she deserved better. But she wouldn’t listen to him.”

“Let me guess. Sandy hair and dimples? Blue eyes?” our Neil asks.

“Yes, Deiniol did have those attributes,” Other Neil agrees.

The thought makes my heart clench. “Is he here with you?”

Lee’s head shakes. “No. After Declan Quinn sent his assassins to kill me and my mother, it was Deinny who saved me, who took me to Neil and asked him to hide me. To keep me safe. And then he went to the palace to kill the prince. He showed Devinshea the evidence and that was when my father went mad. In his grief, he killed his mother and brother, took the throne and burned Deinny at the stake because he would not give up my location. I believe by that point, Deinny knew Devinshea couldn’t be trusted.”

“But you’re his son,” I say, feeling so much for the tragedies these versions of ourselves had gone through.

“I was his rival at that point,” Lee explains. “For all Uncle Neil claims the king was a decent father, I believe he was merely obsessed with my mother and once she was gone, he shut away the tiny part of himself that could love. I’m his bastard, and I’m someone the rebels could rally around. The last with Quinn blood.”

“So you’re taking his throne?” Dev asks.

“I care not for the throne. Let the damn royals figure it out,” Lee explains. “I want peace in my lands. I want all of the Fae to live in harmony again. He has thrown off the balance of the world, and I intend to restore it.”

“Is Myrddin from this realm?” I want to know if this is the same Myrddin we’re dealing with.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sasha walk into the room. “Your Highness, we must move now.”

“Oh, why would you leave so soon, my love?”

From the opposite entrance, my husband walks in. My not husband. This version of himself practically glows with dark magic. And his smile is the most predatory thing I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately, he’s not alone.

“Hello, Zoey. I do believe I told you this wasn’t over,” Myrddin Emrys says.

And I know we are much too late.

Chapter Fifteen

Shy

My blood threatens to run cold as the wizard looks us over.

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