Page 119 of The Seducer
“Can I stay when you tell him?” I asked, and Finn gave me a don’t-be-silly glance.
“Of course you can; what happens to me happens to you and vice versa.”
I had no experience with being in a relationship like this, but his words still made me warm inside. After seeing the tight bond between Pearl and Khan, I wasn’t sure why men and women had given up on this kind of committed friendship and partnership.
I had always been taught that marriages had been oppressive to women, but from what I’d seen, the men here needed their women and treated them with love and respect. Well, except Magni, who didn’t seem to think women should have a voice in anything.
Still, I paused as I pondered the energy that had pulsed between Laura and him during the strategy meeting yesterday. If I didn’t find it so unbelievable, I’d say that Laura was attracted to Magni. I shivered just thinking about the size and nature of that man. Even I, with my great knowledge of psychology and spirituality, and my abilities to do mind work, wouldn’t know where to start with him. It was hard to imagine that Laura would be able to reason with his rigid ideas about women, but when I’d looked into her eyes, I’d seen bravery and strength. Laura was one of the rarest women in the world, born in the Motherlands and raised among the men of the North. If she was anything like them, she wouldn’t back down from a challenge, and Magni had to be the most challenging man any woman could face.
Tristan stopped in front of us with a happy grin. “I learned the most fabulastic kick in the world. You want to see it?”
“Sure?” Finn swung his hand, signaling for Tristan to go ahead. “But lose the not so fabulastic slang, will you?”
The boy nodded. It looked impressive when he jumped up and turned in the air, stretching his leg and foot.
“Wow,” I exclaimed with genuine amazement.
“Told you it was impressive,” Tristan said with a proud smile.
“Very nice,” Finn agreed. “I have something to tell you.”
Tristan smiled before he looked back to his group of friends, signaling that he would just be a minute. “I know you said we’re going back to the Motherlands soon, but I’m serious, Finn, I really want to stay here.”
“I know,” Finn said. “And I think I know why.”
“Why?” Tristan asked and tilted his head a little.
“It’s because you’re one of us.”
Tristan rubbed his nose looking from Finn to me and back again.
“You’re my biological son.”
A new surge of excitement filled me when Finn told him and Tristan’s eyes grew wide.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“One hundred percent.” Finn chuckled with an overwhelming joy radiating from him. “I ran the test this morning and you’re looking at the handsome devil who fathered you.”
Tristan broke into a howl of joy and hugged Finn full force. “I knew it! I knew it!” he kept repeating all the while, laughing and hugging Finn.
“What’s going on?” Tristan’s friends came running and so did another group of the children who had witnessed our happy celebration.
Tristan and Finn pulled apart, and the boy dried his eyes and turned to them. “Finn is my real dad.”
“No way!” Solo was gaping. “You’re not serious.”
“It’s true,” I confirmed and the boys were quick to pat Tristan on the shoulders.
“Then you really are one of us.”
“But how can Finn be your dad?” A soft voice made me look to the group of Motlander children and see Willow take a step forward. The tall girl stood like a swan with her straight posture, long silky hair, and the symmetrical features that made her so beautiful. “That shouldn’t be possible?”
“It’s really cold out here,” Finn said, ignoring her question. “Why don’t we go inside and get warm?”
With all the children in tow we walked into the school building where Kya, Archer, Marco, Shelly, and the other children were gathered.
Raven was quick to shout the news to everyone who hadn’t heard already and everyone congratulated both Finn and Tristan.
