Page 109 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“I see,” Kathleen replied. “She has always focused on uncovering the uglier side of human nature.”
“Not anymore,” Miles jumped in. He held me to him, keeping me steady, adding, “She retired after adopting Bianca. That’s when Jonathon and Abigail stepped back from their duties.”
“That makes more sense,” Kathleen observed, her tone practical but kind. “But I doubt they’re as removed as you believe.”
My stomach twisted. Even now, my past not only affected me but also inconvenienced everyone else around me. “I—I just don’t know why they bothered,” I admitted. “I don’t think they like me.”
Miles dropped his arm from my shoulders and leaned away, staring at me. “What?”
“Don’t be daft,” Kathleen interrupted Miles before he could speak further. “Abigail was upholding her promise—one she made willingly. She had the right and the responsibility to intervene. She never would have abandoned you.”
“W-what do you mean?” I sucked in a breath, the weight of her words settling heavily on me.
“She’s your godmother,” Kathleen said, her frown deepening.
I bit my lip and looked away. “I know,” I admitted. “Damen told me.”
“Really?” Miles cut in. He looked surprised, his eyebrows arching slightly. “I… I didn’t know that.”
“She made a vow to protect you,” Kathleen said to me. “It isn’t a role to be taken lightly, especially not among our kind. The Stephens and Dubois families have a lot of power,” she continued, her tone carrying a note of caution. “They are nobility among the fae. Bringing your story into the open might have caused a war within this realm—especially if you were still a child. Abigail knew that. She chose a quieter, safer route to protect you. That would be a reason for my son’s spellwork.”
“That’s what Gregory was told,” Miles agreed, the lines of his face relaxing slightly as he glanced at me. “Still, not everyoneknows of her yet—we’re waiting until she’s ready.” The corner of his lip curled up when he said this last bit, and my skin flushed as a warmth spread through my chest.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready. To face my past—or to confront my origins.
“And that’s sensible,” Kathleen replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “But it’s not a sustainable long-term plan. Especially if Gregory is involved, he’s got quite the temper.”
Dr. Stephens did?
I looked to Miles, only to catch his gaze in return. He looked just as confused as me.
“Regardless,” she said. “For them to go this far—to risk angering the fae with premature exposure—my son and his wife must care for you very much.”
“They—” My blood rushed through me, and my skin grew hot. My attention moved to my knees as I pressed my shaking hands against my thighs. “They never even hinted. We never talked about it.”
“Maybe not,” Kathleen replied. “They’ve always relied on gestures and spells.”
I bit my lip as I looked at her, but she was looking at the ceiling, deep in thought.
“I’d call them idealistic. When they were dating, and I had to chase them around that darn hippie festival, I often found them sleeping under the stars while most sensible people used the tents. They said it was a more ‘authentic’ experience.”
“E-excuse me?” I stammered, dragged from my thoughts. “Hippie festival?”
“Indeed,” Kathleen smiled. “Jonathon drove me mad with that and his fantasy games. That generation certainly has their quirks.”
I was intrigued yet skeptical. “Oh.” I paused, my mind trying to picture Jonathon and Abigail amidst a sea of tie-dye and peace signs. “I can’t really say. I don’t know them like that.”
“You haven’t met any of the other Paragons yet?” she asked, tilting her head to the side, her gaze shifting between Miles and me.
“No…” He looked sheepishly at the floor. “Jonathon is the only Er Bashou she knows—she hasn’t met Declan yet. She has met Trinity and Abigail, obviously.”
Kathleen narrowed her eyes. “I hope you’re prepared for that backlash. Jameson will not be pleased.”
“Damen says he can deal with Jameson,” Miles replied, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty as he swallowed hard.
“Okay,” she scoffed, laughed under her breath, and added, “I’m glad I’m not going to be around for that.”
Miles perked up, tension creeping into his posture. “What do you mean? You’re not coming back with us?”
