I talked to the babies and let the tears flow freely until I couldn’t cry anymore. When I was done, I wiped my eyes and promised myself that I’d cry no more over what had happened between me and Ryder. It was only a matter of time before Ryder came for me. I could feel the bond we shared as he pulled on it and searched through the world to figure out where I had gone to.
He would never stop looking for us, and while I could shut down the bond for small amounts of time, I’d need to sleep sooner or later and he’d find us then. Besides, he’d marked my ass, and would find me soon enough with or without the shield I had in place.
I was safe here, for now at least. He wouldn’t hurt me, of that I was sure. He wasn’t cruel, and I could understand his reasons for being pissed. I had more than a month to wonder at our connection and the knowledge that we’d been unable to fight the desire because we’d been made to feel it. He’d only had a few minutes to digest the information.
I even understood his hesitancy and why he probably said what he did about our children being his, considering I’d just told him how I’d been conceived. It was unheard of, and it had left me confused until Danu had explained it in detail. I felt him growing closer and shook my head. I wasn’t ready to talk. I may have understood his reasons but it did little to sooth the pain that his words had caused. I hadn’t deserved his heated words about the parentage of our children. He knew they were his. It had been a low blow meant to hurt me, and he’d succeeded.
I stood up and dusted off the dress before I sifted to the Fairy Pools, soaking my feet in the cool water. The alga was glowing brightly tonight as it illuminated the springs. I made sure to step around it so as not to disturb it. My exposed skin glowed with the light illuminated from the water, which created a greenish-blue tinge to my pale pallor.
I felt the electrical sizzle of his presence the moment he found me knee deep in the water’s delicious depths. He remained silent, and I continued to pretend I was still alone. I could sift again, but I had already broken my own self-imposed rules about magic use while pregnant enough for one day. He’d catch me eventually, anyway. I was running to places that had reminded me of us, and not necessarily away from him. There was no running from him; I’d needed space for the moment, and I’d gotten that. Now it was time to embrace him, and his anger for my choice to hide what I was from him.
I heard the splash of water as he waded through the shallow pool to me. I held the tears in; refusing to cry about what fate had delivered to me. I refused to look up even when I felt his eyes on me.
“You didn’t run far or fast enough,” he growled.
I ignored him as I turned and walked further into the water. I let the silence be his answer to his questions since I wasn’t ready to give him one verbally.
“You didn’t run at all. Did you, Pet? You came to where I first made you mine.”
I stopped and lifted my head to meet his eyes. This is where we’d come after the Wild Hunt. This was where he’d taken me for endless hours, only to take me back to the mansion as a traitor. I wanted him even then. We’d come in a full circle, because my mind had brought me to him, here.
“Why did you come, Ryder? If it’s to take me back to keep me locked in a room, you can leave now. I understand the anger, but I refuse to be the kind of girl who allows a man to cage her. I cannot and will not be caged.”
“You actually think some Goddess could make me want you? Or you, for that matter? Synthia, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. No one made us feel this way. Maybe in the beginning but love isn’t lust. I know you love me. I know that I feel this connection to you that I’ve never felt for anyone else. I don’t love, but I care for you, I do. You’re the mother of my children and for the first time in Fae history, the Horde King has released his own concubines willingly for one woman. No Goddess made me feel those things or do what I have done. You made me feel the need to be a better person. You, Synthia, you made me want to be a better man.”