Page 89 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“At home.” Piera’s demeanor shifted to overt annoyance. “He sent us to help harvest the Surrels’ fields because Mother insisted Father needed to stay home today.” She rolled her eyes again. “We all know it’s just because she doesn’t want to clean the house. You have to come home, Calypso. Mother is unhinged when you’re gone. Demanding things, throwing fits, and—” The girl’s eyes filled with tears. “She is selling me to Mistress Foster.”

“Apprentice. Mama said apprentice, not sell.” Melly glared at Piera. “You were just complaining that Calypso used to be so bossy all the time. If she came back, she would tell you what to do.”

“I’m not coming back, girls.” Calypso cut off the argument. “I am married now, and I have my own household.”

Three sets of assessing eyes settled on me. “Him?”

“Yes,” she answered.

Suppressed laughter bubbled under my breastbone, but I didn’t let it out. Calypso met my gaze. Her silvery eyes brightened with amusement and her delightful mouth quirked, distracting me.

“How is the baby?” Calypso asked. “Was it a girl or a boy?”

“Another boy.” Piera crossed to Calypso and claimed the silent Dion from her arms. “At least this one tries to talk.”

Calypso immediately frowned. “Dion can’t help it.”

Piera snorted. “He should’ve listened when Mother told him to be quiet.” Then she started off down the road toward the village with Dion twisting to watch me over her shoulder. “Come, Melly,” Piera called without a backward glance in her sister’s direction. “Mother wants us to be home before dark.”

“He was barely a one-year-old,” Calypso protested beneath her breath.

I could easily connect the dots. The child hadn’t quieted, and the mother had done something to him that stole his speech. Icy anger tightened my gut. Who would do such a thing to her own child? But then I recalled my mother. Forcing my attention back to the present, I gazed down at the girl child before me.

I expected the smaller girl to follow her sister, but she didn’t. She stood in the road, assessing me with a sober expression. “You like him, Callie?” she asked abruptly.

“I do, very much. I love him.” My wife’s soft answer made my mating mark warm and ripple in pleasure.

The serious child before me tilted her head to the side. Long dirty hair fell over her shoulder with the movement. “Is he dangerous?”

“Very.” Calypso’s voice wobbled with an emotion I couldn’t name. I dared to glance her way, but she had composed her features.

Then I was startled when Melly moved to my side and tugged on my sleeve. “Hold my hand, please?”

What was I to do but comply?

Apparently pleased with the situation, Melly led me toward the village. Calypso fell into step on my other side.

“She likes you,” my wife whispered softly enough that no one but I could hear.

“I guessed that.”

She laughed. “I’m taking this as a good sign.”

“Sign of what?” I demanded just loud enough that Melly and a bypassing villager glanced at me.

“Our children, when we have them, won’t be constantly terrified of you.”

“Children love me,” I protested.

Calypso lifted one of her delightfully arched eyebrows at me and laughed. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you so offended.”

“Our children will love me.”

“Of course they will.” She jostled my side as we approached a low-roofed hovel. “They will be my children too, and I adore you.” Then with a fleeting kiss to my cheek, Calypso spun around to Melly’s other side and took the child’s free hand. “Show me where you sleep these days, Melly. I want to see all your new pet rocks.”

The grubby child immediately grinned. “Oh, yes, but—” She paused and turned to me. “Do you want to see my rocks too?”

Warmed by my wife’s happiness, I smiled down at Melly and assured her I would. If my wife was going to delight in rock pets—whatever those were—I would do my best to enjoy them with her. And for Calypso’s sake I would see these children’s lives improved. A healer could help with the lad’s muteness.

I considered the top of my tiny companion’s head. Surely her mother—eager for fewer children underfoot—would be willing to allow visits to our castle.

Anything to bring a smile to my wife’s face.