Nerezza's Point of ViewMrs. Hemgrove hated being called that. Insisted that we call her by her name. Merida.“Like the Disney princess?” Farren had asked, a sunbeam above her head. She looked much better than she had inside. Radiated again in a way I had last seen before Reginald passed. Gardening, she had told us, reminded her of her mother and her early childhood. Both were pleasant. Until it wasn’t and she changed the topic.Merida laughed. Plucked another weed from between her prized irises. Purple ones. The ones I adored the most out of all of them. “Isaac mocked me for weeks when we first saw tha movie. Said his mother was a princess.” She explained through her giggling.Somehow, she hadn’t gotten a speck of dirt on her beautiful dress. Managed to pluck and throw away and dig without anything touching her. Her gloves were another story. Had a layer of dirt on it. Fresh and clean, that’s what it smelled like. Because nature had been our home before we decided to become more urba
Nerezza's Point of View Excitement bubbled up in my throat. Threatened to spill over my lips. After I told him to pack, Lysander smiled down at me. Made my heart flutter thousands of miles per hour. His own happiness spilled over until he grabbed for me. Embraced me so hard my ribs protested in return. Sparks skipped and hopped along our touching flesh. Settled just behind my eyes, creating spots of light in my vision. "We can go and get him, Ly. We can get my baby boy back!" I exclaimed with a rapture that spread across my body. Devoured me whole until all I could think about was my son. The one I had wanted to find for almost eight years. "Not so fast, sweetheart. We still have to talk to the rest of the guys about this. Besides, we don't know if it is safe to move Priamos yet." Lysander warned. I pulled away from him. Stared up at him as if only seeing reason now. Priamos was wounded. the rest of them were tired. We couldn't rush into anything. If anything, we had to plan out o
Nerezza's Point of ViewThe decision was made to leave tomorrow morning. Priamos felt well enough to travel. The others also encouraged him to get back on his feet as quickly as possible. But most of all, they promised to help him whenever he couldn't go any further.A brotherhood had formed. Created amongst the darkest parts of our lives. But now came the worst part for me. Farren had several estates in her family's name around Makatza. All purchased with the idea that one day she might need a break from it all. None of them were staffed but I was sure if I reached out to the old staff from the palace, they would follow her there. The girl wasn't built for war. Or fighting. Neither was I but there was no way in hell I was leaving my son behind once again. Besides, I wanted her to have as close to normal life as possible. The one she had deserved since the start instead of this mess. Once we got Conan, we would come back for her. Figure out how we were going to approach Lysander's
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe all huddled in close for our last dinner in Makatza. Thanks to Merida and Farren, the assortment of food was vast and to everyone's liking. Each person had their favorite dish in front of them. How Farren had asked and remembered them all I will always wonder. From traditional Chinese cuisine to German blood wurst. The two women had outdone themselves. Even Cormac had his own dish in front of him. Something that reminded him of Ireland.Even Priamos had come out of his little bathroom to join us all in the kitchen. The work table was overcrowded and stuffy but it was the happiest I had felt in a long time. Every member of my love life spoke happily. Chatted to each other as if none of them were arrogant fools who shared a mate. Shared intimate details of their lives before I ran them into the ground."Oh, dear. I forgot to tell ya. Farren has offered to move us into an estate a little ways outside o' tha city." Merida chirped to her mate, who only raised his
Nerezza's Point of View I woke up at four. Felt fully rested but alert of my surroundings. Lysander and Zaven had eased the tension within my body. Made me collapse in exhaustion the moment I let my head hit the pillow last night. But when I woke, I knew it was time to go. Start a new chapter in my life. Conan was waiting for me on the other side of this. Patiently waited for his mother to swoop in and rescue him. Or so I had hoped. Prayed. Because I couldn't come back without him. Not when I had wanted this for so long. But it all boiled down to what the boy wanted. What he needed. Taking him away from everything he had ever known and loved wouldn't have been fair. Sitting up in bed, I tossed my hair into a messy bun. Slipped out and dressed in loose pants and shirt. Sneakers on my feet. All of my stuff was packed. Ready and waiting. I had made sure of that before we had had dinner last night. Plucking the suitcases to the door, I opened it only to find Farren on the other side. H
Nerezza's Point of ViewSnow covered every peak surrounding us. Glittered in the soft winter sun. Made the landscape look majestic in a way I had never beheld before. It was something out of a fairytale. Although, we weren't here for the scenery. We were here to get my son back. However long that took.Priamos took point the closer we got to the village. From right behind him, I could hear his teeth grinding against each other. Saw the rigid lines on his shoulders, even through the large puffer jacket he wore. I was nestled in between Priamos and the twins behind me. Bringing up the rear were the assassins. Lysander had opted to remain beside me. They were overprotective in a way I had never expected before. As we exited the airport, they refused to let me breathe. Inched closer and closer to my side until I grew irritated. That hadn't stopped the deeper we went into the countryside. Everyone was a threat. A nuisance that could be disposed of the moment they thought it useful.They
Priamos' Point of viewEverything was the same as the day I had left it. The smell. The feel of the place. Crooked door and all. It dragged me back to when I was alone here. Struggling to light a fire that first night. Nearly freezing to death in the snow the last night. When I was trying too hard to get close to the people of this village. Failed miserably to get anything out of them. At least now I wasn't alone. We had concrete evidence that told us Conan was here. That my son was trapped inside that mountain compound. For some reason, they had never sold him. Kept him with them all this time. I would never understand why but it made my insides hurt. They had stolen the years from him that we were supposed to have. But all of that would change soon enough."There is only one bed," Nerezza murmured behind me. I turned to look at her. Noticed a fleck of snow in her hair. The watery sun lit up her head from behind. A halo. If only she could feel the excitement thrumming through my che
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe had drifted off to sleep. Comforted by the various warm bodies, I couldn't help myself. Felt more loved at that moment than I ever had before. It was a revelation to know that after so long, you were indeed loved and cherished. By the very men you had wronged time and time again.The goddess had known exactly who to give me. Even if I had failed to see that at the beginning. At least I was grateful now. If not for the cold then for their warmth.A persistent knocking drove me out of my slumber. I looked toward the door. Noticed the knocking turned into a frantic beat. This made me wiggle my way out of the mess of bodies. Some of them were even snuggled together. Like Lysander holding Priamos. Zaven holding Alastair. Slipping out of bed, I stared down at them. Felt my heart swell.After everything we had been through, they still remained. Devoted themselves to my happiness. To finding Conan. A few more hours of rest couldn't do anything to them but improve th