I didn’t think I realized until then that Caden had truly been born to be a leader. I think he even eased Ren’s and Ivy’s concern, which was truly saying something. They left to share the news with Miles.
The whole time, Caden remained at my side. I kept expecting him to leave. I imagined that he needed to make a statement to all the fae at one time, but he didn’t go.
There wasn’t much for me to do as I sat there, other than to replay what’d happened with Tanner over and over and also wonder what it would take for Caden to no longer be disappointed.
If that was even possible.
I had to believe that it was. Like Hotel Good Fae, it would take time. There would be grief. There would be anger, but we had to get past this.
We had to.
Eventually, only Fabian and Tink remained in the room with us. Tink was standing in the corner, leaning against the wall. He’d been quiet through most of this, and I worried about him. He really liked Tanner, and I knew this had to be hitting him hard.
“There is something I can do,” Fabian said after he and Caden discussed what needed to be done and whether what Tanner had said about Neal could be believed. Like me, I didn’t think there was a reason to doubt what Tanner had claimed. Neal wasn’t a problem. For now, at least. “I know you’ll need to speak with the Court, but Tink and I can hold things down here while you make sure Brighton and my future niece or nephew actually get some stress-free rest.”
I opened my mouth.
“We got this.” Tink pushed off the wall, joining Fabian. “Consider these early godfather duties.”
I closed my mouth as Caden frowned at the whole godfather thing. I fully expected him to thank them for the offer but pass. He was King, after all.
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Caden said.
Slowly, I turned toward him. “But aren’t you needed? Don’t you have to talk to them?”
“I’m needed here more,” he said.
Too afraid to hope that was a positive sign, all I could do was nod. Tink came to my side, then bent and kissed my cheek. “Please get some rest.”
“I will,” I promised, catching his arm as he pulled away. “Are you okay?”
He gave me a small, sad smile. “I will be.”
“It’s a lot.”
“It is.” He slipped free, and then he left with Fabian.
The door closed behind them, and then I was alone with Caden, sitting close but not touching. I was exhausted, but I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon. There was too much going on in my head and—
“Tanner was wrong,” Caden stated, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I think there are a lot of things he was wrong about.”
“Yes, but there was something he was very wrong about.” He looked over at me then. “You’re not my weakness.”
My lips parted on a sharp inhale.
His gaze searched mine. “I could sense that you expected me to leave.”
“I…I did. I imagined that they’d want to see you. You’re really good at calming others.”
“They will want to see me, and they will. But like I said, I’m needed here. I know you’re tired. I can sense that too, but there’s something I need to finish telling you.”
Heart rate picking up, I nodded.
“I was disappointed, Brighton. I tried to clarify that, but we got interrupted. We keep getting interrupted,” he said. “It seems like that’s a trend for us.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “It is.”
He lowered his chin, leaning in so that our faces were only a few inches apart. “I was disappointed and overwhelmed. Of all the ways I’d thought to find out I was going to be a father, this wasn’t one of them. It was a lot to process, but what you said earlier? About not wanting to keep making the wrong choices? I agree. What Tanner did is nothing like us, but we both thought we were doing the right thing. I should’ve told you. You should’ve told me. We both messed up.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe again, but this time for an entirely different reason. “We did.”
“I think we’re going to mess up again, sunshine,” he said, and my breath caught at the use of my nickname. “It’s bound to happen, especially since we’re going to be raising a child. I imagine we’re going to mess up a lot with that, too, but you know what that doesn’t change, right?”
I nodded. “That…that we love each other?”
“Right.” He took my face in his hands. “You hold a part of my soul, Brighton. You are my everything. Nothing will change that. Ever.”
A strangled sound left me as I grasped the front of his shirt. “I love you.”
We moved at the same time, and the moment our lips touched, it was like taking the first deep breath of summer air. The kiss was sweet and somehow more powerful than any we’d shared before. Maybe because it was the first kiss we’d shared with nothing hidden between us. Perhaps because it felt like a beginning.
Ending the kiss, he rested his forehead against mine as he slid a hand down my arm, to the curve of my hip and then to my lower stomach. “We are going to have a baby.”
I smiled widely, blinking back tears—happy ones as I placed my hand over his. “We are.”
“I haven’t even thought about having a child, sunshine. But from the moment I learned that you were pregnant, even with everything going on, I knew in that moment that I wanted to be a father.”
“I know the feeling.” I squeezed his hand. “It was a shock, but I knew immediately that I wanted this child.”
“You’ll be a great mother.”
“You think so?”
He pulled back so he could see my face. “I know so. Why would you doubt that?”
“I…I haven’t had any more hallucinations or…breaks in reality. But that doesn’t mean I won’t. And I know you think it will be different for me, but I can’t help but worry. I want to give this child what I didn’t have. I want to be a mother who is always there, and what if…what if I’m not?”
He touched my cheek again. “We have no idea what tomorrow holds, but I can promise you that you’re not alone. If you have more moments or not, I’m here. You have me. Our child will have both of us, no matter what, and we’ve got enough love already for this child that it will be enough. We will give him or her everything they could ever need.” He kissed my forehead. “Besides, I have a feeling this kid is going to be strong. They’ll be able to handle anything.”
I shuddered. “Luce thinks that the child is already strong-willed and determined to live.”
Caden folded his arms around me, gathering me close. “I don’t doubt that for one second, not when it’s you who’s carrying this child. I don’t know anyone, human or fae, more strong-willed and determined to live than you.”
I lifted my head, kissing him again, and for the first time in my life, I felt no fear, no anger, and no worry.
Both of us had gone through our own hell to get here. We deserved it. Our child deserved it. All I felt was love.
I was whole.
Epilogue
Caden