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time to know me before attempting such old magic.”
    “I’m telling.” Bella stomped off; her feet rose into the air as her tiny dragonfly wings fluttered excitedly. Tiny fae had very child-like temperaments. To Bella, having this secret to tell was akin to tattling on an older brother.
    Fiach caught her in between his large palms, careful not to ruffle a hair on her tiny head. “Did Mother send you here for a reason, Bella?”
    The tiny doll face scrunched in concentration. Then her glow expanded in a sharp crack. “Yes! Yes! The Lady said to bring you home. That you had called and asked for transport.”
    “Wonderful. We really would like to leave as soon as possible.”
    Bella’s face turned petulant. “The Lady said nothing of bringing this other thing. She said to fetch her son and bring him home.”
    “She is my D’Ame. Mother would never expect me to return home without her.”
    Bella considered this for a moment. “The Lady has missed you so.” She gave herself a shake and flittered from his hands. “Gather the other; I will do as you ask.”
    Fiach grinned and shook Cilia awake. Her large sleep-softened eyes found his and then rounded when she saw the glow coming from over his shoulder.
    “Is that what I think it is?” she asked.
    “It! I am not an It!”
    Fiach pressed a kiss to Cilia’s plumped lips. “Yes, she is exactly what you think, but please, her name is Bella, and she is our way out, so play nice.”
    “My name is Arabella, daughter of Marabella and granddaughter of the great Christabella, great granddaughter of the…”
    Fiach pressed a finger to the tiny Fae lips. Bella snarled around his finger, which was large enough to cover her face. “We know your lineage, Bella, and are very impressed by it.”
    He elbowed Cilia, and she took the hint. “Yes Arabella, I am awed to be in the presence of someone of your ancestry.”
    Bella preened, spiraled through the air, and then landed on Cilia’s shoulder. “Maybe your D’Ame is not so bad after all.”
    Cilia mouthed the word, “What?” but he pretended not to understand.
    Bella launched herself from her perch and glided into the air above their heads.
    “Ready? I’m ready.” Then she lifted her sword high over head, and they flashed from the catacombs into a lavish throne room filled with lithe Sidhe, the larger cousin of the small fae.
    A statuesque woman reclined on the throne in the center of the room. Dozens of subjects surrounded her. Their expressions varied from curious to feigned boredom. The woman opened her hand, and Arabella zoomed forward to dance into the outstretched palm. She executed a perfect curtsey and announced, “My Lady, I present your son and his D’Ame .”
    For the span of a minute, no one moved or spoke. Then the Lady rose and glided forward without seeming to move, as though she floated on the very air. “So you have finally come to present her.” She craned her neck to stare at Cilia.
    Fiach stepped between them and pulled Cilia into his back. “No, Mother. We were trapped in the catacombs beneath the demon Jarlath’s lair. Arabella was kind enough to bring us here at my request.”
    “You are always welcome here Fiach. You need never ask to come home.”
    “Thank you, Lady,” he replied.
    The Lady turned her intense focus on Cilia. “Do you not wish to be bound in the way of our people?”
    “I have not been asked, my Lady.”
    The Lady lifted a hand to twirl the crystal pendant hanging from her neck. “Your mate does not know.” She addressed the vague comment to Fiach.
    “Know what?” he asked warily.
    His Mother’s eyes sparkled. “You will see.” She stepped around him and pried Cilia from his grasp. She enfolded Cilia and whispered words against her cheek. Cilia had a moment to look confused before her blue fire rose and licked along her skin. His mother stepped clear and smiled openly. “It’s true, then.”
    She repeated the process with Fiach. She embraced him and whispered