The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (114 page)

“Oh stop,” she said in a huff. “I just realized that you were all grown up and fully capable of making your own decisions. I think on some level when your father was turned he started trying to remember you from the time you were a baby because he had this overwhelming terror that he would forget. In his mind, you’re his little girl and he now has some guilt issues because he made this choice, and he also thought that he couldn’t protect you. I don’t think I will ever forget the look on his face when Mathias took you through the portal, all dirty and bloody, and left. He felt helpless and useless.”

“That’s absurd,” I snorted

“Nonsensical as it may seem, all these emotions are rearing their ugly head,” she said sadly. “He just needs time but he can’t see the big picture right now.”

I took a sip of my tea and looked around. The small living room was cozy and warm. My mother had already added her personal touches to the cottage. The furniture was all white, but the pottery and art she had placed all around added just the right pop of color.

“I like your new digs,” I said a little while later when we went into the kitchen to make dinner together. Mathias was outside on the beach with the dogs and my mom, and I laughed as he tried to teach Cupcake to play fetch.

“I’m grateful to Mathias,” she said as she pulled the beef roast out of the oven. “Not only for this cottage but thankfully he had a place available for your father to stay. I don’t know what we would have done or where we would have gone.”

“He’s a keeper,” I remarked as I put the finishing touches on the mashed potatoes. I loved that my mother had made me a pot roast with all the comfort fixings for my first night back.

“Have you talked about the future?” she asked. “When this is all over what are your plans?”

“Well, if we’re alive, I think our plans are to go to work, come home, and fight about whose turn it is to do dishes and then start all over again the next day for eternity.”

“Has he asked you to marry him?”

“Oh my God, mom,” I said. “We’re true mates. We don’t need to get married. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Willa, I know you think I’m old fashioned but I would like to see my only daughter get married in a church.” Cecily said as she sliced the roast

“You want to see me get married in a church?” I asked. “Do we even belong to a certain religion?”

“That’s not the point,” she said primly

“Why do you even care?” I asked

“Did Mathias tell you?” she cried as she set the knife she had been using down on the counter

“Tell me what?” I asked confused

“Never mind,” she said. “Did you set the table?”

“Yes, I did set the table and if you don’t tell me what you thought Mathias did tell me than I am so going to become the most annoying person on the face of the earth.”

“It’s not a big deal Willa,” she said. We both looked at Mathias as he came into the cottage from the outside. “Mathias, darling are you hungry?”

“Starved,” he said giving me a searing look. I almost lost my train of thought. Almost, not quite

“Mom,” I said

“Oh fine,” she said in a huff. “Your father and I are not technically legally married.”

“Um, come again?” I asked. “You told me you guys were married in some courthouse ceremony thirty years ago.”

“We just told you that,” she said. “We chose not to get married with our false identification because it was just that, false. We had always hoped when we came back here we would do it properly in front of our families.”

I sat in my chair at the table. Mathias and my mother had placed the food down before they took their places at the table with me. My mother kept shooting me nervous looks and Mathias just looked amused.

“Ok, Willa,” she said. “Spit it out.”

“Hold on,” I said. “All right I got nothing. I’m trying to think of a song about being an illegitimate bastard, but nothing’s coming to me.”

“Willa Cecelia,” my mother admonished. “You are not a bastard.”

“Well technically…” I started to say

“Born under a bad sign?” Mathias offered

“That is just another reason why I love you,” I said before I started singing away

Cupcake started howling, and Oscar looked downright embarrassed. Maybe this day wasn’t so crappy after all, I thought

Chapter Twenty-One

“So do we have a contingency plan in case I can’t make it on the island?” I asked Mathias the next morning

“Willa, you’re also half Gypsy,” my mother said. “I’m certain you’ll be fine.”

“I hope so otherwise this will all be for nothing,” I said

“I’ll take your mother and meet you at the castle,” Mathias said as he helped my mother on his back. “If you’re not there in in five minutes I will come back here and we’ll figure out another plan.”

“All right,” I said and waved them off into the sky. I tried to relax, but I was too wound up this morning. I felt like I was either going to throw up or punch something. I closed my eyes and pictured the castle courtyard. I felt my body dissolve into vapor as I teleported myself to the isle. I opened my eyes a few seconds later and let out a shout of triumph. I had made it on the isle and best of all I still had enough Gypsy blood in me.

“Willa Tree,” Polly’s voice pierced through the air, and I turned around to look at my best friend. Polly was tall with dark shaggy hair and she was decked out in head to toe Goth today. Her black biker boots peeked out under her long black and purple stripe dress, and she was dripping with skull and cross bone jewelry.

“Aww, you dressed up for me,” I said. “You shouldn’t have. Can you swing from tree to tree in that outfit Ms. Tarzan?”

“F-you,” she replied

“Tell me, does using marijina count as swinging under the influence in the eyes of the law?” I chuckled

Polly flipped me her middle finger which made me laugh even harder. I was caught off guard when someone came behind me and hugged me tight.

“Willa,” my cousin and other best friend Julia said tearfully. “I’m so glad you’re here and not, um, you know crazy.”

“She’s always been one brick shy of a load Jules,” Polly snorted

“That is sad but true,” I said. “So how have things been here? What did I miss?”

“Riah and Julia are living in your house together and I’m still working on my camper that’s parked in your yard,” Polly answered

“What?” I asked Julia. “You guys are living together? Have you consummated your relationship or are you still holding out?”

“That’s nobody’s business but our own,” Julia said primly

“I’m going to take that as no,” I said

“Riah’s balls are probably bluer than your blood, Willa,” Polly said

“Polly Woods,” Julia admonished. “That is a completely unacceptable thing to say.”

“So I just found out my parents have never been legally married,” I offered. “I’m a bastard.”

“That’s like the coolest thing ever,” Polly said. “You just became a hundred times more interesting.”

“Wait until you see me breath fire,” I smiled

“No freaking way,” Polly said, “Willa the magic dragon.”

“Yeah and I even live by the sea,” I snickered

Julia looked from me to Polly before closing her eyes briefly. “Aunt Cecily and Uncle Cormac were never married?”

“Nope, they have been living in sin for like a hundred and fifty years.”

“Love child never meant to be,” Polly sang

“Love child take a look at me,” I finished

“Only you weren’t born in poverty,” Polly grinned

“Oh, I missed you,” I said. “I saw your tree and met your neighbor from Australia.”

Polly grimaced. “I hate that koala bear.”

“You may want to start feeling the love for the fuzzy little thing because Mr. Outback comes from the land down under and trust me you don’t want take cover.”

“He’s hot?” Polly asked excitedly

“Let’s just say if he was going to in a pool of water it would turn into a hot tub.”

“Ok, I so need to go home,” Polly said. “Love you and all but I’m totally a dick before chick’s kind of girl.”

“Oh my God,” Julia said. “Ok, can we go inside now because everyone is waiting for you so we can start the meeting, and I feel like taking a shower from all this dirty talk?”

“I didn’t swear once,” I said

“I know me either,” Polly replied. “What the fuck?”

I grabbed both of their arms, and we teleported into the conference room of the Guardian offices. The first five minutes I was passed around like a bong at a Grateful Dead concert. The whole family was there and while it was great to see everyone it was a little overwhelming, not just the magic but all the questions and exclamations over my mental health.

“So did you issue the evacuation order?” I asked my grandmother

“We held a town hall style meeting last night, and told the entire clan about the situation,” she answered. “It took a while but I think the residents on the island understand that this is very serious and have banded together as a community. Preparations are well under way for those that are leaving to begin the day after tomorrow.”

“I still think I should stay,” Oliver said. “I am the healer on the isle. If there is a major battle that is going to take place, I should be here.”

“You’re needed with the clan at the Fae Reserve Oliver,” Winifred said

“Well, I’m not leaving,” Cuddy said. “I can’t leave my store. What happens if my shop gets blown up or damaged?”

“I will make it my top priority to see that all your crap is safe Uncle C,” I said

“I’d appreciate it Willa,” he said seriously

“What about supplies?” Mathias asked. “Has anyone organized or thought about food, blood, necessities?”

“I spoke to Marilei and that has all been discussed,” Winifred said

“Well as soon as everyone leaves I will dismantle the spell that keeps the Fae out so that Sidra and Machall can come over,” I said

“Machall is helping you train?” Jeremiah asked. “I have to stay so I can watch this ass kicking.”

“I’ll make sure to take video Jeremiah,” Mathias said smoothly

“It just doesn’t feel right,” my aunt Gussie said. “I think the royal family should stay and fight.”

“The only people that will be staying are Winifred, Cecily and Willa,” Mathias answered. “We need everyone else there to oversee the wellbeing of the clan.”

“What happens if we lose?” asked Gussie

“Then we’re all fucked,” I said

“Willa,” my mother scolded

“I’m not going to sugar coat this,” I answered. “Fonn will try and find the clan so he can wipe everyone out. I only hope you have enough of a warning and can get yourselves somewhere safe.”

“Where will we go?” Rhoswen asked. “Will there truly ever be anywhere safe for us?”

I looked at Mathias and thankfully he took over. “Marilei has been instructed on what to do if things go wrong. We have plans set in place for every outcome that may occur if we fail our objective here.”

We talked for another half an hour before finally going our separate ways. Everyone had something to do except for me. I was to relax and gear up for the arduous task of opening a giant portal. When I walked out of the room I spotted a few Guardians and said hello but there was only one person I wanted to see.

Milton, who was the head of the Guardian Geek Squad, was sitting at his desk typing away on his computer keyboard. He was probably the most nondescript vampire ever created. He was of average height, average build and still wore clear glasses because he explained one time that he felt more comfortable with a pair on his face than not.

“Hey Milty,” I said. He jumped out of his seat and stood up quickly. I smiled when I noticed his hesitation.

“Thanks for offering to turn my dad into a blood sucking vamp,” I said. “It took a lot of guts.”

“I figured it would be worse if he went off to London and tried to attempt it on his own with some half-starved Rau. I couldn’t let that happen,” he said. “I respect and like you too much.”

“Thanks Milty,” I smiled. “I like you too.”

We talked for a few more minutes, and I finally found my mother. I took her hand, and we teleported back to Mathias’s island. We decided the night before to try and talk to my father together. Cormac was not happy to see us. He alternated between ignoring us and trying unsuccessfully to intimidate us with acting all scary. It didn’t work, and I think we pissed him off more when we both burst out laughing.