Forty-Three
Nodding her head as she accepted the black coffee, Lola took a sip of the black liquid before grimacing at the taste. It was bitter, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Hyster had ever made coffee before. Given the amount of grounds, she doubted it.
“What happened to the child?” Merrow asked.
“Which one?” Annwn said with a soft smile, before she accepted her mug from Hyster.
“You had more than one?” Merrow asked. Lola could hear the sadness in his voice that he had missed this time with his sister and her children.
“I birthed a healthy, beautiful boy.” Annwn answered before she sat her mug down and reached towards the coffee table, grabbing her phone.
Looking over at Merrow, Lola saw his frown as he watched his sister swipe open the small device. She leaned closer, handing it to him. Three men stood with their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders. Their skin was bronzed with a healthy tan and their bright eyes, eyes like Merrow’s sparkled in the sunlight.
“My boys.” Annwn said proudly as Merrow studied their faces, looking for hints of their parents.
“When can I meet them?” Merrow asked, looking up from the picture. His sister had a family. Something he’d never thought she would be able to have given her curse.
“I’ll tell the younger two to come home so you can meet them.”
Hyster let out a choked sob as he escaped to the kitchen.
“Is he okay?” Lola asked, looking from Annwn to the small kitchen where she could hear rasping sobs.
“He will be.” Annwn replied. “My oldest, he is imprisoned for the time being.”
“What where?” Merrow demanded as he moved to stand.
“What happened?” Lola asked, pulling on Merrow’s hand. Trying to get the fae man to sit down, she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Hyster is his partner. His sentence is to stay with me until his love returns.”
The sobs got louder and Lola couldn’t help but want to go to the other man. She could only imagine how he must feel.
“And their father?” Merrow asked, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Twice and I left, if he had struck me again. It would have been his death, just like my eldest son’s father.” Annwn said with a sad smile.
Merrow’s jaw clenched. He moved to his sister, dropping to his knees in front of her. “I am sorry, I should have been here to help you raise them.”
“Brother, you know my curse. It’s okay, I was meant to walk alone.” Annwn said as she brought her hand up to cup his cheek. “It hasn’t always been lonely. I’ve had plenty of partners to keep my bed warm.”
“Aye, but I should have been here with you to help you with your children. You were alone.”
“Not for long, brother. I just wish I hadn’t cursed my children with my gift. No one should laugh the way I do, or have tears that can cause such violence.”
The sobbing increased in tempo.
“Is he really okay?” Lola asked, looking back at Annwn. She didn’t understand how the other woman could ignore those heart wrenching sobs.
“He will be, you can’t strike one of us three times. Or you will suffer, Hyster and my son are paying that price.” Annwn said.
“Like the fae or just you?” Lola asked, worrying the inside of her cheek.
“Just me and my children.” Annwn said, picking up her coffee and taking a sip before her nose crinkled. “Long ago a curse was placed on me, I had hoped it wouldn’t be passed to my children.”
“No worries on if you’d like to spank me.” Merrow said squeezing Lola’s knee as he leaned forward handing the phone back to Annwn.
“Still the same Merrow.” Annwn said with a chuckle. Watching as Lola’s cheeks turned a lovely cherry red.
“With Lola it’s different.” Merrow said as he leaned back. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. “She’s different.”
“I can see that.” Annwn smiled at Lola, who kept looking towards the kitchen.
“When you say that the unseelie are interested in me, what do you mean?”
“I mean that you’ve caught his eye. He wouldn’t haven’t sent you here to collect my, the prisoner if you hadn’t caught his interest.”
“His eye, do you mean Erik?”
Annwn pressed her lips together as she looked between Lola and Merrow, “I cannot reveal who it is.”This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“So it’s Erik.” Lola asked, quirking her eyebrow up.
Annwn pressed her lips together as she raised an eyebrow at Lola. “You don’t listen very well?”
“I try, but not really.” Lola answered honestly.
“She can listen very well.” Merrow purred out as he dragged his nose along her cheek and Lola felt her blush spread to her hairline.
“Yes, still the same Merrow.” Annwn muttered to herself, looking towards the kitchen.
Clearing her throat, Lola pulled away from Merrow. Scooting to the far end of the love seat.
“If Hyster is being punished, and he’s your oldest son’t partner…” Lola said, her eyes darting towards the kitchen where she could still hear the other man crying.
“Yes, the box you took yesterday.” Annwn sucked in a shaking breath before speaking. “Contained my son.”