Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) Gwen Rivers (sneezy the snowman read aloud .TXT) 📖

her immortal mother. She’s tall, almost six feet with a willowy build. Long honey blonde hair flows freely down her back, perfect bow-shaped lips. And her eyes….

Her eyes are his.

Pup. His wolf thinks at him, radiating satisfaction. Strong, magnificent pup.

Harmony comes up to stand beside him, one purple hand on his shoulder as she lends her silent support.

“Mama!” Addison runs straight to Nic first, lifting his mate off her feet and spinning her in a circle.

“Missed you,” Nic squeezes her eyes shut, but not before he sees the tears of relief gathering in her eyes.

Addison sets her down and then looks directly at him.

Their gazes lock. He can feel a burning in his own eyes as he beholds this perfect, brilliant creature.

On her feet once more, Nic reaches for his hand to tug him forward. “Addison this is—”

“You’re my dad?” Addison tilts her head to the side.

He starts, recognizing it as his own gesture. What other mannerisms had she inherited from him? From Nic? So much time, he lost so much time with her, with them both. Sixteen years. It hadn’t registered before this moment. His throat is dry, and he can’t seem to form words. He nods mutely, stranded in place even as he craves so much more.

She throws herself against him so hard that he loses his grip on Nic and almost topples to the floor.

Nic covers her mouth with both hands but he can see the delight shining in her eyes.

“Thank you for protecting her,” Addison whispers in his ear.

He closes his eyes and holds his daughter close. “It’s what I was born to do.”

I find Chloe in the dungeon, staring down at the spot where Addy had died. I move to her side and put an arm around her waist.

“Did she suffer?” Chloe asks.

I don’t want to share the horror of watching Addy crumble with Chloe. Part of me still feels as if it’s my fault.

Chloe straightens her shoulders. “She chose this, Nic. She chose to interfere. I’m sure she knew I wouldn’t get to her in time. But she came anyway. For you, for me, for Addison. For the whole freaking universe.”

I nod against her shoulder and ask the question I’d been dreading. “What happens next?”

“Next?” She laughs without humor. “I need to locate other Norns and we will need to find one to elevate.”

“You didn’t do that when Sissy died.”

“We should have. But we didn’t. First out of grief and then because—” she cuts herself off abruptly.

“Because of me.” I sigh. “It’s okay, Chloe. Really.”

“So now I have a mess. Shit, Nic. I don’t even know where to begin.”

I take a deep breath. “I do. You remember that girl who was in FBI custody with me?”

“Astrid?”

I nod. “She was like you.”

“Like me how?”

“I saw her eyes do that swirling thing. I think that’s why Hanson kept her.”

Chloe goes completely still.

“Say something,” I tell her.

“Shit. She was right there in front of me and I didn’t even see it.”

“And now she’s dead.”

But Chloe shakes her head. “She was shot. A mortal wound wouldn’t stick.”

“Wouldn’t stick?”

“She would have regenerated. Only a Fate can kill another.”

“Are you telling me we buried her alive?” And I can’t go back to get her. Oh gods, oh, gods!

Chloe sinks down onto the floor and puts her head in her hands.

“We’ll find her. Liam and his pack will help you. I have a lead on someone she used to know. It’s slim but hopefully, it will prove to be enough.”

If anything, Chloe looks more upset. “All this time, she’s been out there alone. Nic, you don’t know. Don’t know what it’s like to have those abilities.”

“We’ll find her,” I say. “We have a seer and an army of ghosts. We have werewolves. We will find her Chloe. I promise.”

“No,” I say for the hundredth time.

“Mama.” It’s not exactly a whine. Addison doesn’t whine. But it’s not exactly not a whine either.

“Nic.” Aiden, my wolfish Benedict Arnold, stands by her side. “Harmony said she needs to do this.”

“No.” I point at the Shadow Throne, which I’ve been avoiding even looking at. “You haven’t felt what those things can do. I have.”

“It’s my destiny.” Addison’s chin goes up. “You can’t be the boss of me forever.”

I hold my arms wide to encompass the whole of Underhill. “My house, my rules.”

“Nic, she needs the authority to do what must be done.” This comes from Taj. “The fey will only respect her if they know she is the One True Queen.”

“They can take our gods' damned word for it,” I snarl.

Addison has changed into a long, bloodred sleeveless gown. She looks elegant and regal. She doesn’t need to sit on the freaking chair of death to prove anything to anyone.

“Let me talk to her,” Aiden says to the group.

Talk some sense into me he means. Have fun wasting your breath, pal.

“Nic,” his tone is soft.

“What?” I spit and wait for the condemnation.

“I love you.”

I close my eyes, unwilling to hold my mate’s gaze. “I’m being unreasonable again, aren’t I?”

“Maybe a little.”

“She’s my baby, Aiden. Our baby.”

“She’s taller than you are.”

I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter. It’s my job to protect her.”

“You can’t protect her from living, Nic. She wants this. The fey need this. Let her do what needs to be done.”

I exhale a ragged breath. “Damn it, it was easier when she was little. Eat your broccoli. Don’t stick a knife in the toaster while it’s plugged in. I don’t know how to be the parent of a teenager.”

He smooths my hair back away from my face and kisses the crown of my head. “You think I do? I have had exactly zero practice.”

My lips twitch. “And you’re still better at it than me.”

“Just remember that when she wants to date.” I can hear the snarl in his voice at the very thought and I feel a bit better.

“So how do I do this?” I ask.

“Step back. Be there to catch her. Let her spread her wings.”

“Can’t we start with