“Tell her, bunny,” her dad said. “It’s time she knows the truth.”
“Bunny?” She glanced at Pete, who raked a hand through his hair, looking as perplexed as she felt.
“I lied to you,” her dad said. “Your mother didn’t fall. She couldn’t because she wasn’t…sheisn’t…an angel.”
“I still don’t understand.” Destiny furrowed her brow as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. Her mother wasn’t an angel? Angels and humans got together all the time. There would’ve been no reason to lie about it. Unless her mom wasn’t human.
The pieces began to fall into place, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “You?”
Eostre nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Your father and I fell in love at a volatile time. The truce had just been stabilized, and our realms had agreed to a hands-off policy. We couldn’t let anyone know about our relationship or our child, so we concocted the story. Your father raised you because our people would have killed you if they discovered you, the daughter of a goddess, were half-angel.”
Destiny tugged from Eostre’s grasp, crossing and uncrossing her arms as she processed her words.The daughter of a goddess?
“Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Another tear slid her cheek. “But it was the only way to protect you.”
She shook her head. It didn’t make sense. “Angels and fae can’t have children. Our DNA isn’t compatible. It’s not possible.”
“It is when you’re a descendant of the goddess of motherhood.” Frigg smiled, her pale blue eyes twinkling.
“It is indeed.” Eostre laid a hand on Destiny’s abdomen.
“Wait. Am I…?” Her stomach looped, all the blood in her head plummeting to her feet. “With Pete?”
“Destiny.” He rushed to her, taking her in his arms and lifting her from the ground. “We really can multiply like rabbits.”
He set her down and took her face in his hands. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” She blinked rapidly, the tears hanging out on her lower lids refusing to fall. “So the fae aren’t going to kill me because I’m…” She rested a hand on her belly.
“You’re one of us, dear,” Eostre said. “Even if you weren’t pregnant, you are still a fae.”
“The sacrifice from my prophecy was your angelic life.” Frigg touched her shoulder. “You gave up one life, hopefully to embrace another. It was never our intention to murder you.”
“You could have led with that.” Destiny pressed a hand to her chest and sank onto the sofa. “So all this time…all my flubs and imperfections were because I wasn’t one hundred percent angel?”
“Your definition of perfection is an illusion.” Pete sat next to her, resting a hand on her knee. “You’ve always been perfect to me.”
She laced her fingers through his and gazed up at the goddesses…her fluffing mom and grandma! “But if I’m half-fae, why don’t I have any fae powers? I’d kill for a set of Pete’s magic pockets.”
“Wouldn’t we all?” Eostre laughed. “I had to bind your fae magic when you were born, but your daughter has awakened it. Your immortality remains intact, and your powers will continue to grow inside you as your baby does. Why else do you think Helga’s iron chains made you feel sick?”
“She enchanted them. You said…”
“I lied.” Eostre waved a hand. “She’d have killed you instantly if she knew you carried Pete’s child.”
Destiny nodded. “Another thing for her to be jealous of.”
“Indeed,” Eostre said. “We will give you two a moment, and then, Pete, you must join theelfenin the Easter preparations. They need you.”
“Can I help?” Destiny squeezed Pete’s hand.
“You are always welcome in our realm,” Frigg said. “Mark, when Easter is over, you and Eostre must devise a plan to inform your higher ups. From this moment forward, the fae are no longer forbidden from having relationships with angels.”
“I look forward to it.” He smiled and winked at Eostre before turning to Destiny. “I’m sure you have a few bones to pick with me. Whenever you’re ready to talk, just let me know.”
Destiny swallowed the thickness from her throat, thankful he didn’t ask her to process all her emotions at once. “I will.”
He nodded, and, in a cloud of silver sparkles, he returned to the angelic realm.
