Hope Falls

“Dad was killed by… by a rock?”

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“I could just… tell. Like I could tell that my mama was going to die even though dad never told me. Like… I don’t know why. I could just feel it. I can always tell when something is dying rather than just sick… I just can tell.”

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“We’re a team right?” Dagmar brought his knuckles to her mouth and kissed them gently.

"No. A beast, something... really, really old. Older than any of us have seen. There are still lots of questions, sweetie. Lots we don't know."

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"Did - did you..." Eden stopped herself from asking the question, shaking it away. "Knowing stuff like that must be really scary."

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"Always."

“Why hasn’t the Fae Queen killed it?”

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“You were going to ask about your dad weren’t you? No… I didn’t know…”

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“Then we will do this as a team”

"Why do you want it killed?"

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Eden let out a breath, just nodding her acceptance. "I wouldn't want to be able to do that, feel what you feel. It - it's nice though, not to be the only weird one. Do you know the lady your dad is marrying?"

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"I love you, Dasha." Conan breathed.

“I have seen her. Dad introduced her… she seems… okay? Cass hates her though.”

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“Because it killed dad!”

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“Love you most.”

"Really? Cass doesn't hate people." Eden frowned. "He's always so annoyingly happy."

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"It - it is a beast, Ira." Karina pressed her lips to the top of his head. "I know you want someone to blame. I - I do too, I really do. Wanting to kill that creature though would be like.. being angry at a bee, or a deer or.. a bird. It did not do cause us this pain because it wanted to cause pain. Its a beast."

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"Impossible." Conan chuckled.

“He doesn’t like that dad isn’t marrying my mother.”

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“Entirely possible because it’s the truth.”

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“It needs to be punished!”

"Oh... oh okay."

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"Mm, no. No you can't love me more than I love you, it grows every day. There is no words for it."

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"No, no." Karina frowned, resting her finger beneath his chin to make him look at her. "Take that hate out of your heart, my sweet. It has a place, you are allowed to hate. If it was a person who took your father away then I would be supporting your anger, but it was not planned, it was not malicious. Hate what we are going through, hate how we miss him, hate how he will not get to see you blossom but do not target that hate at the creature. It will darken your soul, and you shine too bright for that."

“It did a bad thing! It took dad away! It needs to be punished! You need to punish it! Make the Fae Queen punish it!”

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“Weddings are supposed to be bright and happy and this one… isn’t.”

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“I stand by what I said, Angel.”

"Maybe - maybe you and Cass need to be brave, if you think the adults are scared. Maybe if you are brave for them, it'll make it more happy."

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"No one can make that woman do anything, dove." Karina laughed tiredly. "She is formidable. A very strong-willed lady."

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"Angel? It's like that now, is it, Valkyrie?"

“Then when I get big I will do it!”

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“You don’t think I’m brave now?”

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“Mm, Sir. Exactly like that.”

"I- I don't know. I don't really know what brave looks like." Eden whispered with a frown.

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"I would much rather you stay far away from her, and that creature." Karina whispered, "And uh... Uncle Conan told me and Lucian about Aesira and Cass' new friend. Have you been spending much time with him?"

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"You Sir me again and you'll give me no choice but to rip your clothes off." Conan's voice dropped to a low grumble, breath hitching at the idea alone.

“I taught him to play chess. He says he never played before but - but he’s really good.”

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“You don’t? Me neither… I don’t know how to be I suppose…”

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“Oh really? That wouldn’t be very Kingly of you now would it… Sir.”

Karina paled a shade, her arms wrapping around Ira's shoulders tightly as she asked, "'Did he - did he touch you at all? His skin, on yours?"

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"Maybe we should ask them. I'll ask your mama if you ask mine, then we can.. tell each other what they say. The real answer will be in the middle."

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A moan escaped his lips, his hand locking across her waist as he rolled, quickly. Repositioning them so that she was on top of him as he was using one elbow to keep him upright, nails digging into her waist whilst leaning up to kiss her.

The noise of surprise Dagmar made was muffled by Conans lips as she kissed him back deeply. Hand moving back to the nape of his neck.

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“Shall we ask yours first?”

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“Uh… yeah. He touched my ears, at the top. His are pointy. I think he wanted to check mine too.”

"I don't want you or Eden to see that boy again. It - it is important that you stay away from him, okay? And if you can't- just never let him touch you."

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"Yeah... yeah if you wanna."

“But he’s a friend. I don’t want to stay away.”

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“Do you know where she is?”

"This is one of those times when - when trusting me is important, letting me do your job as your mother is important." Karina whispered. "Ira, you and your sister are to not let that boy touch you."

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"Home. She - I ran away from her." Eden grimaced. "She'll be mad at me."

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Conan's free hand slithered down, down across her hip, then her thigh. Slowly pulling back the fabric of her dress to reach the skin.

“But I don’t have any other friends…” Ira sighed, nodding in submission.

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“I’m sure if you say sorry it’ll all be okay.”

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“Are you trying to seduce me Mr Zaretsky?” Dagmar breathed against his lips, brushing her nose against his, hair raising on her skin at his touch.

"You start training with your daddy's friends, they have children around your age that you could spend time with."

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"But I - I'm not sorry."

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"I don't think I have to try, do I, Miss Blackwood?" Conan grinned.

“No Sir, you most definitely do not.”

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“Maybe just say that you are anyway? She might forgive you.”

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“I don’t understand why I can’t be his friend.”

"It's just one of those things, a mum thing." Karina whispered, brushing his hair back from his face. "Please, Ira."

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"Until she finds out I lied and then she'll be double angry." Eden frowned.

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Conan swapped their positions once more, pinning her down against the bed. Bringing the fabric of her clothing up, before lowering to follow his finger with lazy strokes of the tongue instead. Fading to black.

“Fine.” Ira grumbled.

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“Maybe… maybe we wait then.”

"Or go and ask your mother first... she isn't angry at either of us, is she?"

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"I - I'll tell your sister too but.. Lucian and I are going to start spen- spending a bit more time together, okay?"

“Daddy didn’t like him.”

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“I - okay. Okay.”