Free Stay by Alyssa Rose Ivy Page A

the last eighteen years doing everything I could for you. I left my family—my mate. Everything. But I don’t regret it. A mother would do anything for her children, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I never planned to bring you back here, but you need to understand where you came from, and I can see you need help.”
    “It was magic.”
    She nodded. “I can tell.”
    “How?”
    “You seem different, and it’s not just the confidence you’re exuding. Your whole aura is different.”
    “You see auras?”
    “Not in detail, but I can see some outlines. Yours is off.”
    “What if they don’t help me? What if they hurt me instead?”
    “You are of ursus blood—and of this clan. They won’t hurt you. Now me, after the way I left, that’s another story.”
    “Then don’t come.” I tried to push her back. “Why put yourself in danger?”
    “Because running away isn’t going to help anyone.” She took one of my hands. “And I’d do anything to protect you, to help you. I wasn’t there for you through everything you’ve been through these past few months, and I wish I could have been. But I’m here now.”
    “Why weren’t you?” I was too tired to soften my words. I hoped she understood.
    “There’s more going on than you know. You’re only at the tip of the iceberg.”
    “There’s more? More than a psycho with magic trying to take over The Society?”
    She leaned in. “Can you handle more? With everything else, can I really add more to your plate?”
    “Does this involve you?”
    “Not directly.”
    “Then tell me.”
    “There’s talk of more than a takeover of the crown.”
    “More than the crown?”
    “Yes.”
    “Taliana? Casey? You ready?” Daria called.
    “We’ll finish this later,” Mom whispered. “We’re coming.”
    I wanted to hear more, but I was sure my mother was shutting her mouth for a reason. Whatever she’d been about to confide in me, she didn’t want the twins knowing about.
    “Are you ready?” Mom squeezed my hand slightly the way she used to do whenever I tried something new. The gesture reminded me that no matter what she kept from me, she was still my mother. If I couldn’t trust her, who could I trust?
    A voice in the back of head that didn’t feel like my own voice answered. No one . “I think so.” I squeezed her hand back. “Are you?”
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
    I smiled. She used that phrase a lot.
    “Ready when you ladies are.” Maddock motioned for us to board the ferry boat.
    I took a deep breath. I could do this. I could fly without fear, yet I was about to fall over with panic over getting into a boat? I stepped carefully onto the boat. I glanced back at Toby again. He waved and gave me an encouraging smile.
    “Does Gareth know you’re coming?” Daria asked.
    “No.” Mom shook her head. “I haven’t told anyone but you two yet.”
    “Oh.” Daria and Maddock exchanged worried looks.
    “It will be fine. As long as they can help Casey, it will all be worth it.”
    “What exactly does Casey need help with?” Maddock looked me up and down. “She looks fine to me.”
    “Don’t forget she’s related to you,” Mom wagged a finger at him.
    “Not all that directly. I mean we’re talking third cousins.”
    “Maddock.”
    He untied us from the side and the boat lurched out into the lake. I glanced back to where Toby still waited. Leaving him was so hard. I’d gotten used to having his comfort. Maybe separating was a good thing. Maybe I needed to regain my confidence of being on my own. I needed to distract myself, so I glanced at the twins. “How old are you?”
    “How old do you think we are?” Maddock grinned. Once we were on the boat his formal personality seemed to melt away. Was that all a show for Toby?
    “You look like you’re my age, but you know my mom so well. She hasn’t been back since I was a baby…”
    “We’re the same age as your mom.”
    “Oh.” I looked between the twins. “You just age