Chapter 499 – Baptizing the Princess

Ella

Three weeks later—Ariel was born under a waning quarter moon, not a new moon like her brother and cousin—I stand anxiously in the woods, my little girl held tight in my arms.

“I’m sensing some anxiety,” Cora says, grinning at me with a little too much glee. She approaches, dressed in a gorgeous silver gown, Jesse awake and alert on her hip.

“I wasn’t this anxious with Rafe,” I sigh, touching Jesse’s nose with my fingertip, making him giggle. “Don’t get me wrong, I was anxious, but it’s this one’s complicated little portent that has me worked up.”

“I know,” Cora says, wrinkling her nose wickedly. “I can’t wait—the payback is real—”

“Don’t you dare,” I say, glaring at her and pointing a finger. “You’re trying to jinx my daughter just because your Jesse has some weird shadow magic coming his way—”

“I would never!” Cora says, laughing and swatting my finger away. “I just like teasing you, Ella. Hear that, Ariel?” she says, leaning over to grin at her goddaughter. “I hope your future is nice, safe, and boring, for your mother’s sake.”

“Oh, hold your tongue,” I mutter, scowling and moving Ariel away from her aunt. “I don’t want her life to be boring, I just want…” I sigh, looking down at the little girl who has my whole heart. “I just want it to be good, and for her to be safe…but also to have some adventures.”

“A big ask,” Sinclair says, ambling over with a glass of champagne, Rafe perched on his hip. “Especially for a little girl named Baby Trouble.”

I grin at the nickname; it’s a little true, even if it started as a joke. Honestly, we’ve rarely called her Ariel; she’s mostly “Baby Trouble,” “Princess Trouble,” “Princess Baby Bubble Trouble,” or some variation. And, well, she hasn’t lived up to it—not yet. Rafe was a tough newborn, at least for the first two weeks. But Ariel? She’s been a dream.

I can only hope her nickname remains ironic, but I know that’s wishful thinking.

Rafe eagerly leans forward from his father’s hip, reaching for his sister, babbling excitedly.

“You like your sister, little guy?” Cora says, laughing and steadying Rafe to prevent him from falling.

“We think he’s trying to say ‘baby’,” I say, grinning at my son, filled with pride. Every mom is proud, but Rafe is such a sweet, clever boy, always wanting to be close to me and Ariel. And his dad, of course, but Rafe and I have a special bond.

“All right,” Roger says, holding his own baby and a glass of champagne, mirroring his brother. “Almost time! Ready?”

“Don’t treat it like a sports match, Roger,” I say, jokingly raising my chin. “It’s a sacred ritual. Act with gravity.”

“It’s our third one, Ella,” Roger says, playfully rolling his eyes. “It’s getting old—”

“You’re fated to have six kids, Roger,” I say, rolling my eyes back. “Tell me that when we reach your sixth baptism—”

“At that point, we’ll wander into the backyard in our pajamas,” he murmurs, nodding toward my baby and then Cora, indicating I should hand her over. “We’ll drink beer, hold the baby out to the moon on a dish towel, and use a plastic baby pool instead of the sacred pond—”

“We are not,” Cora scoffs, gently taking Ariel as Sinclair and I laugh. Roger grins, kissing my cheek before giving me Jesse.

“You know I’m kidding, right, Ells?” he whispers.

I smile at my brother-in-law and pat his cheek. “When in doubt, Roger,” I sigh, “I assume you’re kidding.”

“That’s why you’re my favorite sister-in-law,” he says, ruffling Jesse’s hair before turning to the Goddess’ priestess, who calls everyone to order. “Now, let’s get this party started!”

Cora

I smile down at my perfect little niece, who looks around the dark forest with interest. “Ready to meet your granny, little girl?” I whisper, holding her close and kissing her forehead. “She’s excited to meet you.”

Ariel squeaks, sounding like a response, making me laugh.

Roger laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Remember the last time we were here?” he murmurs.

“Yup,” I say, grinning. “We fought the whole time. I was ready to shove you into that pond.”

“Oh, right back at you,” he says, nodding fervently. “It was that, or grab you and kiss you—I didn’t know which I wanted more. Maybe both: shove you in the pond, dive in after you, grab you, kiss you until we drowned…”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Well, we know which one you chose.”

“You were crying so much,” he says, rolling his eyes in mock exhaustion, “I didn’t know how else to stop you—”

“Oh, you idiot,” I sigh, laughing and pulling him closer by his jacket lapel. “Can’t you say something nice?”

“What do you want to hear, Cora?” he asks, smirking and cupping my face. “That it was the happiest moment of my life? That I’d been waiting to kiss you for months, and that afterward I had to stop myself from grabbing you and kissing you every time you walked into a room?”

My smile widens. “Something like that,” I murmur, pulling him down for a kiss.

“I love you so much, Cora,” he sighs, his eyelids heavy as he stares at me.

“I love you too, Roger,” I say, smiling and conveying my love through our bond. We tease, but I love this man.

Roger leans in for another kiss, but a silver light flares at the edge of my vision.

“Oh,” I say, raising my eyebrows, adjusting the baby, and turning toward the light. “I think Mom’s impatient.”

“Then,” Roger says, his arm still around me, “let’s not keep the Goddess waiting.”

Together, we carry our goddaughter to the pool nestled among the trees, a tiny waterfall splashing into it. It’s secretive and peaceful, like a hidden hot spring.

Roger nods, I step forward, unwrapping the baby and holding her in the moonlight. Then, we say the sacred words, dedicating Ariel to her grandmother, the Goddess, pledging to love and protect her.

The moonlight brightens, and I feel a warmth and contentment from my mother, pleased with her granddaughter.

Once the words are spoken, the premonition begins to take shape above the water. Roger and I watch, our eyes widening.