The hair on the back of my neck stood up as we followed the Ambassador through the creeping mists, Math and Taliesin on either side of us. A stone archway appeared, and walking through, an electric tingle shivered over my skin. We'd been transported to a stone path in a brightly lit meadow filled with wildflowers. Butterflies flitted between the brilliantly coloured flowers.

No, wait.

Already uneasy and with my senses on alert from being back on Alfheim, something nudged at my subconscious, telling me to look again. I paused to wrap a bubble of air around one of the butterflies and brought it closer.

"Let me go, you great hulking bully!" The voice was high and squeaky, and coming from the butterfly.

I blinked, so surprised to see the pointy-eared tiny person with jewel-coloured wings and body to match, instead of the insect I was expecting, that it took me a minute to respond.

"Sorry!" I managed, releasing the 'butterfly'.

"Pixies," Math supplied with a small smile.

"I... wow. Sorry, I meant no offense to them. I thought it was an odd-shaped butterfly." Huh! So some of the Sidhe are actually pointy-eared. I'd been wondering where that human idea had come from since none of the elves I'd met thus far had pointy-ears. I sure didn't, as I would have questioned my heritage years ago if I'd had some trait so obviously non-human.

"For the most part, they are harmless. They feed on pollen and nectar." His brown eyes rounded, holding my gaze. "But during swarming, just prior to breeding season when they switch to a predatory diet, they can be deadly to those who can't defend themselves. They attack in great numbers and can take down a full-grown elf. Like many things in the Summer Realm, they are pretty to look at, but beauty can hide a deadly side as well," Math warned.

Given the Unseelie Wild Hunt didn't raid victims from the Summer Realm, it didn't surprise me that there were deadly creatures here. Something had to keep those foul beasts at bay and after my firsthand experiences fighting the Wild Hunt last year, I knew they were formidable.

"When is the next breeding season?" Mist asked.

"Not for another four or five months," answered Taliesin. "You've nothing to worry about from them now."

Even with his reassurance, I kept an eye on the colourful swarm flitting from flower to flower.

We continued through the meadow towards trees that rivalled the massive redwoods on Asgard. Winding in and amongst them, the sense of age sank into my bones with a comforting warmth. It dissipated the gooseflesh that had persisted since we'd entered the creepy mists still swirling around us and our surroundings.

A set of wooden steps appeared in front of us and climbed through the trunk of the largest tree I'd ever seen. It had to be at least fifty metres wide at the base.

Up, and up, and up we climbed, flight after flight of stairs, until it opened onto a wooden platform that spanned the nearby tree canopies. Interwoven living branches formed two thrones at the end, where two tall, regal-looking elves sat. The chatter of numerous groups of elves died down as they realized we were in their midst.

I studied the elves as we passed. Tall, lithe figures were common, but hair ranged from silver and gold to rich chocolate and pitch black, including blues, greens, and pinks. Most had the typical long, straight style, but here again, some had their hair short or curly. Except for the guards, easily distinguishable by the golden armour with a sun symbol on the chest plate, courtiers seemed to wear a range of styles and fabrics from light silks to heavy brocades.

There also didn't seem to be any restriction on weapons, as I saw everything from battle axes, long swords, and staves, to bows and knives. I took in all of these details as we continued towards what must be the King and Queen of the Summer Court. In a black and gold brocade that suited his dark hair, the King was more powerfully built than many of his subjects. Light green eyes, the colour of fresh spring leaves, looked out from a well-formed angular face with full lips and a short black beard. The Queen was his opposite with more rounded features, eyes of deep blue and a curly tumble of blond hair. A strapless gown of peach rose petals flowed over her lithe but well-curved body.

Pausing in front, Ogma bowed deeply, as did Math and Taliesin. Mist also bowed, though not as deeply as the elves. Recalling my lessons from Frigga, I inclined my head, but as a member of the Asgardian royal family, I only bowed to Odin and Frigga. I owed no fealty to this king and queen, even if I was an elf.

"Queen Aine, King Nuada, I present Princess Shannon and Valkyrie Mist of Asgard," Ogma said.

Queen Aine had a small smile on her face, eyes sparkling with humour. "So, we've lost you to Asgard before we've even had a chance to know you?"

"It wasn't my choice to be brought up in the mortal realm, Queen Aine," I replied carefully, unsure of whether to trust her mood.

She frowned, anger flashing across her expression, and King Nuada placed a silver hand on her arm.

Interesting. I wonder how he lost that? Or how it seems to move like an actual hand? I'd never seen an immortal with a replacement limb, and I had to drag my thoughts back on track before my curiosity led me astray. Screwing this up was not an option with my son's life in the balance.

"You can be sure we've spoken to your father about that. Dylan never should have taken you to the mortal realm, away from your people and culture," answered King Nuada.

"Dylan has much to answer for in this debacle. I am very sorry you had to grow up so fast and discover your heritage on your own," added Queen Aine.

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. There wasn't much I could say. It was in the past, and I needed to deal with my present and Aidan's future.

Queen Aine leaned forward in her seat. "Are you planning to go through with the marriage to Prince Elatha? We don't want to be at odds with Asgard over this. We don't support the actions of your Unseelie relatives or their court in forcing the marriage, or in threatening the life of your son." Her nose wrinkled and her words shortened, losing their musical quality as she spoke of Aidan.

King Nuada scowled, and I noticed his silver hand clenching. "Indeed, it's a disgusting move on their part, but we have no way of breaking the blood bond," he said.

While they seemed to be genuine in their concern and support, I wasn't going to take it at face value. Not with the threat the Unseelie posed to Aidan. They could be saying whatever they thought I wanted to hear just to avoid conflict with Asgard. I had no illusions that I'd be getting this royal treatment if I didn't have the strength of Asgard supporting me. As far as I knew, Aine and Nuada might consider me a traitor to elves by throwing my lot in with their former enemies.

Still, I wasn't going to dismiss the pleasantries as long as they stayed cordial.

"I would prefer to discuss the situation with Elatha first. Has he arrived or sent word that he is coming?" I asked.

"Manannan sent a message that they will arrive on the morrow," confirmed Aine. "In the meantime, would you like to meet your parents?"

Although I'd suspected I'd get this chance, being faced with actually meeting them had nerves fluttering in my belly. I clenched my hands together to keep from crossing my arms over my body. This was something I'd wanted ever since I'd found out I was adopted. Yet, I had no idea if this would be a positive experience, or a disaster I'd forever regret.

How much could I lose and still feel like me? My sense of self had already been shattered when I'd transformed into an immortal goddess almost seven years ago now by Earth's calendar. It had been a slow process of rebuilding ever since. Discovering I was adopted had been a harsh blow. Losing my closest friendships, my best friend and the circle of friends I'd grown up with, had been another body punch.

While some of my distant friendships were still intact, as we were used to only being in contact a few times a year, my closest friendships in my home town of Vancouver hadn't survived the long absences of my transition and training. Lynda, my former best friend, had initially forgiven me for a year of only occasional emails, phone calls and texts, with being away for a field work sabbatical as the excuse. 

At least, I would have been forgiven if I'd introduced her to Loki so she could use his fame to promote her failing marketing business. But discovering I was almost seven months pregnant with an A-list actor's baby she'd known nothing about was a bridge too far for her. In her mind, I'd betrayed our friendship by not confiding in her, not bringing her into Loki's star-studded circle of celebrities, and not dragging her up the social ladder with me. At least, that's what she'd told me before stomping away from my house and refusing to speak to me again.

And what could I say? It's not like I could tell her the truth about where I'd been or what had happened to me. Even before getting kidnapped or being stuck on bedrest in Asgard before Aidan's birth. And since then, by living on Asgard and only visiting Earth once or twice a week, the equivalent to once or twice a month by the Earthly calendar, almost five years slipped by on Earth as Aidan approached his first birthday. Although scaled back with Aidan taking so much of my time, I kept my career going and visited my mortal family a few times per year, but Lynda had moved on, as had my circle of childhood friends. They had the benefit of time, whereas to me, it was still a fresh loss of only months.

Mist and her fellow Valkyrie Kara had become my best friends in the fourteen months I'd spent on Asgard, and I appreciated I didn't have to hide anything from them. But losing a friendship of over twenty years still hurt. Was I ready to also fully let go of the idea of being human and accept my Elven heritage? Knowing it needed to happen and actually being willing to embrace it were two vastly distinct steps. Like a child, I was curious and reaching for the flames of knowledge, but the risk of getting burned was high.

Yet, I knew it all started with meeting my birth parents.

"Yes." It was all I could do to force out the single reply through the lump in my throat.

Aine gave me a kind smile. "Math, if you would escort Shannon and Mist to the rose garden, her parents should be waiting for her there."

"Of course, my queen," he replied, turning and holding out his arm to us to lead the way.

"Thank you Queen Aine, King Nuada, for your hospitality and support," I managed, trying to focus on the etiquette Frigga had taught me, instead of the churning anxiety making me bemoan the hearty breakfast I'd eaten before leaving Asgard.

Gods, I hope I don't regret this.