Macklyn had refused to force Eric to do anything. The man needed time to mourn and figure things out, so the fairy left him alone for the most part. He did not block their connection, or ignore the feelings that Eric sent to him. Only every once in a while did he send feelings of reassurance back. He did not use his telepathy to communicate, did not even talk to Bran.
Instead, he spent the time easing Mara into her new life. The poor bird was very confused about a lot of things. The loss of her own Eric the chief among them, but also the fact that she was alive now.
They had spent a whole day just laying on the couch and bonding. Macklyn soothing her when she got upset or freaked out. After that, they had explored her new abilities, discovering that she could heal others with the power of the vampire and fairy blood flowing within her, and that she'd picked up Macklyn's skill to cast illusions, though not as strongly as he could. A human would be deceived outright, a person anything more than that would probably be able to see through them.
He taught Mara what she needed to know about the hunger she was feeling, and instructed her to stay away from the animals in the yard. He promised her that he would construct something for her that she could drink from, and that he would supply her with the blood she needed. He didn't imagine she would need much, a sip or two once a week would probably hold her.
They spent time with the nameless kitten, they puttered around the house. Mara yelled at the squirrels much like Bran did. She liked the roof and the trees. She said she found explicit enjoyment in the breeze ruffling her feathers.
On the outside, she looked exactly like Bran.
The third day rolled around, and Macklyn heard the other crow approach the house, and heard Mara caw at him, excited. He then heard the footsteps of his mate entering and moving across the living room. Macklyn came out of the bedroom, where he'd been doing the highly mundane task of putting laundry away, and leaned against the doorjamb. Waiting for Eric to speak first.