Page 28 of My Salvation

He turned to his mother. “I didn’t think you were that close to Gage’s mother.”

She tilted her head. “She is your best friend’s mother, of course I had to meet her. What a wonderful woman.”

Priest shouldn’t have been surprised that his mother knew he had the closest relationship with Gage.

“When are you kids heading over to Dav’s?”

Priest looked at his mom, then narrowed his eyes. “How did you know about the Vanguard anyway or that we were heading to Dav’s?”

“I worry about your sense of observation Meredith,” his mother said, causing Cas to giggle.

“What?”

She pointed to a small crystal mounted to a pedestal in the corner of the kitchen. “Usually Ari updates Leo, who sends out news to the warrior family’s squires. He sent out word that Dav might need help feeding over one-hundred warriors, so the squires got busy cooking.” She snapped her fingers. “Merrick we’ll need to add Eion to the system.”

Merrick nodded.

Priest stared at the crystal. “That’s kinda ingenious.”

“House Orthames came up with the idea, but House Aindin created the communication crystals. House Eirlindol calibrates them for us,” she explained.

Priest stood and pulled the large loaf apart and began cramming cheese and meat in it. “We better head to the warrior villa, they will need help. If I know the guys, it will be Snack Party, deluxe version.”

Cas looked longingly at the fruit.

Merrick ruffled her hair. “I’ll pack it for you. Hold on.”

She hugged him impulsively. “I haven’t had fae fruit in centuries.”

His father went to the refrigerator. “Merrick, what else can we give the poor girl.”

“Oh, I know! Wine!” His mother ran from the room.

Merrick and his father were still packing a large basket of fruit when his mother ran back in holding an armful of bottles. “The one with the bow is for Cassie, but the others are for the boys.”

His father quickly relieved her of the bottles and placed them in a separate basket.

Merrick went to hand Cas the food basket, then turned and handed it to him. Priest grunted under the weight. Laughing, his father then handed him the wine basket. He looked down at his sandwich mournfully.

Cas picked it up. At first he thought she would pack it for him, but she proved him wrong when she took a huge bite.

“Hey!”

Merrick and his father laughed.

“So good.” Cas danced around the kitchen happily.

He pouted. “My sandwich.”

“You’ll be getting plenty of food tonight Priest, let her eat if she’s hungry,” his mother said, watching his mate bop around.

Priest knew sacrificing his sandwich for his mate’s happiness was worth it. “She’ll need her strength for later,” he said, imaging all the names and introductions.

Both Cas and his mother stared at him, Cas blushing.

He had a feeling he was in trouble for something. “What?”

Merrick cleared his throat. “Strength for what, son?”

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