Page 59 of My Salvation

“I will be your shield,” Ryuu repeated stubbornly, then he sighed. “But I will be a shield that you can lift when you feel it’s needed.”

“Thank you, Ryuu. That means a lot.”

Aiden rubbed his cheek along her spiky curls. “Just tell me what to do, baby, and I’ll do it.”

She frowned. “You do that anyway,” she said, sounding confused.

Pip giggled, which set off Nigel and Neil.

Around the room, terror and fear faded, and the light of laughter brought about sunbursts of golden love from everyone.

She turned and met the queen’s eye. The queen nodded. Of course, she’d sense it too.

“A miracle,” Cas whispered.

Kendrick and the queen stared at Meryn, looking contemplative.

Ari, with his hand subconsciously still on his sidearm, sat back. “Can I take it we’re tabling the demon thing for now?”

Meryn looked around. Everyone was nodding. She nodded to Ari. “I think that best for now.” She then looked at the queen. “No fading,” she repeated.

The queen smiled. “As I said before. For now.”

Meryn’s expression became stubborn.

“I lost both of my parents when they decided to fade, Meryn.”

Meryn turned to her, looking surprised. “Fae really do that?”

Cas laughed. “Of course they do. I know to humans, eternal life sounds like a blessing, but in a way, it can be a curse too. Both of my parents were so tired, so very, very tired.” She thought back to her last days with them. “I was young, barely of age when I left, and like you, I was stubborn. I did not want to lose them, but now, hundreds of years later, I understand a bit more.”

Meryn grunted.

“Meryn, have you ever visited a cancer ward?”

She shook her head. “Never had to. Sounds depressing.”

Cas nodded. “It can be, but it was also liberating. Humans have such short lives, but some of those people were embracing their end with excitement for what came next. Death is closest friends with humans, and they feel it. But, what I felt from each and every one of them, even those that were recovering, was a bone-deep weariness. It was the closest I have ever seen humans come to fading. They were just ready for everything to be done. No more pain. No more of each day bleeding into the next. Apathy terrifies fae more than the threat of death.” She smiled at her queen. The one permanent fixture in her life, in all of the fae’s lives. “I realize now that fading should be celebrated, not feared.”

“But I will miss them!”

Cas eyed the smaller woman. “That sounds like a personal problem.”

Meryn’s mouth dropped, then slowly, it closed. “I guess it is. But it sucks.”

Cas turned to Darian and Oron to see them staring at their mother.

Gods guide my words, let them become the foundation to help them face the future, she prayed.

“Fading to the fae is like stepping into the next room. They are not truly gone, just enjoying new scenery.” She stood and curtsied to the queen again before straightening. “Our queen has been working the equivalent of doubles for thousands of years.” She swallowed hard against her own grief. “If there is anything I can do to help your transition, please command me,” she offered.

The queen wiped at her own eyes. “I think you are doing exactly what needs doing. Stay by my sons’ sides and help them. That is all I ask.”

She placed a hand over her heart and bowed. “I will serve both of my princes gladly.”

When she was stood, both Darian and Oron looked tired, but the terror had dispersed.

“Well, this changes my timeline a bit,” Meryn muttered, reaching under the table.

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