Page 21 of My Salvation

Cas thought it over a moment. “She said something like that earlier, how it was strange going from being alone to having a family.” She looked over to Priest. “I want to do something nice for her.”

Priest looked excited. “I owe her big time for finding me and my unit brothers when we were lost. Count me in.”

Cas lowered her teacup. “What do you mean lost? How can you possibly get lost in this day and age?”

Priest winced. “We were rescuing kidnapped fae when a bomb in the warehouse went off. Prince Oron barely had enough time to open a portal for us to escape. Unfortunately, the portal opened randomly in the depths of Noctem Falls. It was hours before the search party found us, and they were only able to find us because Meryn used the cameras to determine what level we were on and initiated a plan to use a shifter to search for us. Gage’s back looked like hamburger, my lower spine and ribs were fractured, and Oron’s legs were broken. Meryn was the one who brought us home.” He grinned. “My mother is still adding things to the gift basket she’s been planning to send.”

Eion stood. “Though not a Founding Family, House Illiya is a Noble House,” he looked at her. “We should not be outdone by House Aerdan.”

She jumped up and hugged the squire tightly. “Do whatever you think is best.”

He nodded, then hesitated once more. “You are the proper mistress of this home, I…”

She reached up and squeezed his nose twice. “Honk, honk.”

His eyes widened.

She put her hands on her hips, not liking the light blue color of uncertainty in his aura. “I may be Head of House, but you are absolutely master of the house, Eion. This is your home more than it is mine. I am not above getting down on the floor and begging you to stay.”

Priest stood and clapped Eion on the back. “She said you were like a father. That makes you family.” He batted his eyes at the flummoxed squire. “Please don’t make us cook and clean for ourselves. I suck at it, and she lives out of cardboard boxes.”

Cas straightened. “Hey!”

Eion smiled softly. “How could I dream of leaving two young ones like you unsupervised?” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It is wonderful to finally have you home, even if you did bring in a stray.”

“Hey!” Priest echoed his own protest.

Eion winked at her. “Now, I will prepare my Fruit Jubilee for you to take to Dav’s. That many men, any extra food will be a godsend.” He pointed to the courtyard. “There is one more for you to greet.”

Cas took Priest’s hand and pulled him toward the door. “Come on!”

Laughing, he followed her to where her House’s Tree grew. “Coll!” she called out.

In the center of the garden, a low-branched hazel tree grew. Like the fountain area of the city and her mother’s flowerbed, small amber stones around the base of the tree gave off waves of steady heat. “Coll, I’m home!”

From the center of the tree, a shape began to materialize. A small young man stepped forward. He had short, brown, cropped hair, except for a single long braid that was flung over one shoulder. “Cassie!” the young man ran to her, and they swung each other around laughing. “I thought you’d never come home. Were humans really that interesting? They seem so small to me,” he said, scrunching up his freckled nose. “Are you staying?”

Cas nodded. “I am.” She led the Spirit Guardian over to her mate. “Coll, this is Priest, my mate.”

Coll stared. “You’re one of Liaylia’s, but you’re a bird…” The spirit shrugged. “I like birds.” He turned back to Cas. “Come see your branch! It shows you have mated. I was so happy when I felt new growth.” The small spirit tugged on her hand, and she followed eagerly.

Growing up, Coll seemed more like a younger brother than a Spirit Guardian, but her mother told her he chose to appear that way. When she asked Coll about it, he shrugged and asked if she wanted him to be more grown up. She told him she wanted him to be happy, so whatever he preferred was what she wanted. From that day forth, they played together in the garden. When she got older, she would bring him tea and tell him of her studies.

Saying goodbye to him was a physical pain she never quite recovered from, just learned to deal with.

She impetuously pulled him to her for another hug. “Gods, I missed you so much! I grew hazel trees wherever I went, but it wasn’t the same.”

Coll shook his head. “It helped! It did. I could feel you through the trees, so you never felt far away.”

Peering into the center of the tree, she saw her parent’s grey, petrified branches. Below them was hers and now a small one beside it, signifying she had a mate.

Priest walked up behind her and placed a hand on the small of her back. “It is a blessing to have a place amongst these branches.”

Coll turned to him and gave him a sly smile. “You should bleed on my trunk, then I can steal you away from Liaylia.”

Cas felt her mouth drop. “Coll!”

Priest dropped to his knees to look the Guardian in the eyes. “You honor me beyond measure. I would accept, but I cannot hurt the Guardian that took me in when no one else would.”

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