Page 22 of My Salvation

Coll nodded slowly as his smile warmed. “I knew you were a good bird. You better take good care of my Cassie.” He pointed to the ground, and a moment later, a small sapling popped up through the earth. Coll bent down and plucked it from the ground, offering it to Priest. “Take this to Liaylia. If she is open to it, we can intertwine our branches. That way, the both of us can watch after the pair of you.”

With trembling hands, Priest accepted the tiny sapling and tucked it under his shirt close to his heart. Coll nodded approvingly. “He is the best of both worlds. He knows how to be a fae, but I bet he reproduces like a shifter.”

“Coll!” Cas screeched at her childhood friend again.

Coll rubbed his ear. “What?” He pointed to his tree. “We need more branches, Cassie. Lots and lots of babies, please. I have been feeling puny for centuries.”

Priest stood at attention. “I swear to do my duty, sir!”

Coll began to giggle. “Oh, I do like him. You did very well, Cassie.”

Cas rubbed her hands over her face. “I cannot win with three of you against me,” she said, thinking back to how eager Eion had been over the prospect of babies in the house.

Coll pointed to the house. “Go get to know each other, then make babies!”

Priest clicked his heels together and brought his hand up to his forehead in salute. “Sir, yes, sir!”

Shaking her head, she dropped a kiss on Coll’s cheek, then walked past her mate to go back inside.

“I won’t let you down!” Priest swore dramatically.

“It’s all up to you!” Coll responded, playing into the drama.

She headed through the sitting room to the kitchen, leaving her mate and spirit guardian acting silly in the garden.

Eion saw her walk in and raised an eyebrow.

“I have been ordered to make lots of babies.”

Eion just shook his head. “Coll, Liaylia, and Aldrya have been moping about for decades.”

Cas had to think about it a moment, then it dawned on her, those were the names of the Spirit Guardians whose houses had dwindled. Coll from House Illiya, Liaylia from House Aerdan, and Aldrya from House Eirson.

“Speaking of Liaylia, can we head to House Aerdan?” Priest asked, stepping into the kitchen. He patted his chest. “I want to get this sapling to her as soon as possible.”

“Sapling?” Eion asked, eyes wide.

“Coll wants to intertwine branches with her so they can watch after both Houses,” she explained.

Eion put the bowl of strawberries on the counter. “That may actually be an amazing suggestion. With so many guardians in shock, supporting each other will benefit everyone.”

“Can we go?” Priest asked, looking extremely nervous.

Cas laughed and took his hand. She’d probably be anxious, too, if she had a guardian sapling under her shirt. “I’d also like to meet your parents, especially since I sprung my family on you without warning.”

Priest’s expression transformed from nervous to boyish. “My mother is going to love you, and so will father. I don’t think they expected me to find a mate any time soon.”

“No squire to interrogate me?”

Priest laughed. “Of anyone in that house, Merrick will spoil you the most.”

Eion chuckled and nodded.

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Chapter Four

Priest kept a hand over the sapling the entire walk over to his parent’s home. Though he carried the name of Head of House, it was simply his parent’s way of showing support. His father still ran the home. He grinned, wondering if Liaylia had told his parents yet.

---