Page 30 of My Salvation

“I don’t really see your father caring.”

“He didn’t. He wanted me to become Head of House to stop those saying I wasn’t his son. I became Priest Vi’Aerdan, but obviously, he still handled things for the Founding Families.”

“How did that make you feel?” She watched his aura carefully. Tendrils of blue swirled with gold, her color for love.

“At the time, I was overwhelmed with joy. Before that, I constantly questioned my place with them. I never knew if they would suddenly want a child of their own and give me back to the eagles, but when he did that, I knew that was my home for good.”

“But…” she prompted.

“But, as I got older, I realized that being a placeholder, in a way, cemented how much I didn’t belong.”

“You know that wasn’t his intention.”

He nodded. “Of course. It’s been a few centuries, and I’m more aware of how the world works than when I was ten. I imagine my father was beside himself to find a way to settle my heart.”

“Both your parents seem very selfless.”

“They are. But until today, until you, I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure their altruistic methods were always the best choice.”

She stopped, forcing him to stop with her. “You weren’t sure if you should have been born,” she said. Even saying the words made her feel ill. She couldn’t imagine living with that doubt all her life.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “It’s why my parents were so emotional today. They knew how I felt.” He tugged gently, and they resumed walking.

All she could think of was what if his mother hadn’t broken that egg. She would have lived out her entire existence bereft of a mate, fading early to escape the loneliness. She wasn’t entirely surprised when she felt tears dripping off her chin.

“That’s why I’d like to live at House Illiya because, to me, House Aerdan is my parents' house,” he continued explaining. Smiling, he looked down, and when he saw her tears, he set down the baskets and pulled her into his arms. “What? What happened?”

She wrapped her arms around him and held tight. They had only met this morning, but he completed her in a way she didn’t know could happen. His smile lit up the dark places in her heart. His sense of humor filled the empty spot in her soul. He was her mate, but more than that, he was already her best friend and her place to return to.

“Cas, you’re scaring me, honey. What can I do?” Priest demanded, wiping at her tears.

“Gods above, why does Tau keep making women cry?” an irate voice demanded.

Cas sniffled and looked to her right. They were standing in front of a large home.

“Carson, I swear I didn’t do anything,” Priest protested. He kept her tucked to his chest.

Cas looked at the man who was scowling at her mate. When his gaze shifted to her, his eyes softened. “Okay, sweetheart, what can we do to make it better?”

“If - if his m-m-mom hadn’t broken the egg, I wouldn’t have h-h-him,” she stuttered.

Carson’s eyebrows lifted to his hairline, then he smiled. “Did he tell you Aeson stopped serving eggs at the warrior villa for the first couple of months after Priest joined us? He heard that story, and couldn’t bear to cook them.”

Cas stared, then she felt laughter erupt at the silly story. “Was he calling Priest a chicken?” she asked, squeezing her mate tight before stepping back to compose herself a bit more.

“My mate abuses me,” Priest complained.

“As Meryn would say, ‘You like it, you mannequin’,” Carson teased.

She sniffled. “Mannequin?”

Priest bent down to retrieve one basket, and Carson grabbed the other. “Evidently, she can’t say masochist.”

Carson hefted the basket up. “Your parents?”

Priest nodded. “Food and fruit for Cas in this one, and wine for the Vanguard in the one you’re holding, though one bottle is Cas’ from mother. It has a bow. They’ll send the food Merrick is making straight to Dav’s.”

Carson exhaled. “It has been a mad house here since we heard they were arriving.”

---