Page 80 of My Salvation

Cas exchanged looks with Priest and Ari, who looked equally confused.

Aurora took her hand and began pulling her toward a large glass dome.

“Hurry! We can show you. This is our aviary, where our babies are born. Mother has already made a nest for you!”

Priest looked at Vesta. “You did?”

Looking at the floor, she nodded. “It was the only thing I could do.”

Cas watched as Priest hesitated, then took her hand. “Then I guess you can show us how this setup works.”

Vesta wept but smiled as she nodded. “It’s more than I deserve.”

Ame tugged on her skirt. “Sharing love is okay, remember.”

“Out of the mouth of babes,” she whispered, then looking at Zoe for permission, who nodded, she held out her hands, and Ame went to her. Hoisting him up on her hip, she cuddled him close. “Let me show you where your Uncle Priest was born. He was a fighter from the very start.”

Walking behind them, hand in hand, she and Priest watched as Ame looked back at them and executed a perfect wink.

Priest turned to Ari. “Maybe the boys have been spending too much time around Meryn?”

Brie kicked the back of his legs, causing him to stumble a bit, making everyone laugh.

Only Cas knew that the hand holding hers was trembling. But thanks to her gift, she knew it was due to excitement and love, not the gut-wrenching fear he had felt when they first arrived.

Chapter Twelve

“They what?” Niamh asked, sinking into one of the kitchen chairs.

After a whirlwind afternoon, Priest now stood in his parent’s kitchen. “They want to meet with you. Gaius said they would not offend you for anything.” Priest knelt next to his mother. “I told them that you were my parents, but,” he took a deep breath. “I would like to try to get to know them if that’s okay.”

His mother simply pulled him to her chest and held him tightly, then released him to look him in the eye. “Are you sure you still…” She looked over to her mate. His father walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your mother and I would understand if you wanted to claim them and take your place with your…real family.”

Priest stood, his mouth dry. “You are my real family unless you don’t want me?”

His mother jumped from her chair and elbowed her mate solidly in the stomach. “That is not what we are saying at all. We just know that there was a pain in you that we couldn’t heal. Make no mistake, you will forever be my son.”

His father nodded, rubbing his belly. “Our son,” he corrected. He looked his way. “I misspoke, son. What I meant to say was we would understand if you wanted to get to know your biological family.”

Priest exhaled. “Biological. That’s a good phrase.”

Cas chuckled. “Niamh, he has an older sarcastic version of himself as an older brother and two sisters that pop about like they have a caffeine drip.”

His mother smiled. “It’s hard to believe we got the sweet one.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know, I am sweetness and light personified,” Priest sniffed indignantly.

His father looked at Cas. “Were they as dramatic?”

Cas shook her head. “He definitely gets that from Niamh.”

His mother sighed. “I am so misunderstood.” She gestured to the chairs, and everyone sat back down.

Priest took his time and relayed everything that had been revealed that afternoon. “They missed me all this time,” he admitted softly, still unsure if he believed it.

His mother took his hand. “Of course, they did. You’re their child. I cannot even imagine…” She shuddered.

His father messed up his hair. Priest ducked under his hand.

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