Page 65 of My Eternal Light

Turning back to her mate she pointed. “What do you have there?”

“I ran next door. Baba has many beautiful things, but I noticed the lack of cloaks.”

Baba grunted. “Adding those soon. But, in the meantime, Grenlya’s work is good,” she admitted. “Though the colors she chooses are a bit boring for my tastes.”

Kincaid handed her a soft cashmere cloak in a deep navy blue, with a silver fur trim. “Kincaid, this is…” She rubbed her cheek against it. “I’ve never owned anything this nice.”

He blushed at her praise. “It’s waterproofed and self-cleaning.”

“I’ll wear it every day!” She wrapped it around her.

He cleared his throat. “Ari kinda started a tradition of warriors giving their mates a broach that matches our tattoos. Once he presented his to Brie, I had one made, so that it would be ready when I met my mate. It represents my family, my unit and my city. I thought maybe you’d like it as a cloak pin.” He handed her a small box.

When she opened the box, she felt tears prick her eyes. No one had ever treated her like this. Like she really mattered. “It’s perfect.” She secured the pin on the fabric that kept the cloak closed. “I don’t have anything for you.”

He smiled wide. “You’re my gift.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m never letting you go. You know that right?”

“I am perfectly okay with that, though it may make drills hard to do.”

She laughed and stepped back. “I’d like these pant versions. Baba said she can make some that are self-cleaning too.”

“Those are pants?” He knelt down and tugged at her pant legs. “That’s genius. Baba, could I order a pair for my mother? With five kids, she could really use these.”

“Gods above, how many?” Baba stared.

“Five, well six actually if you count me. But I’m older now, the next oldest is Giles. He’s fifteen,” he answered.

“They in Storm Keep then?”

He stood. “No, my parents have taken the position as house parents for House Eirson. We’ll be living there too, teaching the little ones.”

Baba nodded. “I’ll send her six pairs, free of charge. One for each child she’s had.”

Kincaid shook his head. “Let me pay, please.”

“Not a dime from you. Also, bring those children here. I’ll get them outfitted in no time.”

“Baba…”

“No Baba, nothing. I’m an old lady and I get to do what I want.”

“Thank you, Baba. It would mean the world to them to have actual clothes and not rags.”

“Rags! Why haven’t you brought them by yet!” she fussed.

Zadie laid a hand on her shoulder. “They were starved as well and simply don’t have a lot of strength yet.”

“It’s true then, what the queen sent,” a female voice asked, closing the door behind her.

“That depends, you are?” Zadie asked. “My name is Zadie Williams, recent mate to Kincaid Bayberry,” she said, smiling at her mate.

“Forgive me, I am Kyla Vi'Aileanach. The queen inquired about my recommendations for caretakers for the returned Eirson children.” Her words were polite but strained.

Zadie remembered that this woman lost her sister to the children’s fathers. “The children were kept in destitute conditions. Rags on their backs and little to no food. The older children were kept in cages and the younger ones had to take care of the infants.”

Kincaid stepped forward. “Cody, one of the five-year olds would walk miles to milk a goat the best he could to get milk for his brother. He would then dilute it with water to make it last longer.”

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