Page 40 of The Protective Gryphen

Walking through the little labyrinth of low shrubs, they got to the middle where there was a statue. On the top was a raven-like bird.

Thus, Ravensmire.

Ian touched the frozen water, and smiled.

“I love it here already.”

That was a good thing. All Gryphen wanted for him was a vacation he’d never forget.

When Ian pointed, that had his attention.

“Another gate. Let’s go,” he said, as the snow started falling again, and Gryphen was led toward the gate that led outside of the courtyard.

The man’s excitement was contagious.

Gryphen liked an adventure every now and again.

Once through the massive gate, the ground leveled out, and there was a barn, a humongous pile of wood for heating the castle, and a hill leading down somewhere.

Ian grinned.

“That’s a hill for sledding,” he said. “I bet you go really fast down it.”

Gryphen checked it out.

“I guess. I’ve never been sledding before,” he admitted.

Ian stared at him.

“Really? Never?” he asked. “No sliding down a hill, drinking hot cocoa, and enjoying the snow?”

Gryphen was honest.

That wasn’t part of his existence that he remembered.

“I mean, maybe my parents took me when I was really young, but they left me when I was four. If it happened, it was before then. After, I was in foster homes. I was a paycheck. I barely got food and clothing let alone a sled.”

His words…

They broke Ian’s heart.

That this man had been hurt so badly.

“I’m sorry,” he offered, upset that he’d been callous and not thought about Gryphen’s brutal life as a child.

Gryphen gave him a soft smile to reassure him that it was perfectly fine.

“So am I. Maybe I would be a different kind of man had I been loved. Maybe I wouldn’t have done the things I did as MRR. Maybe I would have been lovable.”

Turning to face him, Ian stared at him as the snow fell all around him.

He gave him a piece of his heart to fill the hole that was in his own.

“And maybe you wouldn’t have been mine. What if you never became a Marine? What if you never got hurt? What if you never found me to protect me?” he asked. “Then, I never would have had this. I’m sorry you were hurt, but I’m not sorry it led you to me, Gryph. Because of our pasts, we have this, and this is pretty spectacular.”

He smiled.

“I know, Baby. I just wish I could relate more. I’ve never been sledding. I’ve seen Elizabeth’s kids do it. It looks like fun.”

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