Page 213 of Gift from the Wing

“I’m already yours, Keeper, and I’ll love you even after my last breath. There is no other.”

She presses her lips to his fiercely. Through her tears, through her obvious hesitancy and want to stay, she kisses him like she knows this is goodbye forever.

And sadly, it is. When she drifts through the ward, he may not have known then, but I do. That’s the last time he’ll ever see her.

I’m glad he stayed there watching her until he couldn’t see her any longer.

The soft glide of hands across my wet face pulls me the rest of the way out of my mind, and I kiss the tips of my little wanderer’s fingers as they rest on my lips. I can’t bring myself to open my eyes just yet. I just want to see my mom’s face for another second.

Even heartbroken, she looked happy and healthy.

She was always beautiful to me, but she seemed truly in the best condition she was ever in, in that forest with him.

That fear that’s kept my mind and heart at a distance from Keeper’s settles with the knowledge that they were in love. They definitely attempted to fight it, probably even denied it to themselves every day, but you can’t truly fight that kind of love. It happens fast and most times, unexpected.

When we found out what Franklin did to Willow’s mom, I was horrified, disgusted, and obviously was ready to kill him. Unfortunately, when who Keeper was to me was revealed, that was the first accusation and assumption that came to my mind.

It wasn’t logical. I know that now. The way he acts toward me, all of us, doesn’t fit the characteristics of someone who’d do something so vile to a woman.

But nonetheless…I was afraid I was a cruel monster, made by one.

“Thank you for showing me,” I murmur after I clear my throat.

“You don’t have to thank me. You deserve the truth…So does he,” she says softly and I finally peel my lids open.

“You think I should bring this up to him? Tell him what happened to her after this?” I ask, shocked.

I think it’ll break him.

I know a man in love when I see one.

I am said man. So are my brothers.

“I do. You both have been avoiding talking about her, and I think talking about it will break this barrier between the two of you.”

“Yeah, or it might just break the relationship we’re starting to build.”

“The relationship is being built on rocky terrain, dragon,” she says lightly but matter-of-factly. “Keeper has gone all in with you, yes, but he’s got some deep anger buried down, just as you had your fear. I don’t think he’s going to be able to get himself out of it without your help. He also may have answers you want.”

The knowing look in her eye tells me everything. She truly believes this conversation needs to happen and I’m going to have to be the one to approach him about it. Tanith’s already told me he isn’t going to push, and this conversation would be just that. So I’m going to have to do it.

“I’ll talk to him,” I agree.

“Good. Sooner rather than later,” she says, smiling.

“That can mean many things, little wanderer,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes.

“I know, but the plans have changed. We’re leaving tomorrow now. We need to make sure the main portal to the Valorian Veil is closed, and Corentin said we can’t rush off today and haphazardly do this, but we have time to arrange to leave tomorrow.”

“That’s probably a good idea. If there’s one thing we know, shit surely can change in a day,” I say both seriously and cryptically.

She sees it for what it is, though.

I don’t know how this conversation will change things, but it will, and it’s best I do it before we all venture on another possibly dangerous mission.

“He’s outside with Tanith. Moping, according to her.”

“Damn, she can be mean sometimes.” I chuckle.

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