Page 53 of Finding Closure

“Major, it’s surprising to see you here,” Ara muttered, having followed me outside, and I was glad she had.

He nodded but kept his focus on me. “After I was awakened, I was one of the Guardians who was assigned to protect this property while getting up to speed. This place…” He sighed and glanced around. “It has a peace that’s not very common on this planet. I found myself coming back when Faerie and the problems we have there were overwhelming.

“And it seems I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Others who had this assignment kept coming back to enjoy the peace and—well, the aura of this place really. It’s a mix of promise and tranquility. Others learned of the place we kept escaping to when overwhelmed and—”

“And my studio became a hangout spot?” I asked, sounding like I wasn’t buying it to my own ears.

“It’s true, Your Highness,” someone else promised. “We’re all Guardians.”

“I’m not,” a few admitted.

“Right, but you’re here with Guardians,” he corrected. “You’re dating one and the other two are family. It’s like a—”

“Why were you overloaded and needed to hide out?” I asked, curious what was going on that I might be missing.

“Family drama,” he grumbled, but then sighed when it was clear I wasn’t going to let it go. “My parents support you. I don’t want you to think otherwise.” He waited until I nodded. “They don’t have faith that peace will really last. They want me to hand in my papers and marry, raising our family’s station that way. It’s stupid and—I’m just over it.” He cleared his throat.

Yeah, that was probably more than he should tell the ruler of Faerie and the others he worked with there.

I nodded and glanced around. “Are all of your stories like that?”

“Not really,” a light fairy admitted. “I just feel trapped in Faerie sometimes. My whole squad died besides me. Sometimes I look around and just feel like they’re watching me and I see their bodies—I need to not be there and remind myself that I can leave.”

“That’s what I meant,” I said gently. “It’s not someone being abused in this moment or something I’m doing wrong.”

“No, Your Highness,” the major promised. “I apologize that we didn’t admit to this or—please don’t be upset with the caretakers.”

I swallowed a sigh. “They aren’t powerful enough to sense you. You’re blocking them or cloaking.”

“Yes, we didn’t want to upset them,” he admitted, wincing at whatever was on my face. “I apolo—”

“Stop. You know you’re in the wrong,” I cut in, ignoring when people went tense. “I don’t care that you used this place that way. It’s not like you’re inside snooping. Hang out here. It’s fine.”

“You’re upset that we interfered with the caretakers doing their jobs,” someone surmised.

“Yes,” I confirmed. “They’ve had a rough go too, and I was letting them take care of this place and live here for their own peace. You intruded on that, and now it will be harder for them to feel that way. It was selfish of you. So you’re all going to do some sort of penance for that. Go help out at the havens or—whoever has been doing this.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” they all said, their tones sad as if assuming that I was going to cut this off.

I glanced around taking in how they were all hanging out. “Going forward, no more cloaking. If people like this place andfind peace here—it was why I picked it to be my studio. The vibe of this place is—I get it.” I smiled when Darby snorted.

“It was waiting for you. You said that,” he muttered, remembering that the place had dropped into my lap in a weird way.

I nodded. “I’ll have things transferred out of the garage and you can all use it as well. Store food or drinks there—whatever. I don’t feel comfortable with people inside even to use the washroom when my paintings are stored here and it’s my safe space. And we can put furniture on the patio—fire pits—whatever.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the major whispered, others agreeing and thanking me.

“It’s really fine.” I let out a slow breath. “But everyone needs to understand that this ismyplace of solace too. I’m willing to share it, but if I show up, then I need you guys to give me space. I—I come here to be alone and not worry about all the eyes I always have. I’m hidden here.” I gestured to my security. “Besides these fools.”

“I’m actually shocked the fae dogs didn’t snitch,” Ara muttered, her tone worried.

I shook my head. “They’re not sworn to me, and it wasn’t random supes or even fairies. It’s Guardians, and one is always on duty here. They’re nosy and snitch when they thinkI’min danger or trouble.” I glanced over at the fae dogs who came out to see what was going on. “But you’re also not getting extra treats for a while. You had to know this was weird.”

They accepted that. They didn’t want to snitch on people who needed a safe place like they had.

I got that, but it wasn’t their call so no extra treats for them.

People accepted that and started getting their things together to leave… Which made me feel guilty. I swallowed a sigh and went over to the garage to see what was there for now. It wasfull of crates of supplies mostly, but there were some of finished paintings.

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