Page 37 of Bonded Ever After

It takes a few minutes, but Xarex returns with a bag. He promptly sits down on our path and sets up a spread of different foods. Foods that actually look very good.

“You might like this,” he says excitedly. “For my people, food is always in surplus. There is far more to eat than there are people. Our crops are overgrown, overflowing with food. And with all the time I have, I can make many delicious things.”

I don’t argue. We just sit down.

The food is pretty damn good. Eggs, even though they’re cold, interesting fruits and veggies, two meat items that taste like foods back home. All in all, I’m pretty happy. But what’s more important, Elora is eating and keeping it all down.

Xarex is growing on me.

My thoughts go back to what we’re doing. Elora wants to go on this crazy quest, I’m pretty sure because she’s hoping to find her dad, but the Mist Realm isn’t awful. With Xarex’s help, we could make a home here, and I’m pretty sure he’d be eager to help us every step of the way.

I’ll have to bring it up again to Elora.

“So,” Elora begins, still eating. “How have things been going besides the pet?”

Xarex looks thoughtful. “Life is good. But I miss the days of my people. I even miss the days when your people came through regularly.”

“Victor and Archer?” she asks.

“Even before Victor and Archer.”

“Before?” I question.Like our other relatives?

He nods, but when he sees both of us staring at him in confusion, he continues more slowly. “Your families are not the only ones who haveeverbeen to the Mist Realm. There were others. Others who didn’t even know about the Forest Realm. They didn’t have as much gold in their blood as you do, but they had enough to get here.”

We’re both confused. “We don’t understand,” I say.

He shrugs. “There were simply others. Occasionally. And I miss them. I miss the company. It seems that finding someone to love and care for is too much to ask the gods.”

Elora smiles and pats his knees. “You never know. Sometimes love just takes you by surprise.” Her gaze meets mine, and I smile.

“I hope you’re right,” he says.

Elora sighs. “Can I be honest with you, Xarex?”

“Always.”

“This trip of ours is different from the other ones. This time, we don’t intend to ever go back to our homes. We’re trying to get to the end of the Phoenix Trail in hopes of finding our fathers and creating a life here, as a family.”

Xarex looks sad. “Your fathers had similar plans.”

“Do you know if they ever found what they were looking for?”

His sadness only deepens. “They never came back.”

That’s not reassuring.

“Elora,” I start, trying to find the right words, “are you sure we shouldn’t stay here? This seems like as good a place as any to start a life.”

She gives me a gentle look. “We just have to have faith. Can you have faith for me?”

I take a deep breath, then slowly release it. “Okay.”

Anything for you.

His head snaps between us. “If you ever do decide to build a life here, I will gladly help with anything and everything you need.”

Elora turns back to him. “Thank you, Xarex, you’re an absolutely wonderful friend.”

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