Page 83 of Wine & Warlocks

Because he was a man of principle, Damian proposed a new deal. One that was readily accepted.

For the next five years, he would consult on an as-needed basis. If required, he’d step in without objection. No contract. No blood oath. Merely a statement of intent to lead a team of Sentinels of his choosing, and they took him at his word.

* * *

Legs outstretched,Damian rested his back against the large oak in his garden to watch Dubheasa as she laughed and fended off three ginormous puppies. Sabrina’s high-pitched giggles blended with her mother’s deeper ones. Not far from the trio of females, Ronan stood guard, a happy grin eating up half his handsome face.

“Sure, and ya did the right thing,” Fintan said as he rounded the tree to stand at Damian’s side.

“He shouldn’t have had to suffer as long as he did.”

Fintan shrugged. “Maybe he needed to learn to appreciate the deities’ gifts.”

“Anu’s or Isis’s?”

“Both. They worked together to bring the O’Malleys their happiness.”

“And what about the O’Connors? There are a few good ones left.”

“Aye. Castor will find a mate soon enough. Reggie, too.”

Damian nodded toward Ronan and Dubheasa. “They likely have years of chaos ahead of them as Guardians. Will they always be as happy as they are at this moment?”

Fintan grinned. “Yeah, and I don’t think ya need to be worryin’ about those two. They’ve been soulmates in the past, they have. When connected on a cosmic level like Ronan and Dubheasa are, two souls will always find a way to make it work.”

The comment caused Damian to reflect inward, and his gaze locked on Vivian as she laughingly gripped Sabrina’s hands and danced in a circle around Nate’s bassinet. In his entire life, he couldn’t recall such a beautiful sight.

“You’ll find your way back to each other again, Aether. Never fear on that score, yeah?”

Lifting his head, he met Fintan’s compassionate stare. “Sometimes, there are moments when I feel she’d be better off having never met me.” Damian swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat. “And what do I do when she’s gone? We won’t age at the same speed.”

“Are you wantin’ a prediction?”

“No. I’ve seen my future, and it terrified the fuck out of me. I don’t need you to cement what I already know.”

“The future isn’t concrete, Damian Dethridge. Say you’ll be rememberin’ that, yeah?”

“I’ll remember.”

“Good.”

As Fintan’s form faded away, another appeared through a golden rift a few yards away.

Isis.

Damian climbed to his feet and met her halfway. “Exalted One.”

“Beloved.”

“I believe I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

She waved a careless hand and smiled at the puppies tumbling about. “You allowed Sabrina two? Are you a glutton for punishment?”

“Perhaps. But mainly, I’m a sucker for Beastie’s pleading eyes.”

“Mm, yes. Children have that unique ability to manipulate an adoring parent.”

He couldn’t argue the fact.

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