Page 25 of Guardian of Shadows

“That’s a damn good question. One I intend to find out.” Cassi stepped back and held out her hand for Brent.

Brent added, “You’re welcome to stay here with Trinity since my parents are in Atlanta. If you aren’t comfortable with that, you can come to our house while you wait.”

Anthony answered for them. “I appreciate the offer, but for now, we’ll hang out here. Travis and I are friends, and I know he won’t mind.”

“Very well. Trinity went to the store, and she’ll be back soon with groceries.”

“Thank you, Brent.”

Yari took Cassi’s place in front of Elle. “You’ll be safe here while we travel to Evyndral. I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone, but if it’s going to be more than a few days, I’ll portal back to give you an update.”

Elle hugged her sister. “Thank you. If you happen to see Thran, tell him hello and I love him.”

“Will do.” Yari kissed Elle’s forehead, then turned and followed Cassi outside. Elle moved to the window, and Anthony kept his focus on her. It was the middle of the night back in Atlanta, so he would have to wait a few hours before calling the witches.

“I know your sleep schedules are off, so do you want to go rest some more, or would you like breakfast?” Brent asked.

“You don’t have to go to any trouble for us, Brother. I can cook,” Anthony responded.

“It’s no trouble. I hate when Cassi is away, so fixing something will help take my mind off her absence.”

“Then breakfast would be appreciated. Can I help?” He wasn’t a good cook, but he was an excellent sous chef.

“Nah. We all take turns cooking around here, and with the large number of family members, cooking for four is a breeze. Come on back to the kitchen, and I’ll pour us some coffee unless you prefer tea.”

“Coffee’s good for me. Elle?”

“Coffee for me as well.” Elle turned away from the window and slowly padded toward him. She sat in the seat Anthony held out for her. He walked to where Brent was pouring mugs for them, and he took two cups to the table, placing one in front of his mate.

“Cream and sugar are there,” Brent said, pointing to the small containers on the table. He poured himself a cup and sipped it without adding anything.

“Have you ever gone with Cassi to Evyndral?” Anthony asked Brent as he added sugar to his cup. He could drink it black if he had to, but he preferred it sweet and creamy.

“I have. It’s like going back in time, if the 1600s had dragons flying overhead. It’s weird not seeing tall buildings or cars. When Cassi and Yari first came here, those were the things that surprised them most.”

“How did you meet?” Elle asked.

Brent responded as he pulled eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator. “Tor and Bodi, they’re Banyan and Urijah’s twins, had just graduated college, and our family was gathered here to celebrate. Most of us were outside when we noticed a red dragon. There was something wrong with her, and she stopped flying. Banyan, Urijah, Tor, and Bodi phased and flew up to keep her from falling to the ground. I felt sick to my stomach, and I knew then she was my mate. Yari ran toward the group, brandishing a sword. I focused on Cassi’s dragon, while Yari and my uncles discussed the situation. If one dragon wasn’t strange enough, Rhoan flew in, ready to roast us all. Yari talked him down, and we invited them to join the celebration while waiting for it to be safe to return to Evyndral. That’s the short version.”

“If you’ve gone through the portal, why haven’t you met Queen Zarina before today?”

Brent smiled over his shoulder at Elle after digging pans out of a cabinet. “The portal opens in the woods outside the dragon’s castle. I’ve only visited once, and that was so Cassi could introduce me to her parents. I gotta tell ya, meeting a dragon King is nothing like being around Banyan, Rafael, Tamian, or Sebastian. Not that our Kings aren’t considered royalty, but they don’t stand on ceremony. King Titus has a throne, and he can breathe fire. I’ve never been so scared in my life. That was almost four years ago. Cassi went back and forth often in the beginning, but now that we’ve completed the mate bond, she only visits her parents about every three or four months.”

Elle sipped her coffee, then cradled it between her hands on the table. “Did King Titus object at all to you two being mates?”

Brent placed bacon in two frying pans on the stove, turned the eyes on, then leaned against the counter, facing them. “He did. Cassi returned to Evyndral after Zarina let Yari know it was safe to go back. I was only fifteen at the time, and while they were waiting for the all-clear to return, I transitioned for the first time. Uncle Banyan knew what was happening when I felt like I was burning from the inside out, so I had to say goodbye to Cassi, then Banyan sequestered me in his house with him and Uri keeping watch. They sent the younger kids to stay here with my parents until they were sure I wasn’t going to tear up the house.

“Although Cassi agreed to a courting session until I was of age, I figured she changed her mind when she didn’t come back immediately. It wasn’t a good time for me. Not only was I despondent at her absence, I had to deal with being a Goyle. It was almost two months before she returned. Her father forbade her from not only mating with someone from another realm, someone who wasn’t a dragon, but he also didn’t believe her when she said we were fated mates.”

“How did she convince him otherwise?” Elle asked.

“She didn’t. She went to her great-grandfather and pleaded to his romantic side.” Brent grinned. “She said if he could start a war with the fae by falling in love with their goddess, why couldn’t she mate with a Gargoyle? He spoke to King Titus on her behalf, and Cassi’s father finally capitulated. It probably didn’t hurt that Cassi threatened to leave Evyndral never to return.” A car door slammed outside. “That’ll be Trin.”

“Should I help with the groceries?” Anthony asked.

“And have her bite your head off for thinking she can’t carry a few totes? Nah.”

Trinity entered the house through the side door, her arms threaded through the handles of several reusable bags. “What’d I miss?” She plunked the totes onto the counter, blowing a strand of blonde hair off her face. “Where’s Cassi?”

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