Page 13 of Forgotten Arcane

I don’t know how to reply to Reed, or any of them actually, their words are the cutest fucking things that I have ever heard, and they aren’t done.

“You don’t seem to see our faults,” Doc starts looking slightly nervous. “You see the real us, and you don’t realize that’s what you’re doing. You actually take an interest in the things that make us who we are, and the things that others have viewed as weird or difficult.”

“I second that one,” River says.

Raiden nods, “Yeah, I definitely do too. You didn’t once shy away from me.”

“Same, you yelled at me from the get-go,” Reed agrees with a fond smile.

Coen chuckles, “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Because it’s Neith, she’s always loved the outcasts and the weird,” Evander replies.

I frown, “None of you are weird.”

Doc and the guy’s chuckle as Doc pulls me closer, and dips his head to press a kiss to my lips, “Exactly, you beautiful woman.”

“There are a few more,” Reed says, “but you get the idea.”

“I suppose it’s sort of a mixed list,” Evander says, “It’s not just things that we know about you, but things that we love too.”

He says it so casually that I know that he can’t mean what I think he means by that. So I force myself to breeze past it and not cling to it like I want to, but probably shouldn’t.

“You guys are so fucking awesome, and I’m so grateful that I got put on your team,” I reply honestly.

“Us too, Nene,” Van replies, pulling me away from Doc and hugging me tightly.

“I didn’t doubt that you would be for a second,” Ransom says. “You fit with us from the moment that you collapsed in Evander’s arms after walking straight through the damn wards.”

“Now there’s a story,” Coen says, his eyebrow raising with curiosity.

“Just wait, man,” River says as we start walking again. “It gets fucking wild.”

“That’s not wild?” Coen asks and immediately adds, “Of course it’s not, Neith is involved.”

“I think I should be offended,” I tease, with a smile.

“Never, Love.”

“Neith!” Mabel yells as she comes around the corner and immediately barrels toward me, wrapping me in her arms.

“Mabel,” I greet her happily, returning her hug.

She steps back, “I was beginning to worry about you, you’ve all been in there for a long time.”

I grin, “As usual, things hit the fan, and nothing was as straightforward as it was supposed to be.”

“Not even a centuries-old Choosing,” Reed chuckles.

Mabel smiles, “Of course not, dear. That would be boring.” Her eyes move to Coen, “I am so glad that you were put on your rightful team.”

“Thanks, Mabel,” Coen grins.

“Well done for killing that horrific dragon, the realms are a better place for it,” she adds with fire.

Coen’s smile becomes sharp, “I couldn’t agree more.”

Mabel nods. “Okay, well, I am sure that you want to get home. The portal will be set up down here, and will be ready to take you back whenever you are.”

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