Page 86 of My Haven
Genevieve placed a hand over hers. “She was laying down when we left. I made her a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup, it’s simmering as we speak.”
“Thank you, for looking after my niece,” Brennus said, walking over, giving her a half bow.
Genevieve felt her eye tick. “Your niece?”
Brennus smiled. “It is a bit complicated, isn’t it?”
Genevieve looked to Darian. “Doesn’t matter right? Family is family.”
“You got it,” Darian said, nodding his head approvingly. “That being said, welcome to this convoluted family.”
Genevieve stared. “Huh?”
Darian pointed to Caiden. “He is my brother through Amelia, making you, my sister. Which technically means you’re tied to Meryn now too.”
“I only have Mike and Arlo,” she said, looking around at the smiling faces.
“Who is Mike and Arlo, dear?” Aleksandra asked.
“Mike is Mikayla, my sister. She’s a Marine. Arlo is my best friend. He just found out he’s mated to the head of the Water Temple,” Genevieve explained.
“Marine? That is a human warrior, isn’t it?” Brennus asked.
Genevieve nodded.
“It is always a blessing to have warriors in the family,” Brennus commented.
“Even if she’s a woman?” Genevieve asked.
“Why would that matter?” Brennus asked, looking confused.
Caiden coughed, then pointed to Aleksandra. “The fae were ruled by a queen for thousands of years. Gender equality isn’t an issue here.”
“That’s amazing.”
Aleksandra. “Cord, let us prepare a basket of scones for Meryn that they can take back after their date. Meryn adores those.”
Cord bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”
The former queen smiled at Caiden. “Don’t let us hold you up anymore. I have it on good authority that your request sparked quite a bit of excitement and competition.”
Caiden stood, looked from Darian to Aleksandra. “By your leave.” He held out his hand and Genevieve took it. He helped her to stand.
Darian rose. “Have fun. Call me when you’re ready to head back.”
*****
Caiden led her down from where the palace was situated on some sort of hill. They walked through a bustling marketplace, buzzing with conversations and shouts of things on sale.
The roads were ivory cobblestones with gold sand poured between them. Each building looked like a work of art. She marveled at the canopy of green growing from the rooftops of most of the buildings. It was colder here, than in Franklin. She could see why he suggested boots over sandals. As the people spoke, you could see their breath and their cheeks were rosy in the afternoon sun. “This is so different than Storm Keep,” she said, turning this way and that, trying to see everything.
Caiden looked around, his eyes sad. “Storm Keep used to feel like this. Our roads were stone and blue granite which were maintained by the earth witches. Lights were torches that danced as if they lived, created by our fire witches. The air spun down the street and water twisted to the sky as children played. Our people used to be closer to nature than any paranormal.”
Genevieve thought back to her visit. The dull gray stones and moss overgrowing the buildings. How the people shied away from one another and the only children’s laughter she heard, had been at the orphanage. “It used to be like this?”
He didn’t respond, just squeezed her hand, and kept walking.
They walked through a part of the city with more ivory and gold buildings to a section that looked a bit older, but no less dazzling. Caiden brightened the more they walked. When they came upon a building with a carved sign reading, ‘Dav’s Pub’, she smiled. “Is this the place?”
