“I’ve warded it. No one gets in unless I allow it.” He was satisfied with my answer. I was more powerful than him, and he had found out enough about me over the years to know I was good on my word.
“You can stay in the east wing,” I said, and gestured toward the hallway. He just nodded and took off toward the rooms. Other than a kitchen, he would be set.
I felt love swell in my chest, making me turn in search of Thalia. She was in the bedroom. I smiled and headed towards her presence.
“How are you feeling , love?” I whispered against her ear, wrapping my arms around her soft body.
“I’m scared, with a bit of a high from the fighting.”
“I’m sorry Love. We will get through this. I promise you that.” I wish I could show her that I meant my words.
“I know.” She turned in my arms, and looked into my eyes.
“You would do anything for me, and our children. I never doubted it. I don’t want to think about what just happened for a bit.” She smiled and leaned her head against my chest, Snuggling the tattoo of her name on my pec. Memories.
“It looks much the same in here,” she whispered and I smiled. The only thing I changed was a more comfortable bed. She was remembering our time together in this room. Very good memories. Just as I was about to see if we could relive those memories, a whine from behind us made Thalia jump in my arms. Ah, yes, I had forgotten about that little detail.
“What was that?”
“My pet.”
“Well, sort of,” I added. She pulled back and looked around. Jack was gone but then popped back into view.
“Wow.” She said in awe. Jack was a jackal. Very creative name, I know. He had died, and then found a home here. He came and went as he pleased. Usually Jackals weren’t at all like domestic dogs, but he liked to be around me when I was here. Couldn’t say it was a bad life for the little creature.
“Where did he come from?” He pranced around like the strange ghost jackal he was, Almost like he was trying to show off.
“Jack was buried with a noble back in the day. Had a few rodents mummified with him for provision in the afterlife. I found him walking around and we sort of adopted each other.” He came forward and I petted his head.
“I don’t remember him from my time here.” She was trying to figure out the timeline of when he came around.
“It was after your passing. He was a valuable companion during that time.” Not wanting to think about my two-thousand-year punishment without Thalia, I manifested a bone in my hand and gave it to the beast.
