Just like that, they were bonded. Killian showing her more tricks, Tyreen praising his technique, both of them already comfortable with each other.
I caught Mal’s eye. He smiled back at me, and we shared a moment. Our found family, getting bigger.
***
That evening, we gathered for family dinner in the private dining room. It was loud and wonderful from the start.
Killian sat between Mal and me, still riding the high of Earth adventures and meeting Tyreen. Words tumbled over each other as he talked.
“And then I helped make food ALL BY MYSELF!” he announced proudly.
“With supervision,” Sorcha corrected from across the table, her tone affectionate.
“It was SO GOOD! Can we make Earth food here?” Killian asked, looking between me and Mal hopefully.
“We can try,” I said, already mentally preparing for the kitchen disaster that would inevitably result.
Killian was already moving on, demonstrating his improved portal skills by portaling his vegetables from his plate to the empty plate beside him. “Look! I can move food even better now!”
“That is very impressive,” Mal said, his voice carefully neutral. “Now eat them.”
Killian looked confused. “But I moved them!”
“Eating comes after moving.”
“But WHY?”
“Because Papa said so,” I interjected before this turned into a full negotiation.
Killian pouted but picked up his fork.
Across the table, Tyreen and Casimya were deep in discussion about magical theory. I caught fragments of their conversation, something about dimensional resonance and energy signatures. Casimya was leaning forward, absorbing everything Tyreen said.
“Your tracking spell was elegant,” Tyreen said.
“Thank you,” Casimya replied, and I’d never heard her sound so pleased. “Your teaching methods are remarkable. I’ve never seen anyone help a student achieve control so quickly.”
“I have had time to refine them.”
“How old are you, if I may ask?”
Tyreen’s smile was mysterious. “Old enough to know better. Young enough to do it anyway.”
At the other end of the table, Aurion and Mal were discussing politics in low voices. I caught the words “border patrols” and “supply lines.”
“So we need to contact an enemy prince?” Aurion was saying, eyebrows raised.
“Essentially,” Mal confirmed.
“Sounds dangerous.”
“Everything is dangerous now.”
Daphne caught my eye from where she sat beside Aurion. “How was the journey?”
“Long, muddy and emotional,” I said.
“Sounds like an adventure.”
