His words gutted me. We’d already talked about this and agreed on it. But it still hurt to hear him speak of it as a simple fact. He’d already made peace with leaving it all behind. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready for that part.
Finley linked her fingers through mine, her brows drawn together with confusion and quiet reassurance warring in her expression.
I hadn’t yet told her about Alastor’s plans for Respandora, about what waited for me after he was gone. I wasn’t sure how to without telling her he was dying.
And I wouldn’t speak of what he entrusted to me without his permission.
As Everly left for her home in Somnio, the four of us walked around Respandora, along with the stray cat and Luana at my side, tail wagging and leashless. She never needed one in Respandora. This was home in a way Niev never quite fit, and my girl knew it too.
It helped that the people here treated her as one of their own, offering her treats and water wherever we went.
My neighbor Zen spotted us before we reached the corner.
“Brent! Alastor!” He waved us over. His voice carried that same familiarity that lived throughout Respandora.
A few beats later, three of his younglings burst out of the house, barefoot and laughing.
“Look,” one of them shouted, carrying a small wooden crate.
When I peeked inside, I found a handful of chicks peeping and scrambling around each other. Just as I reached a finger inside the crate, the damn cat sneak-attacked my foot, only to spring away to hide in a nearby bush.
Etienne laughed, his gaze following the cat while Finley crouched low. The oldest of Zen’s daughters took out a tiny chick and placed it in Finley’s hand. She cradled it with such tender care.
At that moment, I would’ve brought her three dozen chicks if only to keep her radiant smile in place.
I nodded toward my mate and Etienne. “Zen, this is Finley and Etienne. Lolli, Etienne, Zen, and his family of troublemakers.”
Zen’s youngest stuck her tongue out at me, so I did the same, going a step further and crossing my eyes. I laughed when she griped and called me gross.
The group exchanged niceties with Zen, greeting them in that way of his that made others feel like they were already a part of this place.
Zen leaned against his fence. “We’re hosting the supper gathering in my yard tonight. Figured you might’ve not heard since you’ve been gone.”
Ever since the shifter mages started their once-a-month tradition, I hadn’t missed a single one. It wasn’t only the different foods everyone brought and shared, but the camaraderie. It was how we all came together, enjoyed each other's company, and told tales born of both fiction and fact. It was something I looked forward to every month, and I was glad I hadn't missed it.
“Thanks, Ted didn’t mention anything,” I said.
Alastor smiled, digging his elbow against me. “She told me.”
“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re special, and everyone’s favorite.”
“I only care to be Zayne and Caspian’s favorite.” The bastard mage grinned.
“That’s low,” I said with a grunt. “Even for you, that’s low.”
Zen chuckled. “Bring the whole crew.”
This was what I loved about this place. The people here weren’t just neighbors but a community. If someone ran out of milk, someone else filled their jar. If you were gone too long,they noticed. And when you came back, it felt like you’d never left.
We said our goodbyes and headed toward the pond where Alastor and I liked to fish, with Finley reaching for my hand. Luana stayed at my side while the cat trailed us, tail twitching and watchful. Suddenly, he bolted ahead only to flop down dramatically in the middle of the path and wait for us to catch up.
“Your cat’s insane,” Etienne said, stopping to scratch the cat’s head when we reached him.
“Not my cat,” I said.
“He’s one of many strays we have in Respandora,” Alastor said.
The cat wove between Etienne’s feet, both of them seeming to enjoy his little game.
