I was just walking around when I sensed your magic. I followed it to the park, but you'd already left. I caught a glimpse of your back, but I knew it was you. I stuck around hoping you'd come back.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to find you," I murmured, and she gave me a look I remembered so well from my childhood, despite her otherwise completely unfamiliar appearance.
You didn't even know I was around, dumbass. It's not your fault. I'm just happy to be here with you now.
"Me too. You have no idea how much."
So... Horsey. Tell me about him.
My eyes widened when I realized who she was talking about. "Keoni? You can't call him that!"
Rei shrugged like she couldn't care less, and I sighed. "Well, you know he's my mate. He's lived here at the Sanctuary for a few years now, but we only found out we're mates a few weeks ago, and just started dating."
Huh. If I'd been here you would've known the day you met him.
"Uh, things probably would've gone much differently if I had," I said, and she leaned forward, eyes lighting up with curiosity. Now that she was here, I could sense my bond with Keoni in a way I never could before. Rei was the link I'd needed, and I was so damned glad I had her back in my life.
I told her everything, from how and why Keoni had lied about his age, to the issues at the Sanctuary, to Nolan and fixing everything. Catching her up on the last two centuries would take a while, but I could tell her about this. About now.
Oh, I'm starting to like the sound of this man. If I'd been here, I would've chewed you out, too. You were being an idiot.
"So I've been told," I agreed with a sheepish smile, and Rei snorted. She shuffled closer and took my left hand in hers, her small paws moving over the metal as she turned my hand this way and that.
Huh. This might be an improvement over the original. Any chance you could update the rest of you? You could be a robo-sorcerer.
"I think I'll make do with flesh and bones," I murmured, and she shook her head like she couldn't believe it.
I hate that you got hurt trying to protect me.
"I'm sorry I failed."
Enough apologies already. We're here now, aren't we?
"Yeah," I agreed with a smile, and Rei smiled back, her whiskers twitching with the motion.
What happened to the douchebag?
"I killed him."
Attaboy.
I gave her a few of the big highlights of my life, including the day I decided to turn my little pocket dimension into the Sanctuary. Once she was satisfied, she glanced toward the door, then back at me.
I want to look around. Can I?
"Of course. Come on. I'll introduce you to everyone," I said, moving to get off the bed, but she grabbed my knee.
Wait. I wanna do it my way. Let me have some fun.
I chuckled, then nodded, and she grinned, then leaped off the bed in one smooth motion.
"Wait," I said as I knee-walked toward the head of the bed and pulled open the nightstand drawer. I knew I had it somewhere in here... ah! I pulled out the leather cord, the small amulet dangling in the middle, and waved Rei over.
She stood still as I hung it around her neck, then glanced down at it. The amulet was bronze, in the shape of a five-petaled flower with a black crystal in the center.
"What's this?" she asked, then blinked up at me. She covered her mouth with a hand, then mumbled against it. "Am I speaking?"
I grinned, settling back into the mattress. "I wasn't sure if it would work. I found the spell after I lost you, and it would'veonly worked with my familiar, so I couldn't do a trial run. I'm glad it works."
