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Getting him an audience with my coven.

“Magic?” Orion and Damon say together.

“You don’t have access to your magic?” Damon says, frowning. “Last I checked, you were an emptyfae.”

A horse whinnies, followed by another. Then there is the distinct sound of horse hooves and…something else. Sounds like a…cart.

“That would be Xander and his wife, Thesha,” Orion says. “I am sure he would also love to hear all about it.”

14

Kian

The sound of approaching horses grows louder, accompanied by the creaking of wheels and the jingle of harnesses. I look out the window and see a wagon approaching. It is being pulled by two sturdy draft horses and is making its way up the path to the cabin.

Orion looks over my shoulder. “They went to Trinity Orphanage to deliver supplies to the children.”

My chest tightens. Another piece of my past, another friend I thought I’d lost forever. We were close once, before Snow’s magic tore our lives apart. We were almost like brothers. I feel a sharp pang.

The wagon pulls to a stop outside, and I watch through the window as two figures climb down. Xander looks exactly as I remember him, though perhaps more weathered. His long, dark hair is tied back, and even from here, I can see the vivid blue of his eyes. Beside him is a woman I don’t recognize. She is clearly human, dressed in well-worn leathers, with multiple weaponsstrapped to her person. Her dark hair is tightly braided, and everything about her stance screams warrior.

All three of them are married or about to be. Everything has changed, and it feels like I was left behind.

“Are you sure you can wield magic?” Orion asks me for the second or third time.

“Very. I would show you, but I might just blow the roof off of this cabin.”

“Don’t do that,” Damon grumbles.

Xander and his wife disappear for a while. I assume to tend to the beasts. We make small talk until the door to the cabin opens, and Xander steps inside, his blue eyes immediately finding mine. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then his face breaks into a grin that reveals those familiar fangs.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he says, his voice exactly as I remember it. “Kian. I knew you had awoken, but I didn’t know you were here. You’re back.”

Before I can respond, he’s crossed the room and pulled me into a fierce embrace. The familiarity of it, the solid reality of having another piece of my past restored, threatens to overwhelm me.

“It’s good to see you,” I choke out.

“You too, brother,” he murmurs, using the term we’d always used for each other despite not sharing blood.

“It’s good to be back, although I wish it were under better circumstances,” I manage, my voice rough. I pat his back with the flat of my hand.

He pulls away, holding me at arm’s length to study my face. “You look like hell.” He laughs. “Are you growing a beard?” Then he turns serious. “You smell like you rolled around in a lit fire. Rough around the edges, but at least you’re alive. That’s what matters.”

The woman behind him clears her throat, and Xander turns, his entire demeanor softening as he looks at her.

“This is my wife, Thesha,” he says, pride evident in his voice. “Thesha, meet Kian. The King of the emptyfae and my dear friend.”

She steps forward, and I can see the assessment in her dark eyes as she looks me over. Everything about her radiates competence and danger, from the way she moves to the casual way her hand rests near one of her weapons.

We shake hands, and hers are the calloused hands of someone used to hard work and wielding a sword.

“It’s good to meet you, Kian,” she says with a slight nod, though there’s something formal and distant in her tone. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“You too, Thesha, although I’m not sure what you saw in this rascal that made you want to marry him.” I glance at Xander, who grins.

“That’s not very nice.” Xander laughs.

“He’s good at one or two things,” Thesha says, winking at her husband.