Page 92 of When the Moon Met the Sun

Before he could freak out on me, I said, “Byn, I’m fine, please don’t make a fuss.”

“I can go get Chess,” he offered, still staring at the wound.

“I’m alright, I promise,” I reassured him.

Despite the reassurance, he ripped a small strip from the bottom of his shirt and reached forward, lightly tying it around my throat like a choker.

“Thank you,” I murmured, eyes flickering to where his shirt now exposed some of his tanned stomach.

“Can I hold you?” he asked quietly. “I… know what it’s like, more or less. To lose a parent or two.”

Tears welled in my eyes once more, heart aching for the male before me, who had beenthrough so much.

“You deserve everything you think you’re unworthy of and more, my love. I promise,” he said gently, then opened his arms, motioning me forward.

I chewed on my lip a moment before giving in, despite my heavy heart. I crawled into his lap, repositioning my wings to fit around us tighter than before, and wrapped my limbs around him. Soaking in his warmth, his comfort, as he rubbed small circles on my back, I sighed shakily. His gentle strokes helped to ground me back into my body, slowly but surely. As if he understood exactly what I needed.

This is it, I realized.

Thisiswhat home feels like.

With that thought alone, the dam in my mind that was holding everything back finally broke.

And for just that moment, safe in the arms of my husband, I allowed myself to grieve.

***

After allowing myself to break down in a safe place—in Byn’s arms, wrapped in my wings—we began walking farther into the forest to find the rest of our group.

Not but fifty feet in, we found Chess and Laurence, along with Eden.

The moment Eden saw me, she chirped happily and bounded over to me. I flung my arms around her neck in a warm embrace by way of greeting, and she rested her head on my shoulder.

“How are you, girl? Did you take care of Laurence for me?” I asked her sweetly.

“She most definitely did. If she wasn’t so quick and agile, I’m not sure we would have made it out of some of the situations we found ourselves in,” Laurence responded for Eden, making his way over.

Laurence gently stroked the griffin’s head, then glanced my way. “Thank you. Being able to be in the sky again, especially at a time like this… that meant everything to me,” he said thickly.

I smiled softly at him and nodded. “Anytime, Laurence. Truly. With all the duties I’m sure Byn and I will have when we arrive back at Cairnyl, she’ll need somebody to check in on her more often than I’ll be able to. Would you mind looking after her for me, when I can’t?”

“But what about—” he started, but I interrupted.

“I can find a second guard, if it means Eden is being taken care of by somebody I trust.”

The older male smiled at me, the emotion written there raw.

“It would be my pleasure,” he said. “Looks like you’re stuck with me a while longer, Eden.” He stroked her head again.

Eden chirped sharply in response, causing us both to laugh.

Once our giggles died down, Laurence looked at me.Reallylooked at me.

“I heard what happened,” he said softly. “Are you alright?”

I pondered the question a moment, then shook my head, smiling sadly. “No. But I will be,” I said, unable to stop myself from looking towards Byn.

Laurence followed my gaze, then gave me a knowing look.