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“Being in the royal guard was all they ever wanted.”

“Yari talks about you a lot, too. She mentioned you were quite something with a bow and arrow,” Banyan said.

“I was. Since they sparred with swords, I had to find something to do alone, and archery is a good solo activity. Except I wasn’t really alone. There was this raven. I named him Novus. He watched me from the trees and cheered me on. I miss that bird.”

Tony caressed her shoulder with his fingertips. “Yari mentioned him. She said you sent him to warn her.”

“He followed me when I was taken to Winterhaven. Since I wasn’t allowed outside that often, he and I didn’t interact like we once did. I hadn’t seen him for months, so it surprised me when he showed up on the road to Evyndral.”

“How were you able to send a message with him? Didn’t talking to a raven raise suspicion?”

“Everyone was either riding in a wagon or on a horse. I was walking behind the procession, and I guess Grevolus figured I couldn’t outrun his horse, so he didn’t keep a close watch on me.

I was eating a c?lim?gh – what you call a sandwich – as I walked and dropping bits of bread on the ground for Novus.

I waited until the others had rounded a bend, and I fashioned a warning out of the last bit of bread, praying he understood my words. He did.”

“They made you walk while everyone else rode?” Tony seethed.

“Yes, but I didn’t mind. I would rather be by myself than endure hours sitting with my stepmother and Tovin.”

“Can you show me?” Skylar asked, offering a dinner roll to Elle.

“Sure.” Elle took the roll, smashing it between her hands until it was flat. She poured some of her energy into it so it hardened, then she used her fingernail to etch a sigil into it. She handed it back to the girl.

“Is this a warning too?” Skylar turned it every which way, inspecting it.

“No. It’s a blessing.”

“So not fair,” Trinity fussed. “I want to do magic.”

Brent ruffled his sister’s hair, and the two got into a scuffling match. “Children,” Banyan chided, although he was laughing.

When everyone was finished eating, Elle “cleaned up” the dishes, and Trinity mumbled again about wanting magic.

Banyan and Urijah took their kids home, leaving Brent and Trinity.

The twins settled in the living room to watch a movie, but Elle asked Tony if they could take a walk.

It was dark out, but Elle needed to see the stars, so she bundled up in a parka and gloves.

Tony wore a long-sleeved tee, his Gargoyle keeping him warm enough.

They didn’t go far. They didn’t have to.

With the house being in the middle of nowhere, there were no bright lights obscuring the sky like there were in the city.

Tony stood behind Elle with his arms wrapped around her. They hadn’t been outside long when Elle gasped. “What is that?”

“The aurora borealis, or Northern lights,” Tony explained. “Please don’t ask me to explain the science behind it.”

Elle had never seen anything so magical. The sky was full of green swirls with some purple mixed in. They stood there quietly until Elle let out a big yawn.

“Ready to go in?” Tony husked against her ear.

She would always be ready to be alone with her mate.

She turned in his arms, placed her hands on his bearded cheeks, and pulled his head down for a kiss.

It was a slow, gentle pressing of lips. Instead of deepening it, Tony pulled back and snagged Elle’s hand.

When they were inside, all the lights were off except the one above the stove.

She and Tony must have been outside longer than Elle realized.

The twins were nowhere to be found. Elle hadn’t noticed Brent leaving, so he might have gone to bed somewhere in his parents’ house.

After stripping down to their underwear, Elle and Tony climbed under the covers.

She yawned again, and Tony chuckled. “Go to sleep, Elledan.” He kissed her softly before spooning her back.

Elle wanted to protest, but her eyelids were heavy.

She did appreciate the fact that her mate hadn’t expected to have sex regardless of whether she was tired, even though she would never say no to him.

Elle woke with Tony’s head between her thighs, his tongue working her clit.

After giving her the best wakeup of her life, he made love to her.

They showered together, silently washing each other between kisses and caresses.

Elle wanted more mornings like this one.

She wanted every day to start with showing her mate how special he was.

Once dressed, they joined Brent and Trinity in the kitchen, where Trinity was pulling a pan of biscuits out of the oven.

“I thought you were expecting your family to join us?” Elle said.

“They decided to give you some space this morning,” Brent said as he scrambled a bunch of eggs.

Elle found that sweet but unnecessary. The four of them enjoyed another meal together. When Elle cleaned the dishes, Trinity flopped back in her chair. “I don’t want you to leave.”

Brent poked his twin in the side. “You just want her for her magic.”

Trinity stuck her tongue out at him. “It’s been nice having another female around. You’re always with Cassi, Yari is constantly on patrol, and Skylar has school.”

“Mom will be back soon,” Brent offered softly.

“You know I love her, but it’s not the same as having a friend.”

Elle figured the vibrant female had plenty of friends, but it didn’t sound as if she did.

Elle could relate. “Maybe Yari will return today with a way to remove the sigil. If that happens, maybe Tony and I could stay here a few more days. I could use a friend too.” Trinity was quite a bit younger than Elle, but she was funny and warm.

“That would be wonderful, but I’m being maudlin. I wish this was later in the year so we could go swimming at the fjord. Do you like to swim?”

“I’ve never been. We don’t have large bodies of water in Evyndral.”

“Then you definitely need to come back this summer.”

Elle reached out and grabbed Trinity’s hand. “I’d like that.” When she pulled back to lift her coffee cup, Elle’s arm itched where the sigil was. Since it had happened before, Elle ignored it and focused on her new friend.