Page 23 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

T he large cottage had a thatched straw roof and flowers of every kind filling the front garden. The fusion of pink, purple, blue and yellow blooms brought a cheery feel to the yard.

Kai and Jorrar greeted them as they entered with enthusiastic hugs, Ava following Quinn into the dining room.

A long table sat in the center of the room with plenty of room for them all.

An intricate lace runner contrasted the hand-scraped wood and a rainbow of flower-filled vases decorated the center.

Wood beams crossed along the ceiling, holding colored lanterns to brighten the space.

Raine’s sister, Fanya, was already seated, her black squirrel on her shoulder. “Hi, Ava,” she greeted, her platinum curls bright in the light.

Ava leaned in to give her a quick hug. “It’s good to see you.” She looked at her animal companion. “And you too, Coco,” she said, scratching the squirrel’s head.

Two fae children burst into the room, laughing and chasing each other through the house.

Both children had curly brown hair and umber skin.

The girl—who appeared about seven years old—had Jorrar’s silver eyes while the boy—who was a couple of years older—looked more like Kai.

They were followed by their own animal companions, one of the small glowing foxes Ava had seen in the forest after escaping the daemons, and a bright pink hummingbird.

“Ava,” said Kai, his black curls bouncing around the small horns on his head as he gestured toward the children.

“These are our grandchildren, Griffin and Aria.” Ava smiled as they disappeared out the back door into the flower garden.

“I’ll be in the kitchen finishing dinner.

Make yourselves at home and help yourself to some wine. ”

Ava took her seat, Quinn to her right and Thorne to her left. Casimir sat across from her and she avoided eye contact with him as Raine plopped between him and his sister. Jorrar grabbed a pitcher and filled everyone’s goblets as he made his rounds along the table.

Ava caught Casimir’s eye and he turned red, taking several gulps of wine and looking away. Raine looked in between them and raised an eyebrow at their awkwardness.

“I’m going to go help Kai,” she said, needing a moment to think.

She entered the kitchen and found Kai over a stove, stirring soup in a tureen smelling of rosemary, onions and other unknown spices. Moments later, a hand grabbed her arm and whipped her around. Raine had followed.

“Why is Casimir acting strange and why do you smell like a brothel?”

“What? I—” She shook her head. “I don’t smell.”

He crossed his arms and smirked at her. “The smell coming from you and Cas is strong enough to wake the dead.”

“Yep,” Kai said and her face warmed.

She stammered. “Wait…you all can smell…”

“Arousal, yes,” Raine answered.

“Gross. ”

Raine laughed. “It’s not gross. It’s normal. No one will say anything, promise.”

“Except Raine, of course,” Kai interjected.

“Well, what happened?” Raine asked again.

“I—um…None of your business.”

Raine narrowed his eyes at her, but his expression softened. “Cas is my best friend. Please don’t break his heart.”

“I would never do that.”

“I know you wouldn’t on purpose,” he said. “Cas isn’t so great with the whole ‘talk about his feelings’ thing. Like you.”

“Hey…I talk ab?—”

Kai let out a small snort.

Raine held his hand up and interrupted her. “Cas pretends he doesn’t care, but he does. Deeply. He wants commitment, companionship. So, unless you’re sure…don’t lead him on.”

“I’m sorry. I promise, I won’t.”

“Okay.” He nodded, heading back to the dining room to join the group.

Ava remained in the kitchen with Kai. “Can I help? I’m a pretty good cook and I’m not ready to go back in there.”

“Of course. Grab that knife and chop those vegetables.”

Back in her seat, Ava sipped on her wine as Kai and Jorrar finished setting the platters of food in the center of the table.

“Ava made a dessert,” said Kai.

“You can cook?” asked Thorne.

“She sure can.” Kai beamed as he carried in the rest of the food—a bowl of freshly baked bread in one hand and a tray of roasted potatoes smothered in herbs in the other.

“What did you make, Ava?” asked Jorrar.

“A berry pie.”

“I love sweets,” said Thorne beside her .

“Me too.”

Jorrar corralled the children to the table, loading their plates with food. “But we want to wrestle with Cas!” Aria whined.

“I know, little one.” He patted her head. “But you must eat first. Once you’re finished, you may wait for Casimir and I bet he’ll wrestle with you.”

“Yay!” the children squealed as they dug in.

Kai sat at the head of the table and served himself food, the others following suit.

“So, Ava. We haven’t had time to ask you…what was your life like in the human world?” asked Jorrar.

Ava leaned over, piling vegetables on her plate as she spoke. “Well…it was very different from here as you all might guess. There’s no magic.”

Griffin gasped. “No magic?”

Ava gave him a small smile as she continued, “It’s kind of boring. People go to their jobs all day and come home and do it all over again.”

“That sounds awful,” said Quinn through a mouthful of food.

“It’s not all bad,” she replied.

“What was your job?” asked Kai.

She took a sip of wine. “I was a wildlife biologist before I inherited the farm.” They looked at her in confusion. “I studied animals and their behaviors and wrote reports about it.”

“Why?” asked Raine.

“Good question.” She set her fork down. “To learn about their behaviors. And keep record of it. To protect certain species from dying off. That’s a problem in the human world.

People keep reproducing and having children.

They use up the resources and tear down forests and other habitats to build their homes and end up killing or displacing animals. I wanted to help. ”

“That’s awful,” said Quinn.

“It is.”

“Would you ever want to go back?” asked Kai.

Ava shook her head. “There’s nothing left there for me anyway. Plus…I like it here…with you all.”

Thorne looked at her and smiled. “You belong here. With all of us.”

“Thank you.” She smiled back and glanced across the table. Casimir was watching her intensely.

“Are you a princess?” Aria interrupted.

“Yes,” she answered awkwardly. She wasn’t good with children.

“You’re pretty,” Aria stated.

“Thanks.”

“Can I touch your hair?” Aria jumped out of her seat and ran over.

“Um…sure,” she said, tensing as Aria ran her fingers through Ava’s long locks.

She met eyes with Casimir again who was holding back a smile at her obvious discomfort.

“Griffin, Aria,” said Kai. “If you’re done eating, why don’t you go play outside until Casimir is finished?”

“Okay!” they shouted, disappearing down the hallway.

“You are terrible with children, Ava,” said Raine.

“I know,” she lamented. Curious, Ava turned toward Kai. “So…your grandchildren…they live here with you?”

“Yes.”

“Their father died many years ago,” Jorrar explained.

“And their mother…Our daughter was with a party of healers, traveling to one of the outer cities when a group of Deidamia’s soldiers attacked.

” Silence permeated the air as Jorrar told his tale.

A tale she was sure the rest of them were all too familiar with.

“Most of them were killed, but a few went missing. We never found her body. ”

“I’m sorry,” Ava whispered.

“Thank you,” Kai said.

Jorrar raised his glass. “Let’s have a toast. Though the immediate future may be fraught with peril, may we never forget the importance of each other.

And what we’re fighting for. Our friends.

” He looked around the table. “Our family.” Thorne looked at Ava and squeezed her hand.

“Our beloved.” Jorrar paused and smiled fondly at Kai.

Casimir’s eyes were bright as he watched her.

An unwavering gaze that spoke volumes without saying a word.

“And for peace,” Jorrar finished.

Everyone raised their glasses and repeated, “for peace,” as they clinked them together. Ava couldn’t help it as a tear ran down her face. The kindness and love she had been shown in such a short time by these fae who were little more than strangers months ago.

Mosshaven had filled the emptiness in her heart and soul, and she knew right then and there she belonged.

She belonged with them.