Page 40 of The Mating Quest

Even proudIlana.

Chapter 13

They buriedPlyx in the woods, marking his grave with a simple stone as he had wished. Ilana picked yellow and white daisies and left a bouquet by thestone.

The ritual had been performed, Ava had absorbed the power of the pelt. Tomorrow she would begin her training with Tristan to learn to use her newfound powers. Because the ranch was safe from intruders, the wizard had agreed to train her at the ranch, so she could remain with Ranger, whom she planned tomarry.

Much later that night, they held a bonfire to burn the talisman. Ordinary fire could not destroy the wolf pelt, so Drust, the Coldfire Wizard made a brief appearance and ignited the bonfire and the pelt with brilliant blue flames. He left them as the fire slowly died as the pelt turned to ash. Aiden tossed on more wood and lit the fireagain.

Aiden, Nia, Ava, Ranger, Ethan, Chloe and Dakota sat on the ground, the fire flickering before them finally with flames turned yellow and red instead ofblue.

Tristan suddenly appeared with Nikita. The wizard held a bag of marshmallows and several toastingforks.

“I reasoned everyone needed to make a toast to a job well done.” His dark eyes twinkled as he passed out the forks, and everyonegroaned.

“Really, really bad pun, mate of mine,” Nikita said as Tristan sat, leaning against a log placed in a circle before thefire.

“Would you expect anything else, my love?” Tristan kissedher.

Ilana couldn’t laugh, but she had to know. She cleared her throat. “Plyx… is he…okay?”

The wizard gave her a look she couldn’t understand. “Yes. He is quite happy, and free in Tir Na-nog. Xavier thanks you for what youdid.”

The Crystal Wizard again. She sniffed. “Thanks. To you. Nothim.”

Tristan didn’t say anything, but stared into the fire. He looked solemn, much as he had when he sent Plyx to the next world. No one spoke, but kept looking at the flickering flames. Emotion clogged her throat. She hadn’t seen Plyx in years, but somehow, she missed him, missing knowing he was here, on earth and they could see each other now and then and pull silly pranks that made her laugh for achange.

“I guess we should be happy this task is done, but I feel so sad,” Ava murmured. “Plyx seemed like a nicegoblin.”

“He was,” Ilanamurmured.

“I hate it when someone dies. I hate good-byes.” Dakotasighed.

“Me too,” Chloe saidsoftly.

Aiden threw back his head andhowled.

Tristan and Ranger joinedhim.

Ethan looked solemn and did it as well, long low howls echoing in thenight.

Ilana stabbed her dagger into the earth. “What the hell is wrong withyou?”

Tristan stopped. “Howling is a wolf’s way of communicating. Sometimes expressingemotions.”

Aiden and Ethan stopped aswell.

“We howl because we are sometimes too emotional to speak. It can be a joyous event or a monumental one… or to express sorrow at being parted from the pack or the ones you love.” Ethan looked ather.

“Or sorrow at the world’s woes?” sheasked.

All fournodded.

She drew runes in the dirt with her blade. “I’m no wolf, but I know thosefeelings.”

“How do you deal with them?” Nikita askedgently.

“I sing. I have a playlist running…” she tapped her head. “All thetime.”