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"How could it?!" Heila said, staring at Ashlynn in horror. Of all the things that could have happened to her lady while creating a seed for her, if death was the worst then losing her bond with Lady Nyrielle would be almost as bad. To tear apart such a strong bond of love...

"So dat’s what it was," Jacques said as a moment of realization struck him. "Maman, de energy of de ritual went strange and dark on de last day. Leaves fell from de Ancient Willow like it got tangled up wit’ death itself and a chill filled de air. What Lady Ashlyn’s sayin’ it’s no exaggeration."

"How could it, how could it?" Talauia said. "Lady Nyrielle is far away from the Briar. How could the Ancient Willow do anything to her."

"Through me," Ashlynn said, looking to Amahle for confirmation of what she felt to be true.

When she saw the older witch nod, she continued.

"I have a, a tether that connects me to Mistress Nyrielle," Ashlynn explained, placing a hand gently on her chest. "Our hearts are connected.

As long as hers beats, mine will too. Our lives are tangled together and no distance can break that bond. "

"I told you, didn’t I little Heila?" Amahle said.

"The willow has the power to entangle and restrain or to drag someone down to the depths with its roots.

If there was a bond between Ashlynn and Lady Nyrielle, the Ancient Willow could pull at that bond as soon as I created the bond between Ashlynn and the Ancient Willow. "

"But the trial was just for Lady Ashlynn, wasn’t it?" Heila said, looking from Ashlynn to Amahle in confusion. "How could it attack her bond with Lady Nyrielle, or even attack Lady Nyrielle? Is the tree just wicked and cruel?"

"Dere’s more to it den dat, ma petite," Jacques said. "Vampires and witches, dey don’t usually mix as well as Lady Ashlynn and Lady Nyrielle do. De Ancient Willow, she jus’ trying to help de way she knows how, non?"

"The Ancient Willow apologized, in its own way, when it saw the truth of our relationship," Ashlynn said, her emerald eyes remaining flinty as she looked from Jacques to Amahle before softening when she looked at Heila.

"The willow is a fierce protector with a soft heart.

I think it will suit you well," she said with a tired smile forming on her lips.

"Thank you," Heila said. Setting aside the salad she’d been preparing, she rushed across the floor, her cloven hooves clomping as she ran until she was close enough to fling herself into Ashlynn’s waiting arms.

Ever since Ashlynn left to form the seed, Heila threw herself into her studies to distract herself from the increasing sense of worry that formed in the pit of her stomach. One day turned into two, and two into three and even Talauia seemed to feel nervous as day turned into night on the third day.

Now, hearing that Ashlynn nearly lost her bond with Nyrielle in order to form the seed for her, Heila’s shoulders shook with quiet sobs as she buried her head in Ashlynn’s bosom, weeping openly in relief.

"You see?" Ashlynn said softly, brushing her fingers across Heila’s soft ringlets. "You’re the same. You have a soft heart and it pains you to see people suffer. I know you’ll do everything you can to keep people from harm and to help them mend if they’re ever wounded.

You don’t mind what I chose for you... do you?

" Ashlynn asked with a trace of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

"No, I don’t mind at all," Heila said, pulling back so Ashlynn could see the determination in her reddened eyes. "I promise, I’ll be a good Willow Witch for you."

"Just do your best," Ashlynn said with a warm smile.

"We’ll find a way to make it all work, one way or another," she added.

The Ancient Willow might have mocked her with the words she spoke as a naive young woman, but the more often the tree said it, the stronger her conviction became to live up to those words.

No matter what challenges she faced, she would find a way to make things work.

"I promise," she said, giving Heila a reassuring squeeze.

"Tala, sugar," Amahle said, returning to the meal cooking on the hearth.

"Ashlynn could use a chance to wash up before dinner.

Little sister," she said, turning to fix her crimson gaze on Ashlynn again.

"You need a hot meal and a good night’s rest before we remove the seed from your chest. Can you endure for now? If you need something for the pain..."

"I’m fine," Ashlynn insisted, rising with Talauia’s help.

"Everything smells wonderful, but Jacques," she said, glancing at the Sandbox Witch’s hulking form. "If there’s time and you’re able to make a batch of that fried fish again, I think I might just have to kiss you. On the cheek," she clarified quickly.

"You don’t have to go dat far, cher," Jacques said, shuffling awkwardly on his feet. "But if I can hook a fish quick enough, den I’ll fry one right up."

"Thank you," Ashlynn said as she slowly made her way back toward the door and her own hut in the Briar. "And Jacques," she added before she left. "You can call me ’Auntie’ from now on if you like."

"Yes Auntie," the witch said, ducking his head slightly as a large, toothy grin formed on his lips. He still didn’t entirely understand how they’d gotten off to such a rough start, but ever since their first meeting, he felt like he’d been walking on the edge of a knife between Ashlynn and her vampire companions.

Even Heila treated him like a dangerous beast that might turn on them at any moment.

Now, it finally seemed like they’d found a common ground they could build on, even if it was something as simple as a love of deep fried catfish.

In truth, the three tireless days he’d spent guarding Ashlynn and his acceptance of her bond with Nyrielle once he understood that even the Ancient Willow approved had done more to melt the last of Ashlynn’s resistance to his presence than the catfish had.

But the way he worked so hard to prepare a meal she would enjoy even while she was lashed to a mystic tree, well, that had played a part as well.

Beneath that hard, scaly surface and thorny exterior, Ashlynn was beginning to find the soft heart that beat with Jacques chest and once she saw him without his guard up, it was much easier to understand the genuine care that flowed from his heart, even if his actions didn’t always convey it well.

Now, all that remained was for Heila to pass her own trail and officially join their small but growing family.