Page 116 of Wicked Magik

“Don’t you dare tell her about mates.”I snarled at Veylor,“Especially since we don’t have all the answers.”

Prowling through his thoughts, I stumbled upon something unexpected: fated mates. I'd caught whispers of this during my aimless wanderings through the streets. The Under Shadows supposedly blessed two souls to become one, perfectly matched for eternity. Back then, he’d dismissed it as mere lore…a sweet consolation offered to the lower classes. Something to cling to while their stomachs growled and their backs bent under labor.

That was the only source of their happiness. They were starving, overworked, and heavily taxed. Being with a destined partner, blessed by forces they didn’t understand, gave them hope for a better life after death.

Now he felt it to be true.

Only it felt more complete with Vesper here.

And now those who used to live in poverty now live happy, healthy and full lives and don’t have to wait until the next life. All thanks to Veylor.

“Of course I won’t,”Veylor replied.“I think I’ve shocked her enough.”

I revealed the flowers from behind my back and handed them back to my pet. She grinned at me and held Veylor's hand, despite its tremor.

He led her down the orb lighted path and brought her to the stone. Flowers were already set there, set up against the rectangular stone I had set up.

Vesper glanced at the both of us and held her flowers to her chest.

Veylor nudged her. “It’s okay, you can set them down. Do what you need to do.”

Confusion spread across her face. “You want me to get rid of the flowers? You just gave them to me?”

Veylor’s face went blank and then stared up at me for answers.

“Don’t you want to put the flowers in front of the stone? Then talk to the stone?” I tilted my head in question.

Vesper’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would I do that?”

What on earth is going on?she thought.

My jaw opened and I lifted my hand to my face and tapped my claw on my jaw. “Don’t you like to leave flowers at stones and talk to them? I saw it in your memories.” I played those memories and showed them to Veylor.

Vesper spun to face the stone, her eyes widening. A smile broke across her face, growing until laughter bubbled up from deep in her chest. She threw her head back, the force of her amusement nearly toppling her backward before Veylor's steady hands caught her shoulders.

“This is adorable.” She giggled and put the flowers in front of the stone. She stepped back and tilted her head. “Hi, mom.” She whispered.

Veylor brought his fist to his mouth and chuckled.“What you saw was her paying respects where her mother’s been laid to rest.”

I tilted my skull.“Laid to rest?”

Veylor leaned into me.“Humans bury their loved ones once their souls have passed on and leave a stone in its place so they can return and leave flowers. They pay their respects, even talk to them as if they are listening.”

I reared my head back. “What do the fae do?”I tapped my claw on my jaw.

"We also honor our deceased,"he said, gently gripping my arm."However, we don't mark their resting places with stones. We bury them in designated areas. Instead, we commemorate them through paintings in our homes, altars, or family trees in scrolls. Fae are meant to return to the dirt, becoming part of the soil. It's their soul that continues, not their vessel form. They have no need for it anymore."

“Mom, I don’t know what I am. I feel like you have kept secrets from me.”

“She is upset. She is questioning her mother. Her motives,”I told Veylor.“I have done wrong, given you the wrongdate.”

Veylor shookhishead. “We have a long road ahead of us. Just to know that she has accepted me so far, is enough, a huge step in the right direction.”

Vesper turned to us, a smile on her face. “Thank you, both of you. This was different.” She wiped a stray tear from her face.

I grunted. “I messed it up.”

Vesper laughed. “No, you didn’t, sweet thing. You were trying to help Veylor.” She kissed me on the side of my skull. “And that is adorable.”