Midnite shot Marquis a stern look. “Did he look anything like that guy?”
Marquis blinked in surprise as Midnite jabbed a thumb in his direction.
Min tilted her head. “I can’t remember.”
“Did he have anyone with him?” Marquis frowned and Min nodded.
“A young boy with gray hair, like he was old. I thought it strange at the time, and another with very ginger hair. Like a fox, so red.” Min brightened as she recalled, and that cemented it for Marquis. Baron had been the one to secret them away.
“Did he give you anything? Cast any spells on you?” Marquis gripped his knees and waited, but Min shook her head.
“He only told me to make sure that Cade liked cats a lot. We gave him stuffed cats unti—” Min silenced when Gilbert scoffed.
“I made him throw away all those silly dolls. Boys don’t have dolls and stuffed animals.” Gilbert grumbled, and Roan rose from his seat, making his way toward the door with a rather intentional glance at Gilbert, one that made the human cringe and stomp after him. Roan would see that Gilbert’s mind held no memory of Cade other than him moving to the States and their relationship being poor.
Min shrank back in her seat. “I wanted to get him a kitten, but Gilbert never liked cats.”
“Doesn’t look like he liked Midnite, either.” Marquis sighed heavily as something hard settled in the boy’s expression.
“I really did like cats, a lot. Nice to know it was planned.” Midnite sighed and took Min’s hand.
Nite had progressed wonderfully since discovering his magic. He tapped into his inner will and wielded magic like a sledgehammer. But, of any mage he could bind to, Rex was a great candidate. Anyone could light a candle with a flamethrower.
The difference in Midnite’s magic and the average mage, was the knowledge he used to craft his will. His thought patterns matched that of humans, and he used science and logic to crafthis will. So, Midnite took Min’s hand in his and stared at it before giving her a lingering hug. “Sorry, Mom.”
“It’s okay. I’m just happy to know you’re alive and well. I’m not mad—” Min quieted as spellwork lit the air like static.
“Mom?” Hannah’s weak voice piped up as she rested a hand on her shoulder. “I think he needs to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? But we just got here. We came all this way to…” Min halted as Midnite shifted his wand in their hug and the tip pressed against the back of her head. “Go on vacation…”
“Has to be this way?” Hannah’s dark eyes glimmered as she glanced from her mother to Midnite.
“Sorry.” Midnite pulled away from his mother as she blinked up at the ceiling dimly.
“Unfortunately, so.” Marquis bowed his head and pulled his wand out, approaching slowly.
Hannah clenched her jaw and stood still. “Leave me with some good memories of you, at least?”
Midnite gave her a hug. “Cade will be a pleasant memory and nothing more. There will be closure.”
Magic flared and extinguished, and Midnite stood as Hannah pulled away dizzily.
Roan opened the door and waved him out before returning with Gilbert, carrying a marble box. “Here he is, Min. Our boy is going home, finally.”
Hannah and Min stared at the box as quiet tears rolled over their cheeks.
Because, in their minds, Cade was gone. Cade had been gone for thirteen years. His true family was with the mages. He had a mate, a child, a coven, and more to fill his heart more than humans ever could.
They felt the same pain and emptiness that Marquis felt knowing Doris was gone, but without the betrayal to spare them. They came hoping to fill their hearts, and left with another hole,but closure was closure. At least they had something in their hands to mourn.
Marquis didn’t even have that.
The hole still stood mockingly in the lawn. And like his heart, it might never heal.
But they could put something in its place.
Chapter Ten
