“Yes, next time,” Fyn said, smiling again. He glanced at Ciaran. “I actually have news from Cern. He’s still not back yet, but he sent word. He said, if it’s no bother, a friend of his will be staying at your hut by the river.”
“Oh,” Ciaran said, schooling his features rather well, Aurin thought. “Is he asking or telling?”
Fyn laughed. “Well, you know Cern. He doesn’t exactly ask.”
Ciaran snorted. “No, he does not.”
“He said it’s an old friend of his. So I’m guessing he’s, like,oldold.”
Salem laughed at that. “Old, indeed.”
Fyn winced at Salem. “Oh, sorry. No offense.”
Fray laughed, and Aurin shot him a glare.
Fyn made an apologetic face. “Anyway, he said his friend needs a place to heal. And to not bother him, if you don’t mind. He’s harmless, apparently. He won’t come here, and he doesn’t know about the godlings, so...” He shrugged. “You know how Cern is with his secrets and all that. Plus, he’s sworn to protect them, so he’d never do anything to harm them.” He looked at the kittens in Salem’s arms. “I still cannot believe that’s them.”
Ciaran nodded slowly. “This old friend of his needs a place to heal, huh?”
“Yeah. I didn’t ask questions,” Fyn said. Then he mumbled, “You know he doesn’t like being questioned.”
Everyone’s eyes went to Sawyer, and he sighed. “I said I was sorry. Twice.”
Ciaran chuckled, but he nodded easier this time. “No problem, Fyn. Thank you for letting us know.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, bowing his head a little. Then his eyes met Aurin’s and then Salem’s. “I have to go, but it was good to see you both again.”
“And you, Fyn. Come back soon, okay?” Aurin said.
He grinned before turning and running back to disappear into the trees.
“Did... Did he just morph into a goat?” Fray asked.
“Yeah, pretty sure he did,” Otis said.
Aurin turned to Salem, his hand automatically stroking Llyr’s head and then Ukko’s. “Who do you think Cern’s friend is?”
“And what the hell do they need to heal from?” Sawyer added.
Salem gave Aurin a tight smile. “I don’t know. But I trust Cern.”
Ciaran gave a nod of authority. “So do I. If he says we’re safe, then I am certain that we are.”
“Gee,” Fray said. “Hope whoever it is doesn’t mind the smell of sex because?—”
Ciaran grabbed Fray, putting him in a quick headlock and giving him a noogie as they headed back to his store. Sawyer handed Áine and Nyx to Aurin, then joined Tobin as they followed the others.
Aurin looked up at Salem as the blue skies were swallowed up by low clouds behind him, and the cold wind came off the cove once more. There was a lot Aurin could say and a lot he could worry over. But the truth was, being a parent—especially a parent to godlings—there would always be something to worry about. This was their life now, and Aurin wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Let’s go home,” Aurin whispered. “We can shut the world out and let these guys take a proper nap before dinner time.”
Salem leaned down and kissed him softly. “Sounds perfect.”
Epilogue
HADEOM
The room was grand,as they always were in this place, remarkable in every way yet impossible to describe. Comfortable yet minimalist, intimate yet immense. There didn’t seem to be any walls. There never did here.
