Page 5 of Maleen

Jesp has been trying his damndest to make me laugh and the absurdity of this finally did it. His eyes light up as he pushes past Killian, almost knocking my poor male back over as he rushes towards me.

He picks me up and spins me around. “There’s my Little Beastie.” His lips brush mine, a promise for later. His voice turns grave, soft even. “I came to find you. Aemon has arranged everything for the funerals. Pyres are down on the beach.”

My heart clenches. I knew this was the plan but we haven’t even been back an hour. My mate must have been arranging everything while he’s been blinking back and forth. He has to be exhausted. I need to make sure he rests.

“Hey now,” Jesper whispers, holding me close. “I can see those gears turning out of control in that brilliant little mind of yours. One thing at a time, right?”

I blow out a breath. “Right.” One step at a time.

Jesper takes my hand and Killian remains vigilant at my back as we make our way down to the beach. As we step outside the sun is shining, and the weather seems far too happy for what’s about to happen. Mel would have loved it though—she always wanted to be out in the sun. My fingers tense around Jesper’s hand and he squeezes mine back. One step at a time.

As we get closer to the beach I see three pyres set up. Mel, Millie and Skylark—Mel’s gryphon. After we blinked back to the encampment, we noticed that Skylark was struggling to breathe, move and eat, and the gryphon passed from a broken bond later that evening. I won’t ever forget the mourning cries of Lennox and his gryphon.

The moment Ember sees us she comes running over, her black bob wind-tousled as she tries to keep the loose strands out of her face. “How did it go?” she asks, and I know she means Talyn.

I shake my head. “It’s probably something we should all talk about later.”

Her eyes fill with worry but her face stays as stoic as most Vopn Fö I know.

When I’m close enough I give Jesper’s hand one last squeeze before moving to Lennox, wrapping him in a tight hug. “How are you holding up? Is there anything I can do?”

He shakes his head, squeezing me hard back. “I just really fucking miss her. You know how we grew up in separate households?” I nod. “We hated it, we constantly snuck out to go explore or practice magick. Our parents only allowed us to visit once a week for an hour, or until they got sick of being in each other’s company. Even then we always found a way to see each other, and now no matter how much I try… I’ll never see her again,” his whispering voice croaks as he chokes on silent sobs.

Roz and Ember each lay a hand on him for support as I rub his back. “You will see her again. Maybe not for a long time, but I have a strong feeling death isn’t the end after our time in this realm. She’s just waiting for you to go on your next adventure together.”

I pull away and reach up to wipe his tears, giving him a watery smile of my own. “Shall we say our goodbyes?” The words barely leave my mouth because no one ever wants to say goodbye to the fae we love, but I know that this is the first step in healing.

Aemon clears his throat softly from behind me and I turn to go to him until he speaks into my mind. “Stay with your friends. They will need you.”

I dip my chin and step into Lennox’s side and Ember joins me as we grieve together.

The ground shakes as our dragons land behind us and Nero takes his place on my shoulder. I take a steady breath as I take comfort in my bonds, both beast and fae. My chosen family.

Aemon stands in front of the pyres looking grim. His white hair is stark against the darkened wood as he begins to speak. “Today we come together not to be saddened by death, but to celebrate the life of those we lost. It’s a great tragedy that these lives were taken from us far too soon, but the Fates always have a plan. And these three must have completed the plan laid out for them to be called home so soon.” He pauses, his gaze meeting each of us before he continues. “Mel was a kind and gentle soul who could wield her magick as fiercely as any seasoned warrior. Her sunny personality could always brighten up a room, and her friends and brother loved her dearly. Skylark, her fearsome gryphon, loved her bonded rider so much and she will continue to protect her in the afterlife. Apart from these two, I have never seen a gryphon not bite their riders for plucking out feathers. Their bond was unmatched.” A few sobbed chuckles quietly carry away with the gentle brush of the wind.

Mel was bad for accidentally plucking Skylark while training—something Lennox always teased her about—yet the beast had the patience to never snap at her.

“And Millie. I may not have known you personally other than in passing moments, and I know Talyn wishes he could be here to say goodbye. From the stories I have heard, you were always there for him when we weren’t, whether that be caring for him, feeding him, loving him or saving him from his own bloodline. You will have a warrior’s honor.”

My heart feels torn to shreds. Talyn should be here for this, but he refuses to leave his self-imposed shackles. So even though we aren’t bonded, he is still my mate and I will stand in for him.

Aemon passes Lennox, Roz and myself a torch and we slowly move towards the dragons. When I reach Vasari, I glance up at her, meeting her serpentine eyes. “Would you do me the honor of lighting my torch?” I know we could use our own flames, but something feels right about including the dragons, something we talked about on the way here. We are all family in the chosen kind of way, and Lennox agreed. His sister would want them included.

“I would be honored, Lost One.”

I hold the torch high above my head and she lets out a small stream of flame, just enough to catch it alight. Then one by one, we make our way over to the pyres and we each whisper our final words.

“Thank you Millie. Thank you for caring for Talyn when I couldn’t. I will save him, this I promise.” And then I set the pyre on fire and watch as the flames set our friends’ souls free, and a familiar warmth fills my body like a mothers hug.

I WAKE UP startled and surrounded by plush blankets and two warm bodies. How did I get here? The last thing I remember was sitting with Lennox, Roz and Ember as we watched the pyres burn.

An arm wraps around me, tugging me closer, and Jesper groans before nuzzling his head into the crook of my neck. “You fell asleep and it was starting to get cold, so shadow-daddy over there blinked you inside.”

I jolt up. “Did the pyres go out? Is Lennox alone? He shouldn’t be alone right now.”

Aemon growls and I realize I spoke out loud and woke him. His sleepy eyes and bed-mussed hair drape over his forehead. “He’s not alone. Your friends and Killian are with him. And I know you’re worried and grieving, but we need a rule about speaking of other males while in my bed.”

“Unless you’re calling out our names,” Jesper adds with a wink.