Page 70 of From the Edge

“Rowan survived the accident, and that is what mattered.”

“Sweet? It wasn’t Rowan in the car with you; it was Aspen. Aspen was driving. Rowan was at school.”

“She came to me. I was waiting in the hospital, and she was with me. She glowed so bright it made me smile.” She looked up. “And then you were there, telling me that you wouldn’t leave me, and everything got soft and warm.”

“I am not going to leave you, love. Ever. When we both want to fade, we will go together. Deal?”

She laughed. “Deal. Now, I have to show you the room she created for us. It has your library, my desk, comfortable seating, and a bed I really want to try.”

“We haven’t had dinner.”

“She has hidden ice cream, and since I showed her where to hide it, we are all set.”

He swung her into his arms and headed for the big house. He carried her through the house they had once called home and were now returning to.

Vas looked at the room that Rowan had created for them. It was perfect. Every interest was present. “Our granddaughter knows us very well.”

“Yes, but her room was a complete surprise. It was shockingly less soft than an omega on her own should seek out.”

“She still dresses in a feminine manner.”

“But the lines are crisp, the fabrics stiff.” She shook her head. “Not omega stuff.”

“Perhaps you can help her remember her softer side. There is time. Renyet has the patience of his training.”

“You have a lot of faith in that mage.”

“His entire family had the calling to shaman. Six of them entered training, four survived, three took positions in clans for the empire, and Renyet became the official shaman of the new imperial court. When the mention of women of power on this world came through, he checked a few of the scrolls and found he was a close enough match. When Rowan’s scroll appeared, he knew what she was. He came through, went back ten years, and returned to the new palace on the appointed day. That was three days ago.”

“Well, for three days, he has been doing well.”

The door locked, and Vasoric smiled. “It has been over a decade since we were together. That needs to be corrected.”

Eleanor pressed herself against him and kissed him. “Let’s test the mattress.”

He grinned. “Excellent idea, my love.”

The mattress was tested, and it was perfect.

* * * *

Renyet murmured, “If you need anything for the party Friday, I can bring it.”

Rowan sat with him at the kitchen table while she chopped butter into chunks and checked on her barbeque sauce. She smiled. “I can turn this off now.”

“How do you know how to do all this?”

“Grandma taught me to make things from scratch. She showed me how to refine things until I tasted what I wanted. This sauce is just right. Tangy and not too sweet.”

She pulled a spoonful out and put it in a shallow dish. She got some tortilla chips and said, “Taste test?”

He picked up a chip and dipped it in. She watched as he chewed, and then his brows lifted. “I can’t believe you make that here in your kitchen.”

“I also have more industrial manufacturing facilities in town. I haven’t touched the trust Grandma and Grandpa left me.”

He chuckled and went for another chip.

She took a chip fragment and verified the flavour. He casually grabbed the small plate and destroyed the remaining sauce.