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CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

After all the excitement of waking up, being examined by Gerna, and meeting the other human women, Taylor falls asleep, her body drooping onto the pillows piled behind her.

"Everybody out," I say. "She needs more rest."

"Hey, I'm the one to say that kind of thing," Gerna says, joking with me for the first time in years.

I like it. I like having my sister back.

The edges of my lips curl. "Then what to you suggest, oh great and knowing herbalist?"

"You heard him. Everybody out."

Once they all file out, I close the window. My moon bound won't get any rest if the sprites return.

I slide my bride down the bed and lay her head on a single pillow. When I brush her wild hair from her face, she lets out a small sigh and presses her cheek into my hand. She's lovely like this, her sweet features relaxed in sleep.

It's nothing like the unnatural stillness of the deathsleep coma—that felt like a horrible lack, like the spark of her was missing.

I sink into the chair beside her. Now that I'm alone, I finally let myself feel all the relief of having her back. My fingers tangle in my hair as I grip my head, worry, grief, relief, and love swirling around in such a mix, my mind feels as if it will explode.

By the goddess, it's so good that the antidote worked, that I no longer need worry my selfishness and drive for glory might kill my bride.

But it could have.

Another set of familiar footsteps behind me, but the hand on my shoulder's a comforting one. "Come. Tell me of your travels."

I nod and look up at Branikk, then follow him from the bedroom.

Outside, the warm wind of noon carries the fresh pine scent of the surrounding forest, but it mixes with the smell of the heart trees to create something uniquely home. Rounding the wide trunk of another cottage, we enter the village green, the wide circular area bathed in sunlight, gleaming off the rich green moss carpeting the ground.

Mist sits in the sun, surrounded by younglings.

"Do it again!" one of the littlest says.

The smoke-gray cat sith fades slowly from view until only her bright smile remains for a few last moments before it winks out, too.

The children squeal with delight and run around the green trying to "find" her, arms flung wide, little faces covered in tusky grins.

When she pops back into view nowhere near any of them, they shriek even louder.

Branikk leads me past the heart tree containing the weavers to get to the one that's the pub. Numerous small tables dot the main room, everything made out of the familiar golden wood. Sunlight pours through the open windows, brightening the room, and fresh sawdust covers the floor, not yet saturated with spilled ale. Villagers are only just starting to come in for lunch—most will eat at home or at work—so it's far emptier than it will be in the evening. People call out greetings, and we wave back.

Branikk points me to an isolated table, goes to the bar, and returns with two tankards of ale.

"Thanks." I take a big gulp, the familiar rich taste of the local brewer rolling over my tongue in another flash of home.

"After the morning you've had, I figured a drink would not be amiss."

Branikk's words pull up all the mess with my father. I don't regret a single second of it, a single word said. And yet…

"Dravarr says he'll find Father a place in a different village, if I want to live here," I say. We'd discussed it while Taylor talked to the other women.

"I think that would be good for both you and Gerna," my friend says, his eyes filled with concern.

He's been her friend, too. Close enough of one that for years I expected them to fall in love. But it never happened, which is just as well, because I really don't want to think of my best friend in bed with my sister.

"If you stay," he adds. Quirking an eyebrow at me.

"If." I take another huge gulp. "You know, when I met King Aldronn's party riding away from the village, I looked for you among them. We talked of joining his guard together."

"That was always more your dream than mine." Branikk shakes his head. "I brought down the big stag served at the feast for the king. It was the perfect time to ask, and I…" He shakes his head. "I just didn't. Moon Blade Village is home."

His words hold a quiet truth. My father used to sneer that Branikk's "only" a hunter. But my friend's always been happier than me, always known exactly who he wants to be, and that's worth more than any lofty position.

"But you, you going to be a king's guard!" He grins and claps me on the shoulder. "Just like you wanted!"

"Except it's not what I really wanted. It's what my father wanted." Taylor's words echo through my mind, her desire to travel and adventure speaking to the dreams of my younger self. "What I always wanted was to be a ranger."

"So do that."

"Tell the king—who I begged to let me be one of his guard—that I've changed my mind?"

"Sure." Branikk shrugs as if it's nothing. He lives so easily in his skin. It's something I've always admired… and envied. "You've got a moon bound bride now, and the other witches are here."

Could it truly be that easy? "I need to ask Taylor what she wants."

"You'd better, or you'll get in trouble." He points at me and chuckles. "Can you imagine my father doing anything without Mother's approval?"

"Not for a second." I laugh with him in agreement. His mother is a force of nature.

And even if tiny, so is my bride.

Something must show on my face, because he asks, "So, a moon bound bride. What's that like?"

"It's…" The reality of loving Taylor fills me with such joy, I shoot him a wild grin. Yet words won't do Taylor justice, so I keep it simple. "She's the best thing to ever happen to me."

"I'm glad for you. I've never seen you so happy." He gives me one of his easy smiles, but for the first time ever, I detect a hint of a new emotion. Envy.

Then his eyes flick over my shoulder. "I'm not the only one who thinks you should stay, you know."

I spin. I've been sitting with my back to the door. There'd been footsteps and talk behind me, but I hadn't realized that most of the adults in the village have squeezed into the pub.

Gerna's closest, and as soon as I stand, she catches me in a hug. "It's good to have you home, brother."

One after the other, everyone steps forward, offering a hand or a shoulder pat or a hug. No one says much about Father. Instead, their words welcome me, as my own man.

I spent so many evenings in this room with all of these people, drinking and brawling and doing anything I could to put off returning to a cottage full of Father's disapproval. As they congratulate me, I realize my clan mates have always been my true family.

I left the village looking to start a new life away from my father. I'm still ready to do that, only it's not about physical distance now, as much as refusing to let him manipulate me any longer.

If it will make Taylor happy, I want Moon Blade Village to be our home.

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