“I think you read my mind,”Cinaed said, almost preening that I agreed.“Should I make the offer?”
I found his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.“Yes.”
“Rod and I can help with this problem,” Cinaed said, breaking the silence. “Our connection to the Great Ward helps us purge runes meant to summon demons.”
“We would welcome the help, Guardians,” the ard ri said, nodding his approval. “The Earth will be grateful for this healing.”
The rest of the meeting was a blur of details and new assignments.
Conall was going to remain alpha for the time being, but would transition to a new role with the Shifter Assembly. His oldest brother Kelton would assume the leadership of the pack. That had been the plan when Conall expected to step down to become the Eastern Guardian. He and Jan wanted a larger position in interspecies relationships, and this would allow them to take on that role.
The decision was easier for them when Anso and Leifr announced their return to gryphon territory. Leifr would serve as champion to the alpha, ensuring no one would challenge Kelton for control of the pack. Anso purchased a large farm and planned to test agricultural magic. He wanted to improve the lives of the farming community in the area.
Bart and Cael would continue teaching at the university. The new dean, Darius, gave them more independence than Blackstone to create new and innovative courses. Ignatius was going to teach the history of the Great Ward at both the high school and college level. The Mage Council wanted all future students to understand the danger demons presented and the sacrifices a few beings had made to protect the world.
No surprise, Otto and Thal remained in their diplomatic roles, and Percy and Gio remained in Transylvania. The big change came when Thal’s grandmother, Elana, finally agreed to move to Wyoming to be with the rest of the family. The formerguardians used their adopted daughter’s departure to move their library to the unicorns’ ancestral home. They had plans to turn their new home into a new interspecies school. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they discussed the new project.
The biggest surprise, however, came from the northern guardians—former and present. Gund would remain king, and Hro would act as an advisor. Leo, however, decided on a fresh path. He and Rhydder created a renewable energy business, hoping to address the world’s energy needs. The big shock came when Eldwin joined the pair as a full partner.
“This is my world as well,” Eldwin said. “The company will bring innovation and jobs to Prescot Isle and the surrounding area. The area has struggled economically in recent decades. This will turn Northern Maine into an economic destination.”
“Not bad for a concubine.” Leo smirked at his siblings.
All eyes turned to me and Cinaed. Neither of us expected to provide an update. “No one said we were supposed to present on our life plans,” I said. “We’re figuring things out.”
“No new plans,” Mom asked, her interest hiding an unspoken agenda.
“None other than turning the house into a home,” Cinaed said. “We’re also learning to interpret the signals the Great Ward sends. It’s a work in progress.”
“We’re content,” I added. The others needed to hear we weren’t burdened by our new responsibilities. “The quiet life suits us for now. We’ll travel as needed for the cleansing work, but having a peaceful home to return to is essential.”
“Excellent.” Dad nodded, looking satisfied. “We all want you to know you’re not alone. We may not share the burden, but if you ever need support of any kind, we’ll be there.”
The meeting broke up, and people gathered in small groups. They were catching up and making plans to visit. Bart and Cael left Dad and headed our way.
“Still planning to join us for dinner?” he asked.
“Still planning to teach me to cook?” I shot back. “Cinaed is adamant I get cooking lessons.”
Bart’s eyes lit up. “I’ve got the perfect recipe. Even you can’t mess it up.”
He was trying to be funny, but after almost a hundred years, I had a lot of bad habits to overcome. “Challenge accepted,” I said dryly, earning an exasperated sigh from Cinaed.
“Don’t encourage him,” he said. “I’m the one who has to eat his experiments.”
“Gentle heat is key,” Bart said. “Don’t incinerate the garlic, just coax out its flavor.”
Bart hovered at my elbow, watching as I stirred the sizzling pan. The kitchen in his and Cael’s home was an amazing place. He’d somehow managed to get high-end appliances that almost perfectly matched the time period of the house. It didn’t help my cooking skills, but it was a great ambiance.
“Like this?” I asked, adjusting the flame beneath the pan.
“Perfect.” Bart passed me the crushed tomatoes. “Add this, but be careful. The oil will sizzle upon contact.”
I followed his instructions, surprised by how much I enjoyed myself. Cooking had never interested me, but it was satisfying creating something with my hands rather than magic. And if I could present Cinaed with something edible, it would be worth all the effort.
“You’re improving,” Bart observed as I stirred the sauce. “This might actually be worth eating.”
I’d take offense at the comment if it wasn’t grounded in fact. “Aren’t teachers supposed to encourage their students, not be snarky?”
