Chapter 16
Sixteen
Keoni
It'd been a week since babies Aspen and Reign arrived, and we'd finally managed to carve some time out for ourselves. Things had calmed down in the Sanctuary once more, and it hadn't taken as much convincing as I'd thought it would to get Zephyr to go out.
While having to use the wheelchair was a little annoying, I was still glad to be outside. As much as I loved the Sanctuary, it could get repetitive sometimes.
I'd debated about using the newly reactivated dial to go somewhere other than the town we were primarily anchored in, but I didn't want to go somewhere completely unfamiliar.
We stumbled upon a yard sale as we were walking aimlessly, and I discovered Zephyr was a big fan of them.
I got to watch him flutter about from one old-looking object to another like a bee among flowers, and it was adorable.
He ended up buying a bunch of things and then using a portal spell to quickly dump them in his room so we wouldn't have to carry them around.
After a quick lunch at the café, we decided to go to the park we'd visited the last time we were out. It felt like it'd been ages since then, but it was less than two weeks ago.
Zephyr sat on the same bench as before, though this time when I held his hand, he was all mine.
We chatted for a while before something made me look up, and I tilted my head as I gazed at the strange creature.
"I know I haven't spent a lot of time in the human world, but are raccoons supposed to act like that?
" I asked, and Zephyr glanced at me, then followed my gaze to the raccoon who had been watching us for a few minutes now, its arms crossed over its chest in a very human gesture. Could they be a shifter?
Zephyr stared at them for a long moment, his brows furrowed. "Those markings..." he murmured, and I glanced back at the raccoon to see what he was talking about.
The raccoon had a streak of white between their brows. The tip of their tail was also white, and so were their paws. I had seen a few raccoons before, and I didn't think this coloring was common.
Before I could ask Zephyr what was so fascinating about it, he let go of my hand and got up, taking a few steps toward the raccoon, who stayed where they stood, unflinching.
I glanced around to make sure, but we were alone in the park, which was good, because I had a feeling things were going to take a turn for the strange.
When Zephyr and the raccoon were only a foot apart, Zephyr tilted his head, then sucked in a breath and fell to his knees. I couldn't go to him since he was on the grass and I was in a stupid wheelchair. What the hell was going on?
My confusion grew as Zephyr pulled the raccoon into a hug, and then the raccoon hugged him back. What the hell?
Zephyr was mumbling something, his voice low and rough, and it took me a moment to catch the word he was repeating again and again. "ReiReiReiRei."
Oh! I didn't think this was possible.
Zephyr chuckled, then pulled back, wiping at his face. "Yeah, I know," he mumbled, and I remembered he'd said his familiar could talk to him. It was just another example of how powerful he was.
Zephyr stood up, then walked back to me, Rei at his heels. She gave me a considering look when they reached me, and I smiled at her.
"Hello, Rei. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
She narrowed her eyes, but if she replied, I couldn't hear it, obviously. I turned to Zephyr, who still looked a little shell-shocked, and took both his hands in mine.
"Zephyr?"
He blinked, then met my gaze. He shook his head, then gave me a smile I'd never seen before. It was wide and bright and carried none of the weight he usually did. "Keoni, meet Rei, my familiar. Rei, this is my mate, Keoni."
Hearing Zephyr call me his mate made me smile, especially when I realized this was the first time he'd said it.
I was glad she was back in Zephyr's life. It was clear he'd never thought that could happen, and neither had I. Maybe if I'd looked at the stars in the last week, I'd have had a clue, but I'd either been too busy, too tired, or too distracted. I supposed it was better as a surprise anyway.
"Rei says she saw us the last time we were here, but we'd been leaving, and she couldn't follow us through the streets, so she stayed back and hoped we'd come back," Zephyr relayed, and I frowned.
"I'm sorry you had to wait that long," I murmured, and Rei eyed me for a moment before turning to Zephyr. They communicated with each other for a while, and I figured it might be best if we headed home. They had a lot of catching up to do after all.
"We should head home," I said, hoping I wasn't interrupting their conversation, and Zephyr turned to me. His hands were still clutched in mine, and his fingers twitched.
"Sorry," he murmured, making me frown.
"What for?"
"Cutting our date short."
I rolled my eyes as I pressed kisses to the backs of his hands before pulling away and rolling back so he could stand up. "You have a good reason, and I don't mind. Come on."
Because walking through the busy streets with a raccoon would draw too much attention, Zephyr made a portal in the first alley we passed and took us straight to the Sanctuary.
We arrived just inside the front door, and I quickly got rid of the wheelchair, enjoying the wide-eyed look Rei gave me.
"I'll see you guys later. I'm gonna go get my daily dose of the little ones." I popped up to press a soft kiss on Zephyr's lips before leaving him and Rei to talk.
While today's date hadn't ended the way I'd hoped it would—in Zephyr's bed, with his cock in my mouth or hands—I didn't mind.
I knew how much the loss of his familiar still haunted Zephyr, and I couldn't imagine how happy he was to have her back.
How could I be disappointed about something that meant so much to him?
Zephyr
Touya wasn't in his office, so I led Rei past his desk, through my office, and into my bedroom so we could talk.
Your magic is everywhere. Is this a pocket dimension?
"Yeah," I answered out loud as I settled on my bed. She climbed up and settled in front of me, and I finally took a good, long look at her. Other than her white markings, she looked just like any other raccoon, and nothing like the big black dog she'd been.
I'd never imagined I could get her back, never thought it was possible.
"How... how are you here, Rei?"
Rei shrugged, her dark eyes sparkling. I don't know. I guess you could say I was reborn? It happened a bunch of times, but I couldn't find you until now.
"A bunch of times? You mean you've been reborn before?"
I was a hawk once. That was cool. Another time, I was a rat, which sucked. This form isn't my favorite, but it's a lot better than some of the others. And look, I have hands.
Rei wiggled her fingers, and I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in ages, maybe since I was a teen.
"How did you find me?"
I was just walking around when I sensed your magic. I followed it to the park, but you'd already left. I caught a glimpse of your back, but I knew it was you. I stuck around hoping you'd come back.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to find you," I murmured, and she gave me a look I remembered so well from my childhood, despite her otherwise completely unfamiliar appearance.
You didn't even know I was around, dumbass. It's not your fault. I'm just happy to be here with you now.
"Me too. You have no idea how much."
So... Horsey. Tell me about him.
My eyes widened when I realized who she was talking about. "Keoni? You can't call him that!"
Rei shrugged like she couldn't care less, and I sighed. "Well, you know he's my mate. He's lived here at the Sanctuary for a few years now, but we only found out we're mates a few weeks ago, and just started dating."
Huh. If I'd been here you would've known the day you met him.
"Uh, things probably would've gone much differently if I had," I said, and she leaned forward, eyes lighting up with curiosity. Now that she was here, I could sense my bond with Keoni in a way I never could before. Rei was the link I'd needed, and I was so damned glad I had her back in my life.
I told her everything, from how and why Keoni had lied about his age, to the issues at the Sanctuary, to Nolan and fixing everything. Catching her up on the last two centuries would take a while, but I could tell her about this. About now.
Oh, I'm starting to like the sound of this man. If I'd been here, I would've chewed you out, too. You were being an idiot.
"So I've been told," I agreed with a sheepish smile, and Rei snorted. She shuffled closer and took my left hand in hers, her small paws moving over the metal as she turned my hand this way and that.
Huh. This might be an improvement over the original. Any chance you could update the rest of you? You could be a robo-sorcerer.
"I think I'll make do with flesh and bones," I murmured, and she shook her head like she couldn't believe it.
I hate that you got hurt trying to protect me.
"I'm sorry I failed."
Enough apologies already. We're here now, aren't we?
"Yeah," I agreed with a smile, and Rei smiled back, her whiskers twitching with the motion.
What happened to the douchebag?
"I killed him."
Attaboy.
I gave her a few of the big highlights of my life, including the day I decided to turn my little pocket dimension into the Sanctuary. Once she was satisfied, she glanced toward the door, then back at me.
I want to look around. Can I?
"Of course. Come on. I'll introduce you to everyone," I said, moving to get off the bed, but she grabbed my knee.
Wait. I wanna do it my way. Let me have some fun.
I chuckled, then nodded, and she grinned, then leaped off the bed in one smooth motion.
"Wait," I said as I knee-walked toward the head of the bed and pulled open the nightstand drawer. I knew I had it somewhere in here... ah! I pulled out the leather cord, the small amulet dangling in the middle, and waved Rei over.
She stood still as I hung it around her neck, then glanced down at it. The amulet was bronze, in the shape of a five-petaled flower with a black crystal in the center.
"What's this?" she asked, then blinked up at me. She covered her mouth with a hand, then mumbled against it. "Am I speaking?"
I grinned, settling back into the mattress. "I wasn't sure if it would work. I found the spell after I lost you, and it would've only worked with my familiar, so I couldn't do a trial run. I'm glad it works."
"I'm going to have so much fun with this!"
Rei clambered back onto the bed and wrapped her tiny arms around me, giving me a hug. She pressed a wet-nosed kiss on my cheek, then climbed off and raced out of the room.
"Don't leave the Sanctuary!" I called after her, but she didn't reply.
A few moments later, there was a knock on my door, and I poked my head out to find Touya standing there with a peeved look on his face.
"Did—did I just see a raccoon race out of your room?"