When I return to the Imperial's home, Shefa Bridge and Morgana wait inside.

I stop in my tracks as Zephora scoots Barry and Jed into an adjacent room, where the scent of roasted meat and bread tempts my nose and curdles my stomach all at once.

Flash and the Imperial step behind me, and Heather squeezes in behind them.

I look around warily, trying not to grip my knives but needing the comfort of something familiar in the depths of emotional drowning.

"Easy, boy. We ain't here to harm ya none," Morgana says softly.

Shefa Bridge pats her hair until she finds the hole for the nest. The bird inside squawks in indignation. "Oh! Quit that," she scolds, pulling the baby Koopa from the nest.

She drops it into my hands, then backs away, sucking on her finger and muttering to herself about crabby birds.

I instinctively cup the baby in my hands, exchanging a wide-eyed glance with Heather.

"What is that?" she mouths.

"Tell you later," I whisper. She nods.

Morgana drops into a chair, and the Imperial sits a chair behind me before Flash ducks into another room.

He returns, toting two wooden chairs in each hand.

I shoot him a look. Heather covers her mouth to hide her smile as he curls the chairs to flex, then sits them down for Heather and Shefa Bridge. "Your chairs, my ladies," he says with a bow.

"Your red-head isn't here to impress," I drolly point out.

"I must keep up this figure." He gestures to himself with his free hand, a grin trying to tug at his lips and mischief shining in his eyes.

I roll my eyes.

"Oh, ho! I knew you weren't oblivious to my charm, Kino."

"How many times must I tell—“

"Tell me not to call you that? Eh, you aren't scary. You're a cuddly puppy beneath that tough exterior."

Heather chokes on a laugh.

"I'll burn your panther figurine," I warn.

"You wouldn't!" He clutches a hand to his heart.

I grin, showing pointed fangs.

The Imperial snatches one of the chairs from Flash's hand with a grunt.

The Were's eyes slit and he hisses at his father.

"Snooze you lose, blood of mine." Despite the placid words... the Imperial has mischief the size of a dragon shining in his silver eyes.

Like father, like son.

The thought brings the pain back to my heart that Flash made me forget for a short time.

"When do you leave?" the Imperial asks, eyes on me, mischief gone.

Flash sits his chair down and joins the circle.

"Tomorrow," I reply.

He nods, as if expecting as much. "Seeing as your dragon has not returned, I will send you with the best of my men who have volunteered to go to Videlia. The Berserk will take you, and they will stay and aid in your fight."

“Imperial—“

"I will have none of that, son. You know as well as I my village would be ash if not for you. Take what I can give you and go before I change my mind and go with you."

I nod my head, almost a bow. "Thank you, Imperial."

He grunts, rubbing his beard. His silver eyes narrow in suspicion. "I thought I'd have more of a fight on my hands."

I give a sad smile. "I'm in no place to argue, sir. Videlia will need all the help it can get."

The suspicion clears. "Indeed."

"Anythin' further ya need? These old bones ain't what they used to be," Morgana says, rubbing her knee.

"Those old bones are better than they used to be," the Imperial says, winking at Morgana.

The lady actually stops rubbing her knee and grins back at the Were.

I exchange a look with Flash.

If he can get away with such a terrible line, why can't I get away with what I said to Heather? Cynic says, his voice a tad higher pitched than normal.

I ignore him. Besides, it's a bit awkward hearing him like this with Heather in the same room.

"Who betrayed us?" Heather asks, her voice soft.

The Imperial's eyes slit before reverting to the usual round human gaze. If a human's eyes were a silver-grey. "I have him, and he will pay for what he did."

"But he has already payed, has he not?" I ask.

The Imperials eyes dart to me before he can compose his expression. Surprise shows before he slams a wall down on his emotion.

He nods, slow and steady. "Yes. He paid dearly."

Morgana rises, and the Imperial stands with her. "I must go, dearies. It's been fun. Stay out of trouble, dear boy. I hate having to put you back together so often," she says, tapping me with her cane.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I give her a slight smile and nod. "Thank you, Morgana."

She nods, something in her eyes appraising me for something I'm unsure I'm ready for.

Then she grins, turning to go. I raise a brow as the Imperial holds out his arm and escorts her like a lady to the door and beyond. He says something in his deep voice, and I hear a cackle and a thwack before they move out of range.

I wince for the man.

Shefa Bridge holds out her hand, and I look down, surprised to find myself absentmindedly stroking the Koopa's head and back. Dani’s curled himself into a ball, releasing those gentle sighs that bring something peaceful to my soul.

She gives me a smile, gently placing the sleeping rat-like reptilian thing in his nest, and goes out the door without a word.

I exchange glances with Flash and Heather.

"Now what?" Flash asks.

Heather shrugs. I rub my forehead where a headache is coming on. But I somehow feel less adrift than before this little impromptu get together... or should I say ambush?

"How are the Shifters?" I ask.

"They are settling as well as can be expected. They are... different."

I sigh. I expected as much. They were just freed from chains that bound them for who knows how long. "I need to go to them—“

Heather sets a hand on my arm before I get more than a few inches out of my chair. I don't flinch. She's not near as amazed by that as I am. It catches me by surprise every time.

"Let me, Roland. You need to rest and prepare."

I find myself nodding before I can articulate what her words actually meant.

She smiles. "Great! See you in the morning," she says, retreating out the door with a pep in her step.

Me and Flash watch her walk out.

And then there were two.

Hey!

You don't count.

Flash darts a gaze my way... then starts grinning.

"You like her!"

I jerk my eyes away from the door, my jaw dropping as I try to articulate words that won't escape. My cheeks grow red against my wishes. I just can’t tell if it’s from embarrassment or Cynic.

"Ahh, I knew you wanted love, kino, but I did not expect you had already found her." He rubs his hands in glee, his eyes lighting in ways I truly dislike... and fear.

"Shut up," I hiss.

His grin only grows.

I groan, retreating out the door before he can say anything further on the matter.

His laughter follows me from the room and down the hall to my room I share with the boys.

And if there is a smile on my face, no one is the wiser.

----------------------------------------

Barry lay awake in the small room the three of us share. Jed already snores from his place on the mat on the floor.

But I can sense Barry’s unease, can almost feel the way he waited up just to speak with me.

I sit beside his mat, waiting. He rolls over to face me, his eyes red and swollen.

I swallow a lump in my throat.

“I-I’m sorry. I d-didn’t m-mean to have f-fun after Pa d-d-d-died,” he hiccups, his words clipped and breathy from where he’d been crying.

“Little kinko,” I whisper. “Pa would’ve wanted you to have fun. He wanted only the best for his children, and we know exactly what he thought of laughter,” I say. Pa's nature to laugh and smile at anything and everything was part of what drew me to the man.

Barry hiccups, his mouth open. He squeaks, then whimpers, curling his knees into his chest.

“I s-saw the look on your face.”

My heart feels as if it’s been stung by bramble bees and trampled by Berserk.

“I…” I run a hand through my hair, not at all sure how to respond. I think he thinks I was disapproving of the fun he was having… but I wasn’t. I was only thinking about… other things. “Kinko, I wasn’t angry or anything like that. I loved seeing you having fun. Your laughter helped me feel better. I couldn’t believe how long you held onto that trunk!”

He uncurls, peeking up at me through the hairs plastered to his forehead. He hiccups. “R-Really?”

I nod, looking him dead in the eye. “Really. Pa was smiling from Sixth knowing you were having fun down here, even after he left. We will mourn him. We will love him forever. But you know what?”

He uncurls further, his eyes shimmering in the torchlight. “What?”

“He told me to tell you that he will never leave you. That he will always love you. As long as you hold his love in your heart.” I place a hand on his chest and feel the rapid fluttering of his heart. “He will always be with you. You will never be alone.”

His eyes leak again as he throws himself at me, knocking me back into his brother’s mat.

I catch myself just before I smash into Jed, but Barry goes toppling over me and crashes into his brother before I can catch him.

Jed screams like a little girl, thrashing under his bearskin, and throwing his brother to the floor with a splat. “Mommy!” Jed squeals.

His eyes roll, showing me the whites of his eyes before they focus on me and his brother laying flat on the floor beside him. His eyes morph from terror to confusion as his brows furrow.

Then his eyes narrow at me when my shoulders start shaking.

“N-Not a w-w-word,” he hisses between clenched teeth.

“Mommy!” Barry squeals in, frankly, a perfect imitation of his brother’s high-pitched scream.

“Oh, no, you didn’t,” Jed says, grabbing his pillow.

Barry’s rolling around on the floor laughing, so he doesn’t see the pillow until it whacks him upside the head.

I wince. That was quite the hit.

Barry stills for all of two seconds, his jaw hanging open at his normally placid brother.

Then he grabs his pillow.

The fight is on.

I sit back and watch with a slight smile as the two go to town hammering each other with the pillows. I’m just happy they’ve forgotten their weapons I gave them, or this could’ve become a lot worse.

Then, by some unseen telepathic communication, they both stop mid-swing.

Something exchanges between them, and they turn matching, devious grins on me.

“Oh, no you don’t,” I stand, not making it two feet before Barry wraps his arms around my legs, effectively tripping me.

I have two options. Fall on Barry and Jed or take the brunt of the force by landing on the cold dirt floor.

Option B it is.

I catch myself with my arms, but Jed flings himself at me, pelting me in the head with his pillow before I can defend myself. He releases a battle cry, and in between laughing, I can’t seem to untangle myself from Barry’s grip on my legs enough to fight back.

Barry screams at the top of his lungs and throws himself on my back, smashing me to the floor.

“Ow, you little bugger—“ Jed’s pillow hits me, and I cough out feather before I continue “—that actually hurt!”

Jed hits me, and feathers explode from the pillow.

Footsteps pound down the hallway and the door is shoved open as feathers rain down. Jed pauses mid-swing and Barry straddles my back as I look up.

Zephora stands in the hallway, her eyes wide and chest heaving.

“What—?”

“It’s not what it looks like,” I say quickly, holding my hands up in surrender. Which is not as easy as it sounds when you have a hundred pound kid on your back and your chest smashed into the cold dirt.

She crosses her arms and leans against the doorjamb. “It looks like you were taken down by two boys, oh-so-mighty-werewolf-prince.” She smirks, quirking a brow as if challenging me to refute her.

I let my head fall into the dirt. “Then it is what it looks like,” I mumble.

“What was that? We couldn’t hear you,” Barry says, bouncing on my back.

"Ow," I say. I suck in a feather and choke as it becomes lodged in my windpipe.

I cough and hack, spitting it back out and wiping my mouth in distaste. “That’s the last time I eat chicken,” I say, the stale and almost foul taste coating my mouth. I spit, trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

“There are others trying to sleep here. Please keep it down.” Zephora shoots me a look, as if I am the mature one who should know better.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply quickly.

“Ooooh, you just got schooled by a girl,” Barry says.

Zephora closes the door, but not before I see her lips twitching.

“Come 'ere, you little rascal,” I say, flipping over and tickling the little guy until his breath comes in ragged gasps between laughter.

I sit back, breathing hard and my side aching, but my soul a hundred times lighter.

“There are others trying to sleep here,” Barry says, lowering his eyebrows and pinching his lips in an excellent imitation of Zephora.

“Please t-try to keep it down,” Jed finishes.

I scoot back against the wall. “Mommy!” I say.

Barry and Jed exchange a glance, then look at me.

All three of us burst into laughter at the same time.

The belly laughs of the boys just won’t quit. Every time our laughter begins to settle, one of them will do another impersonation, and we’ll be in stitches again.

I have tears streaming down my face when we settle down.

Barry cuddles up to my right side and Jed to my left, and I lean against the wall with both of them cradled to me.

I kiss their heads. “We’re going to be just fine, aren’t we?”

Jed’s snores and Barry’s wheezing through his nose are all that replies.

I smile and lean my head back against the wall. "Yes, we are," I whisper, for the first time meaning the words.

Take care of him, Father.

You know I am, the Allfather replies, his voice kind and gentle.

I sleep with his peace in my heart and bitter-sweet joy in my soul.