Cassie looked up at Trik, her eyes wide in question.
“They honor you and are pleased that the Forest Lords have chosen you to be mine. It also means that they will always protect you against any threat.”
Cassie bowed her head in return. “Thank you. I treasure your friendship.”
Trik watched as the woman who held the other half of his soul, the woman not of his realm, accepted a part of his world. She took joy in the two cats. He hadn’t expected to be so affected by her presence in his realm, or by her reaction to it.
They spent the day walking through the forest, sometimes talking, sometimes not. Tyndril and Tao, their constant sentries, were never far away. They finally ended up back in front of Trik’s small cabin and he pulled her to a halt before she could reach the door. Cassie tur
