Caelan replies proudly. He brings Isla’s hand up to his lips and kisses her knuckles. “We’re taking Isla to visit Audun’s nieces.”
“Oh, Miss Runa is going to be so happy!” the woman exclaims. She grins exuberantly at Isla and asks, “Which village are you from, milady? I’m sure ours isn’t as grand as you’re used to, but I can assure you that you’ll be most welcomed here!”
Isla has been watching this entire exchange closely. She appears happy but confused, and she glances at me after the young woman addresses her. I nervously clear my throat and say, “Isla isn’t from Briya, and she doesn’t know our language yet.”
If the couple is confused by the fact that Isla’s not from our kingdom at all, they don’t voice their questions. They simply smile at her joyously, and the man picks up his daughter and rests her on his hip. The child can’t be more than three or four years old, and she keeps her gaze locked on Isla while ignoring me and Caelan entirely.
“Sweetheart, this is Isla—Briya’s Queen of Beasts. Isn’t she beautiful?” the man asks his daughter.
“A real queen?” The little girl’s eyes light up in excitement.
I flush at the title given to Isla. I knew it would happen, and I know it’s not an insult. But I think I might hate the title ‘Queen of Beasts’ even more than I hate the word ‘mate.’
“We really must be going. We don’t want to keep Runa waiting, and we have a few errands to run before Reule and Maalik join us.” Caelan speaks in a way that’s friendly while still showing his authority—something I’ve still never been able to master even after almost a century.
The couple congratulates us again, and we continue on our way down the street. More and more people are out and about, now that it’s getting close to lunch time. Isla looks more intrigued and curious than ever, and I find myself admiring her so much more. Anyone else in her situation would be angry or terrified.
We manage to make it to Runa’s house without running into anyone else, and my heart beats erratically as we walk up the front steps. Caelan knocks loudly on the door, and we wait in silence for someone to answer. Caelan knows how nervous I am. He knows how strange it is for me to come back here, and how it gets worse as more time passes.
I grew up in this house with my parents and my twin sister, Niani. My father was the mayor, and we were the wealthiest family in the village. I had a happy childhood, and my parents were supportive of my silly dreams to travel and pursue art once I finished school. Of all my brothers, I was certainly the luckiest with my home-life before I became a Guardian.
When my first shift happened, everyone here in the village was shocked—my parents most of all. I’d never thought much of Guardians, and I’d never shown any signs of magic my entire life before my fifteenth birthday. Despite the shock, my parents were still supportive and encouraging. They treated Maalik, Caelan, and Reule like family and they always made it known that the four of us would have a home here.
That’s why we built our cabin so close to my childhood home in the first place. My brothers didn’t have the same support I’d been blessed with growing up. Even after my parents died, my sister and her children have kept the house and have stayed close with us. In return, my brothers and I have helped them in any ways we’ve been able to all these years.
Runa is my sister’s granddaughter, and she lives here now with her daughter Marieke and Marieke’s son Naren. Runa’s parents died a few years ago, and her other children have all moved out. I know my brothers come to see her occasionally on their days off, but it’s been several months since I’ve seen Runa. She knows how we’ve always felt about claiming a wife, so I can’t imagine what she’s going to think of Isla and how she ended up here.
But if there’s anyone who will be able to comfort Isla the way a mother would, it’s Runa. Runa and Marieke will also be much more helpful at helping Isla choose clothing than me or my brothers would be.
Marieke answers the door, and her eyes widen as her gaze darts between me, Caelan, and Isla. “What are you guys doing here?