Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,125

with a flick of her hand.

Her father told the story of when Kestrel was born and how frightened they were for him to enter the world. He came early but was somehow ready to live, while Larken wasn’t. He told happy stories from when Kestrel was just a toddler, a few from when he was older and in school, and recalled some of his more infamous tantrums. And when the story approached the time he died, Larken took over. She described how Kestrel fell, and how she knew he wouldn’t survive whatever had claimed him.

Kes thanked them for allowing him to shelter within Kestrel’s body and for accepting him. Larken hugged him and wept, and though I knew it was good for her to finally mourn, the sounds of her sadness were difficult to hear.

I’d pledged to protect her, and though it seemed like an eternity since I made the pledge and she accepted, the death of someone you loved was something from which no one could offer protection.

32

Not so long ago, I stood next to Aries as he addressed his people. He looked them in the eyes, took in their hatred, their fear, and answered their questions, though he knew they wouldn’t like what he had to say. Now, as I called my own people forth to introduce myself, he was with me.

Yesterday, after we buried my brother, he stood beside me. He encouraged me as I raised houses for those nearby who had been sleeping in whatever they could construct. It was surprisingly effortless, raising something from nothing but sand, forming walls and roofs where there was nothing but air, which made me despise Taurus even more.

Aries provided my people with bread, meat, and fruits from the local flora and fauna as a gift to us all to celebrate new beginnings, he said, adding to what Helena had already procured.

Zodia didn’t require much sleep, but I was finally able to relax knowing my people had been housed and wouldn’t go to bed hungry.

I stood in front of my iconic castle, the blue turrets gleaming in the Florida sun, and watched as the wide swaths of bright green lawns filled with people. When the crowd stretched as far as I could see and expanded beyond it, based on how I felt my people move and gather, I turned to him. “Are you sure they’re all going to hear me?”

“Speak it and they will hear,” he encouraged, pointing at his heart. He taught me the heart was more important than anything. Nothing born from love was impossible. The mind was where doubt and fear dwelled.

“Larken,” he began, looking over at me. I waited while he gathered the words he wanted. “I want you to know how much it means to me to stand beside you.” He cleared his throat, pink eyes searching mine.

“Not nearly as much as it means to me, Aries. You’ve done so much for me.” More than anyone under the stars would have, given the choice.

He protected me. He pledged himself. Guarded me constantly. Fought for and with me. And now that the dust had settled, was helping me step by step.

It wasn’t just so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed and obliterate things on accident.

It wasn’t so I didn’t lose myself in the power I’d inherited.

Okay, maybe it was partly those things, but it was so much more.

It was because he cared, because he loved me.

He said it all the time in a million tiny ways. In the encouraging smiles, winks from across the room, the squeeze of a hand, and the way he tucked my hair behind my ears. It was in the way he brushed my feathers when he thought I wasn’t looking and the duplicates of all his journals that now lay in shelves along my new library, adjacent to my new bedroom.

It was in the cans of teal and gold paint, and the brushes and rollers he asked Kes to ‘shop’ for. And it was in every soft, hungry kiss he captured me with. Each one grounded me. Each one reminded me of who I was before, and who I still am deep down.

Aries gifted me with one of those soft kisses to my temple and I closed my eyes. “Talk to them as if there are only a handful in front of you. Don’t be afraid to show them your heart… and your teeth.”

He was right. By providing food and shelter I’d shown them I wasn’t like Taurus, but I needed to