Page 29 of My Salvation

“Meeting everyone. I mean, just my unit brothers and their mates are nearly forty people.” He looked at his father, who was openly laughing.

“What?”

Cas finished his sandwich quickly. “Nothing, dear.”

Merrick leaned in and whispered. “You made it sound like she’d need strength for your mating later.”

Priest whipped around to face Cas who was blushing, but smiling at him. He shook his head. “No, for that she’ll need one of those crazy espressos Izzy makes, she won’t be getting any sleep.”

“Meredith!” his mother shouted, beet red.

His father stood and clapped him on the back proudly. “We’ll send the bread over to Dav’s. You won’t have to make a special trip back here.”

He walked over to his mother and kissed her cheek. She was still huffing at him.

When he walked out, Cas waved at everyone and grabbed the front door for him. “I can’t believe you said that,” she said, choking on laughter.

“That’s what you get for eating my sandwich. Besides, everyone keeps telling us to have kids. They shouldn’t be so shocked when I actually suggest we practice making them.”

She looped her arm through his. “We’re going to be very happy, aren’t we?”

He looked down at her. “Every day, for the rest of our lives,” he promised.

Chapter Five

Cas walked alongside Priest as they strolled down the dark street toward the center of the city where the warrior villa was.

“I still cannot believe how dark it is,” she said, as they walked past a barely flickering lamp.

“Zoe is getting worried. So far, all the spell centers that tie into the grid that operates the city's lighting have been in near-perfect condition.”

“I’m sure she’ll find something soon. Then we can get back to normal.” She shivered and moved closer to her mate, looping her arm through his to snuggle close.

“I’d wrap my arm around you if I could,” he said, lifting the baskets he was holding a little higher. “But as usual, my parents went a bit overboard.”

“Hey, be careful with that wine basket. One of those was for me,” she teased.

“I’ve been thinking,” Priest started.

“About what?”

“Mother asking where we will live.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “I can’t leave Eion.”

“I know.”

“But you have your unit.”

“I know. They are as much family to me as Merrick and my parents.”

“So, what were you thinking of as a solution?”

“Ari and Brie do long weekends at the Lionhart estate. I thought we could do the same at House Illiya. After all, House Aerdan is within walking distance, so it isn’t as if we can’t visit my parents.”

“House Illiya and not House Aerdan,” she asked softly, feeling like there was a reason he chose her home.

He looked down at her, and though he smiled, his eyes were sad. “I think I told you, but I became Head of House at age ten when my father passed Vi’Aerdan to me. It caused quite a stir, not only because of my age but also because I wasn’t fae.”