Page 27 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

It had hung behind Kiki’s desk.

Without thinking, my heart pumping furiously, I started ripping into the other boxes. Not only was there a plethora of decor from Kiki’s healing facility, but also equipment, like the mortar and pestle I had learned to make poultices in, the bamboo whisk for whipping up some of the powdered herbal teas, and so much more.

It smells like her…

“This is all stuff…”

“From Kiki,” Bastian supplied.

“How?” I asked weakly, tears staining my cheeks.

Bastian looked at me intently. “You made a comment when you came back here that the Southern Dust Lands will always feel like home. I thought you deserved to have a little bit of home here.”

“You did this?” My voice was shaky, barely understandable as I nearly crumpled to the floor. “Please don’t tell me you threatened someone!”

Bastian chuckled, smiling as he stepped closer. “No threats necessary. I had a conversation with Cormack and Ash. We agreed to buy some of the items because they had sentimental value to you. They could do with some new equipment in the Southern Dust Lands, anyway. Ash wanted you to have this stuff. He knows how much it means to you. I also owe him a favor that he’s no doubt going to cash in big one day. But it was worth it to see the look on your face.”

More tears gathered in the corners of my eyes, quickly overflowing. Bastian’s expression fell, but before he could open his mouth to ask what was wrong, I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest as I sobbed.

“Thank you,” I whispered, barely able to speak.

His hand came to rest on the back of my head as he pulled me in tighter, fingers stroking. “I would do anything for you, Rowan. Anything.”

All I could do was stand there and fall apart. I missed Kiki so much, and to have these things—something to look at and hold when I felt like my chest was going to crack open from grief—I could barely put into words how much it meant to me.

After taking a deep breath, I mumbled, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is… incredible. I’ll never forget this.”

“She saved your life. I owe her everything for that. If I can bring a part of her here, well, we can sort of celebrate how wonderful she was. A tribute to Kiki.”

“Damn, dude.” Orsen laughed, standing in the clinic doorway, looking at the boxes. “This is some good shit. The rest of us will be buying ice cream by the truckload to try and keep up.”

“Shut up.” Bastian chuckled.

“You’re just jealous you didn’t think of it first.” I sniffed, making Orsen laugh again.

“I’m totally jealous. It’s a damn good move. Anyway, I’ve got breakfast sandwiches for you, Nina, and Ma.” He held up the bag, walking over to me and placing a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll leave yours on your desk.”

“Did you get one for Nix?” Bastian asked.

Orsen grinned, holding up a little container that he shook. “I got him a salad.”

Bastian and I laughed, shaking our heads.

Oh, boy. Nix is going to hate that.

Rowan

Between dealing with patients and setting up the clinic just the way I wanted to with Kiki‘s things, I was dead on my feet. Even I could admit my aching body was ready for a break. Despite that, I was thrilled to have familiar items around me, giving me a kind of inner peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since she’d passed, really.

At a good stopping point for the night, I decided the time for that break had come and suggested to Bastian that we head to the den for the evening. It was well past ten, and I had to get some sleep. As he joined me, holding my hand on the walk, I noticed Orsen and Greylen lounging on sofas in the family room. Grey, seeing me go by, opened his arms in invitation, his mouth stretching into a soft grin.

I didn’t hesitate, clambering into his arms, splaying my body out all over him. He didn’t complain, chuckling softly. As he ran his fingers through my hair, I relaxed into him, my brain slowly turning off.

“Did you get everything the way you like it?” Grey whispered, still stroking my hair.

“Hmm.” I nodded, my eyes closing as the fatigue I’d been battling finally won. “Mm-hmm.”

I wasn’t sure what happened after that, whether anyone kept talking. I just passed out, snuggling with Grey on the couch.