Page 250 of Season Warriors & Wolves

A few gasped.

“Nonsense,” Nubil said, flashing me a smile and waving his hand. “You can share the spot.”

Plantae’s eyes were round and oh-so wide. “She can?”

The white-haired man sweetly said, “Well, I do not wish for her to scorch my lands, do I now? You all heard what she said that day.”

They did?

Nubil reached a hand to me. “I will take the Guardian,” he said, kissing my knuckles, the touch so light and inhuman. When his eyes raised up at me, a blue flash crossed them, almost like a fallen star. “Fader owes me a favour. I’ve so impatiently being waiting to ask this one from him.”

“Do they all owe you favours?”

“Some. Others have already paid their dues. You must owe me one at some point.” His smile was sleek. “I’d love to be owed a favour by you, Snowlin.”

Kilian was going to have a heart attack. “Fine. I need a favour.”

His brows hiked up. “Do tell.”

“Make it so my children or those belonging to my siblings do not suffer as I did with their magic. Mine will share this cursed blood of mine as well as an Obscur’s.”

He flashed me his teeth. “Done. And I’d like to cash in my favour.”

“Go on.”

“Seat by my side when I need you.”

Hells. “How often will that be?”

“Time will tell. But I do not have any intentions to keep you long from your loved ones.”

“Then so be it.”

His eyes flashed. “So be it then, guardian.”

“Why did you abandon this realm?” I asked as they retreated back and they all halted, turning to face me again. “You left and never returned, only to still feed from this land’s prayers.”

It was Adan who answered. “Faith dissipated. It became more so something they relied on than something of comfort. When it no longer satisfied their needs, they wrote us into books and twisted our words to fit their narrative. Obscuring most of what we stood for, most that we offered. The people of Numen needed a reason and a reminder to pray again. Not only to us, but to themselves. From time to time, we send them a reminder. They have a reason again now. You made them believe again.”

Unbelievable. “Fuck. You.”

The tall, pale man with red eyes and the darkest hair burst into a boisterous laughter. “You will fit right in with my family. You and your husband must dine with us sometime.”

“I’d rather choke on sweaty boot soles worn by a troll.”

“A rather…odd way to die,” Celesteel said, blinking a bit confused. “But there are always new ways to surprise me.”

“Honey,” Plantae whispered to him. “She was being sarcastic.”

“Oh, we like that, too—in hells,” he said proudly, waving a hand while they retreated back to the gates. “You do not consume meat, do you? I shall ask for all the vegetables your heart desires. Actually, I’ll ask Desire myself when I come across her. No need to do anything at all, Snowlin.”

For a little while, I remained there, gaping at the empty gates.

Stunned.

Nubil remained there too, for a moment. Almost proudly looking at me.

“Thank you,” I grit out.