by Chant, Zoe
Outside the kitchen, she followed the tunnel to the right until she came to a natural balcony, a small opening in the rock allowing her a good view of the mountain below.
Taking a deep breath, she took hold of her phone. And then, for the first time in many weeks, she dialed his number.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang again.
Then it switched to voicemail, and Chiara hastily ended the call before cursing herself.
Maybe he’s just in the shower. Or maybe he’s busy.
She called him again. Her heart was beating faster as she listened—but once again he didn’t pick up.
What if he saw her number and decided that he didn’t want to talk to her?
Chiara swallowed, feeling as if a giant fist was closing around her heart.
No. It’s not too late. We can fix this.
Clenching her teeth, she called again, waiting until his voicemail picked up.
“Hey, Dad,” she said softly. “It’s me. I just... I know we didn’t part on the best of terms. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry, and that I miss you. Love you, Dad.”
She blinked away tears when she hung up. Then, before she lost her courage again, she texted her aunt.
He’s probably out with his friends for a drink, or to watch a game.
Still, even though she hadn’t talked to Auntie Mary either since she’d left, Chiara knew that she’d let her know if anything had happened to her dad.
I’m being silly, she told herself firmly as she stared down at the screen of her phone.
Her aunt was notoriously busy and always forgot to check her phone for messages. Auntie Mary still got most of her news the good old way, by chatting with her neighbors across the fence that divided their gardens, while her phone rested forgotten in her bedroom.
But she’ll get back to me when she sees it. Even if it takes a few hours. Even if Dad has decided he doesn’t want to talk to me anymore—Auntie Mary could never resist juicy gossip.
Chiara wiped at her eyes, then slid her phone back into her pocket. She leaned against the rock, looking out at the mountain spreading below her.
It was beautiful here. It was absolutely quiet, with no sound but the wind to disturb the tranquility of Sky Home.
It was peaceful—and although she didn’t think that she could live here for more than a few days, right now the quiet and loneliness of the mountain felt good.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, slowly feeling her worries falling away, little by little.
She had a mate who loved her. A strong, courageous man who’d been willing to give his life for her. A man who wanted to build a family, just like her—who missed the feeling of having a home. A real home, with people to come home to who wanted to share in your life. Who’d have your back, no matter what.
She could be happy with him. She was already incredibly happy with him. To have Jared’s parents back was an incredible gift, and she couldn’t wait to get to know them better.
Even if her own dad would cut her off completely, she could build a new life with a new family.
She knew she’d be happy. Even now, with the longing for her dad’s reassuring voice filling her, the golden light of the mate bond wrapped around the aching wound in her heart, soothing her with its warmth.
Still. She loved her dad. And even if he really didn’t want anything to do with her or the shifter world, she needed to at least try and fix things between them.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Jared
Gareth kept his parents busy for longer than Jared had expected. When they finally made it into the kitchen as well, they looked visibly exhausted—but their war council with the chimera was forgotten as soon as they entered the room.
Jared still couldn’t believe that after such a long time, his parents had been returned to him. It was overwhelming. There were so many questions he had, so many experiences he wanted to share.
His parents didn’t even know what his favorite color was, that he hated eggplant and loved asparagus, and that as a child, he’d once believed that griffins were just dragons with feathers.
He wanted to tell them everything about himself and his life. He needed them to know that he’d been happy, that he’d grown up loved, and that their sacrifice hadn’t been for nothing.
And he wanted to know absolutely everything about them in return.
“How did you meet? Did you immediately know that you were mates? Did we all live in that cave?”
Laughing, his dad raised a hand. “One thing after the other. We were young when we met. Just twenty. And of course we knew immediately. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and never will again.”
“It’s like stepping out into the sunlight for the first time in your life,” Chiara said softly, intertwining her fingers with Jared’s.
Jared’s mother smiled fondly at them. “That’s what it was like. I looked at him and I knew. He was supposed to travel, but we spent all summer together. In the autumn, we traveled together at last, visiting all the secret places of our people. The next year, your father and I were chosen as Guardians of the Light. We spent a few more years learning all there was to know about the element we were guarding.”
“And then, at last, we moved to the mountain you’ve seen.” Dean laughed. “You haven’t seen even half of it. There are the caves, of course—but the mountain is beautiful. A good place for a griffin. We’d fly together, every sunset and sunrise. And we used to dream of a tiny griffin learning to fly right there upon the mountaintop, one day soon.”
Marianne closed her eyes, a distant smile on her face. “And after so many years of waiting, not long after, I was finally pregnant.”
“We wanted you,” his father said, leaning forward to look at Jared with eyes filled by both grief and an unending love. “We wanted you so much. The day you were born was the happiest day of our lives.”
“You were such a sweet baby.” His mother reached out to gently brush her fingers against Jared’s cheek. “Always smiling and laughing. So curious.”
Jared swallowed. “And then Darkness made its move.”
His mother smiled sadly. “It wasn’t a hard sacrifice to make. Our lives for yours. It was an easy choice. But to never see you fly—to never see you stretch your wings, to never see you find your mate or hold our grandchildren...”
“I would have done the same,” Jared said, fighting against the emotion that made it hard to speak even now. “It was the right choice. Even if it cost us some years, that’s over now. And we can make up for lost time. You’ve already met my mate—and we’ll keep flying together. As often as you want. I promise. Now that I’ve finally found you, nothing’s going to keep this family apart ever again.”
***
“You can go,” the chimera growled from the shadows when they assembled in the council chamber again later that day. “I need to think about what you’ve told me. I need to search through my books. I need to plan. We might be five now—but it won’t do to underestimate our enemy.”
“Let’s go home,” Jared said, warmth rising up inside him.
For the first time in his life, his house in Mountain View would become a real home—not just a place where he spent a night or two between his travels for the council.
He wanted to show Chiara the shifter world he loved. He wanted to introduce her to all the people in the peaceful little shifter town who’d watched him grow up. And he wanted his parents to see how happy he’d been as a child. That he’d been loved.
“Yes,” the chimera agreed, the shadows rapidly flickering from dragon to serpent to goat. “Go home. Get settled in with your mate. When I know more, I will summon the council of elements again. But until then, leave me to my books.”
Just like that, the swirling shadows at the back of the huge cave flickered out of existence.
The chimera was gone.
And for the first time in months, there weren’t any fires Jared had to put out.
“Yes,” Chiara said, smiling u
p at him. “Let’s go home.”
***
The flight took a few hours. With the power of the light inside him, he found that he could fly higher and faster without growing weary.
Still, they took their time. There was no rush, and he didn’t want to tire his parents.
It was glorious to soar through the sky with griffins at either side of him. He could hear the sound their wings made as they moved through the air. It filled him with warmth. It sounded like home.
At last, he was flying with his own kind. At last, he wasn’t the only griffin in a group of dragons.
And once they had children, there’d be even more griffins around. Tiny griffins—with parents and grandparents to watch over their first flight.
He knew that it would involve hard work, that there’d be short nights and teething and upset tummies—but it would be worth it. He’d be surrounded by family. All of them would have someone to lean on. And no matter how many obstacles life might throw at them, he’d never have to feel lonely again.
***
Jared knew that something was up even before they’d landed. His house in Mountain View—more a generous mansion, really, although he’d never used it much—was surrounded by boxes.
And as soon as they’d touched down, Braeden and his human mate Alyx came out of the house, their eyes wide with surprise.
“Ginny told me that you’d be here soon,” Braeden said, “but she failed to mention that there’d be an entire flight of griffins swooping down on us!”
“Didn’t you say that griffins are so rare that you’ve never met another?” Alyx looked awed. Then her mouth opened in shock when Jared’s parents also shifted back into their human form.
Jared couldn’t stop smiling widely. “Braeden, Alyx, this is my mate Chiara—and my parents.”
“But didn’t you tell me that your parents...” Alyx trailed off, her shock turning into sudden joy. “You’ve found them?”
“He found us,” Marianne said behind him. “It’s a complicated story.”
His mother was laughing softly, even when Alyx came down the stairs to hug Jared tightly.
“I’m so happy for you!” Alyx said. “I want to know everything!”
“You’ll get all the details,” Jared promised. “If you tell me what’s going on here first.”
He gestured to the cardboard boxes all around the driveway.
As if on command, a large van came around the corner, driven by a grizzled man who had bear shifter written all over him.
“We’re moving,” Braeden said and clasped his shoulder. “Thanks again for letting us stay here while we were searching.”
“We found the perfect spot.” Alyx’s eyes were gleaming with excitement. “An hour’s drive from Wing Island. Less time on dragonback, of course. There’s a clan of bear shifters who were eager to start a community of their own, and a few of the weregull kids from Wing Island are interested in building a new home—putting some distance between them and Grandma Weregull, from what I understand.” She laughed softly. “There’s this large old house on top of a hill, surrounded by meadows and a large lake. It’s very idyllic.”
“The house was in terrible repair, but it’ll do for now,” Braeden said proudly. “One wing’s looking as good as new. I’m planning on adding an entire new wing too in the spring.”
“Can’t have too many bedrooms.” Alyx smiled. “We’re hoping they won’t stay empty for long. And of course, the kitchen’s all fireproof.”
“Next project is a dragonfire steakhouse,” Braeden added. “You’re of course invited to our big opening party.”
“You’ve been very busy.” Jared couldn’t help but feel proud of all that Braeden had achieved in such a short time.
Who’d believe now that the fire dragon had once attacked them, and then spent so much time as their prisoner?
After Braeden had realized that humans weren’t all cruel monsters who wanted to kill all dragons, he’d worked hard to make up for his past. He’d saved them all by defeating Steele together with Alyx.
“It’s worth it.” Alyx looked exhausted but happy. “I’m not the sort of person who can sit still for long. And Braeden’s just as eager to finally get started on our own home.”
“And it seems we got done just in time. It looks like you’re finally ready to turn this into a real home...”
Ruefully, Jared chuckled. “I know, I know. I’ve been neglecting this place. It just doesn’t really feel like a home if it’s just you—so what was the point of staying here when I could just throw myself into my work instead? But that’s over now.”
“No more work,” Chiara said sternly. “At least, not until you’ve taken a long, relaxing vacation. You deserve one.”
Jared smiled at her, then looked at his parents who were eyeing his mansion with obvious approval.
He’d built it for the family he’d dreamed of having. Not for a single griffin shifter who spent all of his days caught up in council business.
But for once in his life, he’d been right to dream big.
He hadn’t just found his mate, but also his parents. There’d be lots of space for them to come visit whenever they wanted. And of course, there’d be lots of space that would hopefully one day be filled by tiny little griffins running havoc through the house and keeping them busier than the council ever had.
“It’s a beautiful house,” his father said, giving him a nod. “Good work. That’s been built to last. That’s what’s most important—good foundations. You can remodel the inside as often as you want—but if the walls and the roof are good, that’s something that’ll last for generations.”
Not just children—but grandchildren, one day.
Jared felt his heart soar as he imagined what it would be like to watch their own grandchildren explore the garden and listen to their tales of exciting adventures.
He turned back to Chiara, who was looking at the garden as well. She was smiling, too—but there was something wistful in her expression.
Her dad, he realized. She’s missing her dad.
They’d fix that, too. He’d apologize to her dad himself, if that’s what it took. Surely no parent who loved their child would let something like the existence of shifters come between them. Especially since Jared could prove that shifters were real. He’d take her dad for a flight on his own back, if he had to.
“Any news from your dad yet?” he asked softly.
Chiara pulled out her phone to check for new messages, then shook her head. For a moment, her smile faltered.
But then she turned to look at the house once more. Jared watched her take a deep breath and then straighten her shoulders.
“He’ll come around,” she said. “And for now, I want a tour of your home. After all, this is my first real shifter town!”
Chapter Twenty-Five: Chiara
Chiara didn’t know what she’d expected.
Sky Home had been strange and mysterious—a complex of caves at the top of a mountain, hidden above the clouds. No humans knew that it existed. No planes had ever come close, thanks to whatever magical protections the chimera had put into place.
It was an unsettling place, but it hadn’t scared her. Still, it hadn’t been a home.
Mountain View, on the other hand, was almost unsettlingly normal.
The small town consisted of houses and gardens scattered around the mountaintop. Depending on the weather, the clouds could come so low that the town was hidden above the clouds as well.
But there was nothing magical about it. It was like any other small mountain town, with the exception that everyone here was a shifter.
There was a small school, a tiny library, a bakery that also served as the town’s coffee shop, a store run by a family of cheetah shifters, and a diner.
There was a doctor, too—a lioness with golden skin and proud eyes, which had warmed as soon as she’d shaken Chiara’s hand to welcome her.
“It was about time,” she told Jared. “I’ve said for y
ears that you can’t keep up that lifestyle your entire life. Devotion to duty is all very well, but there’s more to life than work. I was afraid that you’d end up as my first shifter case of burnout.”
“I like my job,” Jared said unapologetically. “And you know the council’s doing good work. Just two months ago I was putting out a fire between the two largest West Coast werewolf clans. That’s worth some missed sleep.”
The doctor gave him a smug smile. “Ah, but there won’t be as much travel anymore now, will there?”
Chiara smiled as she saw Jared look at her.
“No,” he murmured, looking almost embarrassed as the doctor grinned triumphantly. “I guess I’ve finally found something better than work.”
In fact, Chiara couldn’t believe that Jared had ever wanted to leave Mountain View. The more she saw of the shifter town, the more she fell in love.
They’d slowly made their way up a wide street—wide enough for a fully grown dragon, Jared had explained, which made sense. To both sides of the street, she could see whitewashed houses with generous gardens.
She made the acquaintance of the cheetah family, and a few houses further down, she found the family of the doctor. Three lion cubs came eagerly racing out of the garden, circling their legs at dizzying speed. Chiara turned, laughing helplessly, loving the way the tiny shifters danced curiously all around her and Jared’s parents.
A moment later, they vanished again just as quickly as they’d appeared when a teenaged lion came racing from the house, roaring in annoyance. The older lion was obviously well used to babysitting the lot, as he didn’t give them more than a curious glance before he made his way straight towards the bushes where the kids had vanished.
“I love this place,” Chiara said, shaking her head as warmth welled up inside her again.
It seemed strange now that she’d once thought of the supernatural world as a scary, dark place, where werewolves, vampires, and aliens were all out to prey on humans.
Instead, it seemed like the shifter world had the exact same problems as any other small town: excited children, annoyed babysitters, and stressed parents.
