Cassie glanced over her shoulder at Devon as he leaned against the frame. Leisurely warmth spread to the tips of her toes at the sight of his powerful form. He came to her as she held her hand out to him. "They are," she agreed.
"You miss the sun."
"Sometimes, but I can play tag with them at night. I wouldn't change anything."
"I know."
"Maybe one day I can go back into it too."
"Maybe," he agreed though he didn't sound overly hopeful or enthusiastic about it. Her intense reaction to the sun hadn't lessened over the past couple of months. It was the one thing about her new life that she still wasn't able to control.
He kissed her temple as she rested her head against his shoulder. She'd never dreamed that she would have this life, with her mate, and their massive adopted family that brought love and laughter into her life every day. Even if she never got to feel the sun's warmth again there was nowhere else she would rather be, and nothing that she would have done differently.
It had taken awhile for all of the children to fully trust them, but over the past months a bond had been forged between them. Some of them still showed signs of shyness and uncertainty, but those moments were fleeting at best, and they had all come to think of this as their home as much as she did.
They worked daily with the children to teach them the ways of the Guardians and Hunters, and how to fight and survive. Most of them would leave here one day, and when they did, Cassie knew they would carry on the traditions that they had been bred and trained for. They would always have a home to come back to here, as would their children, and their children's children. Many future generations of Hunters and Guardians would emerge from this home and she was eager to teach and meet every one of them.
"They're about ready to go," Devon told her.
She managed a brief nod. "Ok."
He took hold of her hand as he led her through the large house to the attached garage. Liam and Annabelle had taken up residence in a smaller house, behind this one, with some of the older children. She and Devon had taken the basement of this house with the remaining younger children. Luther, Chris, Melissa, Dani, and Julian had taken up residence in a modular home they'd purchased and placed on the land. It was cramped living quarters but they were all working on building a more centralized, massive house on the hundred and fifty acre property.
However, now that she was doing better Luther, Melissa and Julian had decided it was time to take the RV in search of other Hunters or Guardians that might require help. As the oldest of the children, Lou had insisted upon going with them in order to start his Guardian duties and to finally see a world that had been denied to him, until recently.
They stepped into the garage as Dani climbed into the RV with an armload of blankets. Annabelle and Liam were packing bags of blood for Julian into two massive coolers. Cassie was struggling against tears as Melissa hugged her close. "I'm going to miss you," Cassie told her.
"I'm going to miss you too," Melissa said as she pat her back and pulled away before she started to cry. "But we'll be back soon."
"You better be." Melissa flashed a grin at her before disappearing into the RV. Cassie embraced Lou before turning to Luther. "Bring us back some more mouths to feed."
"I'll try," he promised her.
Julian came last. They stared at each other before she stepped forward to hug him. His solid arms held her close as warmth and love crept through her. There was still a ragged sense of loss and uncertainty within him, but he was far more at peace now than he'd ever been in his lengthy life. He enjoyed the children, had come to care for all of them, and he'd found a purpose in helping the children and others. One day he would find complete happiness, she was certain of it.
"Thanks for keeping me sane," she told him.
"Anything for you Buttercup. Thank you for saving me."
A small sob escaped her as she reluctantly released him and stepped away. "Be careful out there."
"Like anything could take me down," he retorted.
"Don't eat the recruits."
"I won't," he promised.
"Don't eat your roomies either."
"Now that I can't guarantee," he told her with a wink. "Try not to gather a hundred more powers before we get back, Solar."
"I'll try," she promised. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
His gaze slid past her toward Devon. He had come to terms with everything, but it was still difficult for him to be around them. She didn't have to touch him to know that. "I am, besides I hate the cold."
She smiled as he stepped away from her and clasped hold of Devon's hand. They said a brief goodbye before Julian climbed into the RV, gave them a salute, and closed the door. Devon pulled her into the shadows as the massive garage door slid open and the RV pulled into the daylight.
The door rattled back down as Chris hit the button and they were thrust into shade once more. Annabelle and Liam left through the covered wooden walkway they had built between this back garage door and the garage door on their home. "I'll go out and keep the kids entertained for awhile," Chris volunteered as they wandered back into the house.
"I'll come with you," Dani said as she eagerly followed him out the door.
The shrieks of joy increased, and Chris and Dani's laughter echoed over the land as they raced past the window. "I think that means we have some time alone," Devon murmured in her ear.
Cassie's toes curled as she grinned up at the man she loved, her mate and savior. The person her soul was irrevocably bound to for all eternity. She couldn't think of any better way to spend forever than with him by her side.
His green eyes gleamed with a hungry light that made her skin tingle as he pressed closer to her. His fingers slid through her hair as his tongue entwined with hers in a sensual rhythm that set her skin ablaze. She could control fire and electricity, but nothing heated her or made her feel as alive as his touch did.
A mischievous smile curved his mouth when he pulled away from her. Before she knew what he intended he bent down, swept her into his arms, and tossed her over his shoulder. Her laughter trailed behind her as he rapidly carried her down the basement stairs of their home.