you and I both know the ghost is me; minette & co.

[magnus]

you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me

His exhaustion is forgotten in the sight of Amorette’s excitement, and his smile widens at her outburst. Yes, seeing Heaven for the first time through the eyes of a child was indeed exciting. He takes a deep breath, steadying his nerves, feeling more comfortable now that they were within the borders of the Gates. Not that the borders would keep Gryffen at bay should he return looking for his herd—they certainly had not deterred him when he had led the raid on the kingdom—but he felt that he could protect them here. He knew the Gates, and he was surrounded by a small group, but a group nonetheless. Plus any attack that Gryffen made now would be interpreted as political, and Straia was a lot of things, but she was not dumb.

Magnus did not think she would condone the beginning of a war over one stallion’s bruised ego.

So he forces himself to put aside his fears over the mares and children, and he just smiles down at the filly. “It is almost as pretty as you, Amorette,” he says kindly, his voice husky and thick with emotion. Looking up, he looks at Minette and just nods, touching his mouth to her cheek, letting it rest there. When he pulls away, his gold-flecked eyes burn with intensity. “I am so glad that you love it.” He laughs lightly at her offer, one wing unfurling to drape over her back as he takes another deep breath, gathering himself.

“You are one of the strongest mares, I know,” and that’s the truth of it. He had known warrior women and women who wore the crown and women who had led the charge of battle, but there was a strength that he had never experienced before in the silent bravery of Minette leading her children away from their abuser. “But I’m okay for now.” His eyes are tight, but he smiles at her. “I don’t need to sleep just yet.” What he does not say is that sleep eludes him often—even when and perhaps more frequently when his bones ached with tiredness. Turning toward Felinae, he just smiles kindly. “You all saved yourselves.”

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.