we are aching bones and wasted years; minette

[magnus]

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

Knowing she is safe is the greatest gift he has ever been given, and he breathes easily for the first time since he had last seen her. Breath loosening and pulse slowing, he closes his eyes, feeling her against his chest and knowing that she was precious and worth protecting—and feeling confident that he could do just that when he was here. It was the moments they were apart that frightened him the most. “Of course I did.”

It’s all he says to the matter. Of course he had come back—he had said he would, after all.

The sunshine of the reunion, however, is cut short by the mentioning of Gryffen, and he does his best to not show his emotions on his face. Jealousy (sharp and dark and bitter) flashes in his breast, but he stifles it, instead turning his gaze to the children she referred to. “She’s beautiful, Minette,” he compliments, not resisting the urge to press a kiss to her cheek, breathing in the sweetness of her, “just like you.”

He is about ready to respond to Minette, tell her that he is good—that he has been busy, that the Gates were beginning to stir with new life and she should see it for herself (and stay forever)—but the child has broken away from the rest of the herd and is making her way toward them. He remains quiet, polite, and waiting for Minette’s cue on how to respond, but he cannot deny her childish charm.

He always was putty in the hands of children and women.

“Hello there, Amorette.” He drops his handsome head down toward her, making eye contact with an easy smile. “I’m not your papa—but I am a friend of your mothers.” His voice is soft, husky, “My name is Magnus.” He catches her looking at the giant eagle wings folded at his sides, and he ruffles them for her, laughing gently. “They are funny looking, aren’t they?” Stepping away from Minette for a second, he extends them to their full wingspan, tips of the feathers stretching out to the side. They were rather impressive in this view—powerful and built for a bird of prey. They would serve him well in a fight.

Winking toward her, he tucked them back into his sides and stepped closer to Minette, touching her neck briefly for a second before looking back to the filly. “Would you like to touch them, Amorette?”

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.