“When the great fell, there still was compassion. The demons were given the underworld. Why couldn’t they be satisfied?”
“I expect it’s the nature of the beast. We too have a few black marks on our wings, Angelo, as do Sariel and his brothers. It is impossible to be around humans without picking up a few of their weaknesses.”
“Why is Sariel so interested in Mia? She thinks she called him with the Gris Gris bag when she fought the soul eater.”
“It’s possible this got his attention, but he can’t be controlled by magic. He does have a weakness though; his peripheral vision was damaged in the last Great War. He needs a shield maiden to watch his back. He has chosen Mia, and I fear, Angelo, she has accepted.”
“I saw her pledge. It was made under duress, and Sariel himself was insulted by the bargain Mia made. She pledged her sword to him if he got her safely to Ted in time to talk to him before he ruined his life. Sariel said, ‘I don’t need to be bribed to do the right thing.’”
“Makes it kind of hard to hate him, doesn’t it, Angelo?” Orion prodded. “Can you let go of your wants and needs and see the creature for what he is? He is a great healer and warrior. It would behoove you not to make an enemy of him. Not over Mia. She has chosen a human, one who the Council has the greatest faith in. You played a game with her, and you lost.”
“Don’t you think that I would take back that moment in time if I could? She was so raw, uncultured and vulnerable. It was my narcissism that could not see her for who she really was.”
“She has never been tarnished in Ted’s eyes. You all but put her into his arms after you healed her. The unbalancing of her emotional memories brought on a keen insight. Her eyes were opened to this man, possibly the only man who could totally understand her and not be upset by all that she can and will do. Sure, the man has vanities and weaknesses. We all do. But she loved him enough to fight for him when she could have had anyone, and I mean anyone.”
“That is one consolation.”
“So no more talk about the Cooper curse.”
“Oh that. I was right. Mia was bound to the farmer since she was a teen. She broke the curse and is now free to love her husband.”
“Mia broke the curse? My god, not even her grandmother could figure out how to do so.”
“Was Fredericka bound to you?”
“No, but I to her.”
“Who was she bound to?” Angelo asked.
“She wouldn’t say. He gave her a boy child and then took him away from her. I found her devastated and nursed her back to health.”
“You mean Mia has an uncle somewhere?”
“I imagine so, but there is no way to trace him since Fredericka wouldn’t acknowledge who his father was. She didn’t want me to kill him. Although, I suspect that man would have been an adversary in battle.”
“You’re not Beverly’s father, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Who is?” Angelo asked.
“I’m not exactly sure. I have a few possible candidates in mind.”
“It seems that Mia’s grandmother wasn’t a one-man woman, or even a one-birdman woman.”
“No, I suspect that was the curse working. Mia, now, is free to embrace monogamy if she wants to,” Orion said pointedly. “I pray that she does.”
“Ouch, that hurts.”
“I really don’t understand your fascination with my granddaughter. She is hardly your type, Angelo. I thought you and the Countess…”
“A mere convenience for both of us.”
“How European.”
“Your granddaughter puts her all into every challenge she is faced with. She ignores the proper route and finds her own way, and in most cases, it’s better. I’ve learned from her, and I would love to teach her more. With our combined knowledge, we could be such a force. Evil would shirk away before it raises its ugly head to challenge us.”
“Quite a speech, but I’m not swayed. I know it’s her animal urges you want part of. Angelo, I forbid you from mating with my granddaughter.”
“She can’t conceive.”
“That is beside the point!” Orion argued. “She is very happy with her life with the human. Do not tempt her away from his bed. I expect more grandchildren from that pair.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you? When did you become so provincial?”
“When I held my granddaughter’s hand while her husband healed the breach in her mind, Ted was very aware that Murphy was fighting for her too. I saw something I’ve rarely seen in a human before.”
“What?”
“I saw the ultimate courage. The ultimate sacrifice. He’s what they call a hero. Complicated sure, but all we heroes are.”
Angelo looked at Orion and had to acknowledge defeat for now. Mia would never be his if Orion had anything to say about it. But he wasn’t her only grandfather. The great artist Émile Neyer could possibly sway Mia when the time came to put away the human life and become what she was bred to be.
“I don’t like that smirk on your face,” Orion observed.
“Gentlemen don’t smirk.”
“Like I said, smirk.”
~
Mia sat at the shore’s edge and watched Ted and Brian build sandcastles. Brian was more interested in putting the wet sand in his mouth, but that didn’t dampen Ted’s enthusiasm. Mia watched her tall husband lay in the sand to get Brian’s eye view of things.
“I think you’re right. We have no defense on the backside of the fortress. Water wench, we need more water.”
Mia rose and dutifully brought the water. Mentally, the water would have been better used dumped on the builder, but Mia sensed that now was not the time for such mutiny. Ted already had agreed to look into the old house with her
