Page 130 of Simon

“Are we ready?” Sable asked. She appeared in much more professional attire, and her sleek dark-colored jeans clung to her legs. A flowing dark cape draped over her shoulders, swaying gently with each step she took. She’d neatly pinned back her hair, leaving a few soft curls to frame her face. In her hands, she held a clipboard, the sound of her pen scratching against the paper as she diligently checked off my arrival.

My stomach churned. I’d do anything to push this day off for a couple more weeks, but what Poseidon wanted is what he got.

Sable stepped back, and our children stood by our sides. We held them tight to us. Lucy stroked our youngest’s hair andwhispered to them quietly, while Sable cast a spell that would open the portal.

“Remember to be nice to the younger fauns. This will be their first time out in the open around so many trees, and they won’t understand the surrounding dangers.” Her voice turned serious. “Make sure they know the orcs are their friends, too.”

The kids groaned and nodded.

“C-could one be our mate?” Lark asked, his face turning a bright red.

Lucy scowled and grabbed his ear. “Don’t even think about it. You are too young to find a mate. Fifteen! You're only fifteen! You have to at least grow into your horns and know how to trim your own hooves.” She stared down at his neatly trimmed hooves.

Lucy made sure all our kids’ hooves were properly trimmed and groomed the night before, but Canyon, our eight-year-old, already had mud across his. Lucy scowled at him, and he stepped closer to me.

“Someone is in trouble.” I winked at Canyon, and his ears lowered.

As soon as the portal opened, the light sources dimmed, and a bright light made us all close our eyes. We held up our arms to hide the brightness, and as quickly as the brightness came, it disappeared.

Sable looked proud of herself and panted, checking one box on her clipboard.

Lucy tilted her head and nodded for me to approach. While she was my foundation, I knew I had to step forward and be the leader I was. I squeezed her hand, and our whole family approached the bewildered-looking fauns in front of us.

They were an array of colors. They weren’t just the brown, blonde, white, and cream like our family. Some were black, gray, red, and even deep purple I had not seen from my memories.Two of the fauns straight from my memories came trotting toward me. My heart nearly burst out of my chest when they slammed into me.

“You’re here.” My father pulled me tight into his chest. “I’d remember those eyes anywhere.”

I heard my mother’s sob beside me, her hand running through the loose hair at the nape of my neck.

“Hi.” My voice was raspy, and I held out my arm to pull her in as well.

It felt like I was complete once more. My chest was about to explode. I could feel them, as my mate who was bursting with excitement to meet them.

I pulled away, seeing that they had tears in their eyes.

“We didn’t mean to leave you,” they both said at the same time.

I shook my head and put my hand on both their shoulders. “I know you didn’t. It was fate that led me down this path. We have a home now, we”—I held my hand out for Lucy and pulled her to my side—“have prepared a home for everyone. For all the herd.”

My mother’s eyes filled with tears once more, and her hands covered her face. “Gods above. You have found a female.” She held her hands out and pulled my mate into her arms.

My father wiggled his eyebrows. “She’s beautiful. How was courting? I am sorry I was not there to help you.” His voice was much deeper than mine, even his horns were larger.

I made a face of disgust and shook my head. “Stop.” I cleared my throat.

Canyon tugged on my father’s tail, and he yelped in surprise. “Hey, are you my grandpa?” He looked up at my father and scratched his ear.

My father looked from Canyon to me and back again. “Obviously, you figured it out just fine.”

“I have grandkids!?” My mother bleated and jumped around Lucy to gawk.

This was not as awkward as I thought it would be.

I scratched the side of my face while I watched my father pick up my youngest, and my mother cupped Clove’s face. Clove beamed up at her and smiled. “You are just stunning, love!”

Clove’s face reddened, and a tiny bleat escaped her.

Lark had already walked closer to the crowd of fauns, introducing himself while they watched my parents and I reuniting. He was already explaining who he was and what our family had been doing here in the Wood these past years.

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