Chapter 46 - No hard feelings

AMBROSE

I watched her arms become wings as she leapt off the railing and I was glad I never had a doubt. Daley was beside me having a mini panic attack when Nova jumped off and Ellion was trying to calm her. Sequoia and Covyn were already moving towards the stairs and I jogged over to catch up.

“Sequoia, I know it was your decision, but anything you need – I’ll be there. I’m forever in your debt for what you did for Nova,” I told her quickly, expecting her to interrupt me.

Instead she just shook her head. “She thinks the same, but I’m in her debt. I’ve loved my life with her and we have had a lot of fun together. Don’t assume because you met me in my cat form that that was he majority of my life. We went to clubs together, and road trips. We’ve been far more than just abanished phoenix and a familiar for as long as I can remember. She is my best friend, and I owed this to her way before you were around.” Her head rolled to Covyn as she teased, “besides I couldn’t let this one act rashly, again.”

They both started chuckling, completing ignoring me as I asked, “again?”

They’re enjoying their own moment so I turn towards Nova. Her wings catch the wind and I can feel her very soul find peace. Her brothers are walking over to her with wide grins and their arms are starting to move out to the side before she’s even gotten there. She moves her wings to slow herself down and it nearly blows her brothers back a step.

They look like they could be laughing or crying when they finally embrace her. The two of them hold her tightly but after a minute she pulls back and hits in the one on her right. I can barely hear that she is speaking, but I’m sure it’s some chastisement.

I can feel her irritation but it suddenly shifts to something softer and she hugs him again. When we’ve nearly reached her I see her body move eagerly. She moves to the side and waves her hand towards us as she speaks.

“You remember Ambrose and Sequoia, that’s Covyn, Ellion, and Daley. They’re my very best friends and if you touch them I’ll kill you.” Her eyes shift to her father and then her brothers. “That includes making any bargains, they’re off limits.”

Her brothers put their hands up in submission but still walk over to bracket me. With one on either side they thump me on the back. They’re both grinning again and I feel like I’m out on some inside joke.

“No hard feeling bud,” the one she had hit assures me.

“You were just a means to an end really, it was nothing against you,” the other other adds. “We just wanted her back, no hard feelings?” The question is out and I’m not sure what to say but Nova looks livid with them for… something.

I can’t tell if she’s upset because they’re speaking to me or touching me but I decide to smooth it over. I move around them, slowly moving over to her, and wrap my arm around her to tuck her into my side where she belongs. She starts to relax against me and I hear her breathing in my scent that must be so much stronger for her now.

“For Novaestarus, I understand. I would burn the world down for her,-“ I nuzzled my nose into her hair and she mewed happily in response, “- I wish she had let me kill them the first time he dared to touch her….”

“It happened as it was supposed to,” she said softly, and then continued more loudly, “but you’re still a little shit Osric, even if it worked out.”

I didn’t even notice that someone else had joined us. Likely flying in from the side and shifting as the others did to walk in quietly. Nova broke away from me to greet him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He squeezed her in return and lifted her up to spin her around in a small circle while her legs dangled beneath her.

“I have missed you,” his voice was rough and sounded seconds away from cracking.

Nova couldn’t even get out a response, she was already blubbering into his shoulder. He chuckled and rubbed her back firmly, letting her get it out. Varro and Caius walked over to join them, completing a small circle around her and holding her tightly. I looked to her father, who stood off to the side and admired the scene like he was trying to commit every detail to memory.

There was a screech in the air and I looked up to see a large red bird at the same time everyone else did. The bird swooped around and landed beside them, the center shifting to the form of a woman before the wings had fully lowered her to the ground, meaning her arms shifted back last. I felt Nova’s unease and moved closer to her as her brothers let go.

“Another phoenix,” Daley murmured excitedly. I imagine for someone who read about other creatures as sort of a hobby this was very exciting for her.

Osric broke further away from Nova and wrapped his arms around the woman to guide her the rest of the way to our little group. “Novaestarus, I believe you already know my mate, Fate.”

Nova’s eyes grew wide as she looked at her once babysitter. “This makes so much sense,” she whispered but shook her head and ran over to hug the woman gently. “When did you figure it out?”

They embraced for a minute longer and Fate answered her when they parted. “A little over a half century ago I returned to the vale and he was there. It was instant recognition.. well I guess you know how that is.” She regarded me as I came up behind Nova and tucked her back against me.

She kept wandering off, and while I understood and accepted her desires to reconnect, part of me was still calming down from what transpired less than an hour ago. Feeling her fear and pain along with my own, wondering if I would have to watch and feel her dying yet again… but she warmed further into my side, understanding me too and calming me down.

“I do,” Nova beamed, “very much so.” Her face fell a little as she glanced down at their hands but Fate lifted it for her to show her it was bare.

She then moved to a chain around her neck and revealed a small ring. “Just a promise ring,” she assured. “Osric refused to get married without you there.” Her smile curved wickedly and I wondered if everyone had this smile when discussing their craft. “So we set about nudging and pushing things around to get you back your phoenix. Took this one’s whole life to line it up,-“ she jutted a thumb toward me, “- but we figured it out together.” Fate turned to Osric and smiled lovingly before he kissed her on the forehead.

I heard Nova whimper before I felt her heart trembling. When I looked over I saw the tears returning to her eyes and while I knew they were ones of grateful happiness, it pained me to see her cry. My arms wrapped around her as I hugged her tightly but she couldn’t look away from them.

“You put your happiness on hold..for me?” She cried squeezing me as guilt started to wiggle in.

“Well… not quite,” Osric grinned cheekily and reached over to rub Fate’s stomach. “But we did have to adjust our timeline a bit so you could be with us for this one’s arrival.”

The tears stopped instantly and she pulled away to bat the last dropped away. She looked at Osric and Fate and gasped, jumping free to grab Fate’s hands and jumped with her in a circle of excitement. The woman, grinned and let Nova lead her around as she squealed.

“I get two little bundles to dote on and spoil! Oh you’ll regret getting me back, I’m going to be this little one’s favourite.” Her hand moved to Fate’s stomach were a small bump was starting to show.

“You can be their favourite, we will never regret you being in our lives again,” Osric assured as he looked around our mismatched group. “Things are how they were meant to be.”