From her vantage point by the big oak tree, Sabrina watched Mackenzie and Sebastian as they entered the boxwood maze. They were holding hands and laughing as they disappeared behind the tall hedges.
Her papa had been right when he said she’d feel better after she helped heal Mackenzie. Not only did Mack still laugh and create leaf dragons for Sabrina, but now Cousin Baz would never send her away to live with Alastair.
Mackenzie had pulled Sabrina to the side today to thank her for all she’d done for them and to tell her, within the next year, there would be a baby for Sabrina to help spoil. But Mack needn’t have bothered telling her, because Sabrina already knew. She’d seen the part the Drake baby girl would play in relation to the baby boy Sabrina’s mother would eventually have. They would always be a family unit: the Drakes and Dethridges.
“You did a good thing, beastie.”
“I know, Papa.”
“Are you still upset Mack won’t be your constant playmate?”
“No. I have other things I need to do now.”
“Oh?” He smiled down at her, all his love for her on display, and it chased away the last of her sadness. “Care to share?”
“It’s a secret between me and Isis.” Sabrina sensed his concern right before the frown formed between his brows. “It’s okay, Papa. You’re going to love it.”
“Am I?” He tweaked her nose. “I tell you what. I’ll let you keep your secrets for now, but we should be off. You know how cross your mother gets when we aren’t home for the midday meal.”
Sabrina took the hand he offered, but stopped him after only a few steps. “Mama will forgive you soon, Papa.”
All the teasing left him, and he went still. “It’s not a subject I wish to discuss with you, Sabrina. What happens between your mother and me, that’s not for you to worry about, okay?”
“But I’m not worried. And when baby Nate comes, you’ll both be happ—” She bit her lip. The Goddess had warned her not everything should be revealed.
“Some things need to play out for your family and friends without your interference, little one,” Isis had told her on the day Grandpa Nate died.
Sabrina lifted her face skyward, worried she’d upset the Goddess. She felt her papa tug her hand. When she looked at him, he was smiling in the way that always made her sure everything would be all right.
“Baby Nate, huh? Well, that may be far off if we’re late again.” He knelt on one knee and quirked his head. “Hop on, and I’ll get us home in a jiffy.”
When the Dethridges teleported from the garden, Preston Thorne dropped the shield cloaking Isis and him. “How did you know it would play out this way? You were rolling the dice by depending on a six-year-old to do the right thing.”
Isis shrugged. “Not really. Sabrina is a bright child. She also knows right from wrong and will always be able to see reason. She’s Damian’s child, after all.”
“You could’ve helped them all with this earlier.” He gave her an admonishing look. “Saving them all the heartache. Saving Nathanial and Evie.”
“Yes. But then Mackenzie and Sebastian wouldn’t have appreciated what they have, and the Guardians’ time on earth was done. Nathanial needed a hero’s exit.”
Preston heaved an internal sigh. The capriciousness of the gods would never cease to amaze him.
Isis sauntered down the garden path, waving a hand here or there and giving a boost of life to the plants around her. “Nothing good ever comes easy, my dear.” She paused and cast him an enigmatic smile. “You’ll find out for yourself soon enough.”
“What have you done?”
“Nothing… yet. But I’ve decided you deserve happiness.”
Preston didn’t dare hope her words meant what he suspected. “You intend to give me life?”
“You have life. But yes, I’ll return you to the earthly plane. After.”
“Ah, so you aren’t done playing your games,” he said, barely keeping the irritability from his voice.
She shot him a sharp look. “Careful.”
“Because it wouldn’t do to piss off a goddess?” He grinned to soften his snark.
“Because even with your surly temper, I enjoy having you as a consort. I’m surrendering my joy to give you yours.”
Preston approached her and lifted her hand to drop a kiss on her knuckles. “I’ve been honored to serve you, Exalted One. I always will be.”
He thought he detected a shimmer of sadness in her exotic blue eyes. “Nathanial and Evie will assist me now. Moving forward, you’ll have your chance to live out the remainder of your days with your true love. Consider it a reward for serving me well.”
“But I don’t have a true love,” Preston reminded her.
She graced him with a wink and a half smile. “Not yet, but you will.”
BOOK 11 - Preston Thorne returns to the fold! Click here to order CELESTIAL MAGIC.