"I'll do it, but I won't accept any money. I will barter for a favor to be redeemed by my commander should the occasion arise," Oron said, extending his hand.
Thane looked relieved as he shook hands with Oron. "Aiden is an honorable man. I have no problem promising a future favor to him, as I am certain he would never ask me to do something that would go against my own conscience."
Aiden's cheeks tinted. "Thank you both Oron and Thane, I pray that we never find ourselves in a scenario where I would need to cash in such a favor."
"Oron! I am going to kick your ass all over this realm!" Darian threatened, as he walked back into the room, struggling under the weight of a large box.
His mother was walking beside him a sketchbook under one arm. "And I will cheer him on. How could you not share these?" she demanded.
"I didn't think they were any good," Oron admitted.
Darian dropped the box on the table and began pulling out sketchbooks and loose pictures. "I think I have a hernia," Darian complained.
"Good, now you can't chase me," Oron said, flicking his ear.
Darian absently rubbed his abused ear and continued flipping through pages.
"Oron, may we have a few as well," his mother asked, unable to take her eyes off the pictures now scattered on the table.
"Any that you would like are yours," he replied.
Breakfast morphed into a stroll down memory lane. Everyone took turns eating to keep the food away from the pictures. Izzy was enjoying her coffee until she saw Brennus quietly consoling his mate as she wept into her hands.
Neither Darian nor Oron had noticed yet. She stood and walked over to sit beside her new in-laws. When she looked down and saw why the queen of the fae was weeping, she felt her own tears gather.
It was a book of self-portraits. The queen now saw how Oron always viewed himself. Finally, around the table voices quieted as both Oron and Darian saw their mother weeping. Moving quickly, they knelt on either side of her. She watched as Darian noticed the pictures first. He flipped page after page, the blood draining from his face. He stood, his mother's tears forgotten as he came face to face with Oron's pain.
Oron saw which book it was and quickly grabbed it from Darian. He was halfway to the fireplace when Darian tackled him.
"Thane, get the book!" Darian yelled.
Thane raised his hand and shouted. "Venito!"
"Asshole!" Oron muttered, as the book flew to Thane.
Thane looked down and saw what was on the first page. "My request can wait. To ensure I am one of your favored clients, I offer you a gift. I will copy images from the minds of the queen, Brennus, Darian and Cord, images of you, for you to draw. I will store them in a crystal so that you can see yourself as they do."
Izzy jumped from her chair and plowed into the witch, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thank you!"
"Hey!" Oron shouted.
Izzy giggled as he raced over. She slapped Thane's ass causing him to yelp in an undignified manner before she ran around to the other side of the table, avoiding her mate.
"Izzy! Get your adorable behind over here," he ordered.
"Catch me!" Every time he'd go left, she'd go right. In the end, her brother-in-law betrayed her and carried her over to Oron.
She smiled up at him. "I'm glad he caught me, I was running out of breath," she wheezed.
Meryn walked over and handed Oron her phone. He looked down and blinked. "That's me?"
Izzy could have kissed Meryn. The picture was one she had just taken showing a joyous Oron poised to dash right. True happiness spilled from his image.
Darian looked over his shoulder. "That's how I've always seen you. When I was younger, I felt like you always surrounded me in your light to keep me safe. I have no idea who that man is that you have drawn, I've never seen him before a day in my life."
His mother came up on his other side and nodded. "That smile is so very precious to me," she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Oron, the memories you have frozen in time for us to cherish and share is a gift. You cannot share a light you do not have son and your light is there for everyone to see," she pointed to the table.
"You always called me your little warrior, so I didn't want to disappoint you," he admitted.