Episode 29: Fireside Secrets
226 Words
That evening, Aelin found Celeste by the hearth again. The matriarch’s hands moved deftly, weaving yarn into patterns. “You handled those stuffed shirts better than most alphas,” Celeste remarked. Aelin smiled. “I learned from the best.” A comfortable silence fell before Celeste spoke softly. “Your mother had a gift for diplomacy too.” Aelin’s head snapped up. “You knew her?” Celeste’s eyes misted. “Briefly. She was human, yes, but she knew more about our world than she let on. She warned me once that my grandson’s mate would change us all.” Celeste’s voice cracked on the last word. For the first time, Aelin saw vulnerability behind the woman’s iron exterior. They talked long into the night, sharing stories of the past and hopes for the future. When Aelin retired to bed, she felt the ghosts of her parents watch over her with gentle smiles.
As the fire crackled and shadows danced on the stone walls, Aelin took comfort in Celeste's reminiscences. She asked questions she had carried for years, about her mother's laugh and the shape of her father's hands. Celeste answered each with surprising tenderness. This exchange left Aelin with a sense of belonging to a history far older than her human roots and fueled her resolve to build a future where such stories could continue.
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