Chapter 37:

The flight there felt far too short, and when we landed in the field just outside of the small village, my nerves finally fully kicked in. I hadn't realized just how prepared I had been to never have to see this village again, but here we were. The long, lush grass of the plains that covered all of Celestia swayed around us as we stood just outside the waist-high, mossy stone wall that surrounded the whole village of Galia. I looked over all the quaint, little, unassuming houses and knew that every single one of the families was well aware and just as disapproving of the two large dragons that had landed just beyond their walls, and probably scared the shit out of all of the livestock in the place.

That small wall used to feel so big. It had been big enough to contain my entire existence up to this point. I had barely ever even known that there was a world outside of Galia, but now, that wall felt far more like a cage than ever before. One that I had escaped, but was now willingly walking back into. 

I took a breath, trying to steady myself as I pulled the letter out once more, reading over the instructions for what felt like the thousandth time, but the instructions still hadn't changed. I had to go to the tavern in the center of the village and let the staff know that I was here. 

Xavier stood at my side in the long grass, looking over the small village. He subtly shifted his weight from foot to foot, and I could all but feel the unease rolling off him, making me instantly feel bad for having to bring him with me. I knew it had to be hard on him to even look at a place like this after everything he's been through, but at the same time, I knew he wouldn't have left me any other option in bringing him along. While this village may not be as bad as Lucia, it still wasn't much better. There were still plenty of horrible things that went on around here, just like every other border village. 

I watched as he took a deep breath before turning towards me. Reaching out, he gently cupped my cheek, picking my chin up so that I met his gaze. "You're shaking, what's wrong, Ari?" He asked as his calloused thumb gently brushed over my cheek. 

"There's just a lot of memories here, and honestly, if it was up to me, I would happily never have even seen this place again," I whispered to him. He just nodded to me as those eyes searched mine for a long moment. 

"Well then, hopefully after we get this settled, you won't ever have to again." He whispered, gently resting his forehead against mine, and I smiled at him. Reaching up, I traced my fingertips over the side of his neck as I brushed my thumb along his sharp jaw. "You have nothing to fear in this place anymore. You have more than enough training to take on a few farmers if need be. Not to mention the little fact that the only way one of them would lay a single finger on you is if you allow them to, or if they somehow manage to get through me. I've got you, Ari. Now chin up, shoulders back, and walk in like you damn well own the place, princess." I just smiled a little wider at that before he pressed a kiss to my forehead and pulled away. Taking another deep breath, I followed what he said, and he grinned at me. "There's my girl." 

Bane and Nova took their rightful places on our shoulders as we made our way over to the little hole in the wall that they called an entrance. We walked in, side by side, as I followed what he had said, and for the first time, I actually felt like I belonged somewhere. Not in this village, or honestly any other, but I belonged there, by his side. 

The sheer, easy confidence that had drowned out any sense of his unease was more than enough to boost my own confidence, and suddenly, I didn't care in the slightest about the looks that the villagers were giving us. They seemed insignificant compared to the warrior beside me. None of the looks that would normally have me cringing away phased me in the slightest. As far as I was concerned, it might as well have just been Xavier and me out here. 

When we reached the tavern, I had even adopted an easy smile as I watched some of the less-than-savory patrons look Xavier over with challenge in their eyes. Honestly, I almost wished that they would challenge him, even if it were just to see the look on their faces as Xavier wiped the floor with them. 

Xavier led me over to a table in the back corner of the fairly empty building before pulling one of the four chairs out and motioning for me to sit. I couldn't help the look of surprise I shot him; no one had ever done that for me before. 

"Just because most people don't know their asses from their elbows in the lesson of manners doesn't mean that I don't." He whispered to me, but I just smiled at him as I sat, and he took the seat next to me. Although that was when I realized just how far that statement extended. He not only pulled my chair out and everything for me, but he also placed me out of easy reach from anyone but him. I was sitting in the corner with the wall to my back and side, a perfect view of everyone in the room, along with every single door in the place. 

When the waitress came over, I told her who I was and why I was here before she all but ran to the back of the tavern, where a set of stairs led up to all of the rooms on the second floor of the building. I had never been up there myself, but that was how several of the other girls in the village made their income.

It wasn't long before someone came walking back out of that stairwell with her, and she quickly showed them to our table. The man was tall and thin, probably somewhere in his forties, with longer blonde hair and bright blue eyes. 

"I'll let you get settled. I'll be back in a moment if you would like some drinks or food." The waitress said with a quick bow as the man eyed Xavier before his gaze slowly fell to me. He slowly looked me over from head to toe, and I shifted in my seat, instantly feeling uncomfortable with how his gaze lingered on me. 

"I don't remember requesting anyone other than Aria." The man said as those blue eyes narrowed on Xavier once more as he stared down his nose at my warrior. Xavier, on the other hand, seemed to just get comfortable at that comment. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles as he settled back in his chair and crossed his strong arms over his chest. 

"And I don't remember giving a single fuck about who you invited. I would say that you could wait around for one to land in your lap, but you'd have better luck falling over dead before that happened." Xavier answered in a bored tone that I didn't know how he could possibly keep, considering I had to cover my mouth to keep the man from seeing the grin that spread across my lips. Okay, it was actually quite fun being on this side of that sharp tongue.

"You don't know who you're mouthing off to, boy." The guy said, obviously fuming already, but Xavier just let out a low chuckle that was anything but friendly. 

"You know, I really feel like I should be the one giving you that warning, but sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." Xavier retorted, and Bane flicked his sharp tail against the edge of the table in agitation as the man eyed the two of them. 

Finally, sensing that he wasn't getting anywhere with Xavier, he walked over to the chair across from mine and took a seat. That earned him a sharp warning glare from Xavier, who then promptly draped his arm over the back of my chair. The chair let out an audible squeal of protest as he pulled me closer to his side as the man looked me over once more, now with obvious disapproval over that move from Xavier. 

"Aria, my dear. Won't you talk a bit of sense into your... friend here. This should really be a private conversation between father and daughter." 

I would have fallen out of my chair if it weren't for Xavier's arm holding me there. Instead, I all but threw myself back as I gripped the edge of the table and glared at the man across from me. My father? What fucking right did he think he had to formally summon me after fifteen years without so much as a word to me? 

I felt Xavier's gaze on me, watching my reaction, but my eyes were glued onto this man. "Oh no, you don't get to just walk into my life after abandoning me for fifteen fucking years and think that you have any right to tell me what to do," I told him as Nova sat up taller on my shoulders now. Her wings flared as her tail flicked back and forth over my stomach, very obviously annoyed just as much as I was with this situation. However, she wasn't the one who let out a low warning growl. Bane, on the other hand, had moved. He climbed across Xavier's arm and jumped down onto the table in front of me. A low growl rattled the wooden table as his golden eyes narrowed on the man claiming to be my father.