The morning of Samhain came with August finally sleeping.


    Graeme slid out of bed as noiselessly as he could, removing the warmth andfort of his proximity that had finally lulled her to sleep. She was trying to argue with him to let her go visit Violet in the early morning hours, but he kepting up with reasons not to that she couldn''t deny.


    Violet was attacked by someone who had eyes like August''s. August''s were blue again, much to Graeme''s immense relief, but Violet knew what they had looked like before. She associated the male with August because of that simrity.


    August also had that luminous, true Luna glow, which made it clear with one nce that she was with child and also Graeme''s true mate—something Violet had aspired to. So instead of finding August as afort—someone who had experienced something simr and could rte—she would likely see her as a threat.


    If anything, August''s presence would likely do more harm than good.


    It was that final idea that had allowed her mind to finally rest and drift into sleep. But it had taken a long time.


    As Graeme dressed near the closet, he watched her peaceful face, radiant like the morning sun peeking over the horizon to herald a new day. Today was that day. A slow grin tugged at his lips, and he tiptoed to unlock the door and leave her to rest as long as possible.


    He had healed his mate somehow. It waspletely unexpected, but it came with such a profound pride and joy that he was still riding that high this morning. He walked around the dim light of the kitchen to make some tea, wondering how it was possible. Was it truly just… sexual healing? He chuckled to himself at the thought. Was it the second mark somehow? Their joined marks? Could it be because he was also part fae and had some healing abilities that could manifest through his mate? Perhaps she had just healed herself… Or was it the emotional and physical distance that had been taking a toll on her and was finally ovee?


    Whatever the case… her having the crystal blue eyes back took a huge weight off of his mind. There was so much else to worry about. Thankfully her wellness was one fewer thing on that list.


    The creak of his sister''s footsteps started on the steps leading from the second floor. It was a sound he recognized from countless mornings during their childhood. Greta was like an elephant when she woke up—a graceful elephant, but an elephant nheless. He couldn''t understand how that was possible when she was quite small for a lycan female—she was nowhere near his size, and even he could walk down the stairs without sounding like a herd of wild animals was passing through. But it was as if the heaviness of sleep and dreams yet to be burned away by the morning sun weighed down her steps.


    When she alighted on the bottom step and turned to face him in the kitchen, Graeme put a finger over his lips. He didn''t want August waking up until she had plenty of rest. It would only make her more worried if she were tired today.


    Greta did an exaggerated tiptoe walk through the living room toward him, and he rolled his eyes.


    "Everything okay?" she whispered when she arrived in the kitchen, walking around to sit at the ind to watch him make tea.


    Graeme nodded. "She was just upte."


    Greta wiggled her eyebrows at him.


    "Ugh, sis. It''s not like that."


    "Are you sure?" she gave him a crooked smile.


    "That''s not why she was upte. Did Sam tell you about Violet?" he asked, bringing down another cup from the cab to ce on the counter for Greta.


    Greta''s eyes dropped to her hands. She nodded.


    "Yeah. That''s why."


    "Why would she be so upset about Violet?"


    Graeme grimaced. He hadn''t told Sam that Violet was raped, and he didn''t feel it was his ce to share that with anyone other than his mate. No one knew about August''s past either unless she had chosen to share it with them herself.


    "There is someone else out there like her who is hurting people. Maybe that''s why," he answered. It was also the truth.


    Greta hummed her understanding. "When are you going to watch the pup''s light the fire?"


    "They start at what time?" he squinted at the clock over the stove.


    "They start when the sun rises, so around seven. It should take the better part of a half hour for them to get it going," she answered, erupting into a big yawn once she did.


    "Why aren''t you still sleeping?"


    "There''s that Samhain excitement in the air. Once I''m up, I''m up. And I heard you down here, so I thought I would keep youpany," she winked.


    Graeme poured the tea and handed her a cup before leaning against the counter, mentally running over the ns for the day.


    "I brought August''s cookies from the housest night," she offered, raising the cup to her lips and letting the steam curl up over her face.


    "That''s right. Thanks, sis. Are you going to let me have one of mom''s pies for breakfast?"


    "I suppose," she grinned. She couldn''t remember thest time Graeme was here for a Samhain. "Why don''t we split one?"


    "Why don''t we split two?" he offered instead, turning to inspect the pies that wereid out on the counter. "Which vors do you want?"


    "Hmm… apple and date," she answered, already drooling as she did. "You pick the other one."


    "Strawberry rhubarb sound okay?"


    "Of course."


    Graeme ced the two miniature pies between them on the counter and handed Greta a fork.


    "To mom," he said, forked poised in the air.


    "To mom," Greta repeated softly and clinked her fork against his.


    They both stared at each other in silence for a moment before digging in. The vors were like little snapshots of memories from childhood. Graeme''s face lit up.


    "Thanks for doing this."


    "Doing what?" she asked, switching pies with him to try the other one.


    "Baking these every year for her."


    "It''s tradition. But you''re wee," she offered him a smug smile. "Good right?"


    "Very good," he agreed, taking another bite.. "There''s no better way to start Samhain."