Chapter 6: Page 7

Sagittarius followed and smiled seeing the way his son cradled Ruby. “I had thought to arrange a mating between the two of you when she took to her symbiont, the only female of the group, but I didn’t want to do that to you; I wanted you to have a choice. So I must say that it pleases me that you two found each other, that she is your choice and you hers.”

“You wanted to arrange a mating?”

“She comes from very fine Centaur lines. Her symbiont does as well, despite their not being a born match.”

“I love her so much.” He pressed a kiss to Ruby’s forehead. “She ran thinking I didn’t want her. I was already upset because of what happened to Neak, because I felt it was my fault and I took it out on her.”

“What Virgo did wasn’t anyone’s fault but her own.”

“Father…she was more unbalanced than anyone knew. I should have said something, told someone, but…”

“She was your mother. I understand. We make choices and have to live with the result. It’s still not your fault. I won’t let you blame yourself.”

“But Neak’s dead because…”

“No, she lives. Lady Arbor saved her.”

“That’s against our laws. She won’t get into trouble will she?”

“A slap on the wrist at most. The Mother is not always unbending in regards to these things. Though, not so much to what Virgo did. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to her; Lady Arbor took her to the Sanctions Forest to await her fate. She may very well not ever return to this District, and as a result it will most likely fall to you. Could you handle that? Because I will gladly put in a word with Lady Arbor.”

Toff nodded. “I’ve already been taking care of it. Mother…her interest was superficial in the best of moods.”

“I see. I have even more reason to be proud of you.”

“I don’t know if I deserve your pride. I should have been more understanding with Ruby. She’s like me, a mismatch. Had I been her, I would have reached out too.”

“Just apologize when she wakes up, I’m sure she’ll forgive you.” Sagittarius started turning around. “I’ll leave you with your mate.” He stopped and looked back at his son. “Just so you know, I want plenty of grandkids. I miss seeing Centaur children testing their legs.”

“I don’t think Ruby will object.”

“Object to what?” she whispered, her eyes fluttering open.

Toff’s breath caught and he smiled down at Ruby. “Having lots of children.”

“A dozen at least.”

 “I love you. I love you so much. I took out my anger on you and I shouldn’t have, I’m sorry.” Toff leaned his head down so their foreheads touched. “I also want to thank you for finding me. To know that I’m no longer the only mismatch… There are three others counting you?”

“Yes. Would you like to meet the other two?”

“I… I’d like that very much.”

Sagittarius cleared his throat. “I was wondering…”

Toff and Ruby both looked over at Sagittarius, curious what the senior Divinity wanted, or, more to the point, was up to by the mischief brewing in his eyes.

“What were you wondering, Father?”

“A Bonding Day. I assume the two of you plan to have one?”

Toff swallowed the lump in his throat. He looked at Ruby and whispered by her ear, “Would you like to…go through the Bonding Rites with me.”

Ruby nodded and threw her arms around Toff’s neck. “Right this minute!”

“I can do that.” Sagittarius straightened his jerkin, pleased with himself. “Right now, I mean.”

Toff looked once more at his father. “If you can, I would…” He grinned at Ruby when she pinched him. “We would like to finish this day as a Bonded couple.”

“Very well, you’ll need to reconnect with your symbionts, the ceremony needs the four of you.” Sagittarius turned around and started out of the room. “I will wait out front under the Old Willow.”

Sagittarius nodded as he watched Toff and Ruby embrace. He was pleased that his son had found his mate, that Toff and Ruby were now Bonded Centaurs. He was a bit envious of the love shimmering between the two young ones, but seeing them together, gave him a spark of hope that he would find his mate one day.

A broad grin lifted his lips as he rubbed his hands together in great glee thinking of the hours and hours he would have playing with his future grandchildren. With a final nod, he disappeared and reappeared within Lady Arbor’s garden. He felt the need to speak with her. She was yanking up weeds with a frantic aggression, and he couldn’t blame her if she had already spoken with The Mother.

He felt his symbiont’s desire to separate so that he might graze, but Lady Arbor would not be pleased to have a horse eating her flowers and so promised him time to graze later.

“What might I do for you, horse boy?”

The Centaur hated being called horse boy, but he ignored the nickname; he knew Lady Arbor wasn’t being cruel, just teasing. “I wish to offer you my support.”

She looked up at him, eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“I would have done the same for one of mine. Had my son been strong enough, he would have damned the consequences and saved Neak himself. He considers her friend.”

“I’m aware of their friendship. Had he just come forward, informed The Mother or you that Virgo was utterly batshit insane…”

“She’s his mother.”

Lady Arbor jerked at a weed attempting to strangle her pansies. “Maybe so, but he should have known…”

“I think we all must shoulder the blame for Virgo. I knew a long time ago that she was a little off, but I never thought she would become violent so I left her to her own devices. As the head Divinity of all Sacred Groves, should you not have been aware of Virgo’s lack of sanity?”

“I got the same lecture from The Mother, but it doesn’t change the fact that Virgo attempted to kill, nearly killed a non-Divinity and without just reason. You do realize that had Neak not stepped in the way, Virgo would have turned on Toff for choosing Ruby over her.”

“I am aware of that, but had she attacked my son, I would have done worse than take Virgo to the Sanctions Forest—I would have killed her.”

“She is just lucky that I was able to save Neak.” Lady Arbor pulled out several other small weeds that were creeping towards her morning glories. “Though if I could I would find Virgo and punch her just for the lecture I had to endure.”

“My son will always be grateful to you for saving her.”

“He’s a fine Centaur, Sadg. Despite keeping his mother’s illness a secret.”

“Were your mother, as you put it, batshit insane, wouldn’t you wish to keep others from knowing? He already had to deal with being a mismatch.”

“There is that.” She wiped her arm over her sweaty brow. “I suppose you’re also here to support his taking over his mother’s District?”

“He’s already been running it.”

“Well, if The Mother doesn’t strip me of my ranking and powers, the District will be his. I hope he’s up to taking full responsibilities. There are the social aspects Virgo dealt with that he’ll now need to deal with.”

Sagittarius snorted. “He can handle it. He’s my son after all.”

“I hope so.” Lady Arbor looked at her watch. The healer should be arriving at the pub any minute now.

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