All His Wrath

And with that, he hopped off of the column and tottered over to Danielle.

“As you have been much in the company of our kind and have interceded on our behalf, we would grant you certain gifts it is within our power to convey,” Zarentil said before tipping his head to Lohxnahr.

Springing nimbly off the dais, Lohxnahr fluttered over to Danielle.

“Dear one,” he began, “as a kindred spirit—you, your parents and their friends—we wish for you to have the freedom to abide with us, should you ever desire it,” he said, beaming.

Danielle struggled to get words to form and mumbled, “Do you mean what I hope you mean?”

“Of course!” Lohxnahr quipped. With his wings beating faster than a hummingbird’s, he leaned in slowly until his forehead touched hers.

Amy clutched at Peter, while he dabbed his eye and whispered, “As much as we hated that key you discovered in Nepal, Ames, think what we would have missed without it!”

A tiny point of light flared for a moment where Danielle and Lohxnahr touched. Then Lohxnahr fluttered up a little, kissed Danielle’s head and settled back to the dais. “Visit any time you wish!”

Danielle was speechless from boundless joy and smiled at Anders with shining eyes. Paign slapped him on the back and burst out laughing.