The Broken Warrior's Daughter

“What the—?” Victoria says in awe.

| have to agree. | knew they were forest sprites, but | didn’t know that meant the plants would respond to them like this. When they return to us, they are looking over the garden happily.

“How did you do that?” Victoria asks them.

“Plants are living things.”

“They work hard, all the time.”

“To grow and to produce food for others.”

“Sometimes, they get tired.”

“Or sad.”

“So, we gave them a little boost with our light.”

“And made them happy again.”

“Well, you're hired.” | tell them.

They turn to me. “Hired to do what?” They ask excitedly.

“You're now in charge of keeping our garden happy.”

They both start jumping up and down excitedly, clapping their hands.

“Oh, that’s so great.”

“We'd love to keep the plants happy.”

“Alexander will be so proud of us.”

“Maybe he'll lick us again.”

“Or do that thing with his hands.”

“Or that thing with...”

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“OKAY!” | say loudly, cutting them off before | have to hear any more about what Alexander might do with them. “You can discuss that with Alexander later, preferably in private.”

“Thank you, Lady Luna Grace.”

“Nice meeting you Lady Victoria.”

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“We'll be back tomorrow to see the plants.” They say as they go off, presumably to find Alexander.

After they walk away, Victoria and | look at each other before we both burst into laughter. “Well, it’s never boring in this pack.” Victoria says, pulling off her gloves.

“And let's be honest. I’ve never seen a garden that looked this incredible. They might be a bit strange, but you can’t deny that they are useful.” | say, before turning to head back inside.

As | get close to the back of the packhouse, | see part of our flower bed with flowers that are alternating between looking dead and looking beautiful. | step over and see Tula hiding among the flowers. | hear her sniffle and the flower begins to die before she touches it, and it perks back up

again.

“Tula?”

She startles at my voice. “Oh, Lady Luna Grace. Good morning.” She quickly wipes her eyes before looking up at me.

“Tula, what are you doing out here in the flowers?” | ask, sitting down on the edge of the flower bed.

“I'm sorry, is this a bad place for me to be?” She says, starting to stand up.

“No, no.” | say quickly. “You're welcome to stay here as long as you want. But why are crying.”

you here.

She sits back down and sniffles some more before answering. “You saw Leilani and Lolana?” “Yes, they have a human size now that they've mated with Alexander.”

She nods, not looking at me. She reaches out to touch the wilting flower again. “I’m very happy for them. This is what they’ve always wanted. What we all want. To be loved forever, to be good mates.” She sniffles again.

“Did something happen between you and Thomas?” | ask gently.

“No. Thomas is wonderful. He’s very kind and so sweet to me.” She says, touching another wilting flower.

“Then, what is it?”

“I'm broken.” She says and her voice breaks.

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“Oh. Tula.” Without thinking about it, | reach out and take her in my hands, sitting her in my lap like a child, wrapping my arm around her. “Thomas knew you didn’t have your wing before he

mated with you. He knew what he was getting into.” | tell her.

She leans her head against my chest, picking at her strange clothing. “But now he’s seen what can happen when we're not broken.”

She lifts her head and looks at me. “I’m happy for my friends, truly | am. | just wish | could be a true mate to Thomas too. He’s been so good to me, but I can never take another form because I’m

missing my wing.”

“Luna! Luna, have you seen.” A panicked Thomas comes running up to me. When he sees Tula

in my lap he stops.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Tula, I've been looking everywhere for you.” He says, gently pulling her from my lap.

As she starts crying, he holds her close. “Tula. I'm sorry, | didn’t know. It’s okay Tula, | don’t care that you can’t change form.” “I'm going to let you two talk.” | say, running my hand down Tula’s hair.

“But just remember Tula, wolves mate for life. Thomas doesn’t care about anything other tha having you in his life. You are the most important thing to him.” She nods her head against hi

neck.

‘Thank you, Luna.” Thomas mouths to me. | nod before turning to head inside.

| need to speak to King Ailduin. | want to know if there is a way that we can heal Tula. Cooper

Author

Two of the three sprites are mated. Poor Tula.

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