The next morning after breakfast Tristan, Kami and I gathered out front to see Cedric and Mat off on their trip back to Dark Forest.
"You two be safe, and hurry home." I hugged Cedric and then Mat, squeezing him tighter and hugging him longer than was really necessary, but this would be the first time I would be away from him for any kind of extended period in almost ten years.
Mat untangled himself from my arms and kissed my forehead, "It's just a few days Aly, we'll be back before you even really know we're gone."
"I know. It will just be weird not having you around, even just for a few days. Hopefully the preparations for having Lucian here will keep me distracted and time will fly." I felt Tristan take my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"You're tough, it'll be fine my love." He murmured softly against my temple before kissing it.
