It chirped a beautiful tune, bobbing its head. Its beak clicked together as it bent down to nuzzle my cheek.

"Wow..." breathed Markus, his eyes trained on the slim, streamline bird that resembled a mix of a stork, a phoenix, and had the fluffy tail of a mink. "Its beautiful."

I smiled when it chirped in response to his praise. "This creature now exists because I made it with my magic. How about you hold onto it for now while I show you why I am a hybrid."

Markus' shaking hands took the large bird, and it sat down on his forearm, snuggling into the crook of his arm.

Honestly, while I did make that bird to prove something, it was also supposed to be a guardian for Matteo's family. I made sure that it could not be seen by anyone other than the Knight family, and that it could never be stolen or coerced through magic or mind-manipulation to do anything it wasn't supposed to.

I hadn't liked seeing that cruel, crimson gleam in Caleb's memories. There was something off about it. There's no way it would stay away just because Caleb did as told. It was just waiting for the right time to strike. But who was that person who showed Caleb his supposed future?

I sighed and shook my head, moving away from Matteo. He mooed quietly, but I chuckled. Markus' head snapped up as I smoothly transitioned into my huge form. My field of view changed and I could see over the trees in the park. My wings were a bit stiff, so I stretched them out and tilted my head back to release my call of the wolf side. It made the air tremble and lights began to turn on in the dark.

I lowered my head and laid down, nosing Matteo to shift. He sniffed my face and gently licked my nose before doing as I had wanted.

"You really are massive, Anwyll." Matteo chuckled, which made my chest puff with pride.

"I'm much smaller than Daddy and Uncle Andros, though."

"Even so, you're a fantastic size."

I pulled my lips back to grin, then snorted when Markus flinched away. I poked his shoulder with the tip of my nose and blinked at him.

"I told you, Markus."

He sighed. "Yeah, you sure did."

"What is the bird's name?"

Markus frowned. "Aren't you the one who made it?"

I rolled my eyes. "I made this bird for you and your family. It is your guardian spirit, so to speak. You are to name it and I will bless it."

Matteo's head shot up. "You really did that for them, Anwyll?" he asked through a whisper.

I turned my head and nuzzled his chest, gently flicking my tongue out to catch the tip along his jawline. "Yes, Mattie. I know you still care about them. And with that unknown threat, they will be safe under that bird's protection. They will be safe and so will their bloodlines."

"Thank you, Master!" he whimpered quietly, tightly hugging my snout. "Thank you so much."

Markus let out a sigh, so Matteo backed up a bit, but moved under my head and clung to my fur by my chest. I turned my head and sniffed the bird, which chirped at me since it was still able to recognize me.

"I don't know why this bird is necessary for my family, but thank you, Anwyll. I know I haven't been the nicest person to you, but you still chose to make something to protect me and my family. Since this beautiful bird will be the protector of the Knight family, I want to name it Tien."

I smiled again. "Then its name will be Tien and it will be female. Bring her to me."

Markus stepped forward and the bird stood up, standing tall and proud in front of me. I chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"From now on and forevermore, your name will be Tien. You are to protect the Knight family and its descendants from evil, but do not protect those are inherently evil. I have imbued you with knowledge to choose how to live within the family, but you cannot be stolen, inherently changed, removed from power, nor manipulated to do anything you were not meant to do. You are unable to abuse your authorities, but you can come to me if there are no more Knights to protect and you may ask for something as long as it is within my means. You are tethered to me, as my creation, and that is why you can come to me for even a visit."

Tien spread her wings wide and released a call that made the fur on my body stand on end. I chuckled to myself. I think I made a powerful creature.

Matteo patted my chest, so I dipped my head and nosed my paws while he said, "Anwyll, let's head home."

"Yeah, let's do that. Climb on, Mattie."

He stared at my body at first, then jumped up and clambered up to rest in the dip of where my neck meets my shoulders. He clutched onto my fur, then wowed quietly.

"Hey, what about me?"

I glanced down at Markus, who was still holding Tien. I chuckled. "Climb on, Markus. It will take far less than a minute to get to your abode."

Markus used my left hind leg to clamber onto my haunches and then carefully climbed onto my back. He cautiously walked up my spine, between my wings, then settled himself at Matteo's back. I glanced back at the two, then slowly stood up.

As I spread my wings, I heard shouts of alarm. I chuckled when I realized it was those kids from last night. I blew a breath of memory loss across their bodies as I swept my wings down. I leaped up and felt my wings strain for a moment until we were up into the air.

Matteo clutched onto my fur as I flew into the darkness of the night. I decided to fly around a bit longer, since Markus was shocked and amazed. Matteo was amazed too, but I could sense his arousal. It was a bit surprising, but I was excited for it.

I landed softly and silently in the middle of the street, and then shifted back once the step-brothers were off me. Markus continued petting Tien, who looked extremely pleased with the affection and attention. He even kissed his guardian's head and I could almost swear Tien blushed.

Matteo lifted me and kissed my cheek as we went inside the house. Sara popped up from the couch as the door shut, but she paused when her eyes zeroed in on the albino creature made purely of my infinite magic.

"What is that?" she asked, cautiously moving closer. "Is that a bird?"

"Yes, Mom. Anwyll made it for us."

"Made it?" Sara looked even more puzzled. "It looks alive."

Tien chirped, and Sara flinched. She clutched at her shirt, her breaths coming out as short puffs.

"I am not really a human, Sara." I said softly. "But I am not an evil being. I created that bird to protect your family from harm."

She stared at me like I was crazy. Tien noticed and her feathers ruffled from annoyance.

"Mom, it's true. I watched him create Tien from nothing." defended Markus, and Sara snapped her head back towards him.

Matteo tucked my body closer as Tien stood to her full height of three feet and spread her wings wide, keeping Markus protected from the icy glare of his mother. My smile remained on my face, and Matteo kissed my cheekbone.

Sara looked back and forth at us and Tien. "This is too much for me right now. I'm going to bed." she sighed, leaving the living room and heading upstairs.

Tien chirped and cuddled into Markus' arms again. He quietly thanked her for defending him, then turned to me. "Does she need to eat anything?" he asked, rubbing her head with his thumb and forefinger.

I shook my head. "No, but she might like a bit of fruit from time to time."

He smiled happily. "Honestly, thank you, Anwyll. I'll be sure to cherish her."

My soft giggle made him smile wider and lean over to kiss my cheek. Matteo tightened his grip, but relaxed when I pushed my right hand into his hair and rubbed his scalp.

"You're welcome, Markus. And I know that she already cherishes you. Oh, and you don't have to leave her anywhere to protect the family. She can create multiples of herself that have the same abilities, and just by having her here has created a shield of sorts around this house."

"What about Dad?" he asked quietly, and Matteo said nothing.

I smiled. "He is protected by the will I have imbued in her creation, but I will take a copy of her to Caleb tomorrow."

Markus looked at Matteo. "Are you okay with that?"

Matteo sighed aloud. "Yes and no, but I am happy with Anwyll's decision."

I kissed his temple, hugging his neck. "I am happy that you're pleased by choice."

Markus' face twisted with annoyance. "Stop flirting!"

Matteo and I laughed quietly, passing by him towards the stairs. "We won't, but we will take our flirting upstairs." I said with a wink, and Markus' face flushed before he disappeared from view as Matteo ascended with me.

We entered the bedroom and he shut the door, firmly locking it. I was set on the edge of the bed, then Matteo knelt down in front of me.

"Matteo?"

His head was down, so I couldn't see his face. He heaved a shuddering sigh and took off my shoes, grabbing my socked feet. He began removing my socks, absolutely quiet until my feet were bare.

"Such small feet." he said in a soft, tender tone. I could hear that he was smiling while he spoke, so he must still be doing so.

He lifted my feet in his hands and gently kissed the tops of them. I blushed when he looked up. A fiery passion resided in those dark blue depths.

"I really don't deserve you, Master Anwyll." he said firmly, bowing his head and pressing kisses to my feet.

I shivered from the ticklish sensations, feeling his hair sweep over my skin, his lips on my toes, and his breath ghosting over my feet. I felt myself harden, but didn't say anything while Matteo did what he felt he needed to do.

He slowly left open-mouthed kisses up both legs to my knees, where he stopped for a moment to look up into my face.

"I really don't deserve you," he repeated in earnest. "But I love you too much to let you go."

I smiled gently and cupped his cheeks, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "I know, Matteo. I know why you feel that way, and while you are not fully blameless for your actions, I know that you won't ever commit those ones again. Because, Mattie, I love you. I love you so much, and I hope that my love for you fills the cracks and helps in the mending of your ripped, tattered heart."

Matteo closed his eyes for a moment, his eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly. He heaved a shuddering breath and opened his eyes as a tear rolled down one cheek.

"Master Anwyll, you have no idea." he said with a tearful smile. "Your love has allowed me to feel happy, loved, and whole. I have never felt that way in my entire life until you came along. I am so grateful that you gave me another chance, because I know I would not have come back here had you not stayed by my side."

"I am just happy you let me in, Matteo. You were so lonely, hurt, and scared. I am happy that you've shared your story and your life with me, and that we share these moments together." I said, gently meeting his lips with mine.

He slid his hands from my knees to curl his arms around my waist. He settled himself between my thighs, as we slowly kissed away the tears and filled ourselves with joyfulness.

"How about," I started quietly, "I clean us up with magic, and we can sleep together right now?"

Matteo nuzzled my jaw. "Whatever will make you happiest, Master. I just want to be close to you."

"And you will be." I smiled, cleansing the both of us in an instant.

Matteo frowned. "That felt a bit odd."

"It's nice, though. Like a soft breeze sweeping over us."

He hummed, then kissed my cheek again as we moved to the middle of the bed. I used my magic to make our clothes appear back in our suitcases, and Matteo shivered when I guided him under the covers to rest on top of me again. We sighed in relief, wrapped up in each other's arms.

"Doesn't this feel so much better?" I asked with a smile, threading my fingers into his dark hair.

Matteo kissed my collarbones. "Yes, bare skin is definitely better." he mumbled, then yawned.

I followed suit with a yawn and relaxed into the mattress. "Goodnight, Mattie. I love you."

"Night, Master. Love you, too." he murmured his response, barely conscious.

My eyes studied the ceiling for a few seconds while my ears took in the soft snores of my beloved bull. My eyes closed, my consciousness sinking deeper.