I hummed and threaded my claws through her hair. I did not like where this was going. She had no memories of her past? Of Earth, where she was born, or her birth ogamie? “And how old were you then?” I tried not to sound upset, or pry. These were things I needed to know. I wanted to know everything about her and her connections with the royalty here and her parents.
Where were her parents?
“It was just after the war when I was brought here; fifteen?” Her finger traced over a large scar on my knee. “What happened here?”
I delicately weaved my fingers through her hair, gently untangling each knot. The lustrous texture of her flowing locks captivated me, shimmering like silk under my touch. The subtle fragrance wafting from her tresses enveloped me, calming the drums in my chest. “I didn’t get it from the war, if that is what you are thinking. I was a foolish orcling and caught myself in a trap.”
Her eyes widened. “It’s a big scar.”
Does she always skip to the next subject so quickly?
I chuckled. “My seeded orgamo, that is my father who planted his seed in my ogamie,- mymom, set a trap for an ogre. Have you heard of them?”
My miresa nodded quickly. “Yes, if I ever hear or smell one, because they stink something hideous, I am to hide, preferably in a field of flowers, so they can’t smell me. They have bad noses.”
My miresa was smart. “My good, fairy. You always do that. If for any reason I am not around, you continue to do this, but you will not have to worry about being alone anymore because I will protect you.” I squeezed her hip, and her eyes widened. “You like it when I say you are my good fairy, don’t you?” She nodded slowly.
Did her orgamo and ogamie not praise her enough? Did they not watch her enough? By the gods under the soil, why would they let her be alone.
Unless she was escaping all the time, she seemingly has a tendency to get into trouble.
“But, yes, my orgamo told me to stay home and tend to chores. I didn’t listen, and the trap he set had serrated edges to snap onto the leg of an ogre. I decided to track my orgamo, andinstead of looking at the footpath where a trap could have been set, I placed my foot in the middle, setting off the blade. I wasn’t quick enough to escape. It grazed my leg, leaving a large gash. If I was a second later, I would have lost my leg.”
My miresa placed her hand over it. “How old were you?”
“A young orcling, many, many moons ago. I healed quickly but my ogamie was furious with me. She made me stay in the cabin for weeks as punishment. Just as I will make you do if you disobey me.”
Calliope crossed her arms. “How can I disobey you if I’m always tied to you?”
I barked out a laugh and rubbed my hand over her head. “Ah, that will keep you out of trouble and not hidden in our cabin, won’t it?”
“No, it won’t, I’ll find other ways to annoy you.” She stuck out her tongue.
My miresa was feisty and bratty. Her innocence and freedom were clear, and I couldn’t determine if it was due to her upbringing by the fae or her memory loss. What in the Moon Fairy’s name happened to her?
“Miresa, you are twenty-five now?”
She hummed in agreement. “Yesterday was my first time attending a ball, though. Uncle Osirus has been trying to get me to go since I was eighteen, but Mom is really protective of me. She doesn’t let me do anything.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to sneak out to have any fun and then I get caught. She just tells me not to do it again, so, of course I’m just gonna.” She laughed and slapped her knee. “Silly Mom.”
Hmm, yes. Silly.
My miresa should have been attending the ball for years, so that meant her brain was not that of a child. She was considered an adult in both body and mind. Then, why was she so playful?
But even the queen could lack common sense when she was playful with the king. Perhaps this was just a courting gesture?
I scratched my chin and watched her as she petted her companion. I dared not even think to call this goat a pet, because I believe she would scold me. She had an intuition about certain things. She did not fear me, and she seemed to trust me.
For now.
I had vows to keep, and Calliope is one who would be devastated if I do not keep them. I could tell just by her personality. If I said I would hang a star for her in the night sky, I best do it.
I placed another bite of muffin in her mouth. She said nothing as I fed her and continued to thank the Moon Fairy for this gift in my lap. It wasn’t long until the peace was broken when I heard murmurs down the passageway, on the other side of the rock wall I replaced so no one could get inside.
“We know you are in there,”I heard. My hearing wasn’t as strong as a shifter, but I did know it was a male, muffled voice.“Valpar, you need to come out. We must speak with you.”
I growled and held my miresa tightly in my lap.Mine.
“What’s wrong, big guy, did you want a muffin to?” She took a muffin from the table and placed it next to my mouth. I took it in one bite and sucked on her fingers. She gasped as I licked each one, and the blacks of her eyes grew wide.
