“But how will you save her?” I question, he takes another moment in thought before replying.
“I will find out what I can from my father then I will return to you in a few days. We will find the rest of the rebels together to formulate a plan. One does not just simply storm into thePalace. We will need the numbers and the combined magics of the rebels. We must also find some excuse for entry. Leave it to me,” he says.
I nod and grab his hand to give it a little reassuring squeeze. “Will you be all right here Nuria? I don’t want to leave you if you feel unsafe.” He squeezes my hand back.
“You must, for Oleander. I will be fine with the old man. Don’t worry about me,” I say, giving him a playful little shove but I feel more than a little apprehensive about being left in this strange place, with this strange magic.
“If you run into Mar on your way to the estate can you let her know I am all right?” I ask and he nods, his eyes seem to have a new set determination to them which makes my heart flutter.Damn, he is beautiful. This… this is what draws me in.
“I should depart as soon as I can. My father will be suspicious if I am away much longer.” He grabs my other hand and looks down at my mouth for a split second.Is he going to kiss me goodbye? Are we people who kiss goodbye now?I think I accidentally still have the channel of our thoughts open from before because he chuckles before leaning in to kiss me.
I let myself soften into it and bring my hands up to his neck as he places his hands down on my legs and leans in.Oh wow, this feels good. Before we can really get into it he pulls away and gives me a swift peck on the forehead before standing and heading for the door, wrapping his cloak back around his shoulders and sliding on his boots as he goes. “Stay safe,” is all he says and gives me a wink before disappearing around the corner.
I am left, kneeling on the floor, staring out the doorway, feeling the tingle of where our lips met and immediately feel his absence.How can I miss someone so much already? I shake my head and get up to dress myself, wondering what my days of waiting will look like, already impatient for his return. Impatientto get out of here and find Oleander. I need a distraction or I will go crazy.
Perhaps Gaius needs help with the animals. I know enough about animal care from my summer at the Easthelm Wildlife Rescue that I could be of some use. I also think of the mess so many creatures would leave in a confined space for multiple days and shudder at the memories of cleaning the enclosures at the rescue centre.It’s for the good of the animals…
When I am done tying up my dress and pulling on my boots I turn around and am met with the grey wolf, standing in my doorway, staring at me. I freeze and suck in a breath.Shit…shit shit shit.
Calm yourself. I stick by my vows to Gaius,I hear a feminine voice roll through my mind. My eyes widen and I blow out a breath I had been holding.
“How can I hear you? Am I still dreaming?” I pinch myself hard but am just left with an angry red mark while I am indeed still standing in front of the wolf.
Do not be senseless. Where has the large one gone?She shakes her head causing the dense fur around her neck to swish side to side. Understanding dawns on me as I register that I am able to hear her thoughts because she brushed up against me last night. My eyes widen at the implication of being able to read the thoughts of an animal.
“Gaius can hear your thoughts too!” I say, she just huffs a sigh and trots away. “Wait!” I call after her, running out of the room and down the tunnel that leads back to Gaius’ space. Iwillget some answers!
I come careening around the corner, nearly tumbling into a doe, and have to grab the wall of the tunnel to stop myself. She lets out a little yelp in response and jumps out of my way, prancing across to the other side of the cave, her bambi following close behind, eyeing me warily.
“Sorry!” I whisper-yell as they retreat, so as to not scare anymore of the creatures. I scan the room for the wolf and see she is back on the sofa, her spot, and is glaring at me.
Be quiet, clumsy fae. Gaius is in trance.I hear her say as she tips her head in the direction of the crystal cave.
Gaius is floating, cross-legged in the centre of the small cave and appears to be humming to himself.What in the actual –His eyes snap open and he plops down onto his butt, his hair stays floating above his head for a split second before getting the memo about gravity and springing back into place.
“Oh, you have awoken,” he says as he nimbly uncrosses his legs and hops out of the cave. He walks right up to me, leaning his face close to mine while squinting and scrunching his eyebrows together. “You have been in the crystals. I warned you, you were not ready!” he accuses, pointing his boney finger at me.
“I had no control over that! I was dreaming. Also, why did you not tell me that you are an Etherealist?” I counter, pointing my finger back in his face.
He makes aharrumphsound and waves his hands by his head. “You never asked!” he chuckles. “The crystals came to you in a dream, you say? Hmm we will have to remedy this.” He chews on his top lip, surely getting a mouth full of moustache as he regards me. I try to ask him how we would remedy that when he interrupts, ”I see the fire wielder’s son has departed. Good good.” He seems to be speaking to himself but raises an eyebrow at me.
“How did you know Embrys is the son of the man who started the fires?” I ask, raising my eyebrow back at him and placing both my hands on my hips.
“I know a great many things, child.” He turns and motions to the crystal cave. “I have not heard the term Etherealist in a long while, but I suppose you may claim me to be of the House ofEther. Others know me as a Mind Walker.” He spins around and walks over to the sofa, plopping himself down next to the wolf.
I give her a wary glance, still not entirely trusting and she huffs, rolling her eyes, as she jumps down, making space for me to sit next to Gaius. I tentatively walk over and sit at the edge of the sofa, taking as much space as possible between me and the old man.
“I was told the House of Ether had been wiped out since the reign of The Wolf King, something about their allegiance to the late King?” I ask, looking at this man in a new light as I realize that I may be related to him. A bit of hope glimmers in my cracked heart.
“I absconded from my duties to the rulers of this continent long before The Owl even ascended to the throne. You see, my talents were not particularly well suited to aiding the royal line.” He shrugs and I look around at his cave.
“You mean you’ve beenherefor hundreds of years? How old are you?” The thought of how long a fae life could be is a daunting thing.
“Most do not live to this age. I have been sustained by my work with the crystals. I wandered for a great many years after leaving my duties, before stumbling upon this cave. This forest called to me and told me of its lore and its need for help. In exchange for my protection of the animals, she gifted me access to her magic.” His eyes sparkle at the memory. A bunny hops up into his lap and nestles in.
“What do you mean by ‘leaving your duties’?” I ask and another bunny jumps up onto the couch and sniffs in my direction, twitching its little nose, before deciding I am safe and jumping into my lap; I flinch and keep my hands far away from its mouth, remembering the blood thirsty bunny from the Tanglewood Forest.
“This is not the kind you fear. The Tanglewoods have their own special breed,” Gaius chuckles and I visibly relax. I give the bunny a tentative stroke then decide it is just a cute, harmless thing that isn’t vying for my blood. Gaius shakes his head and continues on answering my questions.
