“The damn thing scares me.” She lifted it off her chest to look at it. “And now it scares me even more because thosemonstersare willing to kill me for it.”
That word shot out of her mouth like a sharpened arrow aimed straight at my heart. It was a direct hit. I was one of those monsters, albeit a stronger one, but I was no different. Was her perception of me altered because I resembled her physically? Or did she view me the same as my brethren and was too terrified to admit it out of fear?
“It was meant to make your life happier, not scare you.”
“Happier? It twisted everything I ever asked for.” Her chin quivered. “It killed my father. I should’ve known better, considering who it came from.”
Determined to keep her talking and build trust with her, I sat in front of her and crossed my legs to appear as non-threatening as possible. “There are two sides to everything in life, just likea coin. Call them what you will—light and dark, positive and negative—but they must balance. Your world is ruled by time, and consequences—good or bad—can occur at any point in your lifeline. This place is ruled by magic. That power is vast and ancient and demands immediate balance. You say you want the polar opposite of what you were gifted, but it senses the intent behind the spoken word. Sometimes, it manifests in cruel ways. Either way, it delivers exactly what you desire.”
“So, I killed my father?”
“No.” Her gaze snapped to mine. “You did no such thing.”
She looked away. I could see her mind racing as she thought about what I said. I hoped she relieved herself and me of that guilt. It was what it was. Simple as that.
The moment awareness struck, her face scrunched up in deep thought. “It delivers things I don’t wish for though.”
A small, satisfied smile tugged at my mouth. Calista bonded with the realm through the wishing stone. It was one less thing to accomplish now that she was here. “But you do, in that moment.”
Calista rested her cheek on her propped fist and flicked at the crumbled bits of grout around the loose brick. She would need to digest and accept the realm on her own terms. I could help her if she would let me, but trust wasn’t there yet.
I left her to think and collected her jewelry scattered over the floor, putting it back in the upturned box. A piece lay under one of the boards of the bookshelf. I moved it out of the way and paused when I came face to tortured face with a miniature goblin. I picked up the remaining baubles and put them in the box, staring at the statue.
“Where were you while your room was ransacked?” I asked, testing her honesty.
“I was bored and went for a walk.”
That wasn’t the complete truth. I turned in her direction. “Where?”
Calista’s finger hesitated before flicking another bit across the floor. “The castle.”
“Calista.”
Her head fell back slightly, and she sighed. “And to Bobbins’ shop. And before you ask, yes, I was alone.”
The box dug into my squeezing palm. She had a target on her head, and probably a large bounty to entice others to join Pearce’s cause, and she was gallivanting in the area he first tried to kill her. She couldn’t be trusted as much as him.
I picked up the goblin with great care, noting how damaged it was, and held it out to Calista. An overflow of mixed emotions poured through my connection with the stone without tapping into it. Sorrow and compassion diluted the others as she gingerly took it from my outstretched hand.
“I found it in a pile of trash,” she said softly and stroked a reverent fingertip over its cheek. “I couldn’t leave it there.”
My love for her grew with every delicate touch. She may have called them monsters, but her compassion for them was evident. I wondered if the realm made it easy for her to find, calling her through the forming bond to sway her preconceived notions. He wasn’t safe there, bound to be destroyed by careless passersby, just as she wasn’t safe here.
Calista stood and brushed her hand over her bottom. “I should clean before the lineup.”
“Leave it. This room is no longer safe for you.”
“This place isn’t safe for me.”
It wasn’t, and I hated admitting that. “No, it’s not.”
Hope filled eyes met mine. “Will you send me home then?”
Her safety was my first priority. If it came down to it, would I release her from our agreement? “No.” Her chin dropped, andshe hugged the statue to her chest. “I’ll have the servants collect your things.”
“Where are you moving me to?”
“My room.”
