“Why would you?” My fingers rolled inwards as I stepped back.
Lioran ran his hand through his hair. I thought he couldn’t waver from his unnatural calm, but here he was, completely undone.
Lioran exhaled. “I planned to tell you. I wanted to.”
“Lioran,” Fyn warned.
“She knows,” Lioran replied.
He watched me destroy the land.
He could have left me there. I half expected him to.
“I’ll give you two a moment.” Fyn nodded to me before he walked off.
“You didn’t, because you didn’t trust me.” I crossed myarms over my chest. He shouldn’t have. Even I knew that, but it didn’t stop my frustration from boiling over.
“I think you know what’s it’s like to keep secrets you wish you didn’t have to keep.” Lioran stepped forward again. “This spiral didn’t just happen. It’s been brewing within you.” His eyes met mine.
“How would you know?” I asked.
“Your magic existed within you long before you knew it. You walked amongst those who hated your kind—some who maybe even knew what you possessed.”
“You know nothing about me, or my magic,” I protested. “You couldn’t stop it.”
“Your magic is like mine.” Lioran’s eyes narrowed. “We’re connected to the land.”
I shook my head in quiet protest. It didn’t feel like I was connected to anything at all.
“Are there a lot of fae like us?”
“No, before today, I thought it was only me.” His throat bobbed. “I meant what I said. If you come to the Heart with me, I will help you find someone to guide you. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
I didn’t know if I could ever trust him, but I knew I couldn’t risk my magic spiraling again. There were no words I could have spoken. I only nodded.
Chapter 9
“Those few days of rest were exactly what you needed.” Neena bowed her head, placing salve in my bag. “Have patience with him. He’s stubborn, but when he finally lets someone in, he cares completely.”
“Thank you.” I smiled softly.
Lioran tugged his black leather vest taut. His hand gripped Veylar’s saddle. “Thank you again for everything, Neena.”
His hand wrapped around my waist, steadying me as I pulled myself up onto his stallion. Veylar’s rhythm was one with the land as he carried us through the lush forest of Lythira. Lioran commanded his horse without words down the winding path.
A familiar screech cut through the rustling trees—a falcon soared overhead. Muscles seized in my back as it slid into a nearby tree.
Lioran and Fyn exchanged glances.
The falcon circled us.
Memories of Thalen flashed in mymind—the way he commanded the falcon as if it were an extension of him. My fists clenched tight until my palms throbbed.
Only fae could cross the divide. Could his bird?
“Keep an eye out, Fyn.” Lioran shifted in the saddle, gripping Veylar’s reins tighter.
The falcon circled us for an hour and then finally disappeared before sunset. Thunder cracked, dividing the sky. Tiny orange embers descended into the darkness as Fyn prodded the fire. Lioran unrolled mats not far beside it.
