‘Lia.’ Jak smiles warmly in surprise when he sees her, stepping forward.
‘Jak! I didn’t realize you were back. When did you return?’ she asks.
‘About a week or so ago,’ he says a bit noncommittally and I wonder if, like me, he doesn’t quite remember the specifics.
Then he grins and embraces her. ‘I didn’t know you’d returned from the Underhill either.’
She looks surprised, freezing for a moment when he touches her, but then shakes her head and her arm snakes around his back.
‘Gods, Jak. There are few besides you who will brave the Harbinger’s wrath simply to give me a hug,’ she laughs.
He rolls his eyes. ‘You saved us all from Varrik’s mad plans as well as the revenge of the Dark Realms itself. You will never be some deadly, faceless sentinel to me regardless of what some in the Underhill would have us all believe.’
‘Thank you, Jak.’ Her smile dims a little. ‘Isbeth assures me that as soon as Fiana is brought to justice, the propaganda won’t need to be so…pervasive. It would be nice fornot everyonetobe so terrified of me that they avoid even looking in my general direction. Little Ath is getting older now. He’s beginning to notice more, and I’d rather not have to tell him about…certain things yet.’
‘Is he still in the Underhill?’ I ask.
Thalia nods. ‘Until he’s of age and passes the trials, he can only leave with special permission. So, at least ten summers to go. I suppose it’s for the best. He’s always with Dane, Grey, Kal, or I. He wants for nothing and Grey’s cousins are teaching him to fish at the moment.’
The woman in front of me lets out a sigh and then gives herself a little shake. ‘Anyway, I’m only back for a day or two. They don’t like me to be gone for too long. I doubt they’d allow me to leave at all either if the Harbinger wasn’t adamant that Halsford is under its protection as well.’
Jak nods. ‘We’re all thankful for that, Lia.’
She snorts and I recall that I heard that she’s not permitted on the village council nor the fae one because some in the Underhill didn’t want a human in a decision-making position, especially not one as powerful as the Harbinger. Some seem to see her as merely a glorified fae guard, others as a novelty, but few of those in positions of authority want her in any role of real influence. More’s the pity. She’d make a fine councilor in both places.
‘We wondered if Dane was about,’ I say.
‘Aye, he’s up. Come in,’ Lia says. ‘He’s in the council chamber, I believe, going over petitions for tree clearages for more cottages to be built this summer.’
She surveys me. ‘You’d be of great help, Morgan, if you’re willing.’
‘Of course,’ I acquiesce.
‘What do we need Dane for?’ Jak asks.
‘And our thanks,’ I continue, ignoring Jak with a bow of my head as we enter the home of the Harbinger and her three mates when they’re in the Light Realm, and not with their little faeling in the Underhill.
We follow Lia down the corridor and through a small door that separates the rooms of their home from the more official center of Halsford, and we find Dane at the long table at the front of the room where the village council, modelled after its fae counterpart in the fae realm, sit when the meetings are in session.
‘Dane,’ Lia calls, and I glance away from them, my cheeks heating a little at the unbridled lust in Dane’s expression when he looks at his mate.
He rises as she nears him, taking her hand and pulling her close. He says something quietly to her that I ensure my ears do not pick up by turning in the opposite direction and clearing my throat, though I hear Jak cough to cover a chuckle.
‘What can I do for you, Morgan? Jak?’ Dane asks.
Lia gives Dane a light kiss on the cheek. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
I wait until she walks from the room, closing the door behind her, before turning back to Dane.
‘You told me a story once,’ I begin, glancing at Jak and hesitating.
‘About a love conjure that was cast and how the…uh…recipient was able to be rid of it?'
Dane’s lips turn upwards a little.
‘Jak was in Varrik’s fold with us,’ he says a little dryly. ‘He knows that story well, and he’s aware that I was therecipientof that fateful conjure. What is it you need? My skill with magick, I assume?’
I let out a long breath. ‘I wouldn’t ask unless it was necessary.’
