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"Yes. Step carefully--don't enter the ring because it's a snare. Then, continue for about an hour. Turn right after you walk between the Twin Oaks--you can't miss them, they're the only oaks in the area--and you'll find the Marburry Barrow. The oaks are portals, though--and they will thrust you into my world and if there are Indigo Fae around, you'll die. I guarantee it."
"We have to try. We can't just leave them out there."
Grieve paused, then added, "Cicely, there are creatures in the wood--dangerous beasts that the Indigo Court breed and train. And then, there are the Shadow Hunters. They . . . we . . . bring a new definition to fear."
"I think I met one of their beasts already. A tillynok."
"Tillynoks used to be safe enough, but everything in the wood's been tainted by Myst's energy." He stared at his nails. "I can't help you any more than I have. At least . . . not now, not yet."
He looked at me then, without any facade, and I caught a glimpse of the old Grieve, the Grieve I remembered from so many years ago. The Grieve who had stared at me so sorrowfully when he was preparing me for life on the road with Krystal.
I moved closer to him, wanting to comfort him. As I placed my hand on his arm, he looked up--almost too quickly--his new side warring with the old--and covered my fingers with his. The wolf's head on my stomach let out a low whimper, and I moved in, pressing my hands on his shoulders.
And then--in a blur of movement--he raced to the window and was gone like a leaf caught up in the wind. The curtains around the open window swirled and I ran over to stare out into the night. There, loping toward the forest, ran a wolf. I raised one hand, then watched as an owl rose from the trees--the great horned bird I'd seen before. Spiraling, it glided on the wind, following the wolf back into the wood.
I slowly returned to bed.
What now? I had to tell the others. We had to go rescue Heather and Peyton. And Rhiannon and Leo deserved to know that Grieve and I were actually lovers. They wouldn't be happy, but I couldn't keep it a secret. I slipped on my robe and crept out into the hallway, tapping lightly on Rhiannon's door.
She answered, looking sleepy but still awake.
"Leo went to work, but not back to the party. Come in," she said. Closing the door behind me, she bundled me over to her bed and I crawled under the comforter with her. We snuggled like we had when we were children, and as she softly touched my cheek, I realized she already knew.
"So then. Grieve." Her words were measured, but her eyes filled with understanding.
"You can tell?"
"Yes. I heard you both--talking low. And I can see it in your face. You love him, don't you? Terribly so?"
"Yes, Grieve. He came to me tonight. Please, understand. I needed him. Grieve has a tattoo of my face on his thigh. Just like I have my wolf. He got it before he met me."
"I . . . I think there's nothing that can keep you two apart. Whatever binds you together is stronger than the Indigo Court or the vampires." She smiled. "Was it good?"
I laughed then. "Yes, oh yes. Grieve is . . . he's what I need. He's who I'm meant to be with. I know you can't help but be suspicious, but Grieve isn't like the others. He fights against his vampiric nature. He isn't truly part of the Indigo Court. He's trying to help us. And he told me where to find Heather and Peyton."
"Alive? Where? Can we get to them now?"
I told her what Grieve had told me. "I think we can trust him."
She sobered. "It sounds like we're going to need more help. We don't dare go through the wood at night. It's far too dangerous."
"We have Marta's stash of goodies to go through. First light, we'll see what we can fashion for protection. And you said Kaylin will be over tomorrow? Will he help us?"
"Maybe," Rhia said, her smile flickering in the gentle light from the candle that was burning on her nightstand. Rosemary and lavender, it was enchanted for protection, for peace of mind. I inhaled deeply and held my breath, letting the fragrance work its magic on my thoughts.
"When are you and Leo getting married?" I asked after a few minutes.
"I don't know," she said softly. "I adore him. He's good to me and we get along, and I think I want to marry him. But I don't know if we have what you and Grieve seem to have. Maybe every great love story is different."
"I never thought I'd find him again, to be honest. And now . . . it's harder than it ever promised to be." I propped my back against the headboard and pulled the comforter up over us. "What makes you think you don't have the same level of passion that Grieve and I share?"
"I'm so afraid of losing control--because of the fire. I'm afraid of hurting people. Of hurting . . . Leo. I always hold a part of myself back."
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave a tight squeeze. "You have to learn to control the flames, Rhia. You can't let your fear overpower you forever. It will backfire and then where will you be? Where will we all be?"
And then, because we were both exhausted and didn't want to talk about vampires or blood or anything outside the walls of the room, we blew out the candle and slid back under the covers. Holding hands like we had when we were young, we fell asleep to the soft sound of the air cleaner.
Chapter 14
