Page 89 of Unravel Me

Davos sighs softly. "I'm afraid I can't help you much there, child. Tony never mentioned anything about any other Guardian besides Silvio."

"Silvio is a Guardian too?"

"He was, for four decades! And very much loved by everybody. But retired. Renato took over, and he’s far more rigid and harsh."

"Could any of his nephews be the next… Guardian?"

Davos sighs. "Tony mentioned that Guardians are either born that way or that the power can manifest later in one of the Silvari of their generation, if the Guardian has no direct descendants. Sometimes it appears in his nephews or other relatives. I have no idea if it has manifested in anyone after Renato. I don't know anything about that side of their family that left Rainbow Springs. It's like there's a conspiracy of silence around it. None of them ever talks about Silvio's youngest child, an omega named Aldo, who left for the big city. There are only rumors that they… disowned him, over something he did, but no one knows what."

"There is actually one alpha living in their house. His name is Mauro. Renato introduced him as his nephew."

Davos falls silent for a moment, as though turning the thought over in his mind.

"Is there? I'm afraid I don't know him. I've never even heard anyone mention the names of Renato's nephews. They stopped coming here years ago. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that there are other beings in this town who could look very much like what you described. I know at least several magical ABOs capable of transforming into something similar, so be careful before jumping to conclusions about the man you met in the forest. Around here, it feels like every other resident has some unusual gift."

Well, I'm one of those people myself. I carry my own strange little piece of magic, so maybe I really should hold off on drawing conclusions?

"Well… thank you. You've given me a lot to think about."

"I hope you're not in any trouble, child. I saw Tony at the farmers’ market last week. He casually mentioned that they’d spotted several black cars with tinted windows on the roads near their estate. They’re a little worried about it."

It surprises me, but I don’t say anything. The Santoros haven’t said anything about it to me, so maybe it’s no longer an issue.

"For now everything's fine. What I'm struggling with isn't danger. It's not knowing."

Davos laughs softly before answering. "You know, sometimes it's better not to know everything and simply let life unfold. The universe has a funny way of untangling its own knots, and sooner or later you realize things happened exactly the way they needed to."

"Thanks," I say before ending the call, whether I want to or not taking Davos's little dose of philosophy with me.

I'm just about to return the phone to Gianni when I hesitate.

Instead, I tap the browser icon. I notice it’s open to an article by an omega telling the story of meeting his True Mate in his late thirties.

Wow, is Gianni still hoping that some miracle might happen in his life? Poor guy. I can't say I don't understand his longing.

Sighing, I return to the subject of the Silvari and type:

"Forest spirits, forest deities, forest guardians, forest fae."

The first result reads:

"Forest spirits appear in the mythology of cultures all around the world, from the Slavic Leshy and Roman Silvanus to Greek Pan, dryads, and the Japanese Tengu. Despite their differences, they often share one important trait: they are rarely purely good or purely evil. Instead, they represent the untamed power of nature itself."

Curious, I keep scrolling.

"Many traditions describe these beings as guardians or rulers of forests who protect their territory and expect respect from those who enter it. The Leshy may guide respectful travelers but lead the arrogant astray. Tengu are known as tricksters who can abduct or confuse humans, yet they can also act as teachers or helpers. Pan, satyrs, and fauns embody fertility, wilderness, and instinct, while dryads are closely tied to the life of the trees they inhabit. Silvanus served as a Roman protector of forests and wild places…"

How interesting and somewhat fitting.

"Fae are a type of mythical beings found in the folklore of multiple European cultures, a form of spirit, often with magical, metaphysical, supernatural qualities…"

Muffled voices drift up from downstairs, pulling my attention away from the screen.

All right… enough research for now. I leave my room to return Gianni's phone, following the sound of the conversation below.

As I reach the top of the staircase, I realize it's actually the perfect place to eavesdrop. The acoustics carry voices from both the living room and the dining room with remarkable clarity.

Renato is talking to somebody I don’t recognize by his voice. His tone is somewhat gloomy.