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He took another turn and waved, meeting as many pairs of eyes as he could. He nodded and smiled, and from his heart silently thanked these fellow realm-folk who’d lived in constant danger from Axton and The Society all these centuries.
At last, he faced Illiandra and Gervassay again, and the latter lifted his arms, encouraging the crowd to quiet down. “And now, Illiandra and I will show Mastyr Malik our fair town.”
This seemed to be a prearranged cue, because the town folk scattered like mad, running here and there back to their shops and dwellings. Many laughing collisions couldn’t be avoided.
Malik had no idea what was going on until the wraith couple took the lead, asking Malik and Willow to follow behind.
Okay, he never thought he’d be part of a processional going down what proved to be two miles of a very long High Street. It turned out that the few wraith families Willow protected was a township with surrounding farms, villages and hamlets for a combined population some twenty thousand strong.
He’d never smiled so much or felt so deeply honored in his entire existence than during this walk he shared with Willow. Many called out her name as well and blessed her for her service. She blushed often, as if unused to the accolades.
At the end of the High Street, a small villa came into view. But what caught his eye was how the land really opened up, and he had to blink several times. Ashleaf Realm as a forested mountain world had little pasture and farmland, yet that’s exactly what he saw as a soft, green landscape rolled to the western horizon as far as the eye could see.
And Willow’s protective spell had kept all of this from view.
He tried to think just how many times he might have flown over the same square miles – thousands of times, no doubt – but he had no real recollection of any unaccounted for land.
Once more he was stunned by Willow’s level of power and how she could prevent even his eyes from seeing this land.
When Illiandra reached the path to the villa, she turned to him. “Gervassay and I would like Willow to show you the breadth of the colony, if you would fly her over. And when you’re done, come back here and we’ll share a meal together. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful.” Yet, the word seemed inadequate.
Gervassay offered his arm to his wife, and when they headed down the front path to their home, Malik took Willow high into the air so he could get a bird’s eye view of the protected twenty square miles. To Willow, he pathed, How do you do it? How do you shield this much land?
He passed over a number of farms and a few smaller villages and hamlets. The countryside was more pastoral than any other part of his realm.
I’ll make a confession, Willow responded. One of the reasons I decided to bring you here was because I’ve reached some sort of limit in my protective ability.
Alexandra the Bad taught me well and I’ve gained in power under Illiandra’s tutelage. But right now, I’m maxed out. If one more baby is born, or one more home built, or if any of the flocks increase in size, I don’t think I’ll be able to offer the same level of protection.
You’ve been burdened.
I’m not complaining, Malik, I promise you that. I’ve loved serving the colony all this time. It’s been my privilege.
He thought about the deaths of her parents. And a way of honoring your mother’s family.
Yes, at the very least that.
But now you need help.
There’s no question in my mind that I can’t do this alone anymore.
CHAPTER FIVE
Later, Willow sat beside Malik at Illiandra’s table. Their hostess served a simple vegetable soup with stoneware in a beautiful shade of dark teal. Slices of flavorful herbed goat cheese, toasted sour dough bread with a hint of basil-butter, and home-grown tomato slices tasted of heaven.
The flight with Malik had shifted something inside Willow that she found very hard to define. He was no longer just the mastyr of the realm or the man who had chased her through the forest. With each shared encounter, he was becoming more real, more man, more of a companion and that scared her. And he was the only realm-person, besides Illiandra, who knew that she’d reached the limits of her ability to properly guard the colony.
She’d never thought she’d end up with a vampire one day. Her desire had always tended to more intellectual fae males, and her fantasies had involved being married, having babies, and living close to one of the Realm universities.
Mating with a vampire had never entered her thoughts. Of course she was drawn to Malik and in one sense how could she be anything else? He was handsome with large brown eyes that right now had fixed themselves on Gervassay as the fae spoke, of all things, about septic tanks. Of course, waste management in a mountainous realm like Ashleaf was a serious topic.
She was tuned into Malik, the level of his interest in the colony, his enjoyment of the savory soup, and his constant concern for the inhabitants of Ashleaf, including pure-blood wraiths.
Once the septic tank issue had been fully explored, Illiandra asked, “I heard a report that you’re talking about relocating all the half-breeds in Ashleaf to Swanicott Island.”
Malik didn’t even flinch as he met Illiandra’s gaze. “I have no choice. The recent murders, which I’m sure you know about, have made the decision for me. I won’t have another half-breed’s death on my conscience. And by the same token, given Axton’s intention to breach the hidden entrance, I think we should talk about relocating your c
