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That relaxed me, just a little. Shewasmy birth mother. Surely itwasunderstandable to want to see her? Just once?
“I can tell you a good spot,” Odran said. “You’ll have to keep very quiet. And still.”
“That won’t be a problem.” Gillie chuckled, moving round Nua to throw his arm over my shoulders. “Ash is a true hunter. He’s been picking off the Carlin’s guards one by one. They never see him coming.”
I flushed again from the praise, especially when Odran’s black eyes sparked with respect.
“I’d enjoy witnessing that.” His voice was just how I remembered—raspy, like he’d been choking on water. “I don’t really feel unseelie anymore. I spend my time in the forest. I have no loyalty to the Carlin. Unfortunately, the guards don’t come here to look for you, but there will be many in the forest on Beltane. You will have to be careful.”
“I will,” I said quickly.
He nodded once.
“There is a large oak not far from the Midsith,” he said, still watching me, “with a dip in the centre of its main branches. You will be able to sit there undetected.”
It sounded perfect. I’d grown very used to sitting in trees remaining perfectly still.
I grinned at him. “Great.”
“Get there at dawn. You’ll have to wait for a few hours, but best to be there well before they arrive.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Gillie, did you get my things from the market?” Odran asked, his attention shifting away from me as he strolled further along the bank.
Gillie rolled his eyes. “Yes, I have your spirits, Odran.”
He followed him to a tall rock emerging from the water, covered in moss. I watched as Odran shoved his hand into the mud and pulled out a wooden box, flipping it open to reveal the gleam of coins.
Nua chuckled beside me. “Odran doesn’t like crowds. Or Folk in general, really. So Gillie tends to pick things up for him from the market.”
I smiled. “Don’t blame him.”
My gaze moved from them to Nua when I felt him look at me.
“Please be careful, Ash,” he murmured softly. “I understand why you want to see her. But I… I worry for you.”
I softened, stepping closer to grasp his shoulder. “I know. I’m grateful. I promise I’ll be careful.”
I glanced back over at Odran and Gillie. They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying, but I could see that they were deep in conversation. Gillie’s black brows were pulled into a tiny frown as he listened intently to whatever Odran was telling him.
When my eyes trailed down to Odran’s bare, pale backside, my face got hot. I looked away quickly.
They walked back over a few moments later, and I kept my gaze averted until Odran said, “Ash, will you stay a while to talk? I’m interested to know how you’ve been.”
I glanced at Nua and Gillie, flustered. “Me?”
Odran’s pale lips twitched. “Yes, you. You don’t think you’re interesting?”
“Um.” I looked between the three of them again. “N-no? Not really.”
He let out a delicate snort and walked along the bank, the water lapping around his pale ankles. “Well, if you choose to stay, I’d enjoy the company.”
I looked at Nua and Gillie. “Is… that okay?”
“Will you be able to find your way back?” Nua asked.
I nodded. I’d become almost unnervingly adept at navigating the forest, even though it all looked largely the same.
