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Bastien held up a hand, and the group stopped at the base of a large tree. Snow climbed up the ebony bark and blocked the intricately carved wooden door with vines and flowers etched into the surface. Through the windows, the dwelling appeared dark and unused, towering as high as the frosty clouds above. Bare but beautiful. Foreign. Lovely.
By now, a crowd had gathered around them consisting of white-haired fae dressed in fur and leather. Bastien grinned as if unaware of their presence. “It may not look it, but this is where I live. I’m rarely home, as I often stay with Father to take care of him. Your family can use it for as long as you’re here.” His gaze traveled over Joel. “I’ll send for a healer—”
“Just give us supplies,” Nyana interrupted, keeping her gaze on the ground instead of watching her brother’s reaction as she climbed off the horse with Maisy. “I’ll tend to my husband.”
For years, she had suffered. And after Liam’s death, she’d suffered even more for many months. If her father and brother had been keeping tabs on her, how could they have not helped? Where had they been when she needed them?
She was not about to accept their charity now.
“Are you upset with me?” Bastien asked quietly. When she didn’t answer, he sighed. “Perhaps Father can explain. I’ll be back soon, hopefully with him in tow. Supplies are in the washroom. You should find everything you need there.”
Bastien moved forward as if to embrace her, but Joel stepped between them. She blinked back gratitude. She hadn’t realized how much being here would hurt, and she could only imagine how much worse it would be when she saw her father after so many years of his absence.
“Right.” Bastien cleared his throat. “I’ll return shortly, but the house is yours alone as long as you’re here.”
Her brother’s mouth quirked to the side in what she assumed was disappointment before he turned away, followed by the other masked fae from the forest. Bystanders still watched curiously, and she wanted to hide away from their boring stares.
Joel grunted as he pulled open the door, dislodging snow from the base before the four of them entered the tree.
Nyana inhaled a breath of surprise as a wave of nostalgia slammed into her.
The Forest Fae of Attleglade were known for their carving abilities, which certainly showed within the tree dwelling. Everything, from the furniture to the walls to the crystal-filled sconces, appeared to have been crafted straight from the tree itself. Beautiful, intricate patterns weaved across the circular space, designs ranging from flowers to leaves and more.
Her father used to gift her small, wooden carvings of animals and flowers. It felt like ages ago, perhaps even lifetimes ago.
She reached out to touch one of the sconces, a plethora of wooden roses weaving around a silver crystal. Energy rushed into her hand, followed by a loud groan of the tree. Quickly, she snatched her hand back, her eyes wide. The tree was still alive. And she would kill it if she stayed here.
“I can’t,” she breathed, stumbling backward on her pained leg. “I have to stay outside.”
Something solid met her back, and she froze in shock when she realized she rested against Joel. Her heart thundered in her chest as he tentatively lifted his hands, his fingers brushing her elbows, her shoulders, and then his arms loosely wrapped around her, pressing her closer to him.
Fluster intermingled with her shock in several warming degrees. Her chest grew hot. Then her ears. Followed by her face. His calming breaths ruffled the hair on the top of her head while his thumbs gently brushed against her shoulders. He held her loosely enough to give her a chance to push away but tight enough to lend comfort within his embrace.
“You said plant life reacts to your emotions,” he murmured near her ear. “I think if you panic, you will draw out the tree’s energy. Try to relax. Trust in the elixir to lend you its healing energy.”
“But it’s running out,” she replied in a strained voice, followed by another groan from the tree. And by the sunlight, how could she ever relax when he held her like this? Her frantic heart threatened to jump right out of her chest.
“What will help you relax?”
Her eyes closed halfway as she allowed herself to sink into him. In response, he tightened his embrace the slightest bit. “Flowers.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, envisioning a garden filled with beautiful spring blooms.
“What do they smell like?”
She took another slow breath. “Sweet. Like honey and sunshine.”
“And what color are they?”
Another breath. “My favorites are lilacs. Purple and pink. I enjoy watching the bees in the springtime.”
Surprisingly, her pulse began to calm, and the tree ceased its groaning. Within Joel’s arms, she found a safe place filled with fondness, warmth, and happiness. She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.
“Mama, look what Eva figured out!” Maisy cried, startling her out of Joel’s arms. For a moment, she’d forgotten they weren’t alone.
A hesitant smile spread across Eva’s face as she stood on a wooden chair carved with birds, touching one of the crystals within a sconce. It flickered on and off with a soft, blue light each time her finger tapped it. Maisy rushed over to the hearth where more crystals lay and touched those as well. They flickered to life, emanating not only a soft glow but a warmth, too.
“Race you upstairs!” Maisy giggled, and the two girls stumbled up a narrow, spiral staircase. “I bet there are more crystals up there!”
Now alone, Nyana felt every thread of tension between her and Joel. A beautiful tension. A frightening tension. And she inhaled and exhaled slowly to catch her bearings once more.
