AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It was dark and menacing,” she said in response. She exhaled deeply and held her stare with mine. “Diawen has kept me on the run for the past week, refusing to let me return home. My mother is unaware of my location or situation. Coming here was a risk, but I’m hoping it pays off in the end.”
“That depends on what information you have,” I replied.
Lerissa gave a small nod of acknowledgment. “I know why Diawen doesn’t want the curse broken—if the Tyvar are healed, her bloodline, which includes me, will lose their ability to live on land. That was her motivation for creating the Tyvar in the first place. She was tired of being confined to the waters; she wanted the luxuries of living on land. The more Tyvar there are, the stronger her family becomes; we’re all connected.”
My stomach churned as her words sunk in. Bayleon and Bastian both had somber looks on their faces. If Lerissa helped me break the curse, they would be free, but she’d have to give up living on land.
“You’ll be stuck living in the water? Is that what you’re telling me?” I asked.
Her anguish hung heavily in the air; I knew this decision couldn’t possibly be easy for her. Lerissa’s eyes began to mist over, and her bottom lip trembled.
“Yes,” she whispered, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks as she hastily brushed them away with the back of her hand.
“Why are you telling us this?” I felt my chest tight with emotion for her.
She took a deep breath before continuing, “Because what Diawen did isn’t right. I don’t want to condemn others so that I can have power. That’s why I’m hoping you will agree to my next request.”
Curiosity got the best of me, but I already had an inkling of what she was about to ask. “What do you want from us in return for your help?”
Lerissa bit her lip nervously before speaking. “If I can help you, all I ask is permission for me, my mother, and sisters to live here in the Land of the Fae—they’re good people.”
My first reaction was to agree. I’d give her anything if she could help me break the Tyvar curse. There was just one problem.
“Would a simple lake suffice for you?” I asked. “My court doesn’t have the bodies of water you’re used to in the mortal realm.”
Lerissa’s face lit up and she nodded. “I don’t care, just as long as I’m here with my family and we’re safe.”
Aidan stepped forward. “You can live in my court.”
Lerissa gasped and I turned to him, shocked by his offer.
He looked at us both and shrugged. “If she’s sacrificing her livelihood for my family, I think she deserves more. My court has plenty of oceans.” His eyes darkened with power when he focused on her. “But you have to live by my rules. There are no second chances if you break them.”
Lerissa jumped to her feet and ran over to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you. Thank you.”
It took him a few seconds, but he closed his arms around her waist to embrace her back. It was clear they had a connection; I saw it the very first day with her flirtatious comments.
“I won’t let you down,” she said to him. Aidan let her go and she turned back to me, her smile radiant. “I’m ready when you are.”
Excitement bubbled in my chest. “What do I have to do?”
She came over to me and took my hands. “I have another gift that no one knows about. I don’t even know if I’ll still have it once the curse is broken. If I do, I only ask that you don’t tell a soul. If word were to get around, I would be hunted by every creature in the mortal realm and probably here in the Land of the Fae as well.”
She glanced at Bayleon, Bastian, and then over at Aidan. They all nodded in agreement. Her secret was safe with us.
Lerissa breathed in slowly and let it out. “I can find out things I don’t even have the answers to. It can be from the past, present, or future. For example, if you want to know how many kids you’ll have, I can show you. I don’t know how or why, but I’ve been able to do it with my mother and sisters. They would ask me things and the answers would come to us in a shared vision.”
My mouth gaped in astonishment; it was all so fascinating. “How does it work?”
She shrugged. “We have to be in the water so I can draw energy from it. But also, the person has to be worthy. With you, I don’t think that’ll be a problem. Once the question is spoken, the vision will appear with the answer.”
I didn’t want to waste another moment. Letting Lerissa’s hands go, I pulled her in against me, hugging her tight.
“Thank you, Lerissa. If this works, I’ll owe you everything.”
She laughed. “Living here is all I’ve ever wanted.”
I pulled away and motioned toward the door. “Let’s see if I’m worthy.”
