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My grin stifled. “I see.”
Leena glanced over her shoulder; her brows screwed together in mock puzzlement. “I have no excuse. I usually just fly in on Onyx.”
Her Myad, a winged feline beast, was certainly capable of carrying her weight and perhaps one or two others safely, but I appreciated her making the trek with us nonetheless. I’d forgotten how much I’d grown to admire her, how much I’d missed her surety and compassion. She never intended to be queen of Lendria—or Crown of the Charmers Council, for that matter—but she found purpose in her newfound roles and embraced the challenges head-on.
Maybe one day, I’d be able to do the same.
By the time we emerged at the top of the falls, midmorning sun had crested over the trees and showered the lush clearing in a resplendent, warm glow. Churning azure water cut through the fields of grass in a winding river that eventually fell over the cliff to the basin below. Saturated purple flowers bloomed in earnest along the banks, and beasts roamed freely in the open air. Houses with red cedar planks and simple pitched roofs backed the surrounding tree line, and a few larger structures were already in progress. Canopies were stretched tight between branches and protected what items had been rescued from the desolation, including a handful of books from the library and Celeste’s harp.
I forced down a hard swallow. “That’s all that’s left?”
Raven’s eyes were glassy, but her voice was steady. “Yes. We’re lucky we found this much.”
Charmers mingled about the new settlement, busying themselves and their beasts with tasks. A few of them caught my eyes and smiled, and suddenly I was too exposed. Too raw. Ocnolog had decimated my home, and I hadn’t been able to stop it. Worse, I hadn’t returned to help rebuild the place that raised me. Even now, glancing at familiar faces and taking stock of our artifacts, I could barely bring myself to face what was left. All I wanted to do was hide.Shadows festered around my fingers, reminding me that I could do exactly that. I could simply step into the void and disappear.
“Gaige.” Kost’s gentle word broke over me, and I sucked in a sharp breath.
“I just need a minute.” Turning away from the group, I strode toward the trees and hid in their shaded comfort. I watched as Leena, Raven, and Kaori looked after me, but with prodding from Calem, Ozias, and Noc, they let me be. No sooner had they turned their backs than they were swarmed by Charmers, eagerly greeting them with smiles that didn’t make sense.
How can they be so happy amidst all this?Gripping the rough bark of the tree before me, I peered at the clearing. Kost waited alone for a single minute before he summoned a portal of shadows and stepped into darkness. I knew where he would go the moment those tendrils flocked to him. Ever since he’d vouched for me, looked at me with such…emotion, it was like there was a tether between us. Something bigger than just a shared experience. So when he sped through the shadow realm to appear at my side, I wasn’t surprised. Or bothered. If anything, I was relieved.
He said nothing as he stood next to me, but his stable presence was enough. I listened to the cadence of his breath and felt my own lungs slow to match his pace. His eyes were somber, but also guarded. I never was the best at figuring out what went on his mind, but that’s always what had made him so damn intriguing. He was my favorite game, the kind I’d never grow tired of playing.
When I felt strong enough to release my grip on the oak tree, I finally braved words. “I just don’t feel like I belong anymore.”
He cut me a sidelong glance that was worth a conversation in and of itself. “You belong wherever you want to be.”
“Easy for you to say,” I muttered. “You’re the guild master of Cruor. You’ve been at this for decades.”
“I think you’ll find that most, if not all, were outcasts before our found family.” He removed his glasses and extracted a cloth from his breast pocket. With meticulous fingers, he polished the lenses. “We all died for different reasons, but one thing is constant for all of us—we weren’t wanted by the people we left behind anymore. That’s not the case for you.
“Now, if you’re not ready to be here because it pains you, that’s understandable. But don’t think for a second that both your former family and your found family don’t love you.” He replaced his glasses, still refusing to look me directly in the eyes. Yet, there was that unmistakable hue of pink gracing the tops of his ears, and my heart twisted at the sight.
He couldn’t have meant him. Or if he did, it was amicable. He feltresponsiblefor me. Nothing more.
Still, I couldn’t quite quell the sudden racing pulse of blood (hisblood) in my veins. “Thanks, Kost.”
Finally, he looked at me. “You’re family.”
Family. Right. “We should get back.”
He gave a tight nod and broke free from the shadows of the forest without a second thought. I kept pace beside him, our long gaits eating away at the grassy plains beneath our feet. “What now?”
“Raven is rounding up the Charmers who had encounters with rogue monsters. After you’re settled, we’ll meet with them to assess what we’re dealing with.”
“And everyone else?” I’d already spied a Charmer dressed in flowy, tan clothing waving at us near one of the outlying houses. Ozias and Calem were standing beside him, chatting between themselves while they waited for us to return.
“Kaori is checking in with the Charmers who’d been held in Wilheim, and Noc and Leena are making their rounds. I suspect they’ll leave before nightfall to ensure they hit the nearest town with reportedmonster attacks.” We came to an abrupt halt outside the small structure, and the scent of fresh-cut wood hit the back of my nose.
“Our inn isn’t constructed yet, so you’ll have to share.” The Charmer bowed in apology, dipping his head low so his beard grazed his chest.
Kost waved him off. “It’s more than adequate, thank you.”
The Charmer beamed at us before scurrying off. Calem leapt toward the front door and swung it open. The pleasing aroma of wood was thicker indoors, and I inhaled deeply to savor the smell. The space was small, perfect for a couple who preferred the outdoors or had no desire for copious amounts of elbow room. A quaint kitchen with a round table took up most of the space, leaving a bedroom at the back and another loft-style bedroom above the shared bathroom.
“Cozy.” Calem blew out a breath.
“I think it’s nice.” Ozias’s grin was genuine, and he ran an appreciative hand along the smooth finish of the plank walls. He dropped a duffel at the foot of the stairs leading up to the loft. “We’ll figure out sleeping arrangements later. Raven asked me to help her move a few things before we gathered the Charmers.”
