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Florin rolled onto his back a bit, cradled in my arms, and smiled up at me. “I am, big guy. I’m alright.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “You’re hurt, sweet Florin.”
His gaze softened. “But I’m okay. I can feel magic running through my veins.My magic.”
Sucking in a breath, I gave him a small nod. Maybe that was true, but his grandfather had hurt him. He was still bleeding from his hip and soaking my shirt, blood running all over Theon’s hands.
Theon leaned in and rested his forehead against Florin’s temple. My angel had tears running down his cheeks, and it broke my heart seeing him upset and Florin so injured. This had happened on my watch. I should’ve protected them. I should’ve kept them safe.
I should’ve forced them to go back to camp that night and wait for Wey and Nica. I couldn’t protect them on my own, that much was clear. We needed the others—the rest of our family—here with us. We should’ve stayed together.
Oh goddess, please help me keep them safe.
“I need to sew you up, sweetheart. I’ve seen Nica do it many times, so I’m sure I can manage,” Theon said before lifting his head and meeting my eyes. “We have to stop the bleeding.”
I nodded in agreement and said to the room, “If anyone comes near us, I’ll take you down with my sword.”
Jedrek stepped forward and said, “No one will hurt you. We’re not your enemy. Attend to Florin. I will keep everyone away.”
Even though I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, I had the feeling he was being truthful. At least in this moment. So I nodded.
Theon dug in his bag for the needle and thread. He did everything he was supposed to do, just like Nica had taught him. I set Florin on the ground and assisted Theon while growling at anyone that came close. Theon was quick, and as soon as he was finished, I scooped the small fae back into my arms.
Before we could do anything else, Romulus stepped forward, holding a small, flat stone in his hand. “This was the source of the spell. I had to dig it out, but young Florin will heal his wound quickly. With his magic unlocked, his healing, as well as his senses, will improve. His ears may even grow back.”
I glanced at Florin’s ears. They were intact and unharmed, so I looked at Romulus with a growl. “Is that a threat?” Now Florin’s own grandfather was threatening to cut off his ears?
“No, good orc. It’s not a threat. I meant they may grow back from where his mother had cut them to help him blend in with the humans.”
My gaze snapped back to Florin. The scars on his ears that I’d wondered about so many times when I’d brushed or braided his hair. His… his own mother had done that to him? To keep him safe, I was sure, but this was… these fae were barbaric.
Romulus began to step closer, but my growl kept him back. With a sigh, he said, “Jedrek will take you to some private quarters. Don’t worry, young ones. I have no intention of separating you.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
But right before he disappeared through a side door, he turned back and said, “Welcome home, grandson. I’m looking forward to getting to know you. Training starts tomorrow morning after breakfast.” And then he was gone without waiting for a response.
“Nice guy, that,” I murmured.
Florin snorted. “I’m surprised he still has his head.”
“Me, too. Jedrek knows his way with a sword,” I murmured.
Florin reached up and cupped my cheek. “I’m glad you didn’t kill Romulus. Or Jedrek. Despite what they did, I want to know where I came from.”
I swallowed loudly again and nodded, and the sweet little fae sent me a small smile.
Jedrek walked us out of the giant tree and down to a small hut. I didn’t put Florin down, and Theon kept his arm through my elbow so he could hold Florin’s hand and keep himself tucked close to me.
Once we walked inside, Jedrek stood in the doorway and said, “No one will enter your hut without permission.”
“Can we leave?” I asked, suddenly feeling caged in and like we’d walked ourselves into a prison situation after finally being free. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—go back to being someone’s slave. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t survive it. Not after being free again for so little time.
Something in Jedrek’s expression softened. “Yes, half-orc, of course you can. You’re not our prisoners. You’re free to leave whenever you want, and I promise no harm will come to any of you, as long as you don’t attack any of our residents. You may leave, but we—I… I hope you’ll stay. I’d like to get to know my cousin after all.” He sent Florin a smile, and I frowned. His words were nice, they were the right things to say, but I wasn’t sure I could trust them.
“We’ll stay tonight at the very least,” Florin said, glancing between Theon and me. Both of us nodded, although I did so grudgingly. But we didn’t want Florin going anywhere while he was so weak. He needed to heal. I couldn’t carry him and fight off anyone or anything in those woods.
Jedrek smiled. “I’ll bring you a tray of food now, and I’ll return in the morning with breakfast. I can walk you to meet with Grandfather in the morn, if you choose to stay.” With that, he nodded and walked away, leaving the hut door open.
Maybe it was a trick, or perhaps he was smart and had picked up on my distrust, but leaving the door open proved that we could leave the hut. That didn’t mean I believed anything else he’d said. He could be luring us in with a false sense of safety, of trust, then turn on us when we least expected.
