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“Our people put down roots, and our people thrived. We stay out of the mages’ territory to keep our people and our way of life safe.”
The four of us were quiet for a long time, absorbing the story. Finally, Florin said, “Are you aware of what the mages have been doing to shifters, humans, orcs, and anyone else not like them? Do you know what slaves endure? WhatI’veendured?” His voice cracked. “My people—the people of Zyon, Tisak, and Enos—are suffering every day at the hands of the mages. Don’t you… don’t you think your people should help?”
Romulus stared at Florin for a long moment before he picked up one of my friend’s hands and held it lightly between his. “That isn’t for me alone to decide, little one. I don’t know what’s happened to you, but I’ve heard of many horrors in the three kingdoms. This… what you speak of is something we can discuss with the council of elders.” He squeezed Florin’s hand. “If this is what you want, you have me on your side.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise, and from the look of shock on Florin’s face, he hadn’t been expecting that, either.
Florin nodded slowly. “Thank you, Rom—Grandfather.”
Romulus smiled widely, patted his hand, and released it before motioning to the food. “We should finish eating before it gets cold.”
Romulus included Theon and me in the conversation throughout the rest of dinner, but it was clear that he and Florin wanted some alone time.
So I wasn’t surprised when Florin said, “Why don’t you guys go back so I can talk to Romulus for a little while.”
Before Theon could speak or do something awful like agree, I said, “No. I don’t want you to be alone with him.”
I thought Florin would get angry, but he didn’t. He smiled widely, moved closer to me, and cupped my cheeks in his hands. “I’ll be okay, Braz. I promise.”
I hesitated because he looked so earnest. He truly believed he’d be alright. Clearing my throat, I quietly asked, “You trust him already?”
He shook his head. “No. I only trust the two of you, but I do trust my instincts, and they’re telling me he’s not a threat. He’s my grandfather… I want to get to know him and see if there’s anything worth pursuing there.”
I nodded in understanding, but I wasn’t sure about this at all.
Seeing my hesitation, he whispered, “Please.”
That right there did it. If he asked me for anything with those big lavender eyes pleading their case for him, he’d get it. I had a feeling he already knew he had me wrapped around his finger. “If you think anything’s off at all, you leave or you scream for me. I won’t go far.”
He smiled and nodded, then leaned in to kiss my cheek. My heart leapt in my chest as my eyes went wide. Florin had kissed me. It was only my cheek, but still. No one had ever given me that kind of affection, not before Theon.
Romulus interrupted us by saying, “I wanted to offer you a service. We fae do not often leave our forest, but Jedrek has offered to send word to your loved ones. I understand that you have some family camping with the Resistance. Is that correct?”
I didn’t know whether or not to answer in case this was a trick or they wanted the Resistance’s location, but Theon nodded, all too eager to make contact with Nica and Wey. “Yes, we do. Could we send them a letter?”
Romulus smiled, and for once, he looked like a loving grandfather instead of a threat. “Yes, of course, Theon. We’d be happy to assist you.”
“Thank you,” Theon said before turning his happy expression on me. “We can write to them, and maybe they’ll write back.” He was practically giddy, and I could do nothing but agree.
“Okay. Let’s write them, and then I suppose you and I can go for a walk while Florin stays here?”
They both nodded at me. I didn’t like it, but I had to trust Florin the way he trusted me.
The entire time the three of us sat at the table and wrote Nica and Wey letters, my heart was in my throat. I missed them. More than I thought possible. And I couldn’t help but wonder if Nica was truly alright. The healers had said he’d wake up, but he’d still been unconscious the last time I’d seen him. I needed my friend to be okay. I couldn’t wait to see him—and Wey, too, surprisingly—but I knew we’d be here for a few months. Hopefully, they’d write back and sate my need for a connection with them.
After we finished the letters and Theon thanked Jedrek a million times for taking it for us, Theon and I left Florin with his grandfather. I wasn’t happy about it.
“He’ll be okay,” Theon said, knocking my arm with his shoulder. “I have a good feeling about this place.”
Florin kept saying the same thing. I sighed. It wasn’t that I had a bad feeling about this place. It was that Florin’s blood spilling out of him was haunting my dreams and my waking thoughts. Why hadn’t his grandfather told us what they were planning before he hacked away at my friend? Maybe if I’d had some warning, I could’ve—
“Braz?”
I jerked my gaze down to Theon’s and murmured, “Sorry.”
His smile was small. “It’s okay. I know you care about Florin.”
The way he said it made it sound like I had…feelingsfor the fae. But Theon was my… he was my only… I couldn’t possibly… not when Theon… “I… I…”
