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‘You promise?’
We stared at each other. She was waiting and I wanted to tell her that, of course I promised, and she had nothing to fear. But how could I? The truth was, I simply didn’t know.
The silence stretched on interminably, then she sighed.
‘Thank you,’ she said at last.
‘For what?’
‘For not lying to me. I hope, at least, that never changes,’ she said. ‘Lowen, do you mind if we just cuddle?’
‘A cuddle sounds perfect,’ I told her. I held her in my arms and kissed the top of her head, my thoughts a chaotic jumble. I wondered if she knew, as we lay there together, how scared I really was.
Keely meant everything to me, and if I couldn’t fight for anything else, I could fight for her. But if I failed, if I let her down… One day, maybe she and I would have a family of our own. I wanted them to live in a world of peace and unity, not one of suspicion and fear. It was down to me to make that happen. It was all down to me. I’d risk anything and everything to keep Keely and my friends safe.
I just hoped Wulfram felt the same.
Chapter 26
Trinity
‘Looks like Lowen will have his work cut out.’ Sirius wrinkled his nose in sympathy as we watched my brother heading upstairs, a pensive look on his face.
‘She’ll have to come to terms with it,’ Hector said. ‘She’s always known this had to happen, after all.’
‘But it’s one thing knowing it’s going to happen at some point in the future. Quite another to accept it’s going to happen very soon.’ Celeste sighed. ‘They have such a lot on their shoulders. I really feel for them.’
‘Fate can be very unfair,’ I said, wondering why it was that Lowen, of all people, should have to carry such a heavy burden. ‘He’s such a mild, unassuming young man. Hardly a born leader. This role he’s about to assume isn’t one he’ll take to easily.’
‘But you’re forgetting,’ Hector said, as the four of us strolled outside into the garden, ‘he was born to it. He’s not adopting some fake persona. He’s reclaiming the person he really is. I think he might surprise you.’
‘I really hope he’s up to the job,’ Sirius said fervently.
We sat down on the garden bench and leaned back, raising our faces to the sun. I bathed in the warmth and wished all days could be like this, and that all the bad stuff would just go away and leave us alone.
We lived on such a beautiful planet. Why did so many people want to waste time fighting on it? Instead of appreciating what we had and enjoying our blessings, we fought for control and power, ravaging the land and seas, plotting against the people we perceived as a threat. How stupid was that?
Human beings are ridiculous, but it seemed to me that witches and fae were just as bad. Fear. That was the problem. When people are afraid they attack. If we could just persuade the fae and the witches that they had nothing to fear from each other… Well, I guessed that was Lowen’s job. I didn’t envy him.
‘So,’ Sirius said, ‘are you going to tell us what you really saw in Blaise’s memories?’
I opened my eyes and turned to see him watching Celeste.
‘She already did,’ I reminded him.
‘I don’t buy it. There must be something more for her to suddenly decide that, after everything he did, Blaise St Clair can be trusted.’
‘Perhaps,’ Celeste said cautiously.
‘You don’t have to tell us,’ Hector said, giving Sirius a meaningful look. ‘What went on in there is private, and if you want it to stay that way that’s your decision, and we’ll respect it. Won’t we?’ he added, nodding at Sirius.
‘Oh come on,’ Sirius said, sitting up straight and resting his elbows on the back of the bench. ‘You can’t blame me for being worried. I saw what he did to her, remember?’
‘And I didn’t?’ Hector said mildly. ‘It’s still none of our business.’
‘It’s okay.’ Celeste put her hand on his arm. ‘Honestly, it’s fine. I want to tell you three anyway—as long as it doesn’t go any further, okay?’
‘Of course,’ Hector said, and Sirius and I nodded.
