Chapter Forty-Five
~Kalo~
With the mobile trap a success, the group in my former bedroom dissolved into movement and purpose, each person already seeming to know exactly what role they needed to fill.
“I’ll gather whatever I can find to offer the dragons in exchange for their help,” Calista said as she headed to the hallway.
Felix was close behind her. “I’ve got some notes on the best way to approach them. I’ll dig those up.”
Darius tentatively approached Visenya. “The men outside are at your disposal if you need anything. You can rest until we’re ready to go.”
She simply stared back at him with that unnerving, glowing gaze until he bowed his head and took his leave.
I didn’t even notice Evalina slip out, but when I turned, she had gone, leaving only me and Leo.
Leo’s hand brushed briefly against mine before he reluctantly stepped away. “I need to help Vaughan coordinate our route and get the vehicles we need.”
“Of course.” I gave him an encouraging nod. “Go ahead. I’ll… find something to do.”
For centuries, I hadn’t had the luxury of deciding what I would spend my time on. My purpose had been built directly into the magic that shaped my existence. I granted wishes and fulfilled commands, and nothing more.
A crease formed between Leo’s brows. “You don’t have to prove your usefulness to anyone here.”
Logically, I knew that. Feeling it emotionally was another matter entirely. “I know, but I want to help. I just have to figure out where I fit in.”
He took my hand and squeezed it, the gesture saying ‘you fit with me’ as clearly as any words could, before he stepped away and hurried downstairs towards his office and the duties that awaited him there.
The house suddenly felt very large. I could have returned to his room, I supposed, but the idea of sitting around while everyone else was busy didn’t appeal to me in the least, so I followed the sounds of movement downstairs until they led me to the kitchen.
Evalina stood at the long counter beside several canvas bags, methodically sorting through food supplies. The fairy looked up immediately when I entered, her face brightening.
“Kalo! Perfect timing. Can you help me pack some provisions for the trip?”
She gestured to a stack of empty containers lining the countertop, and I made my way over, a little amused at the ordinary domesticity of the scene, especially considering we were preparing for a journey into another realm to negotiate with dragons and bargain with Death.
“What are you packing?”
“I’ve already grabbed protein bars and dried fruit to keep everyone’s energy up,” she explained. “Now, I need as many green vegetables as we can find.”
To emphasize her point, she opened the large refrigerator and immediately began pulling out lettuce, spinach, herbs, cucumber and broccoli, piling it onto the counter.
“Are we making a salad?” I tried to guess. It didn’t seem like the easiest thing to eat on the go, but I supposed it would be healthy.
She laughed. “No, these aren’t for us. I’m hoping the dragons might like them.”
“I don’t think of dragons as being vegetarian,” I pointed out, and she giggled again.
“I’m not sure what their primary diet is, but in the stories I was told growing up, fairies were able to lure them into our lands by putting green vegetables outside their houses.
Very few things grow green in the fae realm.
Our plants tend to be pink or blue or white or purple.
But here, green things are plentiful, so it seemed like it might be worth a try. ”
“And you think the stories are true?” I asked.
Evalina shrugged. “After hearing that Aravander’s story is true, I’m not ruling anything out.”
Fair enough.
“What exactly should I expect on the other side of the portal?” I asked as I grabbed one of the containers and began to arrange the vegetables inside. “No one’s really explained the fae realm beyond the fact that it exists.”
Evalina’s expression turned thoughtful as she continued packing. “It’s quite different to this world. There are magical creatures and many of the people have magic too. Kings and queens still rule most of the territories, and regular people are quite restricted.”
That was interesting. “Sounds a little like the time I grew up in.”
She stopped what she was doing to look at me curiously. “Really?”
“Well, not the magic part. The only magic I ever personally saw was the genie’s. But we were certainly more restricted in how we live our lives. It’s been interesting to watch people in general gain more personal freedom as the millennia pass.”
“Coming here felt like stepping into the future in some ways,” she admitted.
I could imagine. “Was it scary?”
“Yes, but also…” She trailed off as she considered how to phrase her response. “I never fully fit in my own world. Something always just felt a little off.”
“And you fit in here,” I finished for her. “Obviously.”
A pretty flush coloured her cheeks. “You do too.”
“I hope so.” Taking a deep breath, I confided my uncertainty. “Everyone else seems to have such clearly defined roles and skills, but I’m not sure what I bring to the table.”
“No one expects you to figure everything out right away,” she said gently. “Honestly, being Leo’s mate is enough for this pack to accept you. You don’t have to prove anything.”
That was pretty much exactly what Leo said, but it helped to hear it repeated from another outsider.
As we continued to work, Calista swept into the kitchen carrying a small wooden box tucked carefully against her chest. “I found one possible bargaining tool. What do you think, Evalina?”
As soon as she placed the box onto the counter, I could feel a magical signature pulsing from it in rhythmic waves that prickled across my skin.
“It’s magic?”
Calista’s gaze snapped to me in surprise. “You can feel it?”
“Yes. It’s quite strong. What is it?”
“It’s called a last-breath crystal. Witches can create them at the moment of death to absorb all of a person’s memories, the emotional imprint of their entire lifetime.”
“Where did you get it?” Evalina asked, peering down at the box curiously.
“My father and I recovered it from a rogue witch years ago, and he gave it to me for safekeeping. From what I’ve read, the dragons might be interested in it. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” the fairy said slowly. “They’re fascinated by anything magical and anything mortal. This combines both.”
Calista smiled in relief. “I hoped that would be the case. But I only have one, and I have no idea whether that’ll be enough to convince them to surrender Tarron’s heart.”
My gaze lingered on the box, its magic still calling to me. How strange to imagine a lifetime of memories contained in something small enough to fit in this small package.
I thought about the vast flood of knowledge that had poured into my mind every time a new master took ownership of me, centuries upon centuries of experiences and languages and information crammed into my consciousness by magic.
One crystal wouldn’t even scratch the surface.
“Well, we’re almost ready,” Evalina announced, closing the container she’d been working on. “So I guess we’ll find out soon.”
Calista nodded. “Vaughan’s coordinating passage through the surrounding pack territories so we can reach the portal quickly. Darius is assembling a small escort team, and Savannah’s been placed on standby just in case.”
“In case of what?” I asked.
Calista didn’t sugarcoat her response. “In case something goes wrong and the leadership team doesn’t come back.”
Guilt immediately rose in my chest at the reminder that everyone was putting their lives on the line to face these dragons and try to make a deal with Death.
“Maybe Leo and I should go alone with Visenya,” I said. “If things become dangerous, there’s no reason everyone else should be dragged into it.”
Calista’s expression softened. “That’s not how this works, Kalo. Leo is family, and as his mate, you are too. We have each other’s backs, always.”
She sounded so certain of it, and it hit me with full force that by accepting Leo, I was also accepting my place in this pack and everything that came with it. And I wanted that.
Which meant, more than ever, I needed all of us to survive what came next.