Chapter Fourteen #2
He withdrew, grinning at me with tears glimmering in his eyes. “And you—” He turned to Elowen. “You were a little thing last time I saw you.”
Elowen rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, I’m still not very big.”
That much was true. Our cousin was a whole foot and a half taller than her.
Torrin smiled at her, and I gestured to the couch. “Who’s the girl?”
He took a deep breath, lowering the hood of his cloak. “Her name is Lena. A Mage from Otacia.” His dark gaze dragged back to the sleeping girl. “Igon told me about her. She’s important.”
The girl—Lena—slowly started to stir, and Torrin hurried over to her.
“Hey,” he whispered, sitting beside her.
Her lids slowly began to blink open, revealing bright, green eyes. “Torrin…where…” Once consciousness had fully returned, she shot up, chest heaving as she nervously glanced around.
“We’re safe!” Torrin assured her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You’re safe.”
I couldn’t help it—I read his emotions, read hers, as she cried softly and he enveloped her in his embrace.
Love.
Gods, I’d never felt that before. Not like this… Certainly not in my own life.
The other woman ran over, and Lena cried, “Mother,” as she hugged her next.
And then I swallowed, shutting it off just as Lena noticed me. She quieted her crying, patting her eyes.
Torrin cleared his throat. “This is Merrick and Elowen, my cousins,” he said as he tilted his head toward us. Then, he gestured to the woman and girl. “This is Lena and Minerva.”
“Hi,” Elowen said softly, giving them both a kind smile.
“My Gods…” Lena whispered. “Mages.”
“Everyone is a Mage here, remember?” Torrin’s grin grew as Lena’s eyes flickered over to his. And then she, too, smiled.
“Incredible,” Minerva uttered. “If only we had known about this place years ago.”
Vicsin was in the kitchen, warming some soup by the smell of it.
“We’ve done a grand job keeping this place hidden.
Igon—our Supreme—has a tower. I’m sure you saw it once you entered the settlement.
” The metal spoon made a soft scratchy sound as he stirred the mixture.
“It blends in with the surplus of pine trees but is good for keeping watch.”
Heildee hurried down the steps with a heavy quilt in hand, and Lena offered a shy smile and a thank you as it was placed on top of her.
“Her boots wore out during our travel,” Torrin explained. “Hard to keep her feet warm.” He glanced at my father. “Is it all right if we stay here?”
Vicsin answered immediately. “Of course. Your bed is still in the attic, and we have space in the basement as well. We'll work on getting beds for you two.”
“Lena can take mine—”
“No,” she insisted softly, gently touching his forearm. “I am fine here for now.”
“But—”
“You carried me for weeks, Torrin.” He frowned at her, and she gave just as intense of a frown back. “Please, go sleep in your bed, for fuck’s sake.”
“I’ll take the couch,” Minerva said. “Lena, you can sleep beside Torrin upstairs.”
Her eyes widened at her mother.
“It’s not just for you,” Minerva insisted, her eyes assessing Lena.
Not sure what that meant, but her words caused a flicker of emotion in Lena’s eyes, and she sighed in defeat. Torrin went to lift Lena, but she insisted on walking upstairs herself.
The rest of the evening went by in a flash. Lena took a warm shower, Torrin eating like a horse while Minerva did the same. Not long after, Minerva passed out on the couch, Vicsin, Heildee, and Elowen retreating to their own rooms.
I could hear the shower running, which meant Lena was alone in Torrin’s bedroom. I didn’t enjoy speaking to most people, but my curiosity for this new girl had me knocking softly on the door.
And then I realized how selfish I was being. She was probably exhausted.
I shook my head, angry at myself and ready to head back to my room, when I heard a soft, “Come in,” on the other side.
I swallowed, slowly opening the door to meet Lena's surprised expression.
“Hey,” I said awkwardly, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
Lena was sitting up against the headboard, Heildee’s quilt keeping her warm. “Hey,” she said back.
She was cute. Big, green eyes. Long, copper hair. Faint freckles dancing along her cheeks and nose.
I read her involuntarily, feeling her nervousness, her exhaustion.
Her curiosity.
“Your eyes,” she breathed.
I walked over to her, sitting on the end of the bed. “I’m an Empath. That’s my gift—feeling others’ emotions.” My lips curved upward, and I gestured to my eyes. “My changing irises are a dead giveaway, however.”
Her eyes bounced between mine. “I often wonder if I have a gift and just don’t know about it yet.”
“It’s possible. I discovered mine as a young boy, but Elowen didn’t realize her ability to take away pain until a couple of years ago.”
“Take away pain…” She sighed. “I haven’t used my magic much. Too afraid to.”
“That’s understandable. I couldn’t imagine living amongst humans and feeling free.”
Something flickered in her eyes, an awful emotion traveling up my chest.
Nostalgia? Heartbreak?
Her eyes stayed steady on mine, and I released a soft gasp as Lena pushed the quilt out of the way, revealing a small, swollen belly.
“You’re pregnant?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Gods, she was so young.
“I didn’t know, not until I left,” she said quietly, her hand resting on the subtle bump.
No wonder Torrin was so worried about her. “Is it…” I swallowed, and Lena’s brows pinched as I stuttered like a fool. “Is the baby Torrin’s?”
Her eyes about popped out of her head. “No!” Her face flushed, crimson staining her cheeks. “H-he’s just a dear friend of mine.”
My face, too, heated. Perhaps I misunderstood their feelings when I read them. “Oh… s-sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
Honestly, for my bold question, I wouldn’t have held it against her if she tossed me out of this room. But Lena smiled softly. “It was a fair assumption, I suppose.” She wrapped herself back in the quilt. “I’m in love with a man from Otacia. The baby is his.”
“He didn’t wish to travel with you?”
Her smile slowly slipped. “He’s human.”
The door creaked open as Torrin walked in, hair wet and shaggy from the shower. Fucking hell, only a towel was wrapped around his waist, showcasing just how muscular he’d gotten in his time away.
Lena’s eyes flared, and she glanced down at her hands.
She may be in love with someone else, but there was no denying her attraction to Torrin. Though I imagined most women would feel the same.
I need to start exercising.
“Otacia put a kill-order out on all magickind,” Torrin jumped in, walking over to his dresser to find something to wear. “We faked her and her mother’s deaths.”
“A kill-order? Fuck…”
Torrin frowned as he slipped on a shirt—much too tight for him. It had been several years since he last wore those clothes, which were more suited to his teenage years than his present manhood.
“Not a scrawny sixteen-year-old anymore,” I teased.
He grinned then grabbed some lounge pants before leaving the room again.
“I’m sorry you had to leave your home,” I said softly. “But I’m here for you. We all are.”
“Thank you…” she said, her face scrunching as she tried to remember my name.
“Merrick.”
She gave me a grateful smile. “Merrick.”
With an awkward grin, I left, giving my new housemate the relaxation she deserved.
And then I knocked on Elowen’s door, entering quietly. She was fast asleep, curled under the heavy quilt.
My heart ached as I stared at her, at the relationship I wished I could offer her. We were all lonely in this place…all searching for connection. And I’d repeatedly withheld it from her. I didn’t know if I could ever offer more, could be the brother she wished she’d had.
But this was a start.
I scribbled a note on a piece of parchment, leaving it for her to read in the morning.
Thank you for my present.
-Merrick