Chapter 8
Eight
Martin
I stared into those pale blue eyes and knew I meant every word I’d spoken, every promise I’d made, and every emotion that had underlain them.
I couldn’t explain it. One minute I’d been telling Keir every reason this wouldn’t work and the next…
The very idea that Grayson thought I couldn’t be his anchor, that I would be incapable of performing this task—that was the tipping point.
Possibly the point where I’d lost my dryad mind.
I wasn’t sure if it was my wounded pride speaking or if Grayson’s disbelief in my abilities had sparked my competitive nature.
Maybe it was neither of those and something I wasn’t ready to admit.
Right now, I didn’t even want to go looking.
The reason didn’t truly matter. All that was important was that I believed what I said—that I had every intention of being what Grayson needed.
Now I just needed to figure out how to do that.
Clearing his throat, Keir stepped closer before announcing, “Jima requested my attention earlier. Now seems like a good time. I’ll leave the two of you alone to hash things out. That is, unless I’m needed here?”
Grayson’s gaze never left mine as he answered, “No third party required.”
“Excellent. The two of you may feel free to use my quarters to…discuss things.” I only peripherally noticed Keir leaving, the door slipping closed with a nearly silent whoosh, leaving Grayson and me alone.
Silence filled the room. Only the sound of the crackling fire broke through the quiet. Grayson and I continued staring at one another, neither willing to flinch. Finally, Grayson dropped his head to the side and huffed a quiet “stubborn oak.”
I raised a single eyebrow. “That is a surprise?” Oak dryads weren’t willows. We didn’t bend to the wind. We withstood the onslaught.
“Not really.” Grayson deflated, his shoulders sagging as he ran his fingers through his white hair, blue lowlights glimpsing through now and again.
Taking a few steps to the nearest chair, Grayson flopped down, allowing the chair to absorb his fall.
“Goddess, I’m tired.” Leaning his head back, Grayson stared at the ceiling.
Now that I was paying attention, he really did appear wiped out.
Concern constricted my chest. “I did not realize your wisp form was so draining.”
Still staring at the ceiling, Grayson dismissed that concern. “It isn’t. Usually.” Grayson sighed. “I shouldn’t have tried earlier.”
“Tried to find treasure?” I asked, moving to the coffee table and easing my body onto it. I was a lot heavier than Grayson and the table creaked its displeasure.
“Yeah. I thought…after finding Hikaru’s tail, I thought I could find something else, but…
there are just too many songs tugging me in too many different directions.
I couldn’t concentrate on just one. To be honest, I barely got back in one piece.
It took everything in me to manage that. That’s why I’m so damned tired.”
And that was why Grayson had reluctantly come to me for help. Well, not Grayson himself. Henry had been the one to suggest I would be a good anchor. Once Keir got that thought into his mind, the rest was history.
I needed to know more regarding what Grayson required from me. “And having an anchor would help you navigate those…songs?”
Grayson hummed. “That’s the idea. To be honest, I’ve never needed an anchor before.
Most will-o’-the-wisps go their entire lives without needing one.
We rarely come across situations like this.
” Grayson waved an absent hand around the room.
“I’d wager what you’ve got going on here is completely unique. ”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Are you sure you know what to do?” If needing an anchor was so unusual, then the how of it might be unknown.
“My great-aunt needed one once.” Grayson finally moved his head, his gaze finding mine again. “I’ve heard the story since I was old enough to understand what stories mean. Assuming the tale hasn’t been embellished down the line, then I know well enough.”
“And what are the chances the story has remained pure?”
Grayson’s grin held a slightly wicked property.
“Zippo. Will-o’-the-wisps like a good tale and will take great liberties with them.
Oh, don’t look so constipated. The parts regarding the treasure my aunt was after was what was embellished, not the act of taking an anchor.
” Grayson’s cheeks flushed. “Well, at least not the part about how it’s done.
I’m not certain my great-uncle really did all the things my aunt claimed. ”
“Your aunt was married to her anchor?”
“Eh, not so much married, but bonded. Will-o’-the-wisps don’t do marriage like humans and some of the other species.
But we do bond. Some for life. My great-aunt and uncle were one of those pairs.
Though, from what I understand, they didn’t start out that way.
My uncle was a shifter, and he claimed my aunt was his mate.
It’s rather complicated.” Grayson’s eyes narrowed.
“Or maybe not. I only have vague memories of my great-aunt. She was very old by the time I was born. I do remember that she and my uncle passed on the same day.”
Elbows planted on my knees, I leaned forward. “Did your aunt die first?”
Grayson gave a slow nod. “Yeah, she did.” He swallowed hard. “My uncle passed soon after.”
That wasn’t surprising, not if the two were a truly mated pair.
Grayson’s distant eyes snapped back into focus. “The point here is that I know how to entwine our magic. It’s not difficult. The problem is that I’m not really sure what happens from there.”
That didn’t sound encouraging.
When I simply stared, Grayson tossed up his hands and said, “It’s not like I was in my uncle’s head at the time. It’s just something you figure out.”
“I’m just supposed to figure it out?” This sounded increasingly sketchy and not the least bit helpful.
“I guess?” Grayson shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal. “You chickening out now?” There was something defiant in his tone, as if he were goading me to say I was backing out.
“No.” The word was out of my mouth before I could give it an ounce of consideration. “But you have to admit that this whole thing is a little vague.”
“I guess.” Again, Grayson didn’t seem concerned.
Forehead resting in my palm, I begged Gaia for a little patience. Right or wrong, I’d agreed to this and I would not go back on my word. I wasn’t certain how, but I would figure this out and I would be a damn good anchor. Grayson wasn’t going to die on my watch.
Inhaling deeply, I asked, “Do you need some time to recover before we share our magic?” Since I wasn’t certain what that entailed, it seemed a logical question.
“No.” Grayson sat up straighter, shifting his position so his rear was barely on the cushioned seat. Now much closer, Grayson reached out, holding his hands palms up. “You’ve got the larger hands so this will be easier if you position your hands palms up like this.”
Doing so, I stretched out my hands, mimicking Grayson’s position. Grayson turned his hands so they were now palms down and resting against my skin. His hands were cold, and part of me desperately wanted to wrap them up and offer a bit of warmth.
“You’re warm,” Grayson whispered. “Feels good.”
I’d forgotten how free Grayson was with his thoughts. “And you’re cold. Is that normal?”
Grayson shrugged a single shoulder. “I’m not sure. Haven’t touched that many others to know.” Before I could contemplate his response, Grayson inhaled deeply, his body relaxing as he exhaled. “Try and relax. Focus on your core, that part of you that you pull from when you want to shift forms.”
Cool waves of blue fire licked up Grayson’s arms and across his fingers. That fire harmlessly danced within my palms, tickling my skin. “My fire likes you. That’s a good sign my wisp form will too.”
“It is fortunate you have cool flames. Otherwise, this might be a bit more uncomfortable.”
Grayson’s grin crinkled his eyes. “True enough. Now, try and stay relaxed. This next bit might feel a little…weird.” The smile slipped from Grayson’s mouth and his eyes narrowed in concentration.
Unsure what was about to happen, I kept still, only jerking a little when those blue flames disappeared into my skin, burrowing deep and heading up my arms. I could see the glow, just below my skin until my clothing hid that light. What my eyes couldn’t track, my body could.
It was difficult to describe. It wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold either. Cool might be the best word, like the crisp chill of fall. That tingling went through my body. I’m not certain how I knew, but I was positive it was searching for something. I gasped when it found it.
Excitement… Joy… A wave of positive feelings rushed through me when Grayson’s magic found and touched mine.
Like my branches reaching for the sun, my magic stretched, intertwining with Grayson’s fire.
Time lost meaning as the two danced together.
There was a tug and I felt Grayson call his magic back, only it didn’t go alone.
A little piece of mine followed, buffered and cared for as it shifted through my body, heading back the way Grayson’s magic entered, and exiting through our connected palms. Grayson’s gasped smile when his magic returned, carrying a tiny guest, let me know my magic was just as welcome as his had been.
And just as I’d given up a small piece of my magic, a tiny speck of Grayson’s fire remained inside of me. It was welcomed with open arms and taken deep into my core, safely protected.
Grayson’s hands slid from mine until there was no more contact. My skin prickled at the loss. It would have been much worse if not for the flaming remnant left behind.
“That was…” Grayson slumped into his chair, his eyes barely open and, for all the world, appearing contentedly drugged. Licking his lips, Grayson continued. “That went better than I thought it might.”
Lifting his hands, Grayson turned them so he could see his palms. To my eyes, there was no visual sign regarding what had just happened. I don’t think Grayson could see anything either if the disappointment in his eyes was any indication.
“We’re connected now.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact. I probably hadn’t needed to say the words out loud, but they’d escaped anyway, as if I needed the verbal confirmation.
“That we are,” Grayson agreed.
Something occurred to me, something I should have considered earlier. “Is it permanent?” I wasn’t sure what answer I desired.
“I—” Grayson’s mouth slammed shut. “I’m not sure. I’m sorry. I should have thought of that earlier. I can always ask another—”
“We’ll worry about it later.” I wasn’t sure I was worried at all, which in turn, worried me. It was an odd emotional position. “Do you want to try going into your wisp form?”
Grayson’s eyes gave a slow blink. He appeared to be on the brink of falling asleep. “Later. I don’t think I’ve got it in me to try right now.” Those words ended on a wide yawn. “My body’s shutting down.”
Panic spread fast and hot. “Shutting down?” That didn’t sound good. That sounded—
“Sleep, Martin. My body needs sleep. That’s all I meant.”
“Oh.” My heart skipped a beat before slowing, my earlier panic dissipating. Clearing my throat, I asked, “Do you need help back to your room?”
“Nah.” Grayson shifted, bending his knees and pulling his feet into the chair. Twisting around, he managed to lay his head against the edge of the chair. The position didn’t exactly appear comfortable, and I was positive my body never would have been able to contort into such a tiny ball.
It seemed my opinion didn’t matter. Within less than a minute, Grayson’s breathing evened out, his lips slightly parted as he fell into a much-needed slumber.
Quietly rising, I found one of Keir’s afghans and draped it over Grayson’s small form.
Looking at him like this, curled up in the fetal position, Grayson Delarue appeared small and fragile.
Most will-o’-the-wisps were petite. Even the larger ones were considered smaller by most standards.
Grayson had a few inches on pixies, but that wasn’t saying much.
I could have left. Keir’s personal quarters were safe enough to leave Grayson alone. Instead, I walked around the coffee table I’d been sitting on and settled in a chair across from Grayson. If I wasn’t tired enough to sleep, no one needed to know that but me.
I would sit and watch. I’d promised to keep Grayson safe, and if nothing else, I was a dryad of my word.