Chapter 9
Nine
Grayson
Two days was long enough for me to regain my strength and stamina.
Two days since I’d nearly killed myself.
Two days since Martin and I’d bound our magic together.
I could feel that bit of magic deep inside me.
My own magic was oddly fond of that tiny substance.
While minuscule, Martin’s magic had settled in well.
For lack of a better word, it felt as if it had planted roots deep inside my soul.
While my magic flittered about, Martin’s was a constant, solid presence.
I wondered what Martin thought of the piece of me now contained within him.
Was he irritated by how flighty my magic was?
Was he trying to tame it, to tie it down and make it do as he wished?
Or did he let it run free? I could have asked if I hadn’t been avoiding Martin like the plague.
Not that the dryad deserved that. It was just…
Honestly, I didn’t know what it was. I felt displaced, as if I didn’t know my own mind, which was absolutely ridiculous.
Holding a small piece of Martin’s magic didn’t change me.
I was still the same will-o’-the-wisp I’d been before.
And yet, it was different. Maybe it wasn’t Martin’s magic per se.
Maybe it was just me. I’d always been certain what category dryads fell under.
They didn’t like will-o’-the-wisps, and therefore, I didn’t care much for or about them.
It was a simple construct, one without caveats.
It was easy. I suppose prejudice typically is.
Or maybe preconceived notions. It took a lot more emotional energy to question what you thought you always knew.
“How long you plannin’ on hidin’ out here?” I glanced over in time to see Henry throw his leg over the top of my bed, the rest of his body following that wayward appendage. “Why is this bed so damn high off the ground?” Henry huffed and made a big show of needing to catch his breath.
“You could have stayed on the ground,” I pointed out. “I would have gladly given you a lift.”
“Nah.” Henry raised an arm, showing off what he considered an impressive bicep. “It’s good for me. Gotta keep up my stamina in case another house dweller comes along.” Henry salaciously waggled his eyebrows, cackling like a fiend.
I considered pointing out how unlikely that was but refrained. I wasn’t certain how lonely Henry might be. I’d met a lot of individuals who used bravado and humor to cover their inner sadness.
Instead of reminding Henry of the dwindling house dweller population, I said, “I’m not hiding.”
“Pfft, who you tryin’ to kid? Me or you?” Plopping down, Henry ran a hand over the bed’s comforter. “This is nice. I might have to take a piece back to my place.”
I had no idea where Henry’s place was. Regardless, the comforter wasn’t mine and I couldn’t imagine Henry would need a very large section. “Feel free to take what you want.”
“I might just do that.” Henry eyed the comforter for a few more seconds before turning his attention back to me. “Seriously, what are you doin’ still holed up in here? You’re a will-o’-the-wisp. This place has to be callin’ to ya nonstop.”
Henry wasn’t wrong. Even without waking my wisp form, there was a low, background hum constantly singing. It was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. “I’m resting,” I answered.
“Looks to me you’ve rested enough.”
“And how would you know?”
Henry grinned. “Because I don’t hear you denyin’ it.”
My mouth twisted into an ugly frown before I blew out a breath and pointedly looked away. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to go about my search.” There was enough truth that it wasn’t a total lie.
“I thought that’s what you did when you anchored yourself to Martin. Wasn’t that the whole point?”
“It’s not as simple as that.” Crossing my arms, I kept my gaze firmly on the wall across the room.
“Seems like it is. You’re the one makin’ it complicated.”
My head whipped back around, eyes narrowed. “Again, how would you know that?”
“Again, because you ain’t denyin’ it. Honestly, I’m beginnin’ to think the taller ya are, the stupider ya are. Is the oxygen that low up there?”
I didn’t bother telling Henry I wasn’t all that tall, that he was just diminutive. Blowing out a breath, I slumped, shoulders rolling in on themselves as I kept my arms crossed. “I’m uncertain how this is going to work.”
“How what’s gonna work? Havin’ an anchor?”
I nodded. “I understand in principle, but…”
“But?” Henry pushed.
“But there are a lot of unknowns.” I swallowed hard, remembering what it had been like when our hands were connected, what sharing our magic felt like.
What having a piece of Martin’s magic still inside me felt like.
Rubbing my chest, I felt that bit of magic pulse, its presence already a dependable source of comfort.
Henry huffed, completely unimpressed by my reasoning.
“Seems to me that’s why you need to get out there and try this out.
You’re not gonna know until you give it a go, so what good is it doin’ ya sittin’ in here, mopin’ about?
” Henry stood and walked toward me, slapping his hand on my leg, releasing a tiny speck of dust. The pressure was so slight that if I hadn’t been watching, I doubt I would have even noticed.
“Time to get up and get back out there. It’s either that or stay here, goin’ ’round in circles in your mind.
Seems like goin’ forward is better than circlin’ ’round and ’round, but I guess that’s up to you. ”
Dumbfounded, I stared as Henry trotted off, slipping down the side of the bed. Back on the floor, Henry hollered, “I’ll be back for a piece of that fancy comforter.” He shot me a wink before going down on all fours, darting across the floor and through a crack in the wall.
I’m not sure how long I continued sitting there, staring at the space where Henry disappeared. Maybe Henry was right regarding height and intelligence. Right now, I was beginning to wonder if the tinier you were, the wiser you were.
I’d never been to Martin’s quarters before. I wasn’t even certain where they were in this maze-like structure. Maybe I should have asked Henry, although I figured his method for getting to Martin’s rooms was a path I wouldn’t be able to take, at least not in my humanoid form.
I would have stood there debating the best option longer if I hadn’t noticed the flare of intensity pulsing within my chest. Martin’s magic.
I didn’t understand how it knew I wanted to find its brethren.
That didn’t seem to matter. Focusing on that bit of magic, I allowed it to guide me through the endless halls.
I couldn’t be certain, but I thought it was leading me deeper into the heart of the compound.
If there even was such a thing. So far, I hadn’t found a rhyme or reason to the layout.
I got the feeling Tenzen Huxley had simply added on as he saw fit.
Then again, I don’t think anyone understood the shadow born’s mind well enough to speculate his reasoning for anything, let alone the layout of the Magical Usage Compound.
The pulsing in my chest grew and happily warmed until a sense of contentment filled me.
I was standing outside a carved, wooden door.
A stately oak tree stood in relief. The wood didn’t appear weathered, but it did appear old.
It had a solid, respectable presence that screamed dependability.
Will-o’-the-wisps weren’t exactly known for that particular trait.
We tended to go where treasure called. We wandered here and there, happily drifting along the tide of treasure’s song.
Inhaling, I raised my arm, ready to knock when the door opened. Martin stood there, shoulders squared, his broad form taller than mine. I considered Henry’s words and had the fleeting thought that I should ask Martin if the oxygen really was lower where his nose rested.
My lips parted. I had no idea what I planned to say. Most likely something sarcastic and inane. Martin beat me to the verbal punch. “I wondered when you’d show.”
It took every bit of willpower not to flinch. “Am I later or sooner than you thought?” Resting my hand on a cocked hip, I defiantly stared up into Martin’s deep brown eyes. Just like the rest of him, those eyes screamed strength and stability.
Martin’s lip twitched. “Are you planning on standing in the hall, or would you like to come in?” he asked, ignoring my earlier comment. Graciously stepping to the side, Martin made a grand sweeping gesture with his arm.
Batting my eyelashes, I touched my fingers to my chest and purred, “How can I say no to such a gentlemanly offer?”
An eye roll was my answer, along with a poorly hidden grin. At least it looked like Martin was warming up to me. Or at least he was warming to my humor.
Stepping through that oaken door was like entering a different realm. Considering it had been a few days since I’d seen the light of day, the wall of windows centrally located was welcome and instantly drew me. That little spark of Martin’s magic pulsed with pleasure.
“You can go outside if you’d like. It’s a beautiful day.”
Sliding the door open, I stepped into the pale light.
Head tilted to the sky, I inhaled the fresh air.
The cacophony of noise constantly humming in the back of my head stilled until there was a single, soothing melody.
Cool, blue fire danced along my fingertips, rippling up my forearms. There was treasure here, but it didn’t feel like something Tenzen had left behind.
For lack of a better word, this treasure felt pure and anything but neglected.
“What are you hiding?” I half-whispered.