6 #2
I wasn’t sure the correct term for an orchard… Or a magical tree in a spirit realm that shouldn’t give fruit?
Really wasn’t the point at all then.
I moved closer and reached for one and froze, an image almost mentally smacking me. “The Giving Tree.”
“What?” the spirit asked me.
“It’s a book I used to read with Grandfather when I was young,” I explained, hoping I didn’t have to go into too much detail since he seemed to know so much about me. “It’s about a tree that gives all of itself to a boy who doesn’t appreciate it enough, doesn’t earn what he’s given.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
I turned to him. “What were you told?”
He frowned and pointed to the sacks. “That those were for you to take. You would know what to do.”
“And?” I pushed, feeling bad when I could sense his frustration. “It’s not like words you hear when whoever communicates with you, is it?”
“No,” he sighed, seeming relieved I understood that. “It’s a lot.”
Clearly.
“Are the apples a test for me? Like the Bible, if I will take them when I shouldn’t?” I tried.
“You can take them,” he said easily. “Why would there be a gift you can’t take, child? That’s just mean, and the gods are never mean.”
That was debatable, but I nodded like I understood but also saw his frustration again because he probably didn’t know what the Bible was or the story I was referring to.
“Is there anything else I need to know?” I glanced around. “Is there anything you need? Anything I can bring you?”
“No, not at all, but it’s very sweet of you to ask.” He smiled at me. “It was fun to listen to all the familiars talk while you worked. Having more life around here to enjoy has been enough.”
I thanked him and promised to be back soon as I retrieved the sacks. I paused by the apples. “Can I eat them? Anyone else?”
“The gods didn’t leave me here this long to simply poison you or those who help you, child,” he said with amusement in his tone.
I nodded and took five because I could easily carry that many with what I was already holding. There was no need to be greedy when there were more… And I already had the warning in my mind.
I thanked him again and went back through, an array of too much hitting me when I could feel more in the real world. I had forgotten more was muted in the spirit world and it was overwhelming for a few moments.
“Um, is there like a mall or a gift table when you visit there?” Wyatt asked as he stared at me with wide eyes.
I couldn’t help my reaction and a hysterical giggle slipped out, telling him where my head had been and how he wasn’t really far off with the gift table.
Normally, a gift table for most was where you left the gifts when you arrived at the party—I knew that from movies and books—but in our family’s circles, it was where the gift bags were for guests to take when leaving.
And the gift bags at the parties of top-tier families were generally amazing. So a gift from the gods would be something everyone wanted.
“Okay, well, we need to hide this from the others, and they want to quickly talk to you and see what you’re feeling now that the familiars are awake and what they’re feeling too,” he warned me.
“Yeah, except this is for Taylor and I have no idea how to handle that,” I grumbled, moving my right arm, the one the sack was settled in.
He blew out a long breath and stared up like he was praying for patience.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
We settled with having Tracey and Taylor come to us because there was no way I wouldn’t tell Tracey if I would Taylor.
“There’s something about this spot and you being a goddess witch, isn’t there?” Tracey hedged.
“I can’t tell you that, and please don’t poke at it,” I whispered, lowering my head. “My instructions were clear that anything that could hurt any other goddess witch or god warlock cannot be shared besides with my priest or star points eventually when we’re…”
“Settled,” she offered for me. Then she came over and kissed my hair. “I’m sorry you carry this. I just want to help. It’s fucking ridiculous, but I also get it.”
“Yeah, me too.” I blinked back tears as I looked up at her. “I would tell you everything. You know that.”
She nodded. “I’m not mad. Frustrated, but not with you. I just—”
“You do enough. Let Derek field this part,” Taylor grumbled, not backing down when she gave him a look like she might smack him. Then he focused on me. “I’m a bit confused why I’m here since this isn’t a security thing.”
I studied him. “And why doesn’t that make you nervous?”
“Because he thinks it’s a next step in a relationship or something,” Tracey drawled. “Men are idiots.” She ignored the look he gave her this time. “Why is he here before he breaks his brain?”
I ignored when Wyatt coughed and handed the sack to Taylor. “This is for you. I don’t know what it is. I can’t tell you where I got it. I can’t tell you who it’s from. I’m assuming it will make sense.”
Taylor blinked at me for maybe a full minute before letting out the longest sigh that probably could have been heard a state away.
At least.
“We were just saying the same thing, so please remember it’s not her fault,” Wyatt said quietly as Taylor took the sack.
“I know, I know,” Taylor grumbled. “I just need less problems and more things to work out.” He bobbed his head when all three of us snorted.
We understood and felt the same way.
He opened the drawstrings of the nicer sack. It reminded me of those ones Mother would come home with that held something from a designer store to protect it. I used to joke how she’d brought home a bag that had a bag, but that sort of thing.
Simply smaller.
Taylor raised an eyebrow when he looked inside and then pulled out a smaller one.
“Are we having some Russian nesting dolls fun?” Tracey drawled.
“No, there are others in there,” Taylor said and handed it over, focusing on the one in his hand.
“It’s like a jewelry pouch,” she muttered.
Taylor gave a half shrug. “People reuse them all the time for things they don’t want to misplace or fall out of pockets. I use them for USB drives a lot.” He untied it and opened it. “Why would someone Bevin knows give me jewelry?” He turned it over and emptied the contents out onto his hand.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Wyatt sighed heavily.
“Yeah, no, much better they give you the raw gems instead,” Tracey drawled as we all stared at red diamonds in his palm. “Bev, we’re not going to be able to let this go.”
“Well, you’re going to have to,” Wyatt warned, his voice cold. “She already told you there are things she can’t tell you or she’ll be punished. Is your curiosity worth that?”