Chapter Four #2
“I wonder what he eats.” I pondered some ideas based on what other tree-dwelling creatures liked from my old world. “Nuts, maybe? Berries? If he was cast from his nest, I’m sure he’s not only sad but hungry too.”
“You truly are like your father,” Varys said, a trace of sadness in his eyes. “A heart of gold and the desire to help all creatures, especially those who are small and defenseless. Feeding them too.”
I smiled. Like earlier, the mention of my dad left a bittersweet pang in my heart.
“I know what you are, lad,” Varys added, blowing out a breath. “Who you are. And why King Silas is so desperate to capture you.”
A wave of nerves sloshed around in my gut. “You do?”
“You’re the Hallowed Saint,” he answered with a crease in his brow.
“I understand it all now. The true reason Elias and Cynthia went into hiding. It wasn’t because of the broken treaty with Haran.
It was because of you. The lost treasure of Haran isn’t one of gold or other riches, but rather, a baby born with a rare power. ”
Not trusting my voice, I could only nod to confirm.
“Not many have knowledge of the saint,” Lake said, resting his hand on my lower back. Did he feel my spike of nerves? “Even Briar, who is the most intelligent male I know, knows very little of them.”
“The former saint lived before my time, yet I heard stories from my days as King Eidolon’s advisor,” Varys explained, no doubt sensing the underlying suspicion in Lake’s question.
“The king often boasted that he and Elias came from a powerful bloodline, one that went beyond royalty. Those stories, along with my knowledge of Nocturne and how they’re only hired to kill or capture high-value targets, led me to the right conclusion. ”
So, King Eidolon had known about Saint Vera and that someone in the royal family might one day awaken with the same power.
“Do you think that’s why Eidolon betrayed my dad?” I asked, sternum squeezing at the possible revelation. “He was angry that the saint’s power awoke in me instead in one of his own sons?”
“Aye, it’s possible.” Varys nodded. “And perhaps King Eidolon felt threatened as well. Fearing that the throne would be taken from him despite him being the eldest. So, he struck a bargain with King Silas. Betrayed his own brother to help Nocturne break through the barrier to capture you.”
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye.
Lake reached over and gently wiped it away with his thumb.
Cheep?
I glanced up to find Pumpkin hanging from the branch by his tail.
He pawed at the air with his front foot and slowly swung back and forth over my head.
Smiling, I reached up and touched one of his paws with my fingertip.
The soft pads of his toe beans, along with his musical little chitters, were the best form of therapy.
Who could have any worries at all while petting something so damn cute?
Woof. Oreo stared up at the arbordu, the fur on his back raised and growls rumbling in his chest. Pumpkin wasn’t bothered by the puppy’s jealous behavior. He simply swung back and forth and lightly batted at my finger.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your afternoon,” Varys said before patting my shoulder. “Koga will never forgive me if I’m late for tea.”
The sad twinge remained in his eyes, indicating that it wasn’t just tea with Koga that had him wanting to leave. I bet it couldn’t have been easy for him to finally know the truth behind my dad’s death.
Lake stared after him with a furrowed brow. “Give him time. His soul still aches for your father. Probably always will.”
“They were mates, right?” Rowan hopped down from the tree and landed in the grass with a soft thud.
“Aye, Varys imprinted on Elias,” Lake answered. “Though, the love was unrequited.”
Pressure squeezed my sternum. “I kind of understand that feeling. Lord Onyx wants nothing to do with me or our bond.”
“Eh, no one can resist you for long, little treasure.” Rowan knelt down and petted the top of Oreo’s head. The puppy playfully nipped at his fingers. “Especially not when you put on your little apron and bake biscuits.”
“That’s the only reason you stick around, huh? Because of my buttery biscuits?”
“The bread too,” he answered, flashing my favorite tooth as he stood back up and stepped toward me.
He reached forward and caught my chin between his thumb and index finger, regarding me with a level of affection he didn’t often show.
“But I reckon I was a goner before I ever even tasted your food. You had my heart at first stumble. Clumsier than a newborn boar.”
“You’re so mean to me,” I mumbled.
Lake swatted at Rowan with his tail. My hero.
“Shadow?” a deep voice came from the other side of the tree.
I peeked around the trunk. Draven and Reign walked through the grass, both in their usual spy gear. The breezy afternoon probably kept them from getting too hot in all that black, but once summer hit, they’d need a change of wardrobe.
Going shirtless was one possibility, though the sight of Draven’s pecs in all their glory would probably give anyone who saw him a nosebleed.
“Evening, gents,” I greeted the pair. “You weren’t at breakfast.”
Reign nodded to Draven. “He’s to blame. I tried waking him, and he threatened me with the blade under his pillow.”
Draven made a disgruntled noise. “Then I suggest not waking me.”
“So feisty,” Reign said, his heterochromatic eyes crinkling in a smile as he looked at me. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Much better than looking at his ugly mug all day.” He nodded to the wall of muscle beside him.
Draven’s gaze narrowed.
I knew Reign was only teasing him. Anyone who’d actually seen Draven’s face could never think he was an eyesore. The man was chiseled perfection, with a sharp jaw, straight bridged nose, and cupid bow lips. All currently hidden beneath that black piece of fabric.
“When will you two take off your masks?” I asked. “Ro doesn’t wear his, and he’s part of the secret brotherhood of masked vigilantes too.”
“Masked… what?” Lake cocked his head.
Rowan laughed.
Draven stared at me, no emotion that I could detect. Feeling suddenly bratty, I stared right back, putting my hands on my hips for the full effect.
“How about I make you a deal, darlin’?” Reign winked at me. “Spend one night with me, and I’ll take off my mask and much more.”
Why did every male in my life enjoy picking on me?
“No thank you,” I said, still doubting his sincerity. He just enjoyed making me blush. “My hands are full with five men already.”
“Only five?” Reign asked. “I could’ve sworn you were also bedding the demon lord.”
I almost choked.
“He is,” Rowan said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Ro,” I grumbled, cheeks heating.
He grinned.
“I see.” An impish glint surfaced in Reign’s eyes. “So. How is Lord Onyx between the sheets? Curious minds want to know.”
All gazes shifted to me.
“Oh, look over there.” I pointed toward the field of wildflowers beyond the oak tree, so overcome with awkwardness I nearly ran through those flowers and straight for the hills to escape.
“What are we looking at?” Draven asked with a squint. “Grass?”
“The… uh, flowers. Nature is so pretty, right?” I cleared my throat and crossed my arms, doing my best attempt at a casual stance. I didn’t handle embarrassment well. “But enough about that. What’s the plan for today? Doing any awesome spy stuff?”
Another blank stare from Sir Cranky the Spy.
“We’re meeting with Lord Onyx’s scouts soon,” Reign answered. “To discuss the trip to the barrier last night.”
That’s right. Rowan had mentioned a trip to the barrier after finding me and Lake during our covert operation to track down Onyx. But he hadn’t said anything more about it.
“The bastard who nearly killed you that day at the castle was perched in the tree outside the entrance.” Rowan’s biting tone matched the lethal spark in his topaz eyes. It took a lot to piss him off so much that he lost his cocky attitude.
“Stryder?” I asked, catching a blur of orange from the corner of my eye. Pumpkin was slowly inching along the branch above us.
Reign nodded. “Akito was nearby as well. He was using air magic to conceal his presence, but I detected the mana particles.”
Akito was the leader of the mercenaries.
Or, at least, I assumed he was the leader.
For such a small and dainty guy, he was incredibly powerful.
He could manipulate air and use it to throw foes around as if they weighed nothing.
Constrict them too, much like Rowan could use his shadows for the Bone Crusher—the name I’d given his supercharged ability that allowed him to crush people into dust.
“What are they doing out there?” I asked, pushing from the tree. And stumbled with the action. Clumsy feet.