Chapter 54
Chapter Fifty-Four
Autumn woke slowly, almost painfully. Her head ached, and her body didn’t want to move. Actually, she shifted in the bed and found herself pressed down by something lying on her. And whatever it was, was breathing directly up her nose.
She dragged her eyes open, looking directly into Solace’s eyes. “Good morning to you too,’ she said fighting a hand free to pet his head. He trilled and flooded her with images that he wanted her to go with him. That he’d been waiting for her to wake up so she could go with him.
He had something for her.
Solace hopped off the bed, sitting at the side and plopping his chin on the edge to watch her as she struggled to sit up. He trilled again, his cheerful sound, so whatever he had for her was very exciting to him.
Autumn made it to her feet, wavering slightly, and put her hand on his head. He wrapped his feathery tail around her wrist and pulled her away. She was slow, but they didn’t go far, only into the living room of the villa where the same light that burned in the library filled the space.
Autumn looked down at Solace, smiling. “You’ve seen this before, Solace.”
The fox urged her closer, holding her hand out to the light on the end of his tail, and all Autumn could do was watch as another curl of that light wafted out to wrap itself around her wrist.
“Hold there,” Intellect said, appearing from nowhere. “I want to see what you do to make them come to you, let alone break from me.”
Solace let her wrist go, peering at the tiny watcher around her wrist and trilling again. Autumn smiled at the creature, petting its back with her finger. The watcher’s trill was a different color than Solace’s. Solace’s sounds were bright gold, like the Song’s notes when it was happy.
But this watcher’s notes were platinum, steady and true and slightly metallic. Autumn sang to the little watcher, sang to Solace, who trilled back in tune.
“I see,” Intellect got up to peer down at Solace. “They exist to bolster you.”
“What?” Autumn looked up at Intellect. “I don’t understand.”
“They are no longer my watchers,” Intellect said, gesturing at the light of the hearth, another little curl of light flicking from the end of his fingers and joining the flame. “What do you do to see them change?”
“I just tried to send Solace back.” Autumn said, looking down at the watcher who was still coiled around her wrist and was now purring. “I told him it was time to go back and he?—”
The watcher around her wrist let out an odd sound at Autumn’s words. The sound read like a refusal, or a denial, and Autumn jolted, looking down at the watcher. Who had started growing.
But the being changed color in the opposite direction from Solace.
Where Solace had darkened to an eagle’s gold, this watcher was going the other way as it shifted and grew.
Autumn placed it on the floor, stroking the watcher’s head as it finished its transformation and wrapped its silver-feathered tail around her ankles.
“His name is Valor,” Autumn said quietly, still petting Valor’s head. “They seem to be reflecting what I need at the time. When Solace came to me, he was what I needed, and now that I am facing going back to Charan, I need the bravery to face what’s there.”
“Fascinating,” Intellect looked down at Valor, raising a hand.
Autumn could feel the magic coming from him, but just like Solace, Valor seemed utterly unaffected.
“He is yours now, a staunch defender. It seems as though, if I wished it, I could force him back, but he came to you for a reason and I would not do that to either of you.”
“Thank you, Highest,” Autumn bowed to Intellect, and finally looked around. All the Highest were sitting in various chairs around the room, as were Boreus and Auster. She had apparently walked right past them all, in her nightgown, while being utterly focused on Solace.
“Hello,” she said lamely. “I suppose I should change and make breakfast?”
“Or you could come back to bed,” Auster walked to her side and smiled down at Solace and Valor. “It’s two in the morning and we were just about to come and cuddle with you.”
“Valor is going to need a bed like Solace has,” Autumn suddenly felt muzzy and strange. “I think I need to lie down again.”
“Come and rest,” Auster took her hand and led her from the room. Boreus in their wake, and tucked her back into bed, both of them coming to lie with her. Autumn raised her head for just long enough to see Solace and Valor tucking themselves up on the sofa in the room, heads together, tails twined.
At least they wouldn’t fight. Autumn nodded, turning to cuddle in the arms of her loves and go back to sleep.
It was nearly noon when she woke, to kiss the men that she loved and wiggle free of them so she could bathe. She loved the cuddles, but they were both warm and she woke up sweaty more often than not.
Solace and Valor were both waiting for her at the edge of the tub, and as soon as she got in, so did they. Swimming with her, letting her wash their feathers and dry them off before they frisked out of the room and then dashed back with her loves following.
They both smiled at her, and Autumn smiled back. “I’m starving and I’m really hoping that the Highest don’t mind me using their kitchen to make us some lunch.
“We can ask,” Boreus rumbled, petting Valor. “Hello Valor, it’s good of you to join us.”
Valor purred, leaning into Boreus’ hand and the images he sent Autumn made her giggle. “He likes you,” she told Boreus. “As Solace seems to like Auster now.”
But Solace was sitting tight to Autumn’s side, looking up at her. Autumn dropped her hand and stroked his damp feathers, smiling. “Let’s go make lunch.”