by Lisa Daniels
“I’m just looking for a room where I can sleep.”
Benson put a hand on her shoulder and forced her to look at him. “You shouldn’t have told him that.”
“I didn’t, I mean, I don’t—”
“At this point, I think I’m going to need to find somewhere to hide you to keep both of you safe.”
“What is that even supposed to mean?” Nina asked, at a complete loss for how her world had been turned upside down in so little time.
“You are both shockingly similar, but it could never work.”
“Do you mean Marcellus’ arm is permanently broken?”
Benson bit his bottom lip and shook his head. “It’s like being locked up with two petulant, naïve children. I don’t know how I am going to make it through the night.”
“You don’t need to do anything, old man.”
Both Benson and Nina turned to look at Marcellus, who was sitting on a bed, watching them. “How did you get there?” Nina asked.
“I walked. Like I said, we have to send your family a message. Then you went into the bathroom, so I figured you had to use it. I’ve been waiting here.”
“You didn’t think I had gone to bed?” Nina asked.
“I don’t think humans are in the habit of sleeping in bathrooms unless they are really drunk.”
Benson sighed, “You two, please, this is not a good idea.”
“Why not, Master Benson?” Marcellus asked. Standing up, he strode toward them, his broken arm hanging limply by his side.
“Because I worry about what will happen to her if things go any further.”
“You are worrying unnecessarily.”
“Really?” The old man narrowed his eyes. “You have been flirty, Marcellus. And both of you have elevated heart rates. Are you telling me that it is my imagination?”
Marcellus looked away as Nina cut in, “What is going on? Why are you two constantly talking over me? Please explain what is happening, Benson.” She turned her big eyes on him, pleading for answers.
Marcellus gently wrapped a hand around her arm and pulled her close. “Benson, you were fine with it before. Why protest now?”
“Because before, I thought it was decided. The poor child doesn’t even know what we are talking about. It is wrong, and I can’t simply sit here and watch this happen.”
Marcellus sighed, “I can see your point. But I have known Greyson since he was a small, temperamental toddler. The happiest he ever was during that time was when he was with a human. He may not have known that I knew, and it really would not have mattered if he did. Even though Aiden asked me to keep an eye on him, I never reported that back because I knew this was the kind of resistance he would face.”
“And they were right. Look how it broke his heart.”
Marcellus licked his lips, obviously measuring his words. “And Mindy broke yours.”
A low rumbling emitted from Benson. “Don’t you dare—”
“It’s just as fair. You may not have the same life expectancy as my kind, but it is still considerably longer than a human’s. Would you give up a minute of your time with her?”
Benson looked away. “It isn’t the same. I had known Mindy for a long time.”
“And how often have you regretted that you waited?”
“Forgive me, but damn you, Your Majesty. I don’t think this line of thought is fair.”
“Life isn’t fair. And the longer your life, the more you learn to appreciate what you have while you have it.”
Benson’s shoulders slumped over. “Break her heart, and I will break you,” he muttered.
“It will never happen.”
Benson began to walk away from them. Marcellus turned to look at Nina when the bear shifter’s voice interrupted, “And if anyone here is an old man, it is you. You are more than 10 times older than me.”
Chapter 4
No Rush
Marcellus ushered Nina to a room. When they entered, she looked at him. “How do you know that this room is free? What if it is a special room to Master Benson?”
“It isn’t. I checked the map before we came down here.”
“Map? What map?” Nina looked surprised.
“I’m kidding. My species has a unique ability to get from place to place. And mine is even more well-honed than most because I spend so much time with other species. I don’t usually need an eagle-eyed view to know where to go.”
Nina ran a hand through her bouncy locks. “I have no idea what you two were just chatting about. But I suppose if you guys understand, then it will be just fine for me to try to get some sleep and head home in the morning.” She pulled off some of her jewelry and placed it on a dresser.
“Actually, I was hoping to spend a bit more time with you.” Marcellus’ voice was gentle as he said it.
Nina looked at him for a moment. “Oh, haha. Very funny. Well, I know where I am sleeping, so you can leave.”
“I’m not joking. But either way, we still need to send word to your family that you are here. Unless you want to unnecessarily worry them.”
“Oh, no, of course not. You are right. So how will you get this message to them?”
“At this point, I think that a bird might be safest.”
“But humans use that method a lot. It can be quite slow.”
“Yes. I do realize that. But, I really am…” he scratched his head. “We could use another method. How much do you know about non-humans? Like, um, fairies?”
Nina shrugged. “Not much. About the extent of my father’s knowledge was that she just wasn’t human. And since none of her family ever visited, I never learned anything beyond the fact that they exist. Whatever magical abilities they have, it doesn’t seem to be something I inherited. Since it didn’t seem relevant, I never really tried to find out anything about them.”
Marcellus tilted his head to the side. “What makes you say that?”
“There wasn’t much I could learn. I mean, it was mostly myths and legends. I didn’t want to be fooled into thinking something wrong about an entire species.”
Marcellus gave her a warm smile, “I meant what made you think that you didn’t have any abilities?”
“Well, because,” she looked at him intently, “well, I’ve never… done anything that wasn’t human. Oh, and Master Benson’s barrier doesn’t stop me.”
Marcellus walked up to her. “Do you mind if I touch you?”
“What?” Nina thought about stepping back at such a bold request, but she couldn’t imagine that he meant it the way it had sounded. It was strange that he would ask now, especially since he had already touched her a number of times, but she felt too shy to ask him about it. Giving her head a little nod, she watched as he took her hand in his good hand. He lifted it up in front of her, then placed his hand on top of her palm. “Hold it right there for a second.”
She watched as he stepped back. A small light shone in her hand, stretching all the way to his. “It’s beautiful. Do all shifters know how to do this?”
“Yes. Our magic is more… primal is perhaps the easiest way to explain it. It is kind of an ancient foundation that helps us to connect with other magical creatures. It is why we tend to stick to ourselves. When so many people pull at you, it can get very tiring, even burning out those of us who aren’t careful.”
“What do you call this kind of magic?” Nina focused on the small string of light that connected her hand and his.
“It’s kind of like a divining rod. We haven’t really given it a name.”
“How do you use this magic?”
“What do you mean?” He watched her carefully.
“I mean, you have to do something with something this fragile and pretty. If I could make something like this, I would use it to decorate my sister’s wedding or something like that. How do your people use it?”
“We don’t.” He continued to watch her closely.
“That seems like a waste. Why not use an ability if you can?”
“Perhap
s because people don’t know they have it.”
“Well, you know about it. Obviously.”
“You mean this light?” He wrapped his pinky around it.
Nina felt a little tug on her hand. Giggling, she said, “That tickles.”
He smiled softly at her. Slowly, he brought the light up to his face. “It really is beautiful.”
“You seem almost as taken by it as I am.” Nina enjoyed watching him inspect the way the light moved.
“Probably more so.”
“Then use it more often.”
“I can’t.”
“Of course you can.” She smiled at him, “I’m not stupid, you know. You can’t fool me.”
“If you think that this light is something I created, then you are very much fooling yourself.” He placed his hand on the dresser, leaving the light attached to it instead of to his hand.
Nina beamed. “See? You can use it as decoration!”
“Only if you will let me.”
Nina laughed, “I don’t have a say in how you use your magic.”
“By nature, I don’t have any real magic of my own. I can shift and I can help draw out magic in others. That’s what my kind does. We are the only shifters who don’t have any overt magical abilities. All of our magic is part of our core. It doesn’t manifest like other shifters. Or fairies.”
Nina looked at him for a moment. Waving her hand, she laughed, “Oh please, you aren’t fooling me.”
He sat in a chair and watched Nina as she continued to play with the light. “Oh! Watch this,” she exclaimed. “I can manipulate your light!”
Slowly, she began to form little shapes with the string. “I wonder if I can make a mouse. I saved one today, you know.”
“I did not know that, but it isn’t surprising.”
She looked up at him as her hands worked to shape a mouse. “Why? Is it usual for your kind to save smaller animals, so you expect it of others?”
“Not at all. We are much more hands-off. As I said, there are risks with spending time with other animals. Humans tend to be the safest as they have no magical talents at all.”
“Hey, don’t badmouth my kind.”
“I wouldn’t talk ill of either fairies or humans. It was a statement of fact.”
Nina waved her free hand, “I don’t consider myself anything but human.”
“It doesn’t really matter what you consider yourself. You can’t change your composition. You can only choose which parts you will enhance and which you will leave dormant.”
“Is that what you do?” Nina moved over and sat next to him. “Look! It moves on its own!” A small mouse made of light ran around in her hand.
Marcellus looked down at it, then up at Nina. “It’s beautiful. You have a lot of skill for someone who has never been trained.”
“I’ve had all of the same kinds of classes as my sister, so I wouldn’t say I’m untrained. Just a little less open to learning things that are boring.”
Marcellus chuckled, “That sounds right.” He leaned his face on his hand.
“So, you didn’t answer my question.” Nina let the mouse go on the ground. Sitting back up, she beamed at Marcellus.
“Which one?”
“Do you pick and choose which parts of you that you will enhance and which you will let stay dormant?”
Giving her a nod, Marcellus shifted a little. “Excuse me,” he said and reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face.
Without thinking about it, Nina closed her eyes for a moment. Realizing what she had done, she looked away. “Can you make more lights?”
“No.”
“Oh, please? For me?” She turned and looked at him, her big, blue eyes shining.
“I can’t.”
She pouted, “You just showed me that you could, now you refuse?”
His eyes did not leave hers as he took her hand again. “Watch carefully,” he murmured.
Nina had a hard time watching as he moved his hand over hers. She found herself wanting to keep eye contact.
He blinked, “Watch.”
Feeling a twinge of regret, she looked at the area between her hand and his. When he placed a hand over hers, a small ball of light began to form in hers. The closer his hand came to hers, the more the light stretched away from hers.
His voice pulled her attention back to the present. “It isn’t me making the light.”
Nina blinked, “But I don’t…”
“I am more of a divining rod. A source that can help pull magic out of others. I cannot do magic of my own.”
Nina looked from him to her hand, then back to him. He gave her a little bit of encouragement. “Try with your other hand.” He placed his hand over the light, pressing his palm against hers. For a moment, Nina was lost in the sensation of his hand on hers. “Focus,” he murmured.
Nina swallowed and closed her eyes. Drawing her hands together, she tried to imagine a light forming between her hands. When she opened her eyes, there were streaks of light waving back and forth between her hands.
Shocked, her eyes looked up into Marcellus’. “I can do magic!”
“Yes.”
“Did you do this?”
He shook his head, “I just pulled some of the pent-up magic that was crackling on the edges. Once I knew it was there, it was quite obvious. I can’t believe I had to be told by a bear shifter that it was there.” He rested his chin on his good hand.
“What does it mean?”
“Whatever you want it to mean.”
“Can I… would it be possible to use this to help people?”
“Of course. You already have been. You just didn’t know it.”
Nina giggled, “Of course I haven’t been.”
Marcellus got out of his chair and knelt in front of her. “I assure you that you have been. I’m not trying to fool you, and I am willing to help you learn more, if you would like.”
“Really? You think I can do more than that?”
Marcellus nodded emphatically, “Absolutely. If you are willing to stay by my side or if you are willing to let me stay by yours, I would be honored to help you.”
Nina stared into his eyes, wanting to laugh, but finding it harder to laugh off his words. “I can’t do that.”
A sad looked passed over his face. “If that is how you feel, I won’t press you. But, may I ask why?”
“I can’t do that to you.”
He cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“If you were to spend all of your time with me, you wouldn’t be able to travel.”
“I’m alright with that.”
“But we aren’t the same species.”
“Does that bother you?”
“No…” Nina rubbed the tip of her nose. “I don’t want to be in your way. You have more important things to do.”
Marcellus smiled at her, “As I told Benson, when something… or someone comes along that you know is important, ignoring that will just lead to regret.”
“But you live forever,” her voice was small.
“No, not forever.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 22, like you.”
“And when I’m 88, how old will you be?”
He looked down. “I will still be 22.”
She put her hand under his chin and forced Marcellus to look at her. “How old are you in human years?”
His eyes were pleading as he said, “Does it really matter?”
Nina was about to say yes. Benson had really pressed hard trying to get that answer, and she knew that all she had to do was say yes, and Marcellus would tell her. But, looking into his eyes, saying yes would be a lie. It really didn’t matter.
“But I will be old while you are still young.”
“I will still cherish you.”
Nina realized at some point that she knew exactly what he meant, what Marcellus and Benson had been talking about. The way Marcellus looked at her, it had only changed a little since the fe
stival. He had probably even said everything that he had knowing that it would bother her.
And he already knew that she felt the same way about him.
“Do you read everyone so easily?”
He moved a little closer to her, “Yes, but… I usually keep some distance. I am not going to lie and say that it won’t hurt eventually. But I will never regret it. Besides,” he took one of her hands in his, “that is so long in the future, it doesn’t have any place in the present.” Slowly, he kissed her hand.
Nina shot up, “I need to send my family a message!”
Startled, Marcellus had fallen backwards, his one arm barely catching him before he fell to the floor.
“I am so sorry!” Nina hurried to help him up.
He waved it away, “It’s fine. I was letting myself get distracted. If we wait any longer, Paola will probably have your head.”
“She would never.”
“Alright, then she will have my head,” he laughed.
“I would never let her.” Nina stood up on her tiptoes just as Marcellus finished standing, and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He turned and looked at her wide-eyed before wrapping his good arm around her and pulling her into a kiss. When he pulled back, Marcellus’ eyes were closed. “We need to—”
Nina pressed her lips against his, her arms wrapped around his neck. The kiss grew deeper as her body pressed against his. He tried to pull away, a laugh welling up in his chest, but his knee hit the bed and he fell onto the soft mattress.
Nina looked down at him, her desire to keep her family from worrying at odds with a much deeper desire.
Marcellus held up his good arm. “I’ll help with the message.”
Nina slowed her breathing. “Alright. How can we… do we have to use a bird?”
“No.” Marcellus pushed himself up. “You can use your magic and put their mind at ease within the next couple of minutes.”
Despite not having any magical abilities of his own, Marcellus proved to be a wealth of knowledge about how to use fairy magic. Every time Nina tried to praise him, he shrugged it off, saying they were really her abilities, not his. Not only was she able to tell her family that she was safe, she had to listen to a lecture about running off.
When her sister was done talking, Nina shut the communication. “That was exhausting.”