“From you, yes.” She walked off down the aisle.
“Fuck.” I really was using that word way too much, but with everything I’d been dealing with, it was warranted.
“I already told you I’m not having sex with you.”
I’d forgotten bear hearing was better than human’s too.
“Yeah, I know.” I took a seat and tried to snap myself out of the daze. She was just a girl. Sure the kiss had been hot, but it was just a kiss. If I could just resist her for the next day or so the temptation would be gone and things could go back to normal. I’d find a human to spend the night with the next chance I had.
Satisfied I’d pushed my feelings far enough aside, I pulled out my phone and called Owen. He’d called twice while Vera was busy distracting me.
“Where the hell have you been?” he barked into the phone. “I’ve called you twice.”
“Glad to talk to you too.”
“Come on, this is serious.”
“I know. I called you back as soon as I could.”
“She’s just a girl, Jared.”
I could practically see the smirk on his face. I ignored the bait. “You still set to meet us?”
“Sure, but are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay.”
“You sound kind of weird.”
“I’m not.” He was starting to piss me off.
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Fine.” He wisely dropped it. “Are you sure we shouldn’t have more backup?”
“Not on the island. Levi will freak. We need to do this quietly. They need to stay back.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right. You’ve known me long enough to know that already.”
“And you’re full of it.”
“Just get your ass to the coordinates I texted you.”
“I will. Just keep it in your pants until we get Levi.”
“Like I’m going to do a bear?”
“You did a Pteron. I thought the rules were out the window.”
“Shut up.” My hands balled into fists. Aside from Vera, Owen was the best at making me angry. We should have had him in the cave. I’d have transformed before Tiffany had left.
“See you soon.” He hung up.
“Your turn,” Vera called from down the aisle.
“I think I’ll pass.” I’d cooled off enough.
Then I made the mistake of turning around. She was standing there completely naked while she toweled off her hair. “Are you sure about that?”
“Fuck.” It looked like I was going to need that cold shower.
Chapter Seventeen
Toby
I hadn’t moved. Well aside from getting up to relieve myself once, I hadn’t moved off the rocks since Hailey left. I had no clue how long Casey was going to be gone, but since there was a possibility she’d be back, or even more importantly that she’d need me, I wasn’t going far.
The sun had set completely, leaving me under the cover of darkness. I didn’t mind the dark. My night vision was near perfect, and there was a calm that only the night could bring. I yearned to fly, to stretch my wings, but doing that too close to the island might get us all in trouble. Casey was facing the bears alone, the least I could do was sit and wait patiently.
“You love her, don’t you?” Daria took a seat next to me on the rock. She and her brother had returned not long after Casey had left, but they’d wandered off almost immediately.
“Yes.” There was no reason to hesitate with that answer.
“That’s sweet.”
“I don’t know if it’s sweet, but it’s real.”
“Isn’t sweet a good thing?” She looked up at me through her bright emerald eyes.
“Yes, but real is better. Sweet can be fake too.”
“She’s going to be okay.”
“You can’t know that.” I was too nervous to worry about displaying false confidence. Evidently Casey’s mother had trusted this person. I figured I could be at least a little bit honest with her.
“What can we know?” She brushed her shoulder against mine. “Does anyone really know anything?”
“I know I love her.”
“Ok. Arguably we know deep emotions, but do we ever really know what’s to come? Even those gifted with seeing the future can be wrong.”
“Because one small deviation changes everything.”
“Exactly.”
“I just need her to be okay. I finally found the one. The one girl who makes me feel like I can be a good man. The one girl that makes me feel like anything is possible. I can’t lose her.”
Daria tossed a tiny pebble into the lake. “That sounds very selfish.”
“Selfish?”
“Yeah.” She turned to me. “Are you listening to yourself? Each of those statements was about what she makes you feel. How about who she is?”
I sighed. “She’s amazing.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s so strong, beautiful, smart, and unique.” Just talking about Casey had my heart beating faster.
“That’s more like it.”
“Are you trying to distract me?”
“Maybe. Do you need a distraction?” She leaned in.
“Not if it involves flirting or anything like that.”
She laughed. “I know. I already told you I can tell you love her.”
“And love is enough to stop you? I thought nymphs couldn’t control that side of them?”
“And I thought all Pterons were arrogant jerks.”
I laughed. “Very true. Stereotypes are a dangerous thing.”
“They are.”
“I’m going to marry her. I’m going to have her as my wife and mate. I’m not accepting anything less.”
Daria smiled. “I know.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. It’s pretty obvious. You’re still sitting here, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll sit here as long as I have to.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
A groan from behind me had us both whirling around. Daria sighed. “What do you want, Maddock?”
“You two sound pathetic.”
“There’s nothing pathetic about love.” Daria crossed her arms and glared at her brother. “It’s the truest of all the emotions.”
“No, love isn’t pathetic, but sitting around talking about it is.”
“What should we be doing instead? We have to wait here just as much as he does.”
“Why? Why do you have to wait?” I still wasn’t exactly sure what their job was other than ferrying people across the lake. Maybe that was it.
“We should just tell him.” Daria laid back on the rock and stared at the sky. “He’d get it.”
“Get what?” She had my attention.
“Why would he get it?” Maddock grumbled. “He’s just a love-sick Pteron.”
I laughed. “Love sick? I suppose there are worse descriptions.”
“Have you ever been in trouble, Toby?” Daria asked without sitting up.
I laughed dryly. “Of course. Most of my life I was.”
“See, he’ll get it.”
“Come on. Just tell me.”
“Do you swear not to tell Taliana?”
“Taliana?”
“Casey’s mom.”
“Sure.” I didn’t know her mom well, so I could promise that. I couldn’t however promise not to tell Casey.
“We’re being punished.”
“Punished?”
“For helping Taliana leave, for failing to make her stay. The wording of why we’re being punished changes every time Gareth reminds us of it.”
“He blames you for her leaving?” I never really understood what happened, and I figured someone would tell me eventually.
“She needed to leave, and we helped her. She was a good friend and family, and we trusted her word.”
“What’s
your punishment? To ferry the boats across?”
“To be allowed near our home but forbidden to step into it.”
“You’re not allowed to go home?”
Maddock exhaled loudly. “Nope. Not once in over eighteen years.”
“That’s a pretty harsh punishment, but no offense, why not leave? Is this place really that important to you?”
Daria sat up. “I forget Pterons are different.”
“Different?”
“You’re not tied to a place. You’re not loyal to the earth. You belong in the sky, and the sky is endless.”
I’d never thought of things that way, but what she was saying made sense. “Now that Taliana is back, do you think you can go home?”
Maddock shrugged. “Who knows? If Gareth says no, then we leave. There’s nothing else that could possibly change his mind.”
“If I had any pull I’d use it. Maybe Casey could help? She is royalty.”
The look on the twins’ faces let me know I’d said the wrong thing. “Forget I said that.”
“Forget it?” Daria leaned in close. “What are you talking about? We know she’s a Pteron, but she’s royal?”
I exhaled loudly. “I guess the cat is out of the bag. Yes.”
“So it was Robert Laurent? Taliana never gave us details, but we knew the pregnancy was different.”
“I don’t know much more than that.”
“I wonder if Gareth knew. Yet he still wanted her back.”
“None of it really makes sense. I’m hoping Casey is getting some answers right now.”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it be?”
I heard the lapping of the water and the whirl of the engine before I saw the boat. “Who is that?” I peered over to the dock.
“Toby?” A guy called over from another ferry boat. This one was smaller than the one Casey took over.
“Yes.” I walked over at a quick clip. If he was asking for me it had to have something to do with Casey.
“You are needed.”
“Is she okay? Is Casey all right?”
“Get in the boat please.”
I did as they asked, only casting a quick glance back at the twins.
“Take care of your girl, Toby.” Daria smiled, but now I’d spent enough time with her to understand the sadness behind it.
“We’ll take care of you guys next.” I’d keep my word on that. Taliana had only run to protect Casey. I believed that, which meant the twins were only guilty of helping Casey. I’d make sure they got home, but first I had to make sure Casey was okay.
“What’s going on? Why do you need me?” I tried to engage the guy. He was slightly taller than me with light brown hair. He was dressed in what appeared to be a uniform, but it wasn’t one I’d seen before.
“Gareth will tell you everything you need to know.”
I nodded. There was no sense pushing him. I’d get my answers from the source soon. I just wished the boat would move faster. It would have been far more efficient to fly, but they hadn’t offered me that option. I’d decided not to push my luck.
Finally, what felt like an eternity later, we arrived on the shore of the island. All I could see was a dense forest as I leapt out right behind my escort. I followed him into the woods. Normally I’d have at least considered the possibility that I was walking into a trap, but I couldn’t think. The only thing I could focus on was getting to Casey. I was lucky I was even being given the chance.
We walked out into a clearing, but it was still hidden under the thick canopy of trees. The man didn’t say a word as he continued over to a steep set of steps that led up to a massive stone building. I followed right behind him. He pushed open the door and walked down a narrow corridor. He pushed open another door. I peered around him and saw Casey sitting on a couch with her mother. I ran right over without a thought. “Casey!”
“You must be Toby,” a man said from behind me.
I took Casey’s hand in mine before turning around. “Yes. I’m Toby.”
“I’m Gareth.” He held out his hand, and I reluctantly dropped Casey’s so I could stand up to greet him. This was his home, and he could throw me out if he wanted. I knew I could take him, but Casey’s mom thought he, or at least someone here, could help Casey. I wasn’t going to do anything that could mess with that.
“Nice to meet you. How’s Casey?”
“I hear you’re attached to my daughter?”
His daughter? I turned to look at Casey for help. Did he think she was Vera or something?
“I know everything.” He figured out my train of thought. “I still claim her as my daughter. Her mother is my mate and there was nothing consensual about that conception.”
Not consensual? Had Robert raped her?
“It’s all really complicated, Toby. It was more like magic affecting both of them. I really don’t think Robert knew anything.” Casey put that thought to rest. I knew Robert was capable of a lot, but I hated to imagine the former king had been that despicable.
“As interested as I am in hearing all of this, my main concern is for Casey’s health. Do you know what’s wrong? Did her kidnappers do something to her?”
A woman I hadn’t initially noticed walked over. She looked at Gareth. “I assume I have permission to explain everything to him.”
“Yes.” Gareth nodded.
“Casey’s mind has been infiltrated by dark magic. A force is trying to take control.”
“What?” My whole body tensed. “What do you mean?”
The woman placed a hand on my arm. “Stay calm. Getting riled up isn’t going to help anyone.”
“Then explain. You can’t tell me that kind of thing and not give me more details.”
“Casey’s been holding it off. Your girlfriend is very strong.”
I smiled at Casey. “Don’t I know it?”
“But she can’t hold it off forever. She needs to fight harder.”
“You can do it, Case. You can do it.” I returned to Casey’s side.
“We thought you might be able to help.” Her mom smiled lightly. “She seems to draw a lot of strength from your presence.”
“In other words I like having you around.” Casey grinned. I was so relieved she still had her sense of humor. At least that hadn’t disappeared.
“What do we do?” I wasn’t going to waste any time.
“We have to put her into a deep sleep. She needs to do this through her subconscious.”
“Into a deep sleep? You’re not going to drug her.” That wasn’t a question. She’d been through enough already.
“We need to relax her enough.”
“Get Daria.” Taliana turned to Gareth. “Her touch worked on Casey instantly. She might be able to talk her down into a sleep.”
Gareth looked at Taliana with surprise. “Daria? She’s been banished.”
“Banished?” Taliana’s look of horror made it clear that she’d had no clue about the punishment. “For what crime?”
“Aiding your departure.”
“What?” Taliana jumped to her feet. “It wasn’t their fault. I forced them.” I now knew where Casey got her spitfire personality from.
Gareth touched her shoulder. “We both know you didn’t force them. They’d have done anything to help you.”
Tears spilled down Taliana’s face. “You kept them from their home.”
“I’m sorry.” He put his free hand on her other shoulder. “Maybe I acted rashly, but I hoped they’d give me a clue to where you went.”
“But they never did.” Taliana shrugged him off. “Because they didn’t know.”
“I’ll bring them back. I’ll make amends.”
“Yes you will. Right now. Hopefully Daria will still be willing to help.”
“She will.” I felt confident speaking for her. “She will help.”
The man who had escorted me turned to Gareth. “Should I return for her?”
“Bring them here,” Taliana answered for him. “Bring them both here
.”
“Yes. Bring them here.” Gareth smiled slightly. There was definitely still something between the two.
Casey leaned into my side, and I quickly put an arm around her. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Couldn’t be better.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “Eventually you’re going to look back at this and laugh.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. I mean how many times in your life will you have an excuse for the voices in your head.”
“It’s not funny now.”
“No. Not at all.”
We waited in silence for a while. Gareth and Taliana stood watching us, while Casey and I remained seated. The woman, who I assumed was a healer, had disappeared. I hoped she wasn’t getting some sort of drug. As much as I didn’t like magic, or anything like that, I preferred the Nymph natural magic to anything else. At least it was coming from someone good. My gut instinct was that Daria was a good person. Even her brother, as grumpy as he could be, still seemed genuinely caring. Hopefully we’d be able to take care of whatever was going on with Casey quickly.
“Let me at her.” Daria bounded into the room and ran right up to where we were on the couch. “I heard you need me.”
The other woman returned. “We need to put her into a deep sleep. She needs to fight off an external dark force.”
“Should we put Toby into one too?” Maddock asked.
“Uh, what?” That was the first I’d heard of that idea.
“Oh. Good idea. Maybe he could help her through it,” Daria replied excitedly. “They have a strong connection, so I bet it could work.”
“Why would you need to put Toby to sleep?” Casey asked. “No one hurt him.”
Daria kneeled down to get to Casey’s height. “Do you trust Toby?”
She nodded.
“Do you truly and wholeheartedly trust him?”
My chest clenched. Did she? Did she actually?
“Of course I do.”
“It’s important that you’re honest. This is only going to work if you trust him.”
“I trust him.” She looked right at me. “I trust him completely.”
“Good.” Daria stood up. “We need to move these two couches together so they can lie down.”
Gareth and I grabbed the second couch at the same time. I stepped back and let him do it. No reason to step on his desire to help.
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