Ojore looked around at the others. “Well, I will tell you, but there is something I must say first before that wrath of yours comes after me. I know he is Fae for a reason.”
Seda looked at him in a what-the-fuck manner.
“I… I’m not human either,” Ojore said, placing his hand over his neck and shifting nervously.
Seda threw her hands in the air again, and electricity shot upward into the sky, illuminating the area with a purple flash.
“What are you, Ojore?” she slowly asked in a hair-raising tone.
“I’m a Lycanthrope. Specifically of the bear sort.”
“And thatmeans?” Her eyes brightly flashed as she focused on him.
“It means that I can shift into a bear.”
She heard Benny and Askold gasp.
“And what does this have to do withCahir?” She was quickly losing what little patience she held onto.
“Well, where I’m from, the Lycanthrope and the Fae have had a ‘disagreement’. I knew he was Fae the moment I saw him, but I didn’t realize who he was until later.”
“Is there anyoneelsewith any hidden secrets like this?” she seethed, looking at everyone, including her brother.
Benny raised his hands in defense. “Human as they come, Seda. Where do you think Cahir is now?”
“Umbrea, most likely,” Roya said as she looked back and forth between them.
“The place he has wanted to take me thiswhole time?” Seda seethed.
“Uh, he did mention that on a couple of occasions,” Benny said toher, nervously looking at her eyes and noticing her hands brighten intensely.
“And how do we get there?” she sweetly asked.
Benny bristled and looked away. He had no fucking idea. She looked at the Corvids.
“We have to talk to the Wisps first,” Ferona chimed in for the first time. She looked back down at the ground after speaking up.
“And what is it that I need to talk about to the Wisps, Ferona?”
“They, umm. I do not know, Your H…” Roya elbowed her hard in the ribs, and Ferona fell to the ground, apologizing and wheezing.
Seda pulled at her hair in exasperation. “All of thesefuckingsecrets!”
She marched over to Seren’s body and looked back at the group. “This,” she said as she pointed at his body. “I willneverallow this to happen again. Ojore, you were right. I have failed to protect myself for too long. I will never cower again.”
She paused and then softened her voice as she looked down at Seren, “He was the kindest man, and he deserves a respectful service.”
The group linedup and gave their condolences, all saying something nice about Seren. Seda watched his unrecognizable body throughout the entire thing, never taking her eyes off of him. She would burn the image of him into her mind forever. She would never allow her cowardice to harm another one of her friends again. She had power surging through her veins, and she was going to use it.
In the Camp, she had vowed to herself that the weak Seda of the past was behind her, and she meant it.Now she just needed to show it.
When the service was over, Seda bent down and placed a flower on Seren’s chest. She said a silent prayer for him, unsure to whom,but it was definitelynotto Lord Mordred, and then stood up and stared at the group. “Let’s get to the Wisps.”
They set off north into the trees once more. Seda felt grounded as she limped, her toes squishing into the soft moss and ferns. Kalon quietly walked up to her side from behind and handed her the small flower he was playing with earlier.
He stepped back into his place at the end of the line.
She looked at the delicate white flower in her hand and admired the soft, white petals. They reflected her fragile exterior, but internally, the flower was a vibrant scarlet, echoing the burning embers of her spirit.
