A small guilty smile warmed her face. “I did. Sorry. You are still weak, and I didn’t want you to worry yourself into passing out again. I know I should have probably asked first.”
I moved past what she did and into what pulled at my heart. “The boy?”
“Alive.”
Relief moved through me. “And Soren?”
Olive tilted her head towards the door. “Waiting in the hall outside your room like usual.”
The calming sensation she washed over me became a real one. My muscles loosened.
“What are you doing here?”
She shrugged, taking a step away from the bed. “Clause wanted someone to stay with you, so here I am. He intends to bring you some food in case you are hungry. I drew you a bath, in case you woke soon. You have enough time to relax and clean up some if you wish to before he arrives.”
“Thank you.” I slowly rose from the bed, surprised to not feel as dizzy as expected. My gaze drifted to the bath, steam invitingly rose from the tub.
“Do you want for me to stay?” She asked, drawing my attention back to her.
“No, I’ll be okay, thank you.” I walked her to the door. It was a relief to find Soren standing in the hall.
He gave a slight nod of his head in recognition, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Didn’t believe me?” Olive glanced at Soren and raised a brow as she turned to me, likely sensing my relief.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean any disrespect. Yet, hearing and seeing for myself are two different things.” I still was uncertain of whether to trust her. She seemed nice, but that meant little when we were strangers, and she appeared loyal to her King.
She shrugged, a smile splitting her face. “No worries. I get it. Rest well.” She hugged me. “Good luck.”
“Why would I need luck?” I asked as she pulled away from me.
“For when the Sidhe King comes to visit,” she stated it as though it were obvious.
My brows pulled together. “I don’t understand.”
“He was not exactly happy that you decided to endanger yourself.”
“I didn’t…”
She held up her hand; the action cutting me off. “You do not need to waste your energy and breath explaining it to me. But you should probably think about how you want to explain it to him.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I murmured, wondering what explanation the Sidhe King needed other than a boy’s life was threatened and that I could help.
20
ERIK
“We will move our forces into the Sidhe land.” Willis began the meeting by dropping new information. “My wolves have scouted the territory. It seems that the Sidhe never venture between their city and their borders. Staying hidden amongst the forest and mountain range should not be an issue as we slowly close in.”
His gaze drifted around the room, landing on the several of us privy to such meetings as we sat around the wooden table.
“And what if the Sidhe have someone like you? Someone who uses animals to monitor and spy,” Eislyn asked. She joined us several days ago, and her mind has been invaluable since.
“Then they already know what we have been doing, but I do not think that is the case,” Willis answered with a frown.
“I agree,” Kiora stated in support. “From what Shay has shared with us, Clause seems fond of Ariana.” My blood boiled at the mention of his name as the young Sparrow continued, “Maybe even obsessed. Yet he did not know of her existence until she displayed her power for all to see and took backcontrol of the Bavadrin lands. He likely has spies, but they are probably not animals. They are people. They know the common knowledge and not much more.”
“You think he only knows common knowledge? Care to wager a bet on that?” Iver smirked.
