“Erik.” My attention drifted to him, and he offered a polite smile. I did not return it.
He nodded, though continued looking at me. “You know, Ariana has been quite the welcoming presence here.”
The knot in my chest eased at the mention of her and the positive light she seemed to emanate even in the Sidhe lands. “She is a welcoming presence everywhere she goes.”
“Is she leaving us?”
I eyed him. “I don’t know.”
“She has been pressing her luck since she got here. And somehow things have always worked out for her.” He shook his head, a solemn look casting shadows over his face. “The tides have changed, though. I can feel it in the air.”
“Are you a Seer?”
Gorm laughed, his entire upper body shaking. “Oh, spiritno. I am but a simple air conjurer, probably no more powerful than Ari’s Sparrows. But the wind speaks to me, to all of us. We need to simply learn to listen to the whispers.”
“How much do you know?” Ariana seemed to trust this man, but I did not know him.
He smiled. “If you are asking whether she has told me anything, she hasn’t. But I keep my eyes open. And despite my age, the brain in this skull is still kicking.” He tapped a finger on the side of his head.
I eyed him uncertainly. Proceeding with caution was the best bet at this point. Especially with how withdrawn Ariana seemed. Yet, my curiosity got the better of me. “How’s she been?”
He smiled warmly at my question, as though pleased by it. “She is good, growing stronger every day.”
“In what way?” I leaned back in the bed, hoping some of the tension would leave my body.
“Her conjuring for a start. The Sidhe King told her of how she harbors a gift from both the Spirit of the light and of the dark. To where she can become that which she commands, and if she did, then her soul would remain intact, tethered to the world for her to reclaim.”
If Gorm knew of this, then certainly the wolf would have too. Why would this have been something Willis did not share with the rest of us? “And she believes this?”
He released a low, throaty laugh. “Son, she is doing it.” My jaw unhinged in surprise. “Not completely. She can just manage her fingertips right now, but soon and with practice, I have no doubt she will do it to her entire body.”
“You’re serious?” I stared at him. He didn’t seem bothered by the weight of my attention, the edge as I considered him.
His smile remained, not at all offended by my doubt of whathe said. “Sure. Though you do not know me, and I have no way of proving anything.” He shrugged a single shoulder. “You’ll just have to ask her to show you.”
We fell into silence then.
My mind only thought of her. Of how she viewed me before leaving, as though afraid. The uncertainty in her eyes cut me deeper than any blade, leaving a wound that festered with worry. I stepped into a world I knew little about, one that she seemed to have started thriving in, growing more powerful. For a moment, with my arms around her, it felt as though nothing changed. Then a strange cold cloud settled over her, and a wall of ice separated us.
Day turned into night, and others began trickling into the servant’s room. Some of them looked at me as though I didn’t quite fit in despite my ragged clothing. Others completely ignored me. All of them, however, left me alone.
Suddenly Ariana entered the space without an ounce of hesitation until her gaze landed on me and she stopped in her tracks. It was then that even those who ignored me finally took notice.
I stood at once, yet lingered by the bed I had sat on, uncertain whether I should approach, whether she even wanted me near her.
Her brows crinkled, and it looked almost as though she were fighting back tears. “I–” Her voice broke, and she cast her eyes down. “I need a minute.” She stated before turning and rushing into another room behind a closed door.
I followed until a scrawny boy stepped between me and where I was going.
“The lady said she needs a minute,” the boy boldly stated, chest puffed out as if it could make him look the least bit intimidating.
“Step aside, kid.” I shifted to the right to go around him.
He moved with me.
My brows shot up in surprise that this kid had the nerve to remain standing in my way.
“Timothy,” Gorm’s grave voice snapped the boy’s attention. “This is a friend of our Ari. Let him pass.”
