My smile was teasing. "Perhaps one day."
His response was cut short when Arlan appeared as if by magic at the edge of the forest. He was a wild thing, untamed, his humanity like a poorly fitted skin that he could shed at any moment.
His hair was the color of freshly turned earth, a rich, deep brown that suited his amber eyes, which didn't look even passingly human. Like all Fae, he was perfect in face and form. Almost overpoweringly attractive.
Being a widower suited him. Power flared in a nimbus around his head, much stronger than the last time I had seen him. Before, it had been a banked fire, powerful but limited. Now it roared unchecked, a forest fire that not even mother nature could stop.
"Welcome, my prospective guests." His smile was a cruel twist of the lips. "Many of you have come for an audience. For those the barrow gives passage to through the night, you will receive one of these."
Arlan lifted his hand. In it, a butterfly gently fanned its wings. It had a soft glow, like moonlight on a winter’s night.
Arlan dropped his hand and the butterfly hovered in midair. Another butterfly broke off from the first, then another and another, until a swarm of butterflies drifted around Arlan.
His gaze scanned those assembled, lingering on me, before moving on again.
"Anyone who receives a butterfly may enter with one companion. I warn the rest of you who don't have an invitation from trying to enter. The barrow has a way of defending itself. Not all of them include death. Some are much worse."
Leaving us alone with that happy thought, Arlan faded into the trees.
The butterflies drifted toward us, lazily riding the air currents. Their beauty and the surrealness of the moment held the rest of us spellbound.
Several butterflies broke off in our direction. I held up a finger as one alighted.
Liam caught a butterfly as did Sofia.
Across the clearing, a butterfly landed on both Brax and Caroline's fingers.
"Choose," the butterfly whispered.
Around us, voices filled the clearing as they chose their companions for the night.
"Samara," Sofia said.
"Nathan," was Liam's choice.
For mine, I started to say Connor when I caught a glimpse of him holding his finger up to his face, gazing curiously at the butterfly perched there.
"Anton," I said, changing my vote at the last minute.
"I have none I wish to accompany me," Connor said.
"Is that it?" Anton asked.
Sam grimaced. "It appears so."
All around the parking lot, those who had a butterfly made their way to the waiting forest. Sofia and Sam followed.
Nathan hesitated, uncertainty reflected in his face. This had to bring up all kinds of issues for him. The last time he'd gotten involved with the Fae, he'd had his will stolen and his mind scrambled.
I touched his sleeve with the hand the butterfly wasn't perched on. "You going to be okay?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'll manage."
There wasn't much of a choice. Nathan was too proud and loyal to sit on the sidelines while we went into the belly of the beast. No, if we were going into a potentially dangerous situation, he'd be there to guard our backs.
"I'll be here for you," I told him.
His nod was slow, gratitude shining in his eyes. He stepped past me, joining Liam as they ventured into the forest.
