“It’s a secret,”I said quickly. When she frowned, I added, “I thought it would be fun to reveal it at the upcoming ball. You know, add a little excitement or something like that.”
Lying to Jo was so awkward, and I was certain she could tell that I wasn’t being entirely truthful. It was a secret—that part was true—I just didn’t give a shit about the ball.
If she sensed my dishonesty, she hid it well. She smiled at a crescia who landed on her arm, and I hoped it was enough of a distraction.
“That reminds me,”I said after the small critter took off back to its branch.“I think I bonded to a crescia, but I don’t know what to do now.”
I leaned over the planter and pulled the flowers back to show Jo the cocoon. Opal released an annoyed trill at the movement, then nestled back into her spot.
“Oh, how exciting! Yes, that must be the crescia that has chosen you. It should emerge shortly, and you will be able to see what form they have chosen. Make sure you save the silk after they awaken. It is very valuable.”
“So I’ve heard,”I said, thinking about my dress. The cocoon was so small, I couldn’t see that amount of silk making more than a pocket square. I could only imagine how many crescia were needed to make my gown.
I dropped my arm to let the leaves fall back into place, but Jo thrust out a hand to stop me.
“You cannot leave your crescia here!”There was so much horror in her voice you would think I just threatened to go on a murder spree.“You should keep it with you until it emerges. They draw upon your magic to help their transformation. You must not leave them alone for too long.”
“Got it, sorry. All new to me.”I gingerly picked up the cocoon and cradled it in my hands. Opal promptly flew out of the planter and took her spot against Jenni once more, nestling into my palm.
“They must be related,”Jo mused.“She will likely act out when you take your crescia away, but do not let her distress upset you. It is the way these things go.”
Opal let out a sharp string of chitters as if she knew what Jo said and had a strong opinion to the contrary.
“You know so much about them. Do you spend a lot of time with your crescia?”I had seen quite a few in the glen out back. Maybe I’d remember hers.
“I do not have one,”she replied, and the sadness that filled my head was so intense it felt like my own.
“I’m so sorry. Did they pass away recently?”
Jo stood and turned her back on me. She looked about ready to walk away when I heard her say,“I never had a crescia. Never bonded to one.”
Oh. I opened and closed my mouth a few times doing my best imitation of a fish while I tried to figure out a response.
“I should go,”Jo said.“There is still much to do before the Council.”
“Ok,”I replied, hoping she wasn’t leaving because of me.
“Take care of your crescia, Rain. You do not want anything bad to happen to it.” And with that slightly ominous warning, she disappeared out the door.
I contemplated the little bundle in my hands that was roughly the size of a peach, if not slightly more elongated. I needed a nap. Manifesting a new ability then lying to the person who was arguably my best friend here took a lot out of a girl.
“Okay, Opal. I’m going to my room for a bit, and I know you’re not supposed to come with me, but I don’t have any energy left to fight you.” I set them on the edge of the planter, then pulled the tie off the end of my braid, setting my thick waves free. “If you want to stay with Jenni for a bit longer, I’m going to need to sneak you out of here. So either you rest on my neck and let me bury you under my hair, or you remain here. Your choice.” I lifted my thick mass of black hair and gave her a pointed look.
It was ridiculous to think she would even understand me, but to my surprise, she wordlessly flitted up to land on my neck. I released my hair to hide her against my nape, then carefully picked up Jenni. Cupping her inside my closed hands, I left the Sylvarium and headed to my room to take a little nap. If I was lucky, I would have a new friend by the time I woke up.
“Take your time, Jenni,” I whispered as I set her down on my nightstand. I lifted my curtain of hair, and Opal flew out to resume her self-appointed guard duties.
“I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.”
Chapter thirty-six
It hadn’t occurred to me at any point between waking up and finding Sin bleeding in Corym’s office that I might have missed a memory during last night's tumble through my past encounters. Learning that Sin loved me was pretty all-encompassing of my thoughts, so it was only understandable that I didn’t realize I had a few instances of people speaking in Rivellan that I still had yet to experience.
It was this realization that both intrigued and frightened me as I closed my eyes and found myself hidden in the shadows of the door to the grand hall.
I waited patiently, knowing exactly what I was about to see and yet still nervous all the same. It was the argument between my father and Dey. The one that he assured me was nothing, yet I knew had to be something.
“You had one job, Deylan. One!”my father roared.“I have treated you like my own son. Raised you in the palace and given you all the finest things in life. And this is how you repay me? She was raised among humans, how hard could it be toseduce her? They are barely better than animals, and you are a Vitaean.”His voice dropped an octave as he bit out,“Fix this, Deylan. You have no idea what will happen if you fail, so do whatever it takes to make her fall in love with you. We are counting on you.” He gave Dey one last ominous look, then stalked out of the grand hall. I didn’t watch him go, I just waited for the person I knew was about to emerge.
