Dyna rolled her eyes. “No one else could have done this for you?”
“You are the perfect one for the task.”
“How so?”
Leoake’s eerie gold eyes glowed as he grinned at her knowingly. “Teeth that bite and stem that binds, through love and hate, the key realigns.” She shuddered at the otherworldly tone his voice took. “The two pieces of the key can only be fused by one with a broken heart full of rage, my dear. Hatred and love go hand in hand, wouldn’t you agree?”
Dyna worked her jaw, feeling something spoil in her stomach. It shouldn’t surprise her that he knew Cassiel had left her, and the damage it wrought.
He had always known.
She almost laughed. “You didn’t request your favor in Willow’s Grove because you had to wait for me to be heartbroken first.”
It wasn’t a question. She knew it was true. More so confirmed by his cynical shrug. Instead of punching him like she wanted, Dyna returned the scroll to its case and tucked it into her satchel. The key must be more valuable than he let on.
“Hmm, I used to wonder...”
Leoake rose to his feet. “Pray tell?”
“On whether there was a worm-eaten heart beating in your chest. Now I’d wager there isn’t one in there at all.”
His head fell back as he cackled. “Oh, you have become quite cheeky. I like it.”
Dyna studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his schemes. He was connected to Tarn, to her, and to other things she hadn’t figured out yet, but she would. “Very well, dastardly Druid. I will retrieve your key.”
“Splendid.” He headed for the trees, apparently done with their conversation.
It was in the opposite direction of the city with no paths to be seen. Dyna already knew how he traveled, because Keena had mentioned it, and she had seen Azulo do it before.
Fae traveled through the trees.
Leoake knew how to appear wherever he desired, and she, too, had places to be.
“But you will have to do something for me first,” she called after him. “Take me to Kelpway.”
Leoake chuckled. “Sorry, that is not how this works. A favor for a favor as we agreed. I already held up my end of the bargain.” He flashed her a grin over his shoulder. “And I have no intention of stepping foot in that port.”
Of course, he knew Tarn was looking for him. Did that mean he indeed had the other half of the Unending Scroll? Shifting back into a blue fox, Azulo rubbed against Dyna’s leg before reluctantly following his master.
“Well, once I have the key, I will call you through my mirror.”
“Best not.” Leoake shooed the idea away, pursing his mouth. “Don’t toy with enchanted mirrors, clever mortal. You never know who is listening.” He turned away. “I will come when it’s time. Until then.”
He waltzed into the forest without looking back, whistling that same tune that always seemed to tug at something in the back of her mind. He would soon disappear.
She had seconds to catch up.
Dyna released Fair’s reigns. “Return to the others, Fair.” He whinnied in protest. “I must do this. If you can communicate with Rawn, tell him to meet me in the White Woods.”
She ran after Leoake.
Dyna kept her steps light and soundless as she had been trained. She slipped into the forest without disturbing the brush. It was dark inside, the moonlight struggling to peek past the canopy.
She ignored the darkness. Her only focus was the faint whistling in the distance. Moving swiftly, Dyna soon caught up to them. She slowed her steps, hiding behind a shrub as she peeked out. The Druid stopped before an oak tree. It was massive, with low-hanging branches. With a glowing fingertip, he drew several unfamiliar runes on the bark.
They pulsed with golden light. The trunk split and snapped, and the tree groaned as it reformed itself into a perfect circle. Leafy branches framed it like a crown. A golden light spiraled in the center, falling brighter.
She stifled a gasp. He made a portal.
