“I had not realized that it was until…” She stopped and turned. “Until I met Nephele, then spied on the wedding and then met you.”
“You really cannot leave the grove?”
“Everyone believes I will die if I do. A dryad cannot be too far from her tree.”
“But they do not know for certain,” he prodded.
“It is not something I am willing to risk,” she answered. “Especially after once straying too far.”
He would probably not risk it either, but to be bound to one small section of land and never go anywhere or see anyone save a handful of people must be terribly lonely.
“Is that why you read.”
She smiled. “Just because I am rooted here does not mean I do not want to know of the world and gain knowledge that others have the power to possess.”
“Such as critical history of animal magnetism?” he asked.
“Yes.” She laughed.
It was good to hear Nina laugh but Orion’s heart ached for her.
There must be something that could be done. She should not be forced to remain here, in a small area, for the rest of her life while experiencing nothing.
When they stepped back through the thicket of trees and into the clearing again, Nina groaned.
Orion followed her line of vision to note not only were the five dryads standing in the temple, but Cassian as well. There would be no way to keep this a secret from his mother now, but this time Orion was prepared to argue. Even if Nina could not leave the grove, she should at least have friends and visitors and they should have been his family if nobody else.
He was even more angry at his mother and aunts. They knew of Nina and her age, which was near to their own daughters’. Yet, they hadn’t bothered to bring them to the grove until yesterday. Nina could have had more friends. Even if the family wasn’t in Nightshade Manor often, the least they could do was visit.
He was even angrier with his Aunt Eugenia Cardwell. Her family lived a short distance away and had raised Cassian. She also had two daughters who should have met Nina long before now. They had saved her life and then abandoned her except for clothing delivered upon occasion, and even those were castoffs, as if she were a poor beggar in the streets of London.
Orion glanced at Nina. Her steps had slowed, and she grasped her skirts with fisted hands, knuckles turning white. She then took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and straightened her spine.
He put the anger with his family aside. Nina was prepared to do battle and he would be right by her side to protect and defend.
“I should have expected this,” Nina whispered to Orion. “The trees have ears, and it is likely they heard everything and reported to my brother. I will now be scolded.”
“What can he do? Never allow you to leave the grove.”
She chuckled because there was very little Cassian could do. Besides, she was no longer a child, but a woman of four and twenty. “He could deny me books.” That is really the only punishment she could think of that would devastate her.
“Then I shall purchase every book in Pennick’s Bookshop and bring them all to you,” Orion vowed.
Not only was Orion Drakos a beautiful man, but sweet, kind, and generous.
However, Nina warned herself to only think of Orion in the context of a friend. She knew that it was important to guard her heart. She had no experience with men but had read enough to know she was susceptible to falling easily for Orion Drakos and mistaking love for friendship. “Cassian has described the bookshop in Bocka Morrow. It sounds delightful.”
“It is and if there is a book you would like to read, I would be happy to purchase it for you.”
“A lady must not ever accept such gifts from a gentleman.” Nina knew etiquette but never anticipated that it would be knowledge she would put to use.
“It will be our secret. Besides, I believe we are destined to be friends, so it is allowed.”
Her heart warmed as she looked up to Orion. “I would like to have a friend. I am glad it is you.”
“No matter what, I will remain your friend,” he whispered just as they reached the temple.
It was now time to face her brother and the dryads.
