If he did, what promises would his younger sister extract from him to hold his confidence?
Orion’s stomach churned, but some sacrifices were worth making and he knew exactly where Petra would be—where she always was—in the still room concocting potions. She wanted to be a healer and hated when others were in pain, emotionally or physically.
Orion slowly smiled as he knew the best way to approach his sister so that she did not make his request too difficult.
“How would you feel if you were confined to Nightshade Manor your entire life and the only company were five female cousins and your brother?”
Petra stilled. “Which brother?”
“Pierce, not me. I already know that you would prefer me, being your favorite brother.” He grinned.
“I am irritated by you both equally and do not have a preference.” She turned to face him, a mortar and pestle in her hands. “What is this about?”
“A hypothetical. How would you feel to be shut off from the outside world?”
“I would not like it,” she answered.
“Nor does Nina I suspect, but she has no choice in the matter.”
Petra carefully set the mortar and pestle aside. “What do you know of Nina?”
“Likely more than you.”
“You have been to the sacred grove.”
Orion stepped fully into the still room and closed the door. “Please do not tell Mother or I will not hear the end of it.”
“The men are not supposed to go there.”
“Yes, I am well aware, but there is nothing keeping you or our female cousins from visiting.”
This time she frowned at him.
“I think she is lonely.”
“Is she not a dryad living with her family?”
Orion frowned. “What were you told?”
“What were you told?” Petra countered.
“I asked first,” Orion said.
“Yes, but I am not to speak of what I know.”
“So many blasted secrets for no purpose.” He slammed his fist down on the scarred wood table. “Yet, I am going to ask that this conversation remain between the two of us.”
Petra stared at him.
“I swear, I will not say another word unless I gain your promise,” he warned.
Another important aspect about Petra was that she always knew the most gossip, enjoyed knowing secrets, but she was also the last one to ever speak out of turn. Simply knowing something that others did not was enough for her. But, in this case, he would need her to tell him what she knew.
“Will you keep what I tell you a secret and will you tell me what you know?”
She stared at him a little longer and he could see that she was weighing the decision in her mind by the intensity of her eyes. Finally, she nodded. “Tell me.”
“You first. What did Mother tell you about Nina?”
