She stared at him, waiting for an answer, as did his father. They were so still, and Orion suspected that they held their breath waiting to hear that he’d done something so abhorrent that the sacred grove wished to kill him.
“I was kissing Nina,” he finally answered and then waited for the scolding that he was certain to receive.
Instead, silence followed.
“If you will excuse us,” his mother said after a moment, then took his father to the other side of the large library where the two stood close and whispered back and forth. Orion edged toward them hoping to hear something. His father looked up and pointed. “Back by the fire,” he ordered as if Orion was one of his dogs.
Likely the two were in discussion if he should be banned from Nightshade Manor altogether. Maybe even Bocka Morrow and be sent home to Wiltshire. They may be able to ban him from the estate, and the witches had the power to keep him from stepping on the grounds, but they could not force him to leave Bocka Morrow. Though, there was little point in remaining if he could not visit Nina in the grove.
His parents turned and walked back to him. “You will no longer be banned from the grove. It likely would not do us any good anyway.”
That is not at all what he expected, and Orion was immediately suspicious. “Why?” he demanded. “You wish to be present while the grove brings about my demise?”
His mother smiled, and for the first time since the sacred grove was discovered, her eyes held humor. “The grove was not trying to kill you.”
“Then what were the vines about?” he asked.
“In an odd way, accepting you. It wanted you to stay.” She smiled.
Orion pulled back. That was a rather strange way of keeping a person. Had he remained in place longer would the vines have wrapped around him even further? Would they have covered him much like a mummy for burial?
“I will speak with Cassian so that he is aware that Orion is allowed in the grove,” his father offered. “And you should speak to my sisters and the Dryads,” he said to Mother.
Their sudden change was a surprise and Orion didn’t know if it was because he had kissed Nina or the vines…it was the vines. Had it been only a kiss, he would still be banned from seeing her. The vines gave permission. Regardless, he was happy that there was no longer a need for subterfuge to visit Nina, if she would have him. But he’d also go prepared to protect himself from clinging vines.
“Oh, and Orion, one more matter,” his mother said when she paused at the entrance. “The grove may have accepted you, but you cannot, under any circumstances tell anyone else what you have seen there, or who you encountered.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“It is something you and I will need to discuss,” his father said before he and Mother left him completely alone.
“Also, the best way to prevent vines from wrapping around you is not to kiss Nina,” his mother said as she stepped back into the library. “The grove considers her theirs and if you are too familiar, it will believe the same of you and may not ever allow you to leave.”
Bloody hell!
He could still visit Nina, but he would not, under any circumstance, kiss her again.
Nina placed her fingers to her swollen lips wondering if they were bruised. She should have never allowed Orion to kiss her. She should have ended it much sooner. But she had not and now what was she to do?
She glanced at the floor of the temple noting the vines remained. Yes, there were two vines. One had wrapped itself around Orion’s ankle. The other had caressed the top of her foot and was starting to creep around her leg. Had she been aware of what was occurring, she would have kicked it away immediately. It only let loose when she tripped while backing away from the kiss.
Trepidation settled into her stomach. Why would they do such?
Nina glanced at the woods surrounding her. Had the dryads caused the vines to pull from the ground? Was it their intention to harm Orion? If so, why would they attempt to do the same to her person?
She knew the dryads were not pleased to have Orion visit, but any type of harm was uncalled for. Either one of them could have fallen onto the hard surface, or down the steps.
The whispers began along with the breeze, and she knew that they were talking among themselves, but Nina could not quite hear what they were saying. “Come out here now!" she demanded.
Slowly the five dryads emerged from the woods and approached the temple where she stood.
“Did you see the vines?” She pointed to where they still lay, certain the dryads were the cause.
“Yes,” Danae answered.
“Why?” Nina asked.
“We do not know,” Basilia answered with a frown of confusion.
