Dryads weren’t exactly immortal but when a tree lived three hundred years, so did the person attached to it. The other dryads had watched generations of Drakos family members come and go, and it was likely she would do the same.
Nina sank down on the step and trailed her finger through the water. Perhaps that is why the dryads kept away from humans. They always left or died while the dryad continued to live. It must be very painful.
“What occurred between you and Orion yesterday?” Cassian demanded as he strode toward her.
“What do you mean?” Her brother couldn’t know about the kiss could he? Had Orion told someone? Had the dryads told him?
“Lord Wharton pulled me aside this morning and told me that the women would now allow Orion the freedom to come and go as he wished, if that is what you wanted as well.”
Nina frowned. “Why the change?”
“I thought you would have an explanation.”
Nina shook her head, confused. “Perhaps they knew he was visiting anyway.” If they knew of the kiss it was unlikely that they would change their mind about letting men in the grove.
Movement near the trees drew Nina’s attention. “Why is Lady Wharton here?” she asked with curiosity.
“Perhaps she is telling the dryads the same.”
“This is all very strange,” Nina mumbled.
The dryads walked with Lady Wharton and accompanied her toward the boxwoods, none of them acknowledging her or Cassian.
“What do you think she said to them?” Cassian asked.
Nina worried more of what was said to Lady Wharton. If they told of the kiss, would Orion be banned again?
“Are you certain nothing happened that I should know about?”
It was easier to answer that question. “Nothing.” Her brother did not need to know anything.
He frowned. “Something has changed, and I intend to find out.”
As she watched Cassian follow Lady Wharton and the dryads, she hoped he learned why there was a change because she was quite baffled, but not disappointed.
Not long after everyone had disappeared Orion appeared, walking toward her.
Nina shouldn’t be so happy to see him but couldn’t help herself.
“I have permission to call on you,” he said when he drew near.
“Your father told my brother. Do you know why?”
Orion chuckled and settled beside her. “I am certain it is because I am now the Custodian of Nightshade Manor.”
“It has a guardian?” She’d never heard of such before but listened as Orion explained the purpose of the role, why it had been created, and why there had not been one in some years. She certainly understood the need. Witches had been hunted for centuries, as had nymphs for that matter.
“You will live at Nightshade Manor year-round?” The idea was more disturbing than she had anticipated.
“I can leave, travel, but it will now be my home.” Orion picked up her hand. “What is wrong?”
How could she explain. In time he would marry and live not far away. She had accepted that he would likely visit on occasion and eventually might bring a wife or even children. If he lived in the mansion, she’d witness him enjoying everything that she would be denied.
If it were one of his male cousins, it would not bother her, but it was Orion and he’d have a life without her. All she would be able to do was watch, as she had the girls when they lived there to gain their powers.
It was foolish to feel this way about someone she had known for such a short time, but the idea of seeing him with another caused pain deep in her heart.
Nina knew from the first time that she’d looked upon his beautiful face that they could be nothing but friends, and it was a friend that she wanted. She also acknowledged that her draw and desire for Orion could simply be that he was the first gentleman whom she’d spoken to other than Cassian. It may be no more than infatuation and in time her heart would heal, but she was afraid it wouldn’t, which caused her to wonder if the pain truly came from never having what he would—a love and family. Or was the pain because she would never have him?
