“You still need basic care and supervision,” Kat argued. He didn’t like the idea of any kid, dryad or not, wandering around the forest without food, clothing, or companionship needed for their mental well-being. Kat knew what it was like to be ostracized. He wouldn’t want that for any fifteen-year-old.
“I’ll be fine. Mother taught me how to scavenge for food and weave clothing with magic, and I have my tree for shelter.” He slid a thumb beneath his pendant and lifted it above his collar.
Rance tried to appear supremely unconcerned about his upcoming eviction from the Grove, but Kat spied the vulnerability in his eyes.
“And what about education? Do you go to school?”
Rance scowled. “Why are you making such a fuss? I’m not your kid.”
Kat closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath before letting it out slowly. He had to remember that not all species raised their kids the same. What worked for shifters might not work for dryads. Still, fifteen was too young to be kicked out of a home, no matter the species. “Whether you’re mine or not doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
“Can we find my mom and worry about my impending banishment later?”
“Are you sure that you were never officially banished?” Hallea’s forehead creased in the middle as if she were considering all the angles.
Rance sighed. “If I was, no one mentioned it, and I think being kicked out of my home would be worth telling me. However, they did leave me to burn to death in a forest…”
“You said your mother told you to run. If they were being hunted, she gave you good advice. You being overlooked might have saved your life,” Silver said.
“Maybe.” He shrugged his shoulders and winced. “How long until my burns are healed?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t healed a lot of dryads.” Kat nudged his knee against Rance’s. “Keep applying the burn cream, and you’ll be back to your usual teenage glory in no time.”
Rance laughed, a sad, watery sound, but his eyes were brighter. “Thanks.”
Kat gave his inner self a high-five. At least he helped the kid feel a little better. Frankly, Rance’s home life was sending warning bells clanging.
“I’m done.” Rance pushed his plate away. “Can we go now?”
“Put your plate in the sink, and then we’ll head out.” Kat hoped they would find signs of Rance’s mother, even if it were bad news. It's better to know than to wonder.
A knock at the door startled Kat.
“I asked Oliver to join us,” Silver said. “If there’s any magical residue, he might be able to find it.”
Kat turned to Anthony. “And you can’t?” He bit his lip after he said those words, not meaning to challenge the Alpha Mate.
“That isn’t my specialty. Oliver was trained in detecting other people’s magic.”
From what Kat heard around the pack house, Oliver had learned that skill as a trained assassin, but he didn’t bring that up. He didn’t want to break his short history of avoiding uncomfortable conversations. He had a nice streak going.
Hallea stood and grabbed the purse she’d left slung over the back of the chair. “I’ll take Oliver with me if the four of you want to travel together.”
“Sounds good, Mom.” Anthony kissed her cheek.
Hallea squeezed his shoulder and headed for the front door to grab Oliver and take him with her.
“See you soon,” Anthony called after her.
CHAPTER5
Devastation.
Xavier stood outside what had once been a beautiful Sacred Grove and mourned the charred earth. Why did Melcori have to burn the place down? There had to have been a better way to move the Grove and take their jewels. He understood his master needed money, but he could’ve earned it with a few jobs.
Unless it was more than he claimed.
It wouldn’t be the first time Melcori tried to downplay the extent of his debts, and it wouldn’t be the last.
