The forest was silent while everyone considered the implications. Hallea spoke first. “Nature magic is sentient. If the Grove recognizes its magic is in danger, it should play nice with the one person trying to save it.” Her words were measured, and her expression was tight with worry.
She wasn’t the only one who thought it might be a problem for a rush of magic to go through a teen’s developing core. Xavier might not know much about dryads, but he knew magic, and none of that sounded good.
Rance’s voice cracked in his distress. “I have to try. Otherwise, Mother and the rest of the dryads will die without a Grove. It took all her strength to grow one new tree. An entire Grove is too much!”
The earth rumbled beneath their feet.
“No offense,” he blurted out.
Hallea put a calming hand on the teen’s shoulder. “We will do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen. There’s a reason you need more than one tree for a proper Grove. You need multiple dryads to absorb the magic. That much power rushing through one being can have serious repercussions, even if Mother Nature chose you.”
“Where did Melcori take the dryads?” Kat asked.
“I can’t say.” Xavier tilted his head to examine the hazy sky, avoiding all eye contact.
“You’re a bit of an idiot,” Oliver taunted.
Kat flexed his fingers, freeing his claws. “I would watch it if I were you. That’s my mate.”
“Your idiot mate.”
Kat leaped. Xavier grabbed him around the waist in time. “Hold on, Kitten.”
“I’m going to claw off his face.” His eerie yowl raised the hairs on Xavier’s arms.
“Enough!” Silver’s voice snapped the combatants out of their locked gaze. “Fighting between ourselves won’t solve anything.”
Xavier released Kat. The cougar shifter relaxed against him.
“What are your plans for the dyads?” Oliver asked.
“I don’t have any plans. It’s Melcori you need to worry about.” And worry, Xavier did. “Melcori wanted me to find Rance to sway his mother. I would suggest you take him like I said, and I’ll tell Melcori you have him. I'll pick him up when it is time to go to the new Grove. That will protect him from Melcori and anyone wanting to harm him. Unless any of you have a better plan?”
“And Melcori gets his way,” Oliver said. “If this works, he’ll do the same to other Groves.”
Xavier shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say. If this doesn’t work, he might try other Groves anyway. Melcori only knew the location of this Grove because one of its members betrayed them. He doesn’t necessarily know where the others are unless they also have detractors who are willing to sell them out. Let’s not borrow trouble, obsessing over Groves that Melcori may or may not know the location of, and focus on this one.”
Oliver put his hands on his hips. “You overlooked option two.”
“Did I?” Oliver was jumping on his last nerve.
“Yes. We kill Melcori, save the dryads, and end the situation.” Oliver smirked.
“Right. Sorry. I know Blood Mages have a terrible reputation, but we don’t all work as assassins, so my first instinct isn’t murder, and killing Melcori won’t remove the need to create a new Grove.” He disagreed with Melcori’s actions but wouldn’t move against him and be branded a traitor.
The group exchanged glances that conveyed a message Xavier couldn’t decipher.
“Since we ‘re at an impasse, I guess I’m done here.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to Rance. “Call me if you decide to turn yourself in. Good luck. Melcori is just as excited to drain all the dryads as to get the gems. You also might consider that one of your Grove betrayed the rest. If Rance were to show up, he might be in more danger from the ones who don’t believe they need him for a new Grove. I’ll tell Melcori what you told me about the Green Men. Why don’t you start writing up what you want in exchange for building a Grove?”
Hallea cleared her throat. “What if they banish him after the Grove is established? He’s almost of age, at least for dryads.”
“I’d be surprised if they didn’t. If things don't work out, you might want to ensure he has somewhere to stay. They might change their mind if they learn he’s useful.”
“I still want to make them a Grove.” Rance didn’t look up as if afraid of the adults’ responses. “And I’m not going to stay somewhere I’m not wanted. Not anymore.”
No one had anything to say to that.
Xavier sighed. “I’ve got to go.”
