He just needed his mate more.
One more month. He could do this.
“I put them in the second-level dungeons to keep them away from the other experiments.”
Theoretically, Xavier had known there were multiple levels of dungeons in the castle, but he’d never visited the lower ones. The first-level dungeons had been converted to ritual and experimentation rooms for the Masters and for more extensive group rituals, which Xavier occasionally attended.
Despite Blood Magic's dark reputation amongst other wizards, Xavier’s studies didn’t involve torture or draining people of their blood. His training mainly consisted of healing, wards, and curse-breaking. That isn’t to say that some blood magic users didn’t concentrate on harmful things. It just wasn’t Melcori’s specialty. Xavier appreciated his parents’ choice, not enough to forgive their abandonment, but a little.
That was one mark on his soul that would never fade despite the counseling sessions Melcori had insisted he attend as a child.
It took ten minutes to reach the dryad containment area. He was about to ask Melcori if surrounding forest creatures with stone was a good idea, but the sound of crying reached his ears—not just crying, but wailing. The noise echoed through the corridors, sending shivers up and down his spine.
“Ah, the poor things are in distress.” Melcori made a humming noise that Xavier had long ago connected to his master sinking into his scientific mindset, which rarely left room for compassion.
Xavier hoped he wouldn't leave his empathy behind when he reached the same training level as a Blood Mage. His optimism had slowly died over the years after meeting others. The further along their studies, the rarer the compassion. They all seemed cold and alone. Melcori claimed he kept Xavier around because he needed a conscience, as his had checked out long ago. Xavier was almost positive he wasn’t kidding.
After what felt like an endless number of steps, they reached the dryad cells. Black bars ran from ceiling to floor. At least they didn’t appear to be iron. After all, dryads were part of the fairy folk. Putting them behind iron bars would’ve been inhumane. Rows of cots were crammed into a large containment cell, most filled with dryads wrapped in bright white bandages. Several were sobbing. He couldn’t tell whether it was from their tree loss, injuries, or being under all this stone and away from the open sky and soil.
As soon as they appeared, they were confronted.
“Did you find my son? Did you come to free us?” A tall, thin woman with fierce brown eyes hobbled to the bars. Her charred clothing, bandages, and pronounced limp didn’t detract from her regal bearing. This was a woman used to being listened to when she spoke.
“Your son is fine,” Xavier soothed. This had to be Talula since she was the only one with a child. “He’s with a friend of mine.”
“I want him here!” she shouted.
“Well, I don’t,” Another dryad shouted back. “I’ve seen enough of that abomination. He won’t be in any Grove of mine.”
“Feel free to leave,” Talula sneered.
“Whoa, ladies,” Melcori chided, but Xavier saw the amusement in his eyes. His master adored a good fight.
“We’ve learned some things recently that you should all be aware of. Well, those of you who don’t already know.” He sent Talula a pointed look.
”What could you possibly know, blood worker? I’m Talula, the leader of the dryads, and I demand my son back.”
Melcori’s laughter was sharp and unpleasant, burrowing deep like a splinter under the skin. “You are in no place to demand anything.”
“Why would you burn down our homes? We’ve done nothing to you!” another dryad shouted.
Xavier shuffled his feet beneath their accusing stares. Damn, it was like he was back home being called to the carpet for some imagined slight, except this time he was guilty by association.
“You’ll not be harmed as long as you cooperate.” Melcori’s calm smile did little to soothe the angry dryad mob forming as more left their cots to confront their captors.
Xavier could detect the magic infused in Melcori’s words. Long association allowed him to brush the compulsion away.
“Your tricks won’t work on me, Mage.” Talula’s voice rustled like crinkly autumn leaves. “I might be far from my forest, but nature will always come to my call.”
The stones beneath their feet rumbled. Huh, dryads weren’t susceptible to mind manipulations. Good to know.
Melcori shook his head. “My dear, I would rethink that behavior if I were you.”
Talula scoffed. “Why should I? You burned down our trees and befouled our forest. What do you even want from us? We won’t let history repeat itself.”
Xavier ducked his head to hide his smile at Melcori’s disgusted expression. He’d never seen Melcori with anyone romantically. As far as Xavier had observed over the years, Melcori didn’t like people enough to want to be with one.
“I don’t know what you are imagining, but please stop. It is like I said. You will be returned to the forest unharmed if you don’t provoke me.” At the end of that sentence, Melcori flared out his power.
