She smiles. “The magic that allows him to shift at will is blocked somehow.” She speaks almost to herself, her eyes lifting in thought. “Somewhere hidden in plain sight.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Her face lights up. “I have an idea. I think I know where he is. I need to go right away. Terra will help you with whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Kilara.”
She nods and then strides away, making a clicking noise.
Moments later, Terra appears at the cavern entrance. She gestures for me to follow.
I leave the great hall.
We walk in silence for a time. The tunnels twist and turn, and I try to memorize the route without success.
“I owe you an apology,” Terra tells me.
I glance at her. “For what?”
“For interrupting this morning. For causing trouble between you and Isla.” She doesn’t look at me as she speaks. “It wasn’t my intention.”
“I’m glad you did.” The words come out flat. “I learned the truth. That’s what matters.”
Terra is quiet for a moment. Then she sighs.
“For what it’s worth,” she says, “I believed her. When she told me about her mother, when she swore she didn’t know, she wasn’t lying.”
“She lied by omission.”
“She planned on telling you,” Terra says. “Shifterfae can pick up on lies. There are tells. Changes in breathing, in body temperature, in the way the heart beats. The female wasn’t lying. Not about her mother. Not about any of it.”
I don’t respond.
Terra continues as if she hasn’t noticed my silence. “Even if my senses were wrong and she’s a good liar – so good that she believes herself – the way her mother reacted tells me that she is telling the truth. During the battle, her mother was truly concerned for Isla. I could hear it in her cries. In her pleas forIsla to leave Snow be and to flee.” She glances at me. “Why would she do that if Isla was on Snow’s side?”
“All a clever ploy.” The words leave me automatically.
But doubt creeps in.
I push it aside. I can’t afford to second-guess myself. Not now.
We reach the chamber, but Isla isn’t there.
I stand in the entrance, scanning the space as if she might be hiding in the shadows. The disappointment that moves through me is unexpected and wholly unwelcome.
I wanted to see her.
I hate that I wanted to see her.
Terra gives me a knowing look. “She went to help the females prepare for the midday meal.” There’s a note of amusement in her voice.
“Good for her.” I step into the chamber.
“She was waiting for you, you know.” Terra leans against the entrance, her arms crossed. “Worrying herself sick about what would happen with Kilara. I talked her into helping the others to pass the time. You could go find her and talk to her.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Suit yourself.”
