“Ah…” Celina cleared her throat. “So that’s for me then?” She stepped aside and grabbed a mug to fill with coffee.
Sam’s low voice came close behind her, teasing her ear as he filled his own mug. “Evade all you want, but he’ll come downstairs eventually.”
Celina ignored his words as she breathed in the dark earthy scent, letting it fill her senses and relax her after the past few days of grueling emotion. “Mmm, this is really the best. It never tastes this way when I make it. You do something to the ground beans, don’t you?”
“That secret is only partly mine. Alayna and I work with the plants together whenever she visits—which is more often than you, by the way,” Sam teased, smiling as they took their usual seats at the table.
While the love and rivalry of siblings wove the fabric of Sam and Celina’s relationship, he and Alayna were truly best friends the way she and Cass were. They had the added benefit of being able to use their similar magics together. The coffee plants that grew in a special warm weather greenhouse on the estate clearly benefitted from joint attention of Alayna’s powerful plant magic and Sam’s earth magic.
“So, what’s going on, Cela?”
Throat tight with emotion, she quickly filled him in on the reason for their visit, leaving out a few pieces… including their mission to save Brenna. That was for Rodric to share, if he was so inclined.
Sam’s eyes tightened with concern as he listened. “I don’t like this, Celina. It’s too dangerous. What if you’re caught? Eldridge is a treacherous place.”
His scowl matched his tone when he named the neighboring realm of his childhood. Though his features proclaimed him Zamyran by heritage, he’d been raised in Eldridge. He vehemently avoided discussing anything to do with the realm that had destroyed his family.
“I know, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. He’s my brother, I’m not going to let anything happen to him.” Intense distress arced through her. She wasn’t going to lose another person she loved if she could help it. She couldn’t. Swallowing hard, she distanced herself from the fear.
“Connor would be furious with you for putting yourself in harm’s way for him.”
“Probably. But that’s not his choice to make, it’s mine. It’s my responsibility to see to his safety and well-being.”
Anger radiated from Sam, his words picking up speed as panic seeped into his tone. “And what about the rest of us? Connor’s not the only one who needs you, Celina! What about your sister? Cass? Me?”
“Exactly, Sam. I would be going just the same if it was any of you. I’d die trying to save you—you know that firsthand. I’ll do no less for Connor.”
“I know.” Sam squeezed his eyes closed and rubbed his temple. “Sorry. Forget I said that.”
Strain lined his face, making her frown as she looked more closely at his features. Was she causing the tension, or had he already been stressed when she’d arrived? Sam was quick to emotion of all kinds and just as quick to settle. Like a strike of lightning. But he wasn’t relaxing after expelling the excess energy.
“Is something else bothering you?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “But it’s nothing you can fix.”
“What—”
Sam smiled, the genuineness showing in the dimple in his cheek. “Another time. Your situation is more pressing.”
That explained his jumpy temper. Studying his face revealed dark circles ringing his eyes. A friend and healer, she hadn’t even noticed. Concern elevating, she opened her mouth to insist on discussing whatever it was, but he shook his head.
“So, tell me about this hunter.”
Rodric’s near exact phrasing popped into her mind.Tell me about this mapmaker.Her lips quirked in amusement, but she kept the comparison to herself.
“I met him recently.”He’s a wonderful dancer and kisses with wild passion.“He has the skills I need to make this journey a success. Morgan agrees.”
“How do you know you can trust him? He’s Eldrin. That doesn’t concern you? It could be a trap. Have you thought of that?”
“It’s not. Him being Eldrin is a benefit to the situation. As to trusting him, I just do.”
“Well, I don’t,” he huffed. “You trust too easily.”
“And you’re highly suspicious,” she retorted. “You don’t have to like it, but I’m going to Eldridge and Rodric is coming with me. I asked him, Sam. And his motives are pure. Trust me you’d understand.”
Sam raised his brow, silently pushing her.
A current of fear pulsed from him, charging the energy of the surrounding air. If she didn’t handle this delicately, he was liable to explode.
