Taylor’s face became a hard mask once again. “Are you afraid now?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “But I am braver now, too.” He straightened his shoulders, looking like a male ready for battle.
Taylor nodded her head in approval, and her hard mask faded into a neutral expression.
“Are you brave enough to help us?” I asked.
“Yes.” His answer was quick, as if he’d been waiting all day for us to ask it.
“I will do anything for my grandson.” His face turned downcast once again. “I have many wrongs to make up for. I let Brexl down once. I will not do it again.”
“We need to get out here before the full moon,” I cut in.
“Why? Are you not their mates?”
“No,” Taylor said with a frown.
Trivix looked crestfallen, as if she’d ripped his heart out.
“I’m Drovo’s mate, but not his luminescence mate.” I lied. But it was a lie that felt right. On earth we might be considered exclusive or engaged, but the idea of being more, being Drovo’s mate, just sat right with me.
The elderly male looked at Taylor with a sad expression on his face. “I had hoped…nevermind.” He shook his head, causing his gray hair to sway from side-to-side along his back. “I will help you get back to them and out of the valley.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Whoever it was didn’t wait for Trivix to let them in. The door swung open to reveal Scaron with a smirk on his face.
“The Savrix would like to see you two.”
Taylor, Trivix, and I all gave each other nervous looks before getting up from the table. The three of us headed for the door when Scaron put his hand out to the elder male. “This is a private meeting.”
Trivix frowned but sat back down at the table.Taylor and I had no choice but to follow Scaron outside.
Chapter 19
Kayla
We were led out of the house down a winding path along which many of the dekes’ houses were built. They all looked unique in their own way, but they were all about the same size.
At the end of the path stood a much larger house. It wasn’t a mansion by earth standards, but it certainly stood out. I wasn’t surprised in the least when Scaron led us to the door of that house and knocked. Of course, this jackass would be living in the largest house in the valley.
“Enter,” a voice sounded from inside and Scaron opened the door to a well-furnished home filled with fur rugs, an ornate table, and a large wooden chair next to the hearth.
Atop the chair sat the Savrix looking like the smug stuck up prick that he was.
“Come, join me.” He beckoned us inside, and without taking his eyes off Taylor and myself, he dismissed Scaron.
“You can leave now.” He waved him off as if he were an annoying fly, easily discarded.
“Yes, Savrix,” Scaron bowed with his fist to hischest and saw himself out.
“Come, sit.” The Savrix invited us to sit on the smaller chairs provided in front of his much larger one. He wore an ornate vest embroidered with a fancy border along the neckline and a criss-cross pattern along the front. His white hair was braided with shiny thread and wooden beads throughout. Even his leather shoes were dyed a rich blue instead of the normal brown I’d seen all the other sirrets wear.
This male lived like a king and he didn’t deserve any of it.
“Have some fruit. The valley has numerous fruit trees that are ripe for harvest in almost every season.” He handed us a bowl of what looked like pink peaches with a feline grin that looked about as trustworthy as a hungry lion.
I looked at the bowl, unimpressed with his offering, and asked, “What’s your name?”
“You may call me Savrix,” he answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
