Gisela nodded. “They can be human or unicorns. They aren’t trapped between the two species.”
“It’s sad to hate yourself. Hate what you can’t change. I’d feel sorry for her if she wasn’t such a…” He caught himself before he insulted her mother.
“Insane bitch?”
He arched a brow.
She smiled at him. “Don’t worry. You can’t hurt my feelings or make me angry by insulting her. I’m intimately aware of all her faults.”
“I suppose you are.” Oddly enough, he wanted to reach out and soothe her. Something completely out of character for him. The idea of comforting someone else normally repulsed him. But with Gisela…
He cherished the thought of soothing her. Of making her smile and even laugh.
She was very different. If only he knew why.
And with that thought came another… “That’s why you appear human, isn’t it?”
She scowled. “I don’t follow.”
“You choose to be human to rile your mother.”
Blushing, she looked away.
Xaydin laughed at her act of supreme rebellion. She wasn’t perfect, but she was perfectly charming. What better way to get back at her mother than to be the one thing Meara would sell her soul to become?
Masakage slowed down until he was on the other side of Xaydin. He passed a droll stare to his brother. “What?”
Tsking, Masakage passed a stare between them. “Just wondering what you two were conspiring about. You looked all intense until the laughter. I’m starting to worry.”
“Nothing to fear. Just learning more about our charming companion.”
“That scares me even more,” he muttered under his breath.
Xaydin would have asked him about it had their guide not chosen that moment to land near them.
“What is it?”
Fenrys jerked his chin toward the north. “His cottage is just over there. You can’t miss it. But I don’t want to be seen. I shouldn’t be helping you. I could get into a lot of trouble for it.”
“Because you want contracts more.” Xaydin tsked.
“No one else would help me get them.” He rubbed his hand over his bare arm. “Ready to write the next one?”
“After I make sure this is the rightaþaswere. As you said, you’re breaking protocol. I want to make sure you haven’t lied to us.”
Fenrys appeared insulted by his words. At least for a few seconds. “Fine. I guess some mistrust is warranted.” He went over to a large rock and sat down. “I’ll wait here.”
Xaydin started to chide him but decided to withhold his teasing. The boy was actually afraid. It was soul-aching when duty clashed with lifelong dreams. In some, it inspired to great acts of sacrifice, and in others…
They betrayed their beliefs to get what they wanted. Something hard to live with. Neither decision was easy.
Xaydin dismounted. “Chin up, Fenrys. This won’t take long.”
The boy didn’t speak.
Xaydin led his companions the short distance to the cottage that was set on a small, intimate beach. What a strange setting for anaþaswere. They normally preferred homes in the mountains or in the open where they could watch for those seeking them. As a rule, they had greater trust issues than he did.
But not in this case. The small cottage faced the sea so that the occupants could take in and appreciate the beautiful view.
