He gives me a tense smile. “I’ll just help.”
Everything hurts as I move my hips and allow him to reach the pocket of my pants. My glare is unkind when he makes a comment about how cold my clothes are.
His eyes grow wide as he falls still for just a moment. “Starza is on her way back to retrieve you. Your Valtrue is most unhappy right now.”
That brings a small smirk to my lips.
“I can imagine. May I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“How long have you been here? Like, away from people.”
“Well, I still see certain individuals from time to time. Do you mean how long has it been since I’ve lived in the Lost Sea?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I don’t know, I’d say at least thirty-five years now.”
My jaw falls open. He doesn’t look a day past thirty.
It’s probably rude to ask how old he really is.
“One more question, if that’s okay.”
“It is.”
I swallow roughly. “You said you can discover people?”
His smile grows warmer as he bends down and picks me up with no fucking warning. He hisses at the cry that tears through my lips.
“I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t think about it hurting to pick you up. As for your question, yes.”
“Can…can you find my parents?”
He stops walking and sighs. “I already know where they are.”
“Will you tell me?” I grit my teeth when he shakes his head. “Why? Are they okay? Safe and well?”
“Well isn’t exactly the word I’d use, but yes, they are alive and safe. I’m not allowed to tell you. You will know when the time comes.”
“When will that be?”
He laughs lightly as we cross back through the threshold he originally walked me through, and my body locks up even tighter when my eyes fall on the water.
Why the hell are we back in here?
He lowers me down to the ground and crouches beside me.
“When the time is right. You knowing, finding your parents right now, wouldn’t help you in the way you believe it would. I know that’s not what you want to hear but trust me. I’ve learned a thing or two about waiting in my time out here.
“I never swore that I wouldn’t return to Godsden someday. When I first left, then again when I came to the Lost Sea, the thought of going back, reconnecting with the realm, overwhelmed me. It was my loneliness. When the Binding showed up, I asked the Messenger to give me a sign when it was my time to return so I could stop worrying about it. That sign finally came.”
He pulls his shirt sleeve up and stares down at his wrist lovingly. I nearly faint.
“There’s a group of people somewhere, waiting for me to find them. I can reenter the realm, join my Valtrue, confidently and happily knowing I helped play a role in giving us a safer realm.”
“Oh, Doren…you don’t have to look very far.”
