Page 15 of A Legacy of the Light

“Eh, must be a local thing,” she replies.

“Where are we, Reyne?” I ask.

My poor sleuthing doesn’t get by her. “Tavish asked me not to say anything before he shows you. Would you like some juice?”

“Hmm, sure. Thank you.”

I fill my plate with food and take the glass of cold orange juice Reyne offers me. If she hadn’t filled a plate of her own, I might be suspicious about the food.

She comes round the breakfast bar and I have to stifle a giggle as the small woman attempts to hop up into the stool that’s a bit out of her reach.

“Do you work here?” I ask instead of laughing.

“Sort of. Technically I’m a member of Court but I help out around here sometimes. Tavish has asked me to help you for as long as you’re with us.”

I try not to choke at her answer. Does that mean getting home won’t be straightforward? I know Rach will cover for me at work, but I don’t want her and Grandpa to worry about my absence.

“Don’t worry too much, Elsie. I’m sure we’ll find you a way home.”

My thoughts must be written all over my face. I’m still incredibly uneasy about this whole situation.

“When will Tavish be returning?”

“I’m to take you to him as soon as you’ve finished your breakfast. You gave us quite a fright this morning. No one is supposed to be able to get into this room.”

“So I’m told, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. I just woke up here,” I retort.

Reyne doesn’t respond. She just eats her food and drinks her tea eyeing me speculatively as if I’m going to randomly blurt out the reason for this cluster-fuck.

The only logical explanation is that I’ve been kidnapped, right? Right.

It could be worse. At least I’m not dead. Yet.

We sit and eat our food in mostly uncomfortable silence.

While I’m lost in my thoughts, Reyne shuffles off her stool and starts clearing away the food we’ve left untouched. Carefully packing everything away into containers in the fridge she asks, “Are you finished?”

“Yes, thank you. Everything was delicious.”

It really was. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed breakfast so much. I’m usually a lazy ass and grab something to go in favor of more time in bed, but my stomach is happy nonetheless.

“You’re welcome, lassie. I’ll take you to meet with Tavish if you’re ready? He should be about done now. If not, I can show you around.”

I nod my thanks again and am suddenly hit by nerves. Reyne and Tavish haven’t been unkind to me so far, but what happens now? Reyne leads me out of this room and takes me to Tavish to do what?

My unease notches up another level. Again, my thoughts must be written all over my face, since Reyne stops what she’s doing and turns to me with a gentle expression.

“I know this must be really daunting for you. Nothing I say is going to make you feel better, but know this: I won’t let anything happen to you,” she promises me with sincerity in her eyes.

I almost scoff. She’s pint-sized, and I’m not sure she would be capable of physically protecting me against someone like Tavish.

I can’t fathom why she’s being so nice to me. Reyne doesn’t know me. She knows my name and that’s it. What does she stand to gain from this? I regret not going to that self-defense class with Rach six months ago. At least then I might have been able to fight my way out of this.

I realize I’ve been staring at Reyne for the last thirty seconds while mulling over everything she’s said. I have to decide whether I trust her, and it looks like I don’t have much choice. I plaster on a false smile and nod, trying to shake some of my unease.

“Come on, then.”

She gestures toward the front door and I take a deep breath before following her out into the cold hallway.