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Keir’s silence said it all and the distraught concern coloring Martin’s deep brown eyes indicated he understood as well. There were no words that would make Keir believe this wasn’t somehow his fault.

The weight of my mission finally hit me. This wasn’t just about hunting treasure. It was about mending the pieces of this fractured family. Healing wasn’t always easy. Sometimes it was downright messy. A lot of times you had to clear out the remaining rot to allow new life to grow.

Once again, I was reminded that not all treasure was valuable in the economic sense. The treasure Tenzen Huxley had left behind was festering in the hearts of those remaining within these tainted walls. That treasure needed to be found, excised, and properly disposed of. And I was the exact will-o’-the-wisp for the job.

Six

Martin

I stared out my window at the atrium leading to the open sky, the earth that had birthed me below. I was one of the few members of the Magical Usage Council who had a window in my room or any direct access to the outside. I’d always been grateful, mostly to Huxley himself as he’d given me this room and space. He’d told me this area of the compound was designed just for me.

While I thought that was most likely true, the motivation behind it was now suspect. But why? Why me? Why a dryad at all? Dryads weren’t kitsunes. Our magic was minimal and restricted to being able to change from tree to humanoid form.

I held out my hand, my fingers elongating and twisting into branches, fledgling oak leaves sprouting and leafing out. Turning my branched hand back and forth, I stared at my leaves. There was nothing important about me. I was sturdy. My oak nature made certain of that. But that sturdiness was easily overcome. I was susceptible to fire. I could and would burn. I could be cut down, and even I couldn’t withstand tornadic level winds.

The very fact I was still alive—that I wasn’t one of the ones Huxley had come for, was proof of how insignificant I was. Huxley hadn’t seen me as a threat. I’d been allowed to live, to mourn those who he’d deemed necessary to eliminate. Was it any wonder I contemplated why Huxley would have bothered with me to begin with?

Maybe Huxley hadn’t been lying to me when he said he’d found me. Maybe planting me had been little more than a whim on his part. The truth was, I’d never know. From what I understood, Huxley was still alive, though in a deep slumber. Waking him was far too risky. Besides, even if I could speak with him, how could I ever trust anything that came out of Huxley’s deceitful mouth.

The short of it was, I couldn’t. And I wasn’t alone. Keir would always wonder why he’d been left alive. Keir wasn’t like me. His gryphon form was ferocious and formidable. Keir had a mind for problem-solving and didn’t allow his emotions to get in the way of analysis. Methodical, logical, and morally driven, Keir was a desirable ally and a terrifying foe.

Shaking the leaves away, my branches shrank back into humanoid fingers. I could spend a lifetime wondering and still never have the answers. If I allowed myself to get stuck in that mental loop, it would be a wasted life indeed. I’d be just another one of Huxley’s victims.

“Brooding?” Henry asked, using a blanket to crawl up a nearby chair, placing him not at eye level but at least off the floor. “Seems like that’s all everyone does around here anymore,” he lamented.

“You don’t think its warranted? After everything Huxley did, the friends we’ve lost, the mess we’re still trying to clean up?”

“Didn’t say it weren’t warranted. Just sayin’ it’s gettin’ a bit old and borin’.” Henry lifted a back foot and scratched at his ear. A puff of dust filled the air before drifting off and settling on the furniture. Or maybe back on Henry. It was hard to tell.

“Sorry we’re not as entertaining as we used to be.” I didn’t sound especially sorry. Mostly because I wasn’t. “If it’s any consolation, I was just standing here contemplating the same thing.” Not exactly the same, but the sentiment was true enough.

“Yeah? That sounds promisin’. You know what else is promisin’, that will-o’-the-wisp Keir hired. I like him.”

My muscles tightened to the point of pain. My instinct was to automatically disagree. The problem was, I wasn’t so certain anymore. Grayson had been exceedingly empathetic regarding his latest find. Thinking of Hikaru, I asked, “Did you hear what Grayson found?”

Henry deflated. “I did. Huxley was a real sack of shit.”

I grunted an agreement. “No argument here.”

“I heard Hikaru’s screams on the other side of the compound.” Henry gripped his shirt over his heart. “I’m not embarrassed to say I shed a few tears when I heard that. So much pain. Too much pain.”

Acidic bile threatened to crawl up my throat. “I’m glad he has Holland.” It was the only thought that brought me comfort.

“You think he’ll be able to do anything with what’s left of Hikaru’s tail?”

I stilled, my eyelids barely blinking. I hadn’t thought that far. “I’m not certain. Perhaps.” Warlocks excelled at destructive magic. It was possible Holland could deconstruct Hikaru’s tail, siphon off the remaining magic, and somehow give it back to him.

“Good on him if he can.” Henry flopped down, sitting on his ass, tail dangling behind him and arms stubbornly crossed. His sudden action emitted another dust mote. “If I’d known, I would have taken a few pieces of Huxley myself.” Henry lifted a hand, tiny, needle-like claws flexing. I doubted he could have done more than land an irritating scratch. Then again, papercuts tended to hurt more than their size suggested, so maybe I should give Henry a bit more credit. It wasn’t like I could do any better.

Slumping and crossing his arms again, Henry cocked his small head to the side. “Makes you wonder what else is hidin’ in this place, don’t it?”

Forehead resting in my cupped hands, I pressed my palms deep into my eyes, relishing the pressure. “Why do I get the feeling you might know a thing or two about those things?”

Henry shrugged. “Mayhaps I do and mayhaps I don’t. I can tell you one thing, I didn’t know about Hikaru’s tail. I wouldn’t have stood for that.”

I had no doubts regarding that and said as much. “I know you care for Hikaru.”

“Damn straight. I miss that kitsune.” Henry chuckled. “We sure did get up to some stuff when he was here.”