Page 91 of Sidhe
“Puck isn’t here,” Nathan said almost offhandedly.
“No, I think he’d either wait for us to call on him, or wait until we were two seconds from total annihilation.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to take this back, Nathan?”
“I think I have to.”
Sasha squeezed Nathan’s hand tighter. “Whatever you decide, I’m with you.”
Heat washed over Nathan, settling low in his gut. He should have been able to feel that Sasha had been hiding that he’d known the truth all along, but maybe Nathan just hadn’t wanted to see it.
Sasha couldn’t solve this for him. He was already getting up, squeezing Nathan’s hand once more before letting go and heading down the stairs. Nathan didn’t move, understanding that Sasha was leaving him so he could think about this on his own, and Nathan couldn’t have been more grateful for that.
He just wished it was an easier decision to make.
Everyonekeptbusywhilethey waited for more recruits to arrive. It was better than sitting around worrying. Wally hadbeen confined to cat mode, and pretty much to the upstairs too, mostly the library where she wouldn’t get in the way. She didn’t seem to mind since she preferred a smaller group to the horde of new Gatehouse occupants, but every time Nathan saw her, stopped to pet her, she oozed worry more than any of the others and bucked into his hand like she was trying to make a point.
There were a few seals who arrived after lunch that bothered Nathan a little. Several middle-aged men, gruff-looking with sour dispositions. They were the most obviously twitchy, the type of seals that made Nathan think of Gabriel, always watching everyone with paranoid eyes that would probably mean trouble later.
As far as Puck’s gift went, for now Nathan went about his business as usual. There were some things he needed to take care of before he explained his final choice to everyone.
“Nathan, may I speak with you?” Walter appeared out of the crowd in the bar, placing a gentle but firm grip on Nathan’s arm.
“Sure, Walt. Gotta be some corner in here where we can be alone.”
It took them a few minutes to find an empty space, but they eventually ended up in the kitchen.
“So, what disaster do you have to tell me about this time?” Nathan asked.
“I do not always bring ill news, Nathan, but I am afraid you are not wrong today,” Walter said gravely. “I have been informed that some of Malak’s forces have slipped through the Veil early. A couple dark sidhe only, but enough that they could be extremely dangerous to you if they are indeed already here.” He nodded around them to indicate the Gatehouse. “Has anyone out of the ordinary arrived recently?”
Nathan almost choked on a laugh. “Is that a trick question?Everyone’sout of the ordinary right now, human seals and crazy looking fae-folk alike. Are you saying we gotspieswith us?”
“I am sorry, Nathan, we do not know anything for certain.” Walter shook his head, looking as if this mishap was somehow all his fault. “But it is possible that some of your recruits are in league with Malak.”
There was that sinking feeling again. Nathan didn’t want to rouse up suspicion though, not when he hadn’t even explained to all of the seals yet that they had both light and dark fae on their side.
“Be watchful, Nathan,” Walter said. “Do not act unless you are certain, but be wary of those you do not know, even those you believe you can trust. Oberon and Gwen are doing what they can to supply you with a true army. When they arrive, we will do all we can to help those willing to stand here and fight, I promise you that. Areyou…willing to do the same?”
The question sounded tagged-on to Nathan, like that whole damn explanation had merely been an excuse to yet again ask if Nathan was finally going to man-up and ask Puck to take back his gift.
“What are we actually preparing for here?” Nathan asked instead. “Everyone’s starting to arrive, all these…soldiers, I guess, for this war, and we have no idea what we’re going to be facing. Is it just Solrin leading a bunch of dark fae across the lawn?”
Walter’s lips pursed tightly, his brow furrowing again with a troubled expression.
“I’m guessing that’s a yes, and probably more fae than I can imagine,” Nathan sighed, dragging a hand back through his hair. “So we prepare for…everything? Every possible fae and power? How are we supposed to do this?” He didn’t really expect an answer to that question, but he couldn’t help noticing the way his Spirit Guide’s expression shifted once more, falling into place with that sad, disappointed look again.
“Choice is how this war will be won, Nathan, only through choice.” He looked at Nathan squarely again as he said that, his eyes shimmering, pleading with him.
Nathan said the only thing he could. “You’ll know my choice soon enough. Trust me, Walt. I know what I’m doing.” And because he honestly believed that, believed in himself and his ability to make at least this choice even if he still doubted the choices ahead of him, Nathan was able to smile assuredly at Walter untainted by doubt.
The Spirit Guide’s head cocked further to the side and his eyes softened. “I have great faith in you, Nathan,” he said, which seemed to be the anthem of the hour.
This time Nathan didn’t argue.
Nathanonlyrelayedtheinformation of possible dark sidhe sleeper soldiers to those he trusted most—Sasha, Jim, and Alex. In the meantime, they would have to keep a closer eye on everyone else.
