Page 39 of Forbidden Obsession
If she’s bothered by being interrupted, she doesn’t show it. “I sense your power, as you sense mine, though I’m probably much better at it. I’ve had lessons and practice, whereas your ability is raw and untrained. There aren’t many wielders as strong as us.” Her tone shifts, becoming more serious. “You could warn them. You could lead them to safety.”
A numb sensation passes through me, followed on its heels by a startling jolt of purpose. I’m no leader, but maybe I could assist. I could save people. My jaw hangs open as the idea fights for life in my mind.
“I can help you,” she offers. “If you’ll agree to help me.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
She extends her hand, skin sparkling with the luminescence of the fae, so like Jindal’s, unadorned by jewelry, nails naturally shining, not painted. “Take it. Read me.”
I blink. Can I do that? But I know I can. I’ve done it by accident more times than I can count, but when it’s happened before, I rejected the info and pretended not to know because it felt so personal.
This time, I let it happen.
Her hand is warm in mine. Soft. Palm to palm and face-to-face, we meet each other’s gazes. Her words are honest, and her intent is pure. She wants to end the suffering and injustice humans face in our realm. She sends me a memory, and I swim in it, dazed.
A little fae princess and her human nursemaid, outside in a flower garden, warm sunlight on their faces. Laughter and love.
The same little girl, her face beet red, with tears streaking down her cheeks. “Bring her back. Momma! Momma!”
The nursemaid being hauled away by guards, fighting to return to her charge, but to no avail.
My heart aches for both of them.
The queen, Aurielle—for who else could she be—harsh and angry. “Cease this at once, Suvi. That woman is not your mother.”
The little girl’s cries only grow louder and more desperate. “Momma!”
The vision fades, and the girl, all grown up, stands before me. “I want to help.”
I believe her with my whole soul. “So do I.”
ChapterSixteen
Jindal
It hasn’t rainedin ten days, and the crops are flagging. I filled my morning fussing over the rain barrels and adjusting the flow of the remaining water to our irrigation system to wet the most vulnerable plants. A little dash of my magic doesn’t hurt either.
But no matter how much work there is to be done, I make time to fly south every day at lunch and check the roads. Then again before dusk for one last look, with hope in my heart that this time, I’ll see Rahz astride Magna, headed my way, almost home.
No such luck.
It’s been one month, one week, and two days since Rahz left. Any minute now, he’ll return to me, and we can put this foul business behind us.
Back at the farm, I spend my afternoon pulling weeds, which somehow thrive even when the vegetable crop around them is all wilted and puny. But the poor plants won’t have to wait long. I smell rain in the air. It’s coming. Perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow, but water is on the way.
And hopefully, so is Rahz.
* * *
In the end,Rahz and the rain come at once.
The sprinkling is light, misting the air and making my wings sticky. I’ve flown to the best vantage point by which to see the place where the southern road disappears into the vast old-growth forest, but I may have to walk back. Much wetter, and flight won’t be an option.
But that’s all right. I have less work to do today with the encroaching weather, so I have time on my hands.
I sit under the petals of a massive blue titan lily, my back against its sturdy stem, and settle in to wait. Snacking on toasted nuts and a slice of bread I made all by myself, I watch the horizon for two men on horseback.
As boys, Rahz and I would sometimes come here, looking for gargoyles, spies, or wayward princesses in need of rescue. Anything more exciting than our regular lives. We only ever saw other farmers, travelers, and merchants, but each was exciting in their own way.
