Page 36 of Bound By Blood
Traelan nodded as if he had guessed as much. "Yes, and already he is wavering. I can tell you that just by the way that he looks at you. Even though he does have other desires that are prevalent. To find his family again. To restore his magic. Whatever the blood fae wants will rise to the surface when that wish is offered. What will you do if one of those desires slips out in his wish? If the truth that lies within his heart is that he cares for you but not more than his family and power? The irony in this is that it is the cruel who wind up with the most power in these wishes because they have so little feeling for the one who makes it that they can focus on what would be most advantageous and use it to their advantage. Ryul is young and untested, and he will likely be swept away. To your great misfortune. It is not at all likely he will have the skill or the strength to chain his own heart in response to the power of that wish, and that is why that truth will be revealed and why it is considered unwise for anyone to make such a bond. The temptation is powerful. Despite blood fae being permitted to wed after twenty-one years, most avoid it until much later for that reason, among others."
She remained silent, biting the inside of her lip.
"I know this may sound cruel, and I know that you may think you have the solution. He will as well, almost assuredly. Why must you say the words? Hmmm?" He tapped his finger to his temple. "Such a good plan. Such a simple one. Don't say the words. Don't offer the wish. Don't create the conflict. But as soon as the feelings start to grow within you, more and more will happen to compel you to say them. It's part of the process. I have known many through the years. None have resisted the pull. Those words, simple as they are, cannot be held back once they are felt. Not forever. Best to kill the feelings early and fast or end the connection entirely. Best not to even think them or say them at any point. As you are older than he, you will have to be the strong one. Unless you fancy destruction. You can consider this warning to be payment in light of my earlier offenses."
"Given that you barged into my home, threatened my guest, and now have come to give me unrequested advice, perhaps you could do one thing for me that would actually help."
He chuckled as he placed his hat back on his head. His loose brown curls shifted with the movement. "Given the nature of the advice I have provided, one might consider the debt paid."
"One might, but I do not. How can I restore his magic?"
If she could restore his magic, then she could send him on his way. That was the simplest way to complete this. Fulfill her promise to him, and then…
Her entire being ached at the thought of never seeing him again, but was there any other way?
Traelan clicked his teeth. "You yourself can do nothing. Nothing in this world that can restore it beyond its own natural rate of replenishment. Were we in another realm, that answer might be different. Were he a different kind of fae, that would also be different, but he is a blood fae. A very young one from a family that separated from the traditional path and as a result is even less typical in their physiology."
"There has to be something!" She struck her hand against the counter. "You of all people, who travel throughout this world and presumably into others, who gathers up ancient artifacts and runes! You have to know something. What is it?"
Chuckling, he set his arms akimbo. "Would you make a bargain to restore his magic or gain such knowledge?"
"Is that what it requires?" She scowled at him, but everything in her tightened with fear.
"That's not the question I asked."
Her stomach sank. She clenched her fists. "If a bargain was available, that means that there are ways to negotiate. I would find a way to make it work without a bargain. There would be a trade. A clear and manageable trade."
He smiled. "Well, fortunately for you, there are no bargains to be made, or else I am afraid you'd find yourself in far over your pretty little head. But that just isn't how blood fae magic works. Especially not his family's."
"So you know his family?"
"I know of them and of the sacrifices they made. If what Ryul says is true."
"He wouldn't lie."
His brow quirked upward. "You know this for certain, do you?" He smiled. "Not that I doubt him either. But as we were discussing earlier, things can be incorrect without being lies. Mistakes happen. And more importantly, there could be unintended consequences. Volsrei was a dangerous man with skills beyond most of his kind, yours, or mine."
"And what kind are you, exactly?" she asked.
His smirk returned. "I'm not in the mood to divulge that. I hope that everything comes together for you, though. You two do seem quite sweet together."
"We aren't a couple," she said tightly.
He shrugged. "I suppose we shall see. The one bit of comfort I would give you if you want to help him is this: good food and kind company are among the most healing elements in all the worlds. You've likely done him great good already. I hope that time is gentle with you both. Until we meet again, Erryn."
DEVELOPMENTS
Traelan's words left her with a lot to think about. The nature of the wish that had to be granted when a person told a blood fae "I love you" unnerved her all the more now.
If someone wanted to examine her heart fully and completely for the truth of what she believed beyond the emotions, how would she stack up?
How would anyone?
Weren't they all complicated individuals?
That truth didn't make it any safer, especially when she hadn't told him everything.
Ryul's arrival that night did not settle her mind any further. Perhaps it was the fatigue catching up with her.
