Page 71 of Kiss of Fire

“Tor, what are you… what is this?” Raya looked nervously from Tor to Shade. “What’s going on?”

“Lord Shadeed asked me to help a cutting take root. Took a few minutes but I think it’s bedded in well.”

“You grew that whole bush in a few minutes?” She looked at Shade, puzzled. “Why?”

“It is from the bush where your parents’ ashes are buried. Caroline and Ross. I found the cemetery. I thought it would be nice for you to have something of them here, with you.”

He stopped, awkwardly. Raya’s expression was unfathomable. He couldn’t tell if she was happy or not.

“You did this for me?”

“I wanted you to feel comfortable. And to apologise. For…” he glanced at Tor. “For my behaviour.”

Raya didn’t know what to say. She knelt and touched one of the crimson petals.

“It’s called Loving Memory. The type of rose, I mean. Red was Caroline’s favourite colour.” She glanced curiously at the jinn. “It must have taken you a long time to find it.”

“Mr Torven did the hard work. He took the cutting and made it grow.”

Tor shrugged cheerfully.

“All in a day’s work for a Sylvan. Will that be all, my Lord?”

“Actually, may I request one last favour?” Shade looked around the garden. “It is quiet here, and secluded. Raya tells me you have helped her find her power. Would you be kind enough to work with her a little more?”

Raya’s brows shot up in astonishment.

“You want Tor to help me practice?”

“If you feel you would benefit.”

Raya grabbed his arm and pulled him to one side.

“What about the whole ‘keep away from other men’ crap?” she hissed.

“I realise if I want you to trust me, then I should also trust you.” He unfurled his shadow wings. “The garden is yours. I will see you tonight.”

Raya frowned after him as he beat upwards and disappeared behind the castle.

She would never understand him.

Twenty Seven

She knelt down and studied the rose.

“Did you really grow this from a cutting?” she asked.

“Encouraging things to grow is a Sylvan gift. And before you ask, aye, it really is a rose from the human world. Its aura is different.”

“Roses have auras too?”

“All living things do. This one is dark red, matching its petals. But it also has touches of other auras. Two, to be precise. I’m guessing they’re from the ashes Lord Shadeed mentioned. The rose will have absorbed them from the soil.”

Raya stroked a petal.

“So Caroline and Ross are part of it.”

“Life is a cycle. Everything becomes a part of something. Nothing ever really disappears.”

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