“Aside from requiring extra protection, when are you going to explain about the kid?” asked Lochlan.
Zander glared at him.
“This is as good a time as any, son,” Lochlan added.
“I’m not your son or even a boy,” said Zander. “I’m older than any of you.”
“I doubt that. I have several centuries on you,” said Lochlan.
“And you’re right, I owe you my story, every one of you, all of us are at risk if they find me,” said Zander.
“If you’re in hiding, then you’re right, we need to know who may come looking for you,” said Lochlan.
“I’m in hiding for a very good reason,” said Zander.
At his statement, Jennica reached over and started awkwardly patting Zander’s hand. He blushed at the contact, but didn’t pull away.
“My full name is Alexander Croft.”
“You’re kidding?” asked Lochlan. He turned to me, “This is a joke, right?”
“He’s not joking,” I said.
“But Alexander Croft disappeared suddenly three years ago.”
“Yes, I disappeared. I made a foolish mistake and it cost me everything. Prior to my withdrawal from society, I found a cursed object that transformed me into a child. I’ve been unable to age or access my magic since then,” he said.
“And you’ve made a lot of enemies in the time you’ve been around,” said Lochlan. “You literally can’t leave the house, but we need someone around here when one of us can’t be.”
“I’m here,” said Jennica. “And so is Callie,” she added.
“No offense intended, but I need to know someone is here that can fight. Can any of you fight or use magic?” asked Lochlan.
Neither of them answered.
“So, I’m calling in someone that is nearly as capable as I am and who is also a highly skilled warrior. I’ll need to be gone for a bit, but I’m sure I can convince him to stay with us temporarily.”
Lochlan threw down a charm and was gone.
“What about the window?” I shouted after him.
6
Guess it was the old-fashioned way of repairing broken things — lots of sweat and back breaking labor. All of us dug through Lochlan’s shed to find tools to patch up the wall.
“Why can’t you just ask the trees to move?” asked Jennica.
“None of us can talk to trees,” said Sterling. “And, it’s not something most people do unless you’re a fae.”
“This is fae lands, is it not?” she asked.
“We are in fae lands?” I asked.
“I thought you all knew that. It’s the outer reaches of it, but it’s still fae land,” said Jennica.
“How do you know this?” asked Sterling.
“Because I can feel it. Even a demi-fae, like me, recognizes their homeland. And, I can hear the land — the trees, animals, and other creatures. It’s the magic of this place.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” I asked.
We’d been here two days, she had ample time to say something. Lochlan and I needed to chat when we got back. He had us staying in the fae lands and didn’t think to tell us. Nothing was the same here and it was infinitely more dangerous than the earthly realm. It may be even worse than the demon realm. Here even the land tried to kill you. Flowers, plants, animals and most of the fae were deadly and if a person was lucky, they only got poisoned, maimed, or imprisoned.
“I don’t know. I meant to say something,” said Jennica in a quiet voice.
“Quit badgering her. She’s doesn’t deserve to get interrogated,” said Zander, who was now standing at Jennica’s side. His arm was draped across her delicate shoulders.
“Calm down, no one is interrogating her. This is just a shock for all of us. Shocking moments are happening more and more frequently these days,” said Sterling.
“So you can communicate with the trees?” I asked.
“Why does everyone keep questioning me about this? Is it because I don’t have magic? You all think I can’t do anything special?” raged Jennica, her face reddening and spit flying from her mouth.
In all the years I’d known her, I’d never heard her raise her voice or known her to even get mad. She was literally spitting mad, daring us to take her bait and say something. Nope, that was one trap I wouldn’t be stepping into.
Since she’d come back, Jennica did her best to avoid me. She’d wrapped herself up in an ironclad protection, keeping me and everyone else at a distance. I didn’t know how to bridge that gaping divide between us. The only exception was Zander. She let him close to her.
“Magic doesn’t define a person,” I said.
“Easy for you to say. Most of you have it,” said Jennica.
“If this is about the trees, we believe you. If Sterling can transform into a bear and my magic eats through anything, then why can’t plants be communicated with?” I said.
“You don’t have to make fun of me, Marty.”
This wasn’t going well. Jennica’s hurt ran far deeper than I imagined. So much had changed for the worse. Jennica was one of the few people that instilled in me a touchy feeling attitude. On principle, I wasn’t a hands-on person, but she put my protective instincts into overdrive. She was of those people that were truly good and kind. Her hating me was slowly killing me.
“Please help us with this. We aren’t safe, especially in fae lands. We need to restore that wall,” said Sterling.
“Very well. But I don’t need an audience,” she said.
“No one goes anywhere alone here,” said Sterling.
“Fine, Zander can come with me.”
When Sterling went to object, I placed my hand on his arm and shook my head. The situation didn’t need to escalate, and we truly needed that wall repaired.
When none of us objected, Jennica and Zander left to commune with the trees.
“Can things get any more complicated?” I asked, plopping down on the couch.
“I’m not sure they can, but I certainly hope I’m not proven wrong,” said Sterling.
“What now? Who is going to deal with the shadows and my father?” I asked.
“We have cases to work. Just because we no longer have the
