Page 130 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

She was sure they were well-intentioned but changing the terms didn’t exactly change reality or fix any of the problems.

“You’re free to stay a while and meet them.”

Kierse hedged, “I don’t know.”

“I get it. We’re happy to help.” Maya headed toward the door. “Eat some of the cake. It’s cinnamon streusel and probably my favorite. You’ll feel better with some food inyou while I go find Alex.”

It was tempting. A world where monsters and humans lived together harmoniously—not how it was happening in reality where monsters wanted to secretly kill everyone and only the treaty was holding together a tenuous truce. All because theywantedthis life. It was a utopia.

And utopias were a fallacy.

Maya reappeared a moment later with Alex, a tall phoenix with flaming red hair. Kierse stood quickly. Phoenixes were unusually volatile and known to burst into flames at the slightest provocation. They weren’t particularly common compared to other monster types.

“I get that a lot,” Alex said with a grin. He had a boy-next-door look about him, aside from the red hair and wings, of course. His feathers were the same color as his hair, and the wings tucked tight against his back. Which must have made him very young, because most phoenixes could shed their wings and regrow them at will. Few kept them out like this all the time. It was beyond disconcerting.

“The wings don’t get in the way, I assure you.” He chuckled and set down his equipment. “I’m Alex.”

“Shannon,” she said softly, warily.

“I won’t burst into flames, Shannon. This place unblocks all of that rage,” he said with that same boyish smile. “Now, let me look at that arm.” Kierse swallowed and then held it out. He removed the bandage and said, “Good thing you got me, Maya. A few stitches should shape this right up. As long as you’re okay with that.”

“Sure,” Kierse said, surprised at his calm mannerisms. “If you think it needs it.”

“It’ll be quick,” he told her. “Why don’t you ask yourquestions while I do this?”

“Uh, what questions?”

Maya laughed. “Everyone has questions when they come to Sansara.”

Kierse jumped at the word as the needle pierced her skin. “Sansara?” she gasped, hoping they would assume her shock was a reaction to the stitches.

“It’s the name of our organization,” Maya told her, shooting a look at Alex. He was too busy putting another stitch through her arm to return it. Kierse winced.

Sansara was the tree that Cillian Ryan had sucked dry of magic and left for ash before fleeing the druids. That tree was dead. Lorcan had claimed to have seen the ruin for himself. He’d tried to kill Cillian for years because of it. And yet here was a group of people calling themselves Sansara?

So many questions swirled in her mind, and she had a feeling Maya and Alex weren’t going to answer them.

“Who runs this place?” she asked.

“We do,” Maya said. “We take in travelers who are in trouble, not unlike yourself. Those who are weary of the world, cut to the bone, and jaded. Our mission is to help those most in need.”

“But who is funding it? No one does this for no reason.”

“Maybe not out there,” Maya said. “But in here we all help each other.”

Kierse could see how easily they twisted the questions around. They never directly answered what she really wanted to know, only gave her the comforting platitudes they thought she wanted to hear.

“I know it sounds unfathomable right now, Shannon,”Alex said as he finished up the stitches. “But we really do want to help people.”

“We’re glad you’re here,” Maya added. “Even if just for long enough to fix you up and send you back out, if that’s what you want.”

“That’s charitable,” Kierse said. “What’s the catch?”

Maya laughed. “No catch.”

There was always a catch. Kierse hadn’t survived on the streets without knowing the rules. This wasn’t free, even if it would be amazing if something like Maya had described did exist.

Maya patted her forearm. “You look bone weary. I’d suggest you rest for the night, but I’ll walk you back out myself if you want to go.”

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