Page 99 of Bound Paths
Tara glanced over Rose’s shoulder at Luc, his palm lightly pressed on Rose’s hip. The weight of it was a reassurance Rose craved, but the placement was undoubtedly intimate to Tara’s eyes.
“More than fine, it appears,” Tara said with the most unsubtle wink Rose had ever seen.
Rose laughed loudly. “I am Tara. But are you okay? Was it painful being taken by the mist plague?” She’d been a little afraid to ask, but Rose needed to hear the answer.
Tara smiled. “It was like taking a nap. My body didn’t know it was taking longer than it should. I awoke feeling refreshed.Although, I was instantly terrified to learn no one could find you.”
“I’m sorry, Tara. I should have left a note of some kind for you. It’s not an excuse, but Luc can attest I wasn’t in the best state of mind when we left.”
Luc nodded. Tara took that as permission to give Luc her full attention. Her posture held no fear like that of the Dawson girl. “What are you to her?”
Rose coughed.
Luc glanced at Rose, unsure if he should answer or let Rose handle it. She shrugged. “She asked you, not me,” Rose replied playfully.
“Rose is my bound partner,” he replied.
Tara may be human, but she understood the significance of the statement. “I didn’t think…” She glanced at Rose, unsure how to finish the question.
“You seem like you know Rose well enough to understand that if she wants something, she will find a way to get it.” Luc’s smile was pure pride as he finished the thought, and it had Rose itching to reach for him again.
Tara nodded as if in complete agreement with his assessment of Rose’s determination. She tilted her head. “You’re also the scary Suden Point?” she asked, her gaze narrowed as she sized him up.
“I was.” A smile curved his lip. He pointed back at Darren. “He’s Suden Point now. You can decide if he can live up to the scary image.”
Tara scrunched her nose like she’d already decided Darren didn’t deserve the title, though she seemed to accept that Luc was no longer Suden Point quickly enough. “Do you still have magic? Can you protect her?” Tara asked.
The earth rumbled beneath his feet as he replied. “I will bury anyone who tries to harm her so deep within the earth they’llforget the sun existed.” Then he shrugged. “However, I think you’ll find she has her own defenses.”
Tara nodded as if he had provided the correct answer in the test she was giving him. Rose and Tara had never spoken about her magic, but Rose had always suspected Tara knew more than she let on.
“It’s not just water magic, is it?” Tara asked, looking at Rose.
She shook her head.
“I always knew there was so much more to you than we all saw,” Tara said, though she seemed to be speaking to herself. She refocused on Rose. “Will you live at Compass Lake now?”
Rose couldn’t speak as emotion tightened her chest, so she nodded. She coughed as she tried to spit out the question she hoped to ask. Tara was an orphan in the village. She lived at the temple. But she was undoubtedly human, and Compass Lake was predominantly fae. It was on her long list of changes to make. To offer more opportunity for fae and humans to live together, even in the center of fae politics at Compass Lake. She’d make space for humans the same way she would for fae with multiple elements. As with Walter’s daughter, she needed them to feel safe and included to come out of hiding.
These were all on the list of changes she’d bring to the continent, but they wouldn’t happen overnight. She wanted Tara with her, not just to help make the change but to be a part of the family she was building. But she had to know it wouldn’t be easy. Rose tried to pour all of this into a rambling explanation.
Tara looked between Rose and Luc, trying to decide if there was a question in everything Rose had spewed.
“I think she’s asking if you want to come live with us there,” Luc said when Rose’s grip on his hand tightened in a desperate plea. Rose nodded.
Tara’s eyes widened, and she flung her arms around Rose’s neck again. “Yes!”
CHAPTER FORTY
Getting settled into their new life at Compass Lake was everything Rose had dreamed of—everything Rose had fought for.
“Are you going to help Darren at all?” Aaron asked as he, Andrew, Luc, and Rose sat on the beach at Norden house. His question was directed at Luc, but his eyes were fixed on his three boys playing in the water. Tara was with them, splashing at David, setting off a battle cry from the others coming to his defense.
“My goal is to stay out of his way.” Luc shrugged. “It’s bad enough that I’m still here.” He scooted his chair closer to Rose and slid his arm around her. “But that can’t be helped. I won’t undermine his authority by offering suggestions.”
“What if I want your suggestions?” Darren’s voice carried across the yard as he joined them on Norden beach.
Rose gave the Suden Point a nod. She would let Luc sort this out. As much as he was no longer the Suden Point, these were his people—and his family. He was still very much Suden and needed to find his place with them.
