Page 44 of Devastation
Shockingly it's empty, save for our group, and I cock an eye at Cadmus as he turns to face us. He's quick to respond, correctly guessing my silent question. "I assumed that this conversation would be better had in private, in case of any unknown traitors in our midst, like you warned."
"That was a smart decision," Hale commends him, clearly pleased with someone, other than him,having concern for our safety.
Cadmus inclines his head toward a table set with wine goblets filled to the brim, motioning for us to take a seat. My men quickly oblige, but I notice Kinder's hesitancy and nudge her elbow with my own, "Want to take a walk and show me around while we wait for dinner?"
Her relief is evident from the instant relaxation that sweeps through her previously tense frame. Nodding vigorously, she agrees, "Yes. I'd like that."
Cadmus opens his mouth at the same time Hale does, and I halt them with a raised hand. "We won't drift far. I need a moment alone with her."
"Kinder, do not take her outside of the palace," Cadmus warns, but otherwise doesn't object any further.
A twinkle lights up in Kinder's eyes as she agrees a bit too sweetly, "Whatever you say."
She clearly has every intention of doing the exact opposite of what he says.
Walking past the banquet room, she leads me through large, gold-plated doors and into what could be considered an atrium. It’s a gigantic room, open to the air blowing from the exposed ceiling that flows through the sprawling garden inside.
Kinder lets out a wistful sigh as we walk toward the middle of the atrium, where a large slab of rock lies. Jumping up on the rock, she immediately crosses her legs and sits down, gazing at the open sky.
Nimbly, I jump up and sit down across from her, waiting for her to come back from wherever her mind has wandered. Her face looks serene as she softly smiles at the sky, the most peaceful I've seen her so far.
A gentle breeze ruffles her short hair, and a strand gets trapped in her mouth. She quickly tries to push it out of her mouth, but it gets trapped on her tongue and ends up wedged further in her mouth.
Covering my mouth, I try to contain my chuckle at just how adorable she is.
She finally plucks the hair from her mouth with her fingers and inhales deeply before letting the breath out and looking at me. "This is where Fiona would bring me to try to connect with my dragon. I've had a block between myself and my dragon ever since my parents died," she admits while glancing down at the rock beneath us.
"She never gave up on me. No matter how many countless failed attempts I had, and she never treated me like I was less because of it..." Kinder trails off for a moment before tacking on, "...not like everyone else my age does. They look down on me."
My heart hurts for the girl and the pain so evident in her words.
Pain from losing the one person who stood in her corner.
Pain from not being accepted by those around her.
"What did I promise you earlier?"
My question causes her eyes to snap to mine and she scoffs. "You aren't even from this realm. You won't be around to fulfill that promise. I will be alone."
Cocking my head at her, I question, "What do you think the connection between us is, Kinder?"
She splutters a bit as she glances anywhere but at me, "I...I don't know."
Leaning back, I flatten my hands onto the smooth rock and pin her with a look. "I'm going to explain it to you, and I need you to listen to all of it before you tell me I'm crazy, okay?"
Her brows and nose scrunch, "Why would I think you're crazy?"
I tsk at her, "Just listen, okay?"
She gestures with her small hand for me to continue.
"I wasn't always Mother Nature. I was just a human—or so I thought—a few months ago. Turns out I actually had a previous life that my mates and I were killed in. We then found out that I was the queen of the fae realm, chosen by Gaia, and responsible for the near extinction of my people."
Her jaw unhinges and her eyes widen in disbelief.
"And then, we found out that I am actually Gaia's only daughter, making me a demi-goddess."
I see the wheels turning in her mind as I continue.
