Chapter Five
Birk had barely slept last night thinking about this Toma case and how it might affect Lily. Even though he’d talked with many of his fellow Guardians, nobody had heard anything about a kidnapping or the sale of two women in their twenties. Declan and the others planned to expand their search today, but to help things along, Birk had asked a few of his siblings to put out a few feelers around town. He could only hope something panned out soon.
Frustrated at the lack of progress, he headed to the Caspian mines and went straight into the office. Nessa happened to be at her desk. “You’re just the person I need to talk to,” he said.
His sister was dressed in her usual khaki pants and baggy shirt with the Caspian logo on the pocket. Despite the dirt smudges on her cheek, she looked good. The glow of happiness did wonders for her.
She looked up and frowned. “I’m not a fan of dark circles. You need to sleep more.” Birk swallowed a response. “So, tell me what can I do for you today, my troubled brother? And no, I don’t know anything more about the missing women.”
Damn. Kyle must have told her. “I’m worried about Lily.”
“Because she’s working on the Toma case? Or because she’s your mate and you’re just being your usual over-protective self?”
All he could do was shake his head. “Did Kyle tell you we were mates?”
“No. The moment I saw you with Lily after her attack, I could sense the bond forming between you. Let’s be honest. Once your bodyguard duty ended, you haven’t been yourself. You never used to mope around. Even Declan has commented on it a time or two.”
“Can’t anyone keep a secret around here?” Birk pulled up a chair in front of her desk and dropped down onto the seat. “I think I’m going crazy.”
Nessa smiled. “Ask her out again.”
His sister wasn’t as smart as he thought. “You don’t think I’ve tried that? She keeps turning me down.”
“And why do you suppose that is?” his sister asked, leaning on her elbows and looking way too smug.
Birk stilled. “You know something I don’t?”
Nessa chuckled. “You have to ask me that?”
Now he felt like a fool. Women had a second sense about these things. “Sorry.”
She smiled. “Look, I know you’re upset that Lily hasn’t thrown herself at your feet, but I can hazard a guess why she wants little to do with you.”
Birk sat up straighter. “Why’s that?”
“She likes you too much.”
A laugh burst out, but it held no mirth. “You’re jerking my chain, and I don’t appreciate it.”
Nessa tilted her head and sighed. “I’m being serious. What if you two became romantically involved and made love?”
“I’d be the happiest man on earth.”
“You might be, but in the process, she’d be naked and you’d see her back.”
Birk didn’t see the point. “I know that asshole burned her, but it’s not like I haven’t seen what fire can do to skin before.”
“Would you be repulsed?”
His sister was talking crazy. “Fuck no. Lily can’t help what happened to her.”
Nessa leaned back. “She hasn’t come out and told me exactly why she’s so skittish, but Kyle said that every man she has been close to has rejected her once they see her scars.”
Birk pushed back his chair. “Then I’ll tell her I don’t care about what her back looks like.”
Nessa shook her head. “She won’t believe you.”
“Why not?”
His sister sighed. “If you are that clueless, I can’t help you. What you need to do is to take a break and do some deep thinking. Hopefully some answers will come to you.” She snapped her fingers. “And I have just the place.”
“I tried taking a weekend off, but it didn’t do any good.”
“Don’t judge until you hear my suggestion.”
“I’m not going to some fancy spa or portal down to Earth for a bit. I’m needed here.”
She held up a palm. “I have something closer in mind—like an hour away.”
Then why didn’t he know about it? “Where is this amazing retreat? Believe me, I would do anything to get a new perspective on things.”
“Have you ever been to the eternal flame?”
“Maybe fifty years ago.”
Nessa studied him. “Do me a favor and check it out. While you are there, be sure to toss a coin in the fountain and make a wish.”
Birk didn’t even want to know what superstition lay behind that request. “How will going there help me figure out what I can do to earn Lily’s trust?”
“When I went there with Kyle, we ran across a wise woman by the name of Fay Forrester.”
That name sounded familiar. “The one you said was tiny and had wings?”
“Yes. She could disintegrate—if that’s the right word—into hundreds of fireflies and disappear.”
He didn’t believe in fairies. Most likely Nessa had conjured her up since she’d wanted answers about who was trying to kill her. Maybe he should save himself a trip and talk to the Four Sisters of Fate instead. They were wiser than anyone. The problem was that unless it was a matter of life and death, they were reluctant to give advice or help. “If I go and nothing happens, will you talk to Lily for me; tell her I don’t care about her back?”
“When you return, we’ll discuss your options.”
That was all he could ask for. “I’ll see you soon then—hopefully with a plan.”
Birk wasn’t sure why he agreed to visit some old flame, but Nessa acted as if it would help. Right now, he had to take whatever advice he could get, especially since his sister and Lily seemed to be growing closer.
Once outside, Birk shifted then took off toward the spot where the four provinces of Tarradon met. It was said that the flame was a symbol of the cooperation between the provinces, forged long before he existed. If he recalled correctly, the flame was situated in a dense forest surrounded by an untouchable preserve.
As he flew to the middle of the realm, his mind began to relax, and he was able to enjoy the beauty of Tarradon. The hills were a lush green and the air sweet. He almost believed what Nessa said was true—that Lily didn’t hate him. In fact, she might even be attracted to him, but that she feared he’d reject her. That actually made sense. All he had to do was let her know they were mates, and she’d understand that he would never leave her.
Lily was beautiful, and it didn’t matter to him if her body wasn’t as perfect as she wanted. He loved her just the way she was. In fact, part of Lily’s allure came from her having been a burn victim survivor. Birk had been around long enough to know that people who were conditioned to believe they were less than ideal would not take someone’s word for it. That meant he’d just have to show her.
By the time he spotted the flame, his spirits had risen. Because of the density of the trees, he landed in an open field two miles from the actual site, shifted, and trekked in on foot. He thought he might run into a tourist or two, but it seemed as if he had the whole forest to himself.
Today, the birds seemed to chirp louder than usual, and the air smelled cleaner. It was said this part of the realm possessed magic, and it just might be true.
When he arrived, no one was there. No fairy. No shaman. Nobody.
Did you expect someone to walk out of the forest and tell you how to win over your mate? his dragon asked.
Of course not. But a guy could hope.
Birk stepped over to the fountain, dug a hand in his pocket for a coin, and then turned his back to the water. Nessa wouldn’t believe him if he said he’d made a wish, so he decided to video it for her. With the phone camera in hand he pressed the video button. “Nessa, this is for you. May Lily fall madly in love with me and want to be my mate.”
He tossed the coin behind him, and when he heard it splash, he shut off the video.
Clapping came from his right and startled the shit out of him. Birk spun toward the sound and relaxed when he spotted a petite blonde. She looked as if she were trying hard to hold in a laugh. For some reason he felt compelled to explain. “My sister told me that wishes often come true here, so I had to toss in a coin.”
The stranger moved closer. “They do come true, if it is meant to be.”
“Good to know.”
She held out her hand. “I’m Fay Forrester.”
Holy shit. “The fairy?” he blurted.
He swore she blushed. “Yes, and I take it you’re Nessa’s brother?”
Only then did he remember he’d mentioned her name. “I am. Name’s Birk Caspian.”
They shook hands, and the woman seemed to be all flesh and blood. “Did I hear you had woman problems?”
Now he was the one to have heat race up his face. According to Nessa, Fay had powers, so he had nothing to lose by asking her about his situation. “I do. Lily, who is human, has no idea we’re fated to be with each other.”
“I see. And she’s unwilling to hang out with a big dragon shifter like you, is that it?”
How did she do that? “More or less.”
Fay closed her eyes and suddenly transformed into what could best be described as a six-inch tall being with gossamer pink wings. She whipped around him twice before landing on his shoulder. While he could have swatted her away, she must have had a reason for being there. A moment later, she flitted in front of him again and transformed back into a woman.
“Sorry about that,” she said, “but I needed a better sense of what was going on. I’m sorry to say that Lily is in danger.”
His blood boiled, and the fire in his belly nearly shot out of his hands until he realized she probably had no idea what she was talking about. Then Nessa’s words came back to him, and he decided to give her a chance. “From whom?”
“From the men Thresher Toma is dealing with.”
His knees almost buckled. How the hell did she know anything about that? Birk opened his mouth to ask her more questions, but the shock of her information had turned him mute for a moment. “Who are these men, and where can I find them?”
“They’re working out of Glen Meadow at the moment.”
Before Birk could question her further, Fay returned back into her small self and flew away.
“Wait!” He ran after her until she separated into hundreds of fireflies. Birk stopped and stood there for a long time hoping she’d return. When it was clear she wasn’t coming back, he left.
For some reason, walking took a lot of effort. Hell, his mind could barely process how to put one foot in front of the other. If Lily’s life was at risk, he needed to warn her. Now.
Birk pulled out his phone to tell Kyle to keep an eye on his sister, but he had no cell service. Well, damn. He was tempted to check out Glen Meadow for himself, which was on the outskirts of the province, but he decided it was more important to protect Lily.
While Kyle might not mind watching over his sister for another hour, that job belonged to Birk, whether she wanted him to or not.
Once he made that decision, his legs began to work again, and he sprinted down the trail. When the field appeared into view, he shifted and flew away. This time, he didn’t dawdle. Instead, he flew close to the ground, catching the strongest air currents and reaching the roof of the SinCas building in record time. As soon as he shifted back, he called Declan to suggest he focus his attention on Glen Meadow.
“Tell me exactly what you found out,” his cousin said.
Whether or not Declan would believe the word of a fairy, it was the best lead they had so far.
“I met a woman—a fairy, if you will—who said that Lily is in danger from the men Toma has been dealing with.”
“Did she give you any details? Like whether these men were kidnappers, murderers, or merely worked for Toma?”
“No.” Birk was surprised Declan didn’t demand to have some proof that a real fairy existed.
“Did this fairy person tell you how she knew this?” Declan asked.
“No, and just as I was about to ask she took off.”
“Damn. Did your fairy friend tell you her name?”
Birk couldn’t tell if Declan was mocking him or not. “Fay Forester.”
“The same woman Nessa and Kyle ran into.”
“Yes.”
Declan didn’t answer for a moment. “What’s your next step?”
“I need to tell Lily everything—and by that, I mean what I found out about Toma. I’ll also have to tell her that we are mates and that she is in danger.”
“I think that’s smart.”
He debated asking him to question Toma, but he didn’t want to tip off the man. “How about you check out Glen Meadow? I’m thinking it’s where Toma’s daughters are being held hostage—assuming they are still alive.”
“Definitely.”
The tension in Birk’s shoulders released somewhat. “Thank you.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get these guys.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
Once they disconnected, Birk shifted again. This next conversation might be the hardest in his life—and the most important.