Page 85 of Journey to the Elderoak
He stood and left the room, flowers blooming behind his feet as he walked away. The vines receded and the room returned to normal.
Ava turned back to the table, heart racing with worry. “Could someone please explain?”
“I’ve never seen him like that before,” Quinn said.
“Ava, I don’t think you’re ready for this conversation,” said Thorne.
“What?” She looked at her brother. “That’s not fair. Tell me.”
He sighed. “When powerful fae become very angry, they can lose control and their magic erupts. He was on the verge of that. It’s something we must learn to manage or there could be consequences.”
“Why was he so angry?” she asked.
Raine looked at her, dumbfounded.
“I know it was hard to hear about what I went through, but none ofyouwere on the verge of losing control.”
Raine shook his head at her. “You’re blind, Ava. You really can’t see it, can you?”
“Can’t see what?”
Jorrar cleared his throat. “Since fae are historically primal creatures, this anger sometimes comes out when someone they care about is harmed. Someone they care about romantically.”
“Oh. And you’re saying he cares about me. I know,” she said.
Raine narrowed his eyes. “He cares about you alot.”
“You’ve already told me that. There’s something else you aren’t telling me.”
Raine scanned the silent room. “Fine. I’ll explain since no one else will.”
She focused on Raine across the table, her heart racing with anticipation.
“There’s a term we use. It’s an old fae word. Different from the one you asked me about.” She fidgeted in her seat. “Miraêl Li’ra it’s called.”
“What does that mean?”
“Soul-bonded,” answered Thorne.
“Okay…oh. Oh wow,” she said, reeling. “Like…a soulmate thing?”
“Yes.” Raine looked at her pointedly.
She bit her lip. “Are you saying Cas and I?—”
“Yes.”
“Does he know?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“Why hasn’t he told me?”
“You think you would have reacted well to that conversation?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again. He was right. If Casimir had come out and told her they were soulmates too soon, she probably would have panicked and withdrawn further.
But for some reason, she wasn’t panicking now. It made sense. The way they seemed to be drawn to each other.
