Page 39 of Shadows of Destiny
“It is a pretty realm,” Kaylia said.
Cole grunted, but Varo remained stone-faced. Lexi finally lowered her head and rubbed at her neck while studying the realm.
“This way,” Kaylia said and started toward a path cutting through the forest. “Elfie lives in the woods.”
Varo stopped dead at the edge of the woods. Beside her, Cole stiffened as his head turned toward his youngest brother. Varo paled further than normal, something she hadn’t considered possible until now.
Varo had put on a little weight since she first met him, but he was still too thin, shadows haunted his eyes, and his cheekbones were too pronounced. His nearly white-blue eyes stood out starkly against his black eyebrows. The tips of his pointed ears poked through the black hair he’d brushed back from his face.
“You didn’t tell me we were coming to see my mother,” Varo stated.
Lexi’s eyes widened, and she shot Kaylia a look. The crone appeared as stunned as she felt.
“I didn’t know,” Cole said as he stared accusatorily at Kaylia. “You said we were going to the woods.”
“I… I… didn’t know Elfie was your mother,” Kaylia said to Varo. “And wearegoing to the woods.”
“Of course you didn’t. I doubt many, ifany, know she has a son,” Varo said.
The bitterness in his tone disturbed Lexi as much as it upset her. She didn’t know Varo well, but she liked him. He was kind, soft-spoken, and willing to do whatever it took for his brothers. How anyone could toss him aside in such a way was beyond her.
“I should have asked who we were meeting,” Cole said. “Ineverexpected Elfie to be in the woods.”
“No,” Varo said. “Ishould have asked, but it doesn’t matter. We’re here to see if we can help Lexi, and that’s what matters. Elfie is an ancient; she’ll be at the castle with the other ancients.”
“I’ve always met with her in the woods. She told me it’s where she prefers to stay,” Kaylia said.
“When was the last time you talked with her?” Cole asked.
“Fifty years ago, give or take.”
“Things could have changed.”
“I doubt it. Once someone decides they prefer peace and solitude over luxury, they’re not likely to change.”
“True,” Cole agreed.
“The light fae live in the woods?” Lexi asked.
“They live in thetrees,” Varo said.
“Theywhat?” Lexi blurted.
“Many make their homes inside the trees,” Kaylia said. “They’re quite beautiful.”
“I bet they are,” Lexi murmured.
She was more than intrigued by this revelation, and despite already disliking this Elfie, she was excited to see what awaited them in the forest.
“Let’s hope she’s here,” Kaylia said as she turned and started toward the forest again. “There’snoway they’ll welcome two dark fae into the palace.”
Lexi didn’t bother to point out that Varo was half light fae; if it didn’t matter to his mother, it wouldn’t matter to anyone else. She stepped closer to him and rested her hand on his arm as they entered the forest.
“I’ll understand if you decide to go back,” she assured him.
His kind eyes shone as he smiled at her. “I know, but I’m fine. I haven’t seen the woman since I was a child, and I came to terms with her absence centuries ago. Besides, I doubt she remembers me.”
Lexi didn’t see how any mother could forget their son or leave him behind, but there was a lot she didn’t understand inallthe realms. Her hand fell away from his arm as they went deeper into the woods.
