Page 75 of The Other Side

Osian’s hands curled into fists. “So they threw their own child away?”

“They brought him to this side. I don’t know who did the exchange.”

“They stole someone else’s baby and left theirs.”

Leaf nodded once.

“How long have you known?”

“Since the day Drum disappeared.”

Rage surged so fast it left Osian dizzy. “And no one thought I deserved to know?”

“You were ten. It was too dangerous to tell you. No other brothers know. Only me and our parents.”

“I was heartbroken.”

“I know. We begged Delfin and Oliver to let you keep Captain. We didn’t have to beg hard. They didn’t want him. We thought he might bring you comfort.”

“He did, but you should have told me.”

Leaf regarded him carefully. “Would it have changed anything?”

Osian opened his mouth. Nothing came out. No. It would have changed nothing. Long before he’d gone to speak to Belem, Osian had mourned the loss of Drum. He missed the gangly boy who’d laughed too loudly, climbed trees faster than anyone else, stole special honey-sweet apples because he knew Osian liked them. He pictured Drum asleep beside him under summer leaves. Drum feeding him blackberries, the sweetest strawberries. The boy who’d had his heart as a child and had it now as a man.

He fingered the bracelet around his wrist. “I still love him.”

“Would it have made any difference if you’d known Drum was a changeling?”

Osian thought about it again. No, it wouldn’t have. All that information did was to take away the choice Osian thought he and Drum would have now they’d found each other. Osian couldn’t take a mortal to live in Faeryland.

“I’m not going back.”

Leaf sighed. “You’re blood-bound to return.”

“Not until my month on this side is over.”

“You might get away with staying here until then, though Belem won’t be pleased with me. Don’t worry about that. Stay any longer than your allotted time, and you’ll be in trouble. If telling the truth brought pain, then breaking the agreement would do worse. You could come back with me now. You found Drum. Belem can no longer hurt you.”

“You didn’t sound very sure about that.”

Leaf shrugged. “It depends on the terms of your agreement. Do you remember what was said?”

“I…”

“The exact wording, Osian.”

He shook his head.

“Come back with me.”

“I won’t walk out of Drum’s life. I was allowed a month, so I’m safe to stay here until the time I’d agreed to go back. Right?”

Leaf didn’t answer immediately.

That silence told Osian enough. “No?” he asked quietly, his stomach tightening.

Leaf rubbed a hand over his face, looking older than Osian had ever seen him. “You promised to return if you found him.”