Page 209 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
Pete’s dubious ire had me chewing my lip.
Grave-faced once more, Myrrdin addressed Pete dead on. “I promise you, I won’t allow her summoning to commence unless I see the fates have assured her ultimate survival. We’ll help her scale these obstacles, and she’ll gain the blessings of her powers—in full.”
Blessings? What a funny thing to call them when they had every chance of killing me. I was a ticking bomb in need of diffusing.
A threat glittered in Pete’s gaze. “Danu save you if you’re wrong.”
Myrrdin arched a brow. “If I’m wrong, Pete, then we’ll all need saving.”
ThewalkbacktoPete’s hut was tense, too quiet. He strolled beside me, the set of his massive shoulders weary, his profile, rounded and human, etched in deep, hard thought. Finally, I cleared my throat to lighten the weighty moment. “I’m shocked you’re able to walk a straight line after binge-drinking an entire pitcher of liquor.”
He flicked a wry look my way. “It was merely cider. Barely potent enough to souse a mouse.”
“You still drank a lot of it.”
“As you can see, it has a trivial effect on me. Maybe a slight dulling of my senses.”
“Oh.”
Another silence hung as we weaved through the villagers. Although, after having my mind blown—again—I wasn’t in the mood for silence. Especially with Pete. I wanted to know he still saw me as—me. Regardless of my divinity.
“When do you think they’ll do my summoning?” I figured getting a proper timeline of my future was key, so I’d know at what pace to prepare for the impossibilities. “Are we hanging out here until then? Or will we come back after we’ve killed Gentian?”
After we’vetriedto kill Gentian, I corrected myself. Odds were that we’d fail, and the looming issues over my summoning would become moot.
Pete didn’t reply, the creases in his brow deepening.
“I meant what I said. I decided to help you kill the asshole. You discovering my last name hasn’t changed that.”
One corner of his mouth twitched, not into a smile. “Much appreciated, Shorty.”
“How long will we be here before we move on to the Shadow Court?” I continued. “Because those beyns from Humwater Dell are still in danger.”
“Aye, they are.” Pete peered toward his hut, which we neared as we waded against the tide of fae heading to the cafeteria (lunchtime was upon us, if my nose was correct). “Maybe—maybe we’ll leave in a week. Does that suit you?”
I chuckled. “Does what suits me matter to you?”
“Not truly. But I’d hate not to ask and risk another bout of your harping.”
I smirked sideways at him. “You know you love my harping.”
He smiled, albeit halfheartedly. His eyes, though—they remained cloudy. “I wouldn’t say that, though I’ve forgotten how to go about my day without it. And I fear it has made me habitually cleanly.”
I laughed at his sourness on that last point. And the sound dimmed the light in his eyes, reminded him of his sadness.
I couldn’t pretend not to know what was bothering him.
By the time we reached the warden’s hut, I’d resigned myself to being as selfless and giving as Pete was with all those he’d sheltered under his big, magic shadow-wing.
“I don’t know when I’ll be capable, Pete, but I—once I learn how to work my chronopathy, I’ll figure out some way to—send you home.”
I might as well have shocked him with jumper cables.
“If that’s what you want,” I forced the words out. “Then I’ll do what I can to return you—to your former life—your family.” I offered what I hoped was a happy smile—not a grimace of my own grief at the thought of losing the only real friend I’d known since leaving Earth. “I can’t say I won’t miss you. But you—you deserve to be happy—after all you’ve done for everyone else.” My lips quivered. “And if I can give you that, then—”
“Shorty, that is—” Pete cupped my shoulder, his touch hefty, and shook his head. “Your generosity humbles me. But let’s not speak of it for now—while it’s little more than a daydream, aye?”
I understood why he didn’t want to get his hopes up. Before I could do anything with my chronopathy, I’d need to learn how to wield it, and who knew how long that would take. Then there was the whole conundrum of how I’d send Pete back. Sure, I’d transported a shit ton of Dananns to Earth in the past when I was pretty much a toddler, but I’d gone with them. How would I send Pete back without going with him? I supposed I could turn back—afterI went with him.
