Keldwyn shot him a glance. “Yes. I expect you will have to spend some time finding the right place. But you cannot take too long. The queen will not wait beyond the next ful moon on your attendance.
Samhain approaches and other events of importance take place in the Fae world. At that point, she will get tired of your fumbling attempts to find a gateway and bring you to her. In that case, the crossing will be a far more unpleasant experience.” Because it already sounds like the perfect vacation hot spot now.
Once his message was delivered, Keldwyn headed back toward the forest, making it obvious he intended to depart, irrespective of whether they had further questions or need of him. It wouldn't matter regardless, Jacob knew. He didn't serve their interests, but that of an unknown monarch. And his own.
Though Lyssa asked Mason to remain at the grove, Jacob stayed a close step behind her, and she didn't discourage him. When they reached the edge of the forest, Keldwyn paused, those onyx eyes settling back on Lyssa's face after a brief flicker at Jacob's. “Long ago,” he said, “a woodsman fel in love with a beautiful and mysterious girl he found in the forest. She agreed to marry him on one condition. She had to leave him from midnight to dawn every night, and he couldn't ask her whereabouts or try to fol ow her. Since he loved her, he agreed. They were very happy, for a time.” He paused. “Eventual y, they had a child together.
Since the woodsman had been busy with his trade, upon the child's birth they only had an old cradle loaned to them by the vil age wise woman. One night, while his wife was gone, he couldn't sleep, for he never slept well without her. He decided he'd pick out a tree to make a new cradle. Putting their daughter on his back, he carried her into the woods.
Not too far away, he found one that was perfect, the wood so smooth beneath his fingers. The baby smiled and laughed when he touched the tree, reaching toward it, so he was sure it was the right one. He chopped it down and made the cradle in that one fateful night.”
Now his gaze shifted back to Jacob, flat, unreadable. “His wife was a hamadryad, her life essence connected to a specific tree. To maintain that life essence, she had to return to a tree form for a certain amount of time every night. As I'm sure you guessed, he mistakenly kil ed her to make a resting place for their child. Fae lore is fil ed with many such cautionary tales about the wisdom of love between the species.”
“Perhaps if she'd just told him who and what she was, it never would have happened. Honesty is the best policy and all that,” Jacob suggested. As he met Lyssa's bemused green eyes, he thought of how much he liked the porcelain smoothness of her face, the delicate features. “The problem I have with that old folktale,” he added, “is how long he accepted her being gone at that time of night. When it comes to love, you don't accept rationing. Over time, you want it all. He would have fol owed her.”
“He would have lost her that much sooner.” Keldwyn's lip curled. “The Fae can make man or vampire believe what they want them to believe. For instance, you believe you and the Lady Lyssa are meant to be together forever. That you can have a happily ever after, like the fairy tales humans have bastardized. But in the end, if her path lies in our world, you and the half-breed infant will be left behind. Just like the woodsman and his daughter.” Despite Lyssa's sudden stil ness, a warning, Jacob stepped forward. He and Keldwyn were of like height, though the compressed energy of the male Fae was like standing within the incineration range of a star. It didn't matter. Jacob was a ticking bomb himself. “At some point,” he said quietly, “you will acknowledge Lady Lyssa's son.”
“Not as long as he is yours as well. Lyssa, you would do well to tel your servant to stand down, before there's one more tree out there. One that can be snapped like kindling.”
Jacob, there's a time for this. Go back to Mason. I need a few minutes of privacy, and I do not want you to listen in.
It was a firm order, but there was also a caress behind it, tel ing him she was quietly pleased he'd stood up for her and Kane. He rarely doubted her wisdom, though there were times it was hard to stomach, like now. He nodded to Keldwyn, his jaw tight. “I've said my peace.”
Turning, he sketched a bow to his lady. I'll respect your wishes, but I'll be close, my lady. I don't trust your welfare to him. Not now, not ever.
He returned to his place on the concrete rubble, finding Mason back in his own place there. Though he gave him a nod, Jacob kept his attention trained on Lyssa and Keldwyn. They spoke for only a few moments, and he could tel nothing from their expressions. At length, Keldwyn vanished into the rainforest.
“I'l leave you two to talk,” Mason said, correctly interpreting the mood as Lyssa moved back toward them. “We'l discuss plans shortly.”