his hands on my bare shoulders. I leaned back against him and felt myself relax just a little. “And we will deal with Volod,” he said.
I nodded and felt the slide of my hair against Colin’s chest before I turned to face him. “The Great Guardian better have some answers.”
Colin’s lips were soft as he brushed them over mine. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back.
“Are you stalling?” He smiled as he drew away.
I started to protest then realized he was right. “I guess I am a little intimidated at meeting her in person.”
“It’ll all be fine.” Colin took my hand and squeezed it. “Which way, O beautiful one?”
I raised our joined hands and indicated a path in the forest a little to our left.
“I don’t know how Father arranged this meeting so soon.” I started walking at Colin’s side. “But I’m glad he was able to. We need to be getting back.”
“Your father is a man of amazing stature,” Colin said. “Rodán is the only other person I’ve known to have been in the Great Guardian’s presence.”
“Yes, he is a man of great stature.” I sighed. “I just wish he could join us with some of his men. Just think what an advantage that would be. If Vampires can’t turn Dark Elves, and Elves have superior strength and magic, it could make a real difference.”
“Vampires are one thing.” Colin squeezed my hand. “A Vampire paranorm force of former Trackers is as formidable a force as he would face.” He continued, “Taking nothing away from Dark Elves, who can hold their own against any fighters, but this is a dangerous fight and your father knows it.”
I frowned as I thought about this. “My father is not one to shrink back from a fight.”
“I could see in your father’s eyes that he wants to help.” Twigs and dried leaves crunched beneath Colin’s shoes. “It is not that he is afraid. He just has to think about his own people first.”
“Of course.” I heard the sound of a nightbird as it started to wake. “I have to get past the idea that my father said no to me. It’s something he doesn’t do. But I know it’s unfair for me to put that on him and I understand his position.”
“We’ll find other ways to defeat Volod.” Colin ducked beneath a low-hanging branch. “How far to the meadow your father told us about?”
“Not far.” I stepped over a fallen log, making no sound whatsoever, unlike Colin who stepped on a branch. The large cracking sound echoed through the forest. Birds quieted.
I looked up at him. “I didn’t realize Dragons were so noisy.”
“You should see me when I shift.”
“I have.” I shook my head. “Let’s just say it’s a good thing we don’t have to rely on you for stealth right now.”
He bumped my shoulder with his intentionally, and I did a little sidestep but didn’t stumble. I laughed and bumped him back and he did stumble a bit.
The forest grew quieter as we neared a meadow. From ahead came the burbling sound of a small stream. The forest smelled so clean, of fresh air, pine, and rich loam.
My heart beat faster as we got closer to the meadow and my belly did a flip. What would it be like to talk with the Great Guardian?
We paused at the edge of the tree line. I caught my breath and wished Father could see the beauty here in daylight. Soft yellow sunshine, patches of purple and pink flowers dipping in the light breeze, and grass as green as a carpet of Drow-mined emeralds.
My boots skimmed over the tops of pale mushrooms at the edge of the darkened forest. Colin came up beside me. “Your world is amazingly beautiful, Nyx. This looks like a place I’d expect to meet the Great Guardian.”
A small footbridge spanned the width of the stream, the water sparkling in the ebbing sunlight. The opposite end seemed to fade away into the forest. It was like looking into the distance, yet it wasn’t that far.
I tipped my head back and looked at lacy clouds strewn across sky growing deeper blue with every passing moment. My skin wasn’t tingling yet, but the night was on its way.
“Nyx.” The sound of a sweet voice had me whirling and facing the bridge again.
A glow filled the meadow. I raised my hand in front of my eyes to block the strength of it.
When the glow faded enough to see, an ethereal being, beyond