“He’s… shy.”
Olivia leaned closer, practically climbing on top of her. “Who is he?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Olivia!” Olivia took that as her cue to back away, though still within pouncing distance. “It’s a secret.”
“I thought we weren’t having any more secrets.”
“That’s right,” confirmed Larissa. “No more hiding my secrets. That doesn’t mean I can tell secrets entrusted to me.”
“He’s trustworthy, you’re sure?”
You would call me a friend? “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Olivia nodded. “You’re covered in the bodyguard department, good news. Now, how are you going to figure out the whys and wherefores of what’s happening on your own?”
Larissa reached over and grabbed Olivia’s hand. “I’m not on my own. I’ve got you.”
“Fat chance. We get chased by orcs, I’m tripping you and running the other direction.” But Olivia twined her fingers with Larissa’s, giving a reassuring squeeze.
And now came the part of the evening where Olivia had to answer a few questions. “Since you know people, do you think you know anyone who can help me figure this out?”
Olivia’s gaze became distant as she considered. “I think I do. But he’s a hard one to get hold of, and he isn’t a certainty. He’s got his own demons chasing after him.”
“Figuratively or literally?” Larissa asked. Olivia rolled her eyes but didn’t answer the question. “I’d be grateful if you can try to get him, even if he isn’t a certainty.”
“I will. I’ll put in a call when I get home.”
“Thank you.” Eyeing her wineglass, Larissa refilled it and took a long drink. She’d probably need it for this portion of the evening. “Just how do you know people?”
To her credit, Olivia didn’t pretend ignorance. “You know me. I talk to everyone.”
Olivia certainly did that. It was talent and gift rolled together, the way she was able to bond with anyone no matter their background. Within minutes, she went from stranger to beloved family friend. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I have?” Olivia’s face held a hint of censure. “Before this happened to you, you were content to live far away from any of the New Realms. It wasn’t a part of my life that I thought you would enjoy. Maybe I didn’t think you’d approve of it.”
“I wouldn’t have approved or disapproved, I just wouldn’t have been interested in it. That sort of dovetails back to our previous discussion about being surrounded by a loving family who think they know best for you, being in a prison that isn’t really a prison.”
An o of surprise formed across Olivia’s mouth. A shading of understanding crossed her face as she closed her mouth, bowing her head slightly. “Sorry.”
“Yeah.” The wine was more than half gone by this point, but despite being a lightweight when it came to alcohol, Larissa wasn’t affected by the hazy happiness that usually accompanied consumption. “Don’t worry about it. Honestly, I didn’t realize I was in a prison of my own making until recently.”
“And now?”
Larissa drained the last of the wine in her glass. “Jailbreak.”
Chapter Seventeen
‡
Larissa leaned on her balcony railing, looking toward the sky. Olivia had left twenty minutes before following a lot of food and a lot of conversation that didn’t revolve around the crazy turn her life had taken recently.
It had been a great reminder of normalcy, but now she wanted to speak with Terak.
She hadn’t seen him since the day of the orc battle. He said he would be gone for a few days to fulfill his responsibilities at home, then had flown away.
Should she call out, maybe wave her arms like she had done the first day?
Her reverie was interrupted by Terak dropping beside her.
“Terak!” she cried, her hand going over her heart. “You scared me!” That was what one called an understatement. These days a stray leaf was enough to get her jumping.
“My apologies,” he replied, but that deep voice didn’t quite convey that sentiment. He sounded far away, his mind and thoughts in another place and another conversation.
Leader of a Clan. She watched over one hundred students on a regular basis and sometimes she wanted to explode at the end of the day. To know a whole race depended on your every decision? She added a note of teasing to her voice, to let him know no harm done. “If my life keeps up at this pace, I’m going to have a heart attack by the time I’m thirty.” She took a deep breath, trying to settle her racing pulse, when a thought struck. “Do gargoyles age like humans?”