He nodded and extricated his hand from hers making his way toward the foyer. She had to do something. She was losing him! But she had no idea what to do or who to turn to. She debated going to Aiden when the conversation with Caiden popped into her mind. Darian had a brother! Maybe Oron could help. Taking a deep breath, she went to the hallway and grabbed her coat out of the closet. If Oron couldn't help, she didn't know what she'd do.
She went outside and searched the faces of the men. What if he wasn't here today? She took a chance and walked up to the first fae warrior she saw. "Oron?"
The warrior looked down at her and smiled. "No, I'm Larik Li'Milerlen of the Beta Unit. Oron is the one working the ropes." He pointed to the shirtless warrior doing battle rope exercises.
"Thanks!"
"Anytime."
She crossed the training field to the brother of her mate.
"Hello," she said.
"Hello, little one. I was wondering how long it would take before you sought me out. Did Darian tell you about me?" Oron asked, setting the thick ropes down.
She shook her head. "No, I heard about your relationship from my brother, Caiden."
"Brothers are funny things, aren't they? The only people in the entire world you would gladly die for, but they are also the only ones in this world who can drive you crazy." He grinned at her, his brown eyes full of life and light.
She couldn't help her reaction. She felt her face crumple as tears sprang to her eyes.
Oron looked around in a panic. "Whatever I said to upset you, I'm sorry." He wrapped an arm around her and cuddled her in a way that reminded her of her brothers. That thought brought on a fresh wave of tears.
"Shhuush honey, it's okay. Tell me what is wrong. I'll do whatever I can to help." Oron picked up his discarded shirt and started patting her face, accidentally poking her in the eye.
"Ow!" She took the shirt and dried her tears. His dejected expression made her smile. He was very bad at this.
"Excuse me while I go ask my Unit Commander to kick my ass." Oron sighed and went to walk away.
She laughed and pulled at his arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Though I find it highly amusing a few tears put you in such a tizzy."
Oron's face softened. "My mother always taught us that a woman's tears were priceless and should only be shed in times of great joy."
"Is that Darian's mother, too?"
Oron nodded. "In a way."
"Would she be able to help him? He's so very close. This morning he looked right through me." She shuddered at the memory.
Oron was suddenly all business. "I don't mean to get personal, but has he claimed you?"
She shook her head. "He won't chance turning and destroying my soul. We have been intimate though." She blushed furiously. "It seemed to help for a little while, but today it's almost as if he's worse because of it."
"There may be a way, but he won't like it," Oron hedged.
"I don't give a rat's ass if he likes it. I'll have Aiden and Colton tie his huge ass up if I have to," she fumed.
Oron chuckled. "Mother will like you." He pulled his shirt on before kneeling down to reach into his gym bag. He pulled out a small leather pouch, opened it, and turned it upside down. A large, ornate, silver ring dropped into his hand. "Normally, a fae returns to Éire Danu every thirty or forty years to replenish their light. We absorb the light and magic from the city. It's one of the main reasons the city is closed to outsiders. About six hundred years ago, Darian got into an argument with our mother. He had had a dream where he joined the Alpha Unit and supported the new Unit Commander here in Lycaonia. Our mother was furious, mostly because she was terrified. Darian was always the gentle one, the poet. He was a competent swordsman, but he didn't wasn't a warrior."
"He disobeyed her, and she banished him from Éire Danu. One of the main reasons his light is almost gone is because he hasn't been home in nearly six hundred years."
Amelia felt confused. "Then why doesn't he just go home now? Surely it's okay after all this time."
Oron shook his head. "Discounting the fact that my mother and brother are two of the most stubborn creatures on the face of this green earth, for some reason, Darian's light is dimmer than it should be. No fae has ever been so dark without having committed a great sin. If he tried to go through the portal to Éire Danu as he is, it would reject him. It's a security measure to keep ferals out of the city."
"Then what can we do?" Amelia felt as if there was no hope.
"That was before he found you. We can try something that has never been done before. Like I said, no other fae has ever become so dark without committing a sin, so we've never had this type of scenario before. But because you are his mate, if you were to go through the portal with him, it might recognize your light and see him as a mated fae, and let him through."