Stay

“And I thought all Pterons were arrogant jerks.”

I laughed. “Very true. Stereotypes are a dangerous thing.”

“They are.”

“I’m going to marry her. I’m going to have her as my wife and mate. I’m not accepting anything less.”

Daria smiled. “I know.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. It’s pretty obvious. You’re still sitting here, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’ll sit here as long as I have to.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one.”

A groan from behind me had us both whirling around. Daria sighed. “What do you want, Maddock?”

“You two sound pathetic.”

“There’s nothing pathetic about love.” Daria crossed her arms and glared at her brother. “It’s the truest of all the emotions.”

“No, love isn’t pathetic, but sitting around talking about it is.”

“What should we be doing instead? We have to wait here just as much as he does.”

“Why? Why do you have to wait?” I still wasn’t exactly sure what their job was other than ferrying people across the lake. Maybe that was it.

“We should just tell him.” Daria laid back on the rock and stared at the sky. “He’d get it.”

“Get what?” She had my attention.

“Why would he get it?” Maddock grumbled. “He’s just a love-sick Pteron.”

I laughed. “Love sick? I suppose there are worse descriptions.”

“Have you ever been in trouble, Toby?” Daria asked without sitting up.

I laughed dryly. “Of course. Most of my life I was.”

“See, he’ll get it.”

“Come on. Just tell me.”

“Do you swear not to tell Taliana?”

“Taliana?”

“Casey’s mom.”

“Sure.” I didn’t know her mom well, so I could promise that. I couldn’t however promise not to tell Casey.

“We’re being punished.”

“Punished?”

“For helping Taliana leave, for failing to make her stay. The wording of why we’re being punished changes every time Gareth reminds us of it.”

“He blames you for her leaving?” I never really understood what happened, and I figured someone would tell me eventually.

“She needed to leave, and we helped her. She was a good friend and family, and we trusted her word.”

“What’s your punishment? To ferry the boats across?”

“To be allowed near our home but forbidden to step into it.”

“You’re not allowed to go home?”

Maddock exhaled loudly. “Nope. Not once in over eighteen years.”

“That’s a pretty harsh punishment, but no offense, why not leave? Is this place really that important to you?”

Daria sat up. “I forget Pterons are different.”

“Different?”

“You’re not tied to a place. You’re not loyal to the earth. You belong in the sky, and the sky is endless.”

I’d never thought of things that way, but what she was saying made sense. “Now that Taliana is back, do you think you can go home?”

Maddock shrugged. “Who knows? If Gareth says no, then we leave. There’s nothing else that could possibly change his mind.”

“If I had any pull I’d use it. Maybe Casey could help? She is royalty.”

The look on the twins’ faces let me know I’d said the wrong thing. “Forget I said that.”

“Forget it?” Daria leaned in close. “What are you talking about? We know she’s a Pteron, but she’s royal?”

I exhaled loudly. “I guess the cat is out of the bag. Yes.”

“So it was Robert Laurent? Taliana never gave us details, but we knew the pregnancy was different.”

“I don’t know much more than that.”

“I wonder if Gareth knew. Yet he still wanted her back.”

“None of it really makes sense. I’m hoping Casey is getting some answers right now.”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it be?”

I heard the lapping of the water and the whirl of the engine before I saw the boat. “Who is that?” I peered over to the dock.

“Toby?” A guy called over from another ferry boat. This one was smaller than the one Casey took over.

“Yes.” I walked over at a quick clip. If he was asking for me it had to have something to do with Casey.

“You are needed.”

“Is she okay? Is Casey all right?”

“Get in the boat please.”

I did as they asked, only casting a quick glance back at the twins.

“Take care of your girl, Toby.” Daria smiled, but now I’d spent enough time with her to understand the sadness behind it.

“We’ll take care of you guys next.” I’d keep my word on that. Taliana had only run to protect Casey. I believed that, which meant the twins were only guilty of helping Casey. I’d make sure they got home, but first I had to make sure Casey was okay.

“What’s going on? Why do you need me?” I tried to engage the guy. He was slightly taller than me with light brown hair. He was dressed in what appeared to be a uniform, but it wasn’t one I’d seen before.

“Gareth will tell you everything you need to know.”

I nodded. There was no sense pushing him. I’d get my answers from the source soon. I just wished the boat would move faster. It would have been far more efficient to fly, but they hadn’t offered me that option. I’d decided not to push my luck.

Finally, what felt like an eternity later, we arrived on the shore of the island. All I could see was a dense forest as I leapt out right behind my escort. I followed him into the woods. Normally I’d have at least considered the possibility that I was walking into a trap, but I couldn’t think. The only thing I could focus on was getting to Casey. I was lucky I was even being given the chance.

We walked out into a clearing, but it was still hidden under the thick canopy of trees. The man didn’t say a word as he continued over to a steep set of steps that led up to a massive stone building. I followed right behind him. He pushed open the door and walked down a narrow corridor. He pushed open another door. I peered around him and saw Casey sitting on a couch with her mother. I ran right over without a thought. “Casey!”

“You must be Toby,” a man said from behind me.