Gossamer in the Darkness (Fantasyland)

He looked to his king.

Tor nodded.

Satrine looked to Tor and Cora. “It’s been my honor, but—”

Cora cut her off. “Go, we’ll see you later.”

Loren went to Satrine, took her hand and curled it around his elbow.

He didn’t break stride as he led her out of the room, when he asked Marlow, “You’ll continue hunting?”

“Middy and Holt arrive this eve. The job will be done by the end of the week.”

It was Wednesday, so that seemed about right.

Loren nodded.

Then he set about getting his bride home.

* * * *

Tor

They were all lounging on the couches.

They had wine.

Their company had all just left.

And Cora started it, eyes to the dahksahna.

“She’s from our world.”

Lahn grunted, his gaze also on Circe.

“Does Loren know, or doesn’t he?” Circe asked.

“He doesn’t,” Tor answered. “He’s one of the few Cora and I have trusted with this information about her. We have contingencies, just in case someone nefarious discovers it and causes problems. Further, he, and Marlow, by the way, as well as the rest of their squad, are fully briefed should anything happen to me, and a challenge was made regarding Hayden’s ascendency. They’re the only ones I trust to keep my family safe. And they’re the only ones with the skills to assist Hayden to keep, or if it’s taken, regain his throne. If Lore did know, he would have told us where she was from, and he would have likely brought her to us sooner and not in the manner we met her.”

“She said, ‘He brought us here, used and imprisoned us, we had to learn to fend for ourselves,’” Cora reminded them, and then turned to her husband. “And we know this man, her father, is not a good man. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I can understand why she wouldn’t tell Loren, it’s fantastical, and we all know it’s very difficult to believe. She plays a good game, but regardless, she isn’t hiding it very well, so my guess, she doesn’t have anyone assisting her in this world. I’m stunned Lore hasn’t figured it out.”

“He holds deep love for her. The depth of that kind of love is blinding,” Lahn remarked knowingly.

“Baby,” Circe murmured, those syllables dripping with feeling, and Lahn rewarded her with a look filled with shared memories and tenderness.

But Cora nodded and returned her attention to her husband. “In short, something is not right, Tor.”

He executed his own nod and looked to Lahn. “We need to get word to Valentine.”

Lahn lifted his chin and replied, “We need the Green One.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Frustration

Loren

Thursday, Late Afternoon

Loren was frustrated because he’d been summoned by his king when he was needed by his bride.

After she’d holed herself in her father’s study with her mother for a long conversation, they’d had a quiet evening, and when they were abed, it was the first night they hadn’t explored each other.

He sensed her mood, therefore, he simply held her the very long period of time it took her to fall asleep.

The next day, he understood her preoccupation, only after he demanded she share it.

She did just that.

“You are you,” she said. “You must be free to be you. Do the things that make you feel right inside. Therefore, the Madam Duponts of this world need to be dealt with. And the Satrines and Corlisses need to be helped, though, never again in that exact way,” she’d attempted a weak joke.

As weak as it was, he still smiled at her.

“But those are risks you accept, situations you control, things you decide to do,” she carried on. “Father has brought danger to you, and that was not yours to decide. And I can’t…I can’t…well, I find I can’t abide it.”

“It will be dealt with by the end of the week,” he stated, instilling his words with the determination he knew Marlow would be utilizing to see that statement made true.

“I know. I don’t doubt your skills. I just don’t…” She sighed. And then she gave it to him. “How evil can one man be?”

That was when he took her in his arms.

“He keeps surprising me. All my life, he just keeps surprising me,” she mumbled against his chest. “And obviously not in good ways.”

“He will be dealt with soon as well, my love,” he reminded her.

“Yes,” she replied, but he could tell she remained despondent.

Loren did not remember much of his mother. But he held vague memories of bright smiles and gentle touches and the sound of much laughter shared with her husband.

However, he remembered everything about the rearing he received from his father.

So he had no foothold to understanding what she was feeling.

Which meant his only recourse was to return the favor she was extending to him.

Hold her close and keep her firmly tethered to the belief that there was good in this world, and he was giving it to her.