Page 21 of I Am the Storm

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We are escortedout of the throne room and back to the nesting cave where Sebastian is still investigating. While we walk, I reach for Derek. "What did she mean? About Druids not following their own code?" I ask.

Derek frowns and caresses my hand with more tenderness than he's shown since finding out about Adam. "It means I too have secrets… secrets I must hold close," he says with a sigh. “And given that, I will keep your secret for now. Perhaps we are more similar than I wanted to accept."

His words don't sit well with me, but it's clear he doesn't want to talk more about it, and his words at least ease my fears of losing my brother, for the time being.

When we get back to the cave, Sebastian is finishing up a conversation with another Enforcer. "How did it go?" he asks when the Enforcer leaves.

I hold up the dragon ring. "We have some privilege, but she's not convinced of Liam's innocence. And she seems weirdly interested in me," I say.

Sebastian frowns. "As word of your powers and unknown origin spreads, more and more will become intrigued. That worries me."

Derek puts an arm around my shoulder. "We’ll keep her safe, if it comes to that."

Sebastian nods, his eyes flicking to my mine with unspoken questions about the change in Derek.

“I’ll keep myself safe, thank you very much,” I say, smiling. “Just as I did before. Now…did you find out anything about the basilisk?" I ask.

"She was well-respected," Sebastian says. "No known enemies. A rule-follower to the letter. Not much of a personal life that anyone can attest to. There's not much to go on."

"That's disappointing," I say, and I notice the body is gone along with the Ifrits.

"There is one more thing," Sebastian says. "None of the crystals that open this cave are missing. That further reinforces our theory that she was in on it."

"We've found all we're going to find here," Derek says. "It's time to head back and regroup, see if Elijah and Liam made any progress."

Once in the carriage, Sebastian by my side and Derek driving, the earth Druid leans into me. "You two worked things out?"

I shrug. "For now. It's…complicated."

And then I turn to him with a question I've had for some time. "Is this…is this okay?"

"Is what okay?" he asks.

"Well, I've…I've got this thing…" I say, flailing my hands as if that adds meaning to what I'm trying to convey, "with all of you. I mean. I haven't like, gone all the way with anyone, but…" I blush and don't know how to continue, but Sebastian spares me with a hand on mine.

"Eve, this isn't the human world. We don't do things the same way. There aren't the same taboos. This isn't the first time we have all been in love with the same woman, though it might very well be the last."

I swallow through a dry throat, my eyes widening. "In love?"

He nods. "It's maybe too soon, I realize, to talk about that, but you must know that you have done something to all of us. You have brought light back into our world. Hope. A reason to live. What is love if not that?" He brushes wisps of hair from my forehead, his gaze penetrating mine. "There is no jealously, only a desire to be with you, to make you happy, to protect you. And there is no pressure, not from any of us. Trust your feelings. We aren't going anywhere."

My heart expands with his words, and the fear I hadn't fully articulated turns to joy. I don't have to choose one of them! I can actually have them all. Because in truth, I can't imagine my world without any of them, and though it's taking me time to get there, I know the Night brothers are my future.

I just hope his words are true, that none of them are going anywhere. I hope we can, in fact, prove Liam's innocence before the worst can happen.

My mind wanders back to our investigation in the cave and I recall a conversation that never finished. "Who do you think is stealing the corpses?" I ask. "You mentioned someone to the Ifrits."

"He calls himself the Collector. He procures rare artifacts and sells most of them to the highest bidder in secret auctions. It's well known his means of acquiring said artifacts are rarely legal."

"Let me guess. He's rich and powerful and so he's untouchable."

"Don't forget well-connected," Sebastian says bitterly.

"It's the same in the mundane world," I say. "The powerful do as they please and they rarely even get a slap on the wrist." I shake my head, disgusted with the imbalance that exists everywhere, even in other worlds. "Do you think he stole the egg? That would be quite the item to add to his collection."

"It's possible," Sebastian says. "But this feels too risky, even for him. Still, it's worth investigating. If he didn't steal it, he might know something about who did. He has eyes and ears everywhere. In the highest levels of government and law, and in the lowest alleys."