Page 22 of I Am the Night

I am so small I can barely be seen.

How can this great love be inside me?

Look at your eyes. They are small,

But they see enormous things.

~Rumi, The Turn

After that wake-up with Derek,I'm ready to have a productive day. I try not to let the weight of the world—literally—derail me from finding joy in the moment-to-moment blessings. So while I will do everything in my power to stop the destruction of the Otherworld—obviously—I also can't ignore the love and beauty I have around me every day. If anything, knowing how easily something can be torn from us, seeing the immortal greatness of dragons die, it has reminded me to stay present and be grateful for every moment I have with the ones I love.

I find Sebastian in the library, sitting by the fire and reading an old leather-bound book to Ana—who looks like a whole new child now that she's been bathed and dressed in clean clothes which fit her properly. Her golden hair shimmers against the fire light. Her cream skin is nearly translucent. And her eyes, a silvery blue, seem to shine when she looks at Sebastian.

He doesn't notice me yet and continues to read from the book, which is red with a silver title that reads, "All the Fairies Dared to Do."

"Platious never felt that she was brave or strong or right or good, and her name spoken aloud made her want to cover her ears," Sebastian says, pointing to a picture on the page. "Her wings sagged, and her hair never stayed where it was meant to, and her skin did not sparkle like the other fairies of the garden. So she felt herself plain. She did not yet know that within her held the seed of truth, and once planted, it would give her wisdom beyond measure."

Ana sees me and smiles, leaving Sebastian and running over to me for a hug.

"Hey, honey. Did you sleep well?"

She nods. "It was the most comfortable bed I've ever felt. Even my friend liked it."

"Your friend?"

Sebastian nods. "Every child needs an imaginary friend," he assures me with a wink.

"Of course," I say, smiling. "I'm glad you and your friend were comfortable." I put an arm over her shoulder and walk back to Sebastian. "Sounds like you were getting a fun story."

"Oh yes. I love Platious. She thinks she's not good, but she'ssogood. She just doesn't see it yet."

I share a glance with Sebastian, and I can tell we are both thinking about Cole. "Sometimes people need to be reminded of who they truly are before they can see the truth in themselves."

She nods sagely, then takes the book from Sebastian. "Can I keep reading while you're gone?"

I raise an eyebrow, surprised she knows how to read. But I assume Lyx helped with that. She was pretty committed to helping her people learn to read and write so they could engage more fully in their world.

Sebastian grins. "Yes, enjoy. But promise to tell me what happens when I get back."

"Deal!" she says and runs out of the room clutching the book against her chest.

I sink into the couch next to the sexy Earth Druid, sliding easily against his heavily muscled body. "That was adorable."

He blushes, actually blushes. "She's a sweet kid. You were right to bring her home."

I lean a head against him. "Thanks. I couldn't just leave her. But I realize we are going to have to figure out what to do with her long term." I glance up at him, catching his gaze. "What happens to kids like her here?"

He frowns. "We don't have a great system for caring for orphans. If no one claims her, or takes her in, she'll end up on the streets where she isn't likely to survive long."

"Shit. That's ridiculous. Why? This is a small, wealthy community with many beings who are nearly immortal or at least long lived. Can't you figure out something better than 'kick 'em to the street and let 'em die'?"

"It is something that needs changed. There are many things that need to change in this world." He pulls me into him and kisses my forehead. "Maybe you'll be the change we need."

"On that note, we should get going. I want to see what Ifi and Elal learned about Lyx's death." I move to stand but Sebastian pulls me back to the couch.

"Not until you've eaten. Liam told me how drained you were last night." He grabs a plate of food from the side table and hands it to me. It's piled high with eggs, bacon, fresh baked bread with a thick pat of butter, and a bowl of berries and cream.

I'm about to tell him I'm not hungry but my stomach rumbles, betraying me.