Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

A fter her transformation, Rosa thought she would be happy never to set foot in Eli's chambers again, but considering what was waiting for her in the attic, his workspace suddenly seemed like a haven.

"When was the last time you fed?" Eli asked. Taking out a flask of blood, he started pouring it into glasses before mixing in some whiskey.

"I had some this morning, but I'm okay. I'm not craving it," she said.

"All the same, I need you at your strongest, so that means suffering through it." He handed her the glass and sat down beside her at the workbench. "It's strange that you don't have the cravings."

"Something to do with the magic flowing back to the Unseelie maybe," Rosa suggested, sipping her drink. "If you are going to lecture me about being a shit girlfriend, can you hurry it up?"

"I'm not going to lecture you, Rosa. Balthasar has to learn to trust you, and you need to learn to be more mindful of how your actions affect him. He was panicked tonight, and surely, you can understand that. You were under the Autumn Queen's spell, but Balthasar had to live with you being kidnapped with the possibility of never seeing you again. I'm not trying to diminish your trauma and experience in the Aos Si, but try to see where he is coming from." Eli touched her cheek gently. "Merlin's company is hard to resist, and I know that better than anyone."

"He was very persuasive but didn't need to be. He's a Wylt, the only real Wylt I have, and I've never had much family. Who in their right mind would say no to beers with Merlin? Bal was off in meetings. I'm not going to spend my life waiting for him to finish working so I have someone to keep me company." Rosa finished her drink, and Eli poured in another finger of whiskey. "I'm not the meek and mild type, and he has to get used to that."

"Balthasar will calm down. He was frightened and dealt with it by being angry. Leave him be, and all will be well. He also told me what happened with the roses this morning. I'm happy to see that your power is waking up, but I can't have you causing havoc in your sleep, so how about I make something that will stop that?"

"Can I watch?" Rosa asked.

"Of course. I need your help to make it." Eli took out a thin piece of silver wire from one of the drawers in the workbench and ran his fingertips along it to straighten it.

"How mad do you think Bal is going to be at me?" Rosa asked. Eli started to twist the silver in precise movements that she couldn't follow.

"He's out riding right now, and I'm sure he will have cooled down by the time he gets back," Eli reassured. "He loves you in a way that is new and intensely possessive for him. As Saul would put it, you gave the Tin Man a heart, and now you will have to be patient as he remembers how to use it."

"You don't think he's threatened by Eldon, do you?" Rosa asked. "I mean, he's my cousin or something. I don't know what the proper title would be." Eli took a knife and held out his hand for her finger.

"Bal doesn't know what he's feeling right now. All he knows is that the woman he loves almost died in his arms after he was powerless to protect her on two separate occasions. A very handsome, charismatic rogue arrives, and he and the woman Bal loves have an instant and intimately comfortable bond. Then they both disappear together without a trace."

"God, it sounds so horrible and sleazy when you put it like that." Rosa flinched as he nicked her finger and let the blood drip over the ball of silver. "Eldon is my family, and that's all there is to it. Bal makes me feel real, like…"

Eli held up a hand. "Save it for him. He's the one that needs to hear it. Now, place your hands over mine."

Rosa put her hands over his fists that clutched the ball of silver. She felt something thrum through her, like a symphony that lay just out of earshot and disappeared the longer she tried to concentrate on it.

"Relax, Rosa, it will come, just breathe." Eli smiled over the glow that was captured between their hands, and for a moment, he looked so much like Eldon that she jumped backward. "Easy there, it's okay, Rosa. Focus."

Rosa held his gaze as his hazel eyes melted to liquid spring. Warmth filled her chest, stretching out along her arms and out of her fingers in a pale pink glow.

"There you are," Eli said, opening his hands. The ball of silver was gone, transformed into a circular silver pendant. There was an inner ring, creating a border of a Celtic knot work around a geometric pattern.

"It's lovely," Rosa picked it up and studied it. "What is this pattern in the middle? It seems very familiar."

"That is called the Flower of Life and has been used by cultures all over the world. It has many different meanings, but it's a good way to illustrate the energy patterns through the earth and all living things. It will trap any loose magic that you may leak, so you don't wake up wrapped in rose vines again."

"That's a plus. It was a real mood killer this morning. Thanks, Eli." Rosa hugged him, her head resting in the groove of his chest. Eli was still for a moment before his long arms came around her. "Yeah, I'm a hugger, Father dearest, so you'd best get used to it."

"None of my other children were affectionate," he said, stroking her hair.

"That's because you turned lofty nobility, and I'm pure peasant, baby!"

It was the first time she'd heard Eli laugh full and loud. Rosa beamed. At least you can make someone laugh tonight, Rosa.

"My darling girl, the things you say at times never fail to amaze me."

It was midnight when Balthasar returned to the parklands surrounding the mansion. It had begun snowing, and the cold had bitten through his great coat to numb him, despite his horse's warmth. He still didn't know what he was going to say to Rosa or how he could explain what he'd felt when he'd realized she was gone. It had cut through him, robbing him of his breath and his senses.

Balthasar cleared the forest and looked up at the dark mansion. No light was burning in the attic. Had Rosa gone to stay at the cottage? The thought sent another pang of uneasiness through him. He could hear music playing loudly as he neared the hedges of the cottage, light glowing inside. He stared at the windows, searching for her silhouette, the lilt of her voice, or laughter, and in doing so, he failed to see the tall figure leaning against the garden gate, smoking a cigarette.

"She's not in there," Eldon said. "You can stop looking like a kicked puppy."

"I wouldn't know how to look like a kicked puppy," Balthasar said, sliding down from the saddle.

" Sure. " Eldon's grin was white and mocking in the half-light. "Have you calmed down yet?"

"I don't think that's any of your business."

"Rosa is my business. I wouldn't like to kill Eli's favorite son because he decided to use his fists to take his temper out on my kin."

"Don't insult me with such an assumption. I'd never lay hands on Rosa with violent intent. I'm not that kind of man," Balthasar growled.

"That's the problem, Leiddiad. I don't know what kind of man you are. I know your reputation and the rumors however, so my warning stems from them. If you ever hurt Rhosyn, I will rain down hell upon you."

Balthasar prided himself on never being intimidated by threats, but the look in Eldon's strange Unseelie eyes filled him with a special kind of dread.

"What about your intentions with Rosa? Are you here to teach her or were you lonely and in need of a drinking buddy?"

"Do I need to pick one? I see you've inherited that overbearing, controlling Italian male streak, so let me put your mind at ease. I came back to help Rosa and you all from the wrath of the Autumn Queen. I don't wish to cause any problems between you two, but get used to my presence, Balthasar Vane, because I'm not going anywhere. I've no romantic interests in Rosa. She needs a friend and a confidant that's not you. She loves you completely and in a way that's all-consuming, and the only things that are separating you from her right now are your damn pigheadedness and jealousy."

Despite his mixed feelings towards Eldon, Balthasar couldn't help but smile. "You sound just like her when you rant."

" She sounds just like me ," Eldon scoffed.

"Can we start over? I feel like we got off on the wrong foot." Balthasar held out his hand, and Eldon shook it, his hand strong and thrumming with power. "Also please don't call me Leiddiad."

"Why ever not? Being the assassin that the Seelie fear is one of the few things I like about you."

"It's good to know there is something," Balthasar replied. "If possible, please refrain from taking Rosa off without telling anyone. My heart can't take it."

"I understand, but you need to understand this one very important fact. Rosa is her own woman, and she has her own mind. I can't convince her to do anything she doesn't wish. In saying that, I can promise you that she will always be safe with me. No matter what happens, if she is with me, I can guarantee she will be okay."

"I hope so, Eldon. She adores you already, and she trusts much easier than the rest of us. If the Autumn Queen is coming, she will need both of us, and I would like us to be allies."

"Don't worry your pretty head about us, dear boy." Eldon tapped him on the shoulder. "If Rosa chose you, I trust her judgment. Now go and make it right with her. She's heartbroken. I can feel it, and I don't like it."

Balthasar stood outside the door to Cecily's rooms, trying to summon the courage to knock on the door. Cecily was still away on her shopping trip, and it was the only place Rosa could be. He took a deep breath and knocked brusquely.

She's probably asleep. You should leave her be , he thought, but as he turned to leave, the door opened. Rosa was wearing flannel pajamas with rabbits on them, her hair tousled from restless turning, and at that moment, he didn't think he'd ever seen anything so adorable. His throat constricted, and he promptly forgot all the speeches he had been compiling in his mind.

"Hey," she said, folding her arms protectively around her.

"I'm… I am sorry," he fumbled. "I have the unique ability to overreact where your safety is concerned, and it robs me of my manners and common sense. I know I need to trust your judgment and that you wouldn't do anything to purposely make me worry…"

"Bal, it's okay," she interrupted. "I didn't think. I needed to get out of Gwaed Lyn even if it was only for a few hours. Eldon is…"

"Family, I understand. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did."

"You had a right to. I didn't know what disappearing for a few hours would do to you."

"Just next time maybe take your phone when you decide to go gallivanting with Eldon?" he suggested.

Relief flooded him as Rosa laughed and hugged him tightly, pulling him inside.

"Get in here," she said, closing the door behind him.

"You know I would never hurt you, no matter how angry I was." He kissed the top of her head gently. "I'm sorry if I frightened you."

"Likewise. I won't run away again without telling you, I promise. Come on, let's go to sleep. I'm beat."

"Are you sure Cecily will be okay with this?" he asked, following her into the guest bedroom. He laid his coat on the back of a chair and kicked off his boots.

"Cecily isn't here. It's not like we are going to have sex in her bed, and I refuse to sleep without you," she grumbled and climbed under the covers. Balthasar lay down beside her and tucked his arm over her waist, bringing her close.

"Let's not fight again." Rosa's voice was small in the darkness. "I really didn't like it."

"Agreed," Balthasar replied, kissing her cheeks. She snuggled into the crook of his arms, and he held tightly to her, both breathing a little easier.