can.”
“He still wants me to go to his castle.”
“What did he do to entice you this time?”
How did he know Morlet had done something different? I shook my head and yawned, wanting to end this conversation.
Vidar got up and took the box over to the bookshelf, putting it away. “Just know that Morlet has been around for a century. He’s very good at manipulating people to get what he wants. Always remember that, and whatever you do, don’t trust him.” He turned and faced me, rubbing the back of his neck. “When he visits you, how does he appear?”
I fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve. For some reason, revealing that Morlet had shown me his face felt like acknowledging I’d done something wrong. “He’s always wearing a black cape.” Which was true.
“Well,” he said, coming to stand before me. “His magic is probably depleted after reaching all the way out here to visit you in your dream. It takes much less effort on his part to bring you to him.” He rubbed his face. “I’d like to try and catch a few hours of sleep. Would you mind staying in here tonight?”
I didn’t want to sleep in his room; however, I understood why he wanted me to. Considering all he’d done for me, it was the least I could do.
***
The sound of people talking roused me. Opening my eyes, I found myself in Vidar’s bed, wrapped in his arms, my head on his chest. Thunder boomed in the distance.
“We’ll discuss it later,” he whispered. “Go before you wake her.”
Realizing Vidar wasn’t talking to me, I flew to a sitting position and twisted around. Anders stood in the doorway, dripping wet from the light rain.
“How’s my father?” I asked. Anders turned and trudged away without acknowledging me. Wanting to speak to him, I went to climb out of bed.
Vidar’s arm tightened around me, and he tapped the end of my nose with his finger, capturing my attention. “You’re adorable in the morning.” His lips curled into a slow smile. “I slept like a baby. How about you?”
Both of us were fully dressed and lying on top of the blankets. Obviously, nothing had happened, but I didn’t want Anders to get the wrong idea. I shoved away from Vidar and scrambled out of bed. “I slept just fine, thank you.”
“Morlet will try to communicate with you again as soon as he’s strong enough. I’d recommend not napping.” He sat up and stretched.
“I’ll make sure I’m near Anders and the medallion.”
“That won’t work.” Vidar ran his hands through his rumpled hair. “The medallion is mine, and I’m supposed to wear it at all times.” He pointed to the door handle where the necklace hung. “See, Anders already gave it back to me.” Vidar got up and took the medallion, placing it around his neck so it rested against his chest. He glanced at me and chuckled. “Guess you’ll just have to sleep with me from now on.”
I rolled my eyes. “You should be so lucky.” I hurried from the room, eager to talk to Anders about my father.
Chapter Seven
The light rain picked up, turning into a heavy downpour. I ran to my room and changed into a clean pair of trousers and a thick shirt. When I entered the main room, Vidar was kneeling at the hearth, nursing the flames back to life. Banging came from the kitchen, so I headed in there. Anders had his back to me while he stirred something in a pot hanging over a small fire.
“I’m glad you made it back safely,” I said. “Were you able to find my father? Is he well?” Hopefully, Papa had not gotten worse. I held my breath, waiting for Anders to answer.
“I just returned,” he mumbled, not bothering to look at me while he spoke. “Can I at least eat before you bombard me with a thousand questions?” He shook his head. “I forgot how much you love to talk.”
Sitting down at the table, I drummed my fingers on the wooden surface. This was my father we were talking about. He was the only family I had. So no, I couldn’t wait for
“He still wants me to go to his castle.”
“What did he do to entice you this time?”
How did he know Morlet had done something different? I shook my head and yawned, wanting to end this conversation.
Vidar got up and took the box over to the bookshelf, putting it away. “Just know that Morlet has been around for a century. He’s very good at manipulating people to get what he wants. Always remember that, and whatever you do, don’t trust him.” He turned and faced me, rubbing the back of his neck. “When he visits you, how does he appear?”
I fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve. For some reason, revealing that Morlet had shown me his face felt like acknowledging I’d done something wrong. “He’s always wearing a black cape.” Which was true.
“Well,” he said, coming to stand before me. “His magic is probably depleted after reaching all the way out here to visit you in your dream. It takes much less effort on his part to bring you to him.” He rubbed his face. “I’d like to try and catch a few hours of sleep. Would you mind staying in here tonight?”
I didn’t want to sleep in his room; however, I understood why he wanted me to. Considering all he’d done for me, it was the least I could do.
***
The sound of people talking roused me. Opening my eyes, I found myself in Vidar’s bed, wrapped in his arms, my head on his chest. Thunder boomed in the distance.
“We’ll discuss it later,” he whispered. “Go before you wake her.”
Realizing Vidar wasn’t talking to me, I flew to a sitting position and twisted around. Anders stood in the doorway, dripping wet from the light rain.
“How’s my father?” I asked. Anders turned and trudged away without acknowledging me. Wanting to speak to him, I went to climb out of bed.
Vidar’s arm tightened around me, and he tapped the end of my nose with his finger, capturing my attention. “You’re adorable in the morning.” His lips curled into a slow smile. “I slept like a baby. How about you?”
Both of us were fully dressed and lying on top of the blankets. Obviously, nothing had happened, but I didn’t want Anders to get the wrong idea. I shoved away from Vidar and scrambled out of bed. “I slept just fine, thank you.”
“Morlet will try to communicate with you again as soon as he’s strong enough. I’d recommend not napping.” He sat up and stretched.
“I’ll make sure I’m near Anders and the medallion.”
“That won’t work.” Vidar ran his hands through his rumpled hair. “The medallion is mine, and I’m supposed to wear it at all times.” He pointed to the door handle where the necklace hung. “See, Anders already gave it back to me.” Vidar got up and took the medallion, placing it around his neck so it rested against his chest. He glanced at me and chuckled. “Guess you’ll just have to sleep with me from now on.”
I rolled my eyes. “You should be so lucky.” I hurried from the room, eager to talk to Anders about my father.
Chapter Seven
The light rain picked up, turning into a heavy downpour. I ran to my room and changed into a clean pair of trousers and a thick shirt. When I entered the main room, Vidar was kneeling at the hearth, nursing the flames back to life. Banging came from the kitchen, so I headed in there. Anders had his back to me while he stirred something in a pot hanging over a small fire.
“I’m glad you made it back safely,” I said. “Were you able to find my father? Is he well?” Hopefully, Papa had not gotten worse. I held my breath, waiting for Anders to answer.
“I just returned,” he mumbled, not bothering to look at me while he spoke. “Can I at least eat before you bombard me with a thousand questions?” He shook his head. “I forgot how much you love to talk.”
Sitting down at the table, I drummed my fingers on the wooden surface. This was my father we were talking about. He was the only family I had. So no, I couldn’t wait for
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