I gave Bodin a questioning look.

He put a finger to his lips and shushed me. Nodding for me to close my eyes.

I obeyed and the sound of grating bark grew louder.

“Now open them slowly.” He said.

I obeyed and found Bodin shoulder to shoulder with me. Pointing across the distance throught the trees.

There was a massive oak there. And its trunk had split a third of the way in. And a face was twisted from it like a malformed branch. Staring at us through glowing green eyes. Seeing her leaning from the tree, I could make out her shape. The curves of small bark-coated breasts and a tiny waist complete with a knothole for belly button.

As I watched, she lowered two branches which jutted from her torso. The leaved stems retracting as her arms dropped. Turning to multi-fingered hands which she angled in our direction. Outstretching her arms yearningly toward us as if begging for a hug.

Her bark mouth creaked as it opened wide. A screeching like the cry of a bird emitted from her.

“A tree sprite.” Bodin explained with a smile. “One of many. She guards the tree. Gives it life.”

“Why is she reaching for us.”

Bodin grunted. “Now that is a good question.”

He rose and dusted off his pants. Offering me a hand.

As I started to move, the bark grated and wood creaked as the woman realigned with the tree. Her back flattening into it and the bark melding around it seamlessly. Until she was once again only part of the tree. Her body masked by the winding shape of the trunk.

I’d never seen the like.

***

“Just a peek into my world, My Dear. A world you’re meant to be part of.” Bodin whispered huskily. Moving his hand slightly to remind me he still offered it.

I took it and he pulled me to my feet.

“Talk to Vix as much as you wish.” He added. “She thinks her tiny defiances make her independent but they merely make her an annoyance. But in this instance, I’ll let her play her games and let you garner your own information.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

“Because I’ve no wish to hide anything from you anymore. And you tend to disbelieve things you hear from me, despite that I’ve not deceived you.”

He’s right.

Because of his betrayal. I immediately summoned my irritation with the fact that he’d betrayed me. Somehow manipulated my father into allowing me to be his ward.

“Why didn’t you let me stay at Demetrius House?” I blurted.

“Because Randy Demetrius was coming for you. And he has gravely ill intent.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’ve felt it, heard it. Know it.”

I gave him a quizzical look.

“If you knew the things I knew, you’d be terrified of him.”

“If he was so awful, my father would’ve never left him Demetrius House.” I countered. Hoping what I was saying was true.

But I don’t particularly like Randy either. I could admit to myself that I just didn’t want to acknowledge Bodin was right about Randy’s potential for evil.

“Your father did know better.” Bodin admitted thoughtfully. “Which is something that keeps me awake at night.”

***

That night I found myself lying awake in my bed. Trying to take in everything I already knew and things I’d seen.

One night in Charters House and I’m seeing and hearing things.

I was half-afraid of how this night would go. I’d barely closed my eyes when I felt something pushing in on my cheek. I peeled open my eyes and saw a tiny shadow hovering over me. Huge yellow eyes blinking at me.

“Are you alive?” The tiny voice queried. “Or did he kill you. He wouldn’t kills you. He said you was special...”

Vix.

It was as if she was thinking out loud.

I sat bolt upright and took in the sight of her tiny silhouette and long fluffy tail flicking behind her. “What do you want?”

She retracted back. “That’s not a nice way to greets a friend.”

She sounded almost wounded.

For a moment, I wondered how old she was.

Bodin had made her sound like a defiant child.

Is that what she is?

“Did he shows you?” She queried.

“What?”

“That they’s all love him. Alls ‘cept me.”

“Why don’t you?” I said automatically. Trying to keep track of the odd conversation.

“Because me don’t take direction.” She puffed her chest and tapped it pointedly.

It made it vaguely funny to me that Bodin knew full well she was coming to me and talking to me.

Even her defiance plays into his hands. It struck me then how truly clever he was.

How many times has mine? That irked my pride.

***

Vix’s yellow eyes suddenly went huge. “He’s coming. I must go.”

She scurried away and her tail dragged over the windowsill as she slipped between the shutters. Gone as fast as she’d come.

Again.

The door cracked and Bodin slipped his head in. “Do you need anything before I take my bed?”

For some reason, him merely saying those words made my gut tighten.

Why does it sound so erotic when he says it?

“No.”

“Are you certain?” A laughing note entered his voice.

As if he knows what I was thinking.

“Yes. Go away!”

He was still chuckling as he closed the door.

***

I’d fallen asleep again. Riding the comfortable swells of sleep when Bodin entered my dreams. Invading my sleep.

His touch gliding over my body. Warming my skin and caressing through my hair until I was whispering pleading things for him to take me as he had before.

“Take me. I want to feel you, Bodin.” I wasn’t even sure where the words came from. Despite that I was following my instinct in the dream, my mind hated my sudden vulnerability.

I saw his chest and the sinews of his biceps and pectoral muscles as he rose above me. Positioning himself near my entrance. Caressing along it with his hardened length.

“There you are, Belle.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “You feel so warm. Wet with wanting. Tell me how you need me.”

“I need you, Bodin.” I whimpered. Willing to say anything to make him slide into me.

Stretch me as he had before.