Sharing the News (Dani’s POV)

“How did you know I was here?” Kat asked.

I grinned wildly at her. “Pixie dust.”

“Really?”

“No, Geren told me while I was visiting the Nest. Vallen had a few books I wanted to borrow for some research,” I explained. I eyed her closely. Something was different.

“That makes sense. Marthailain keeping you busy?” she asked.

“Always, but I love it. Do you know that Tooth Fairy isn’t a job, it’s a Fae class?” I was so excited because I had found a translation of a journal that helped me to unlock a secret language that only those born into the class spoke. “Guess what else I learned?”

“The Tooth Language?” she said with a grin.

I felt my face fall. “How did you know?”

“I know all about the Fae from the island Tooth and how they speak another language. I have a few more journals back in Everbloom if you would like to borrow those as well.” Kat’s grin told me she was proud of herself for beating me to this crumb of knowledge. Gloat all you like, I WILL beat you to the next. “Did Geren tell you about Cariss and Ian?” she asked.

For the first time I looked around and noticed the big fuzzy Werewolf was nowhere to be found. “No, what’s up?”

Kat was silent for a long moment. “Cariss is dying. Ian left a few days ago. When word arrives I plan on traveling to Scotland for the funeral. Would you like to come?”

I winced. I care very much for Ian as a friend but I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend time in den of Werewolves.  “Perhaps like isn’t the correct word. I’ll discuss it with Oliver this weekend,” I told her.

“Fair enough. If something happens I’ll let you know,” she told me.

I was hesitated before bringing up the next subject. “You know you aren’t exiled from Tarell, right? You’re still a Magistrate and have a job there. Marthailain has been paying your rent the last six months while you’ve been gone. I moved into your building, with Oliver, so we would all be in the same building. You can come home,” I urged.

I could see her thoughts tumbling around in her head. When she finally spoke I could tell she had chosen each word carefully. “I’m not sure I can lead a normal life in Tarell anymore. My first mission nearly killed me and led to this entire mess. I love and miss you so much Dani, but right now I don’t know where I belong, if anywhere.”

I felt her pain. “No matter how many wings you grow, how many storms you summon, or even how many ancient Draconic laws you break, Tarell will always be your home. You can always come home.”

We chatted on for a bit about how things were at home and at the Nest. I left out the part about Vallen’s emotional breakdown when I picked up the book and instead told her about how Birda convinced Marthailain to use spray tan and it had turned him green. Why a Dark Elf would need a spray tan was still beyond me.