Page 21 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

“Pumpkin?” Lake asked.

“His fur reminds me of one,” I responded, watching the arbordu slowly approach Rowan. The demon stopped about five inches away, then crept to the edge of the branch and peered down at me. His fuzzy butt wiggled in visible excitement. “I think it suits him.”

“As do I,” Lake said with a warm smile.

“I wonder what he eats.” I pondered some ideas based on what other tree-dwelling creatures liked from my old world. “Nuts, maybe? Berries? If he was cast from his nest, I’m sure he’s not only sad but hungry too.”

“You truly are like your father,” Varys said, a trace of sadness in his eyes. “A heart of gold and the desire to help all creatures, especially those who are small and defenseless. Feeding them too.”

I smiled. Like earlier, the mention of my dad left a bittersweet pang in my heart.

“I know what you are, lad,” Varys added, blowing out a breath. “Who you are. And why King Silas is so desperate to capture you.”

A wave of nerves sloshed around in my gut. “You do?”

“You’re the Hallowed Saint,” he answered with a crease in his brow. “I understand it all now. The true reason Elias and Cynthia went into hiding. It wasn’t because of the broken treaty with Haran. It was because of you. The lost treasure of Haran isn’t one of gold or other riches, but rather, a baby born with a rare power.”

Not trusting my voice, I could only nod to confirm.

“Not many have knowledge of the saint,” Lake said, resting his hand on my lower back. Did he feel my spike of nerves? “Even Briar, who is the most intelligent male I know, knows very little of them.”

“The former saint lived before my time, yet I heard stories from my days as King Eidolon’s advisor,” Varys explained, no doubt sensing the underlying suspicion in Lake’s question. “The king often boasted that he and Elias came from a powerful bloodline, one that went beyond royalty. Those stories, along with my knowledge of Nocturne and how they’re only hired to kill or capture high-value targets, led me to the right conclusion.”

So, King Eidolon had known about Saint Vera and that someone in the royal family might one day awaken with the same power.

“Do you think that’s why Eidolon betrayed my dad?” I asked, sternum squeezing at the possible revelation. “He was angry that the saint’s power awoke in me instead in one of his own sons?”

“Aye, it’s possible.” Varys nodded. “And perhaps King Eidolon felt threatened as well. Fearing that the throne would be taken from him despite him being the eldest. So, he struck a bargain with King Silas. Betrayed his own brother to help Nocturne break through the barrier to capture you.”

A tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

Lake reached over and gently wiped it away with his thumb.

Cheep?

I glanced up to find Pumpkin hanging from the branch by his tail. He pawed at the air with his front foot and slowly swung back and forth over my head. Smiling, I reached up and touched one of his paws with my fingertip. The soft pads of his toe beans, along with his musical little chitters, were the best form of therapy.

Who could have any worries at all while petting something so damn cute?

Woof. Oreo stared up at the arbordu, the fur on his back raised and growls rumbling in his chest. Pumpkin wasn’t bothered by the puppy’s jealous behavior. He simply swung back and forth and lightly batted at my finger.

“I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your afternoon,” Varys said before patting my shoulder. “Koga will never forgive me if I’m late for tea.”

The sad twinge remained in his eyes, indicating that it wasn’t just tea with Koga that had him wanting to leave. I bet it couldn’t have been easy for him to finally know the truth behind my dad’s death.

Lake stared after him with a furrowed brow. “Give him time. His soul still aches for your father. Probably always will.”

“They were mates, right?” Rowan hopped down from the tree and landed in the grass with a soft thud.

“Aye, Varys imprinted on Elias,” Lake answered. “Though, the love was unrequited.”

Pressure squeezed my sternum. “I kind of understand that feeling. Lord Onyx wants nothing to do with me or our bond.”

“Eh, no one can resist you for long, little treasure.” Rowan knelt down and petted the top of Oreo’s head. The puppy playfully nipped at his fingers. “Especially not when you put on your little apron and bake biscuits.”

“That’s the only reason you stick around, huh? Because of my buttery biscuits?”

“The bread too,” he answered, flashing my favorite tooth as he stood back up and stepped toward me. He reached forward and caught my chin between his thumb and index finger, regarding me with a level of affection he didn’t often show. “But I reckon I was a goner before I ever even tasted your food. You had my heart at first stumble. Clumsier than a newborn boar.”