The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (web ebook reader txt) 📗

Hakken shifted on his feet and scratched his head. His mind scrambled all over the place. That turned out to be a mild disaster, but his goofy smile stayed put. His little Maeve wanted to go home with him.

His smile vanished when he turned to a very serious Finn, giving him a dirty eye. “Half-breed. You better start explaining what your intentions are with my little sister.”

Hakken gulped. How could this skinny human be so threatening? “And don’t pretend this is all a misunderstanding because I’m sure you are not ‘that’ happy to see me.”

Damn, that boy scared him.

CHAPTER XXIII

HONESTY

Maeve

What just happened? Right after reaching the safety of the Warlock’s cabin, her mind clouded with a turmoil of emotions.

For the entire day, Maeve remained skittish and paranoid, thinking somehow everyone knew about what transpired between her and her guardian. Whenever Finn was in the same room as Hakken, he would glare at him, but as soon as the half-breed turned the other way, he would make kissy faces at Maeve.

Kniv seemed to catch up pretty soon on their unusual behavior and smiled warmly at her, which turned out to be inexplicably more unnerving. Ystävä rolled his eyes after witnessing Finn’s silliness and let her be, and Regn seemed either clueless or annoyed.

But Hakken was the worst. He followed her every move with a yearning glint in his eyes, which only caused her heart to race and the rest of her body to succumb to clumsiness. By the time lunch ended, she had broken a cup and almost choked twice.

She slipped away with Finn right before darkness, taking a respite from the stuffed cabin and one particularly heated half-breed. Both siblings stroll to a nearby glade, covered with wildflowers about to bloom. Maeve’s mind kept bringing back provocative memories.

I want you. Hakken’s words to her. Even though she was still a maiden, she was no prude. Unlike the court ladies, growing up surrounded by pragmatic country women taught her the intricate details of intimacy. And hanging around with Mynte, she was bound to learn a few things. Her friend never shied away when telling her about the sensuous encounters she had with young hunters. Half-breeds were definitely less prudish than humans.

Hakken had been clingy since the beginning, but this felt different. His hugs and kisses had always been affectionate, like you would kiss a child. But he now treated her as a woman. Maeve touched her lips, trying to imagine how it would be to kiss him.

She let out a muffled squeal, hiding her blushing face behind her hands. Finn laughed at her, coming to a stop at the edge of the flowery meadow. “Come and sit with good, ol’ Finn, and tell me about your half-breed beau.” He patted the ground next to him.

“He’s not my—! I mean... him and I... we’re not—!”

Finn threw his head back, laughing hard at her babbling. It was difficult to be mad at him when the only thing she thought of was how much she enjoyed her brother’s laugh. Maeve chuckled, sitting and leaning her head on his shoulder. They both settled in relaxed bliss, staring at the soon to blossom field.

“I still can’t believe you’re here, mushroom. I missed you so much!” They snuggled together as the temperature descended. A few stars appeared in the twilight sky, and a breeze swayed the grass. For Maeve, this moment was perfect. As if the piece missing from her heart finally fell into place.

“Finn, are you happy?”

“I am! Right now, I’m the happiest idiot in the whole Forest.” He put an arm around her, sighing between chuckles. “Some days, I only thought about the pain I’d caused, and there are still days when loneliness wins the battle.”

“You have Ystävä.”

Finn groaned. “I do, and I love that pointy-eared grouch. But my training as a Warlock is over, and he will leave me soon.”

They fell into a pensive silence, and Maeve realized Finn needed to get things out of his chest. After a moment gathering his thoughts, Finn continued. “My time here has been like a dream. I’ve learned and done so much. Every day is full of wonder, and as a Warlock, I get to help others in ways I would never accomplish as a noble’s son. Look at this field, for starters.” He waved at the meadow.

“What about it?” Maeve straightened, straining her eyes in the gloom.

“I planted these flowers,” Finn said, “a few months ago, a family came from afar, asking for a cure to a plague that killed their crops. Ystävä and I worked on a potion, and before the family left, their daughter gave me some dry seeds. From what she explained, they were incredibly rare, only grew in a small area where they came from, and the plague had exterminated entire fields. They were lost back in their homeland.”

“You were able to make them grow here?” she couldn’t hide the admiration in her voice.

“Indeed, I was, little sister! I consider this one of my greatest accomplishments. Finn O’Riordan, the savior of the Butterlily!”

Maeve smiled. “The what?”

“Shh... watch.”

The sun had set, so when they turned to the field, Maeve barely discerned the color and shapes around them. But little by little, fireflies lightened the meadow, and the buds opened, unveiling delicate blue petals with black rims. After a few blinks, the entire field turned from vivid green to a sea of dashing blue, sparkled with light and the beautiful butterfly flowers. Delighted, she smiled at Finn. “I see what you mean now, they truly resemble butterflies.”

Her brother smirked. “Oh, mushroom... you have no idea.”

A soft murmur rose from the field, and thousands of butterlilies took flight, fluttering over the grass and between the fireflies. It was the most magical thing Maeve had ever experienced. Unable to blink, she gasped at the spectacle, watching as the flowers flew around and away. Beside her, Finn tenderly gazed at the flying blossoms, and as the night fell on them, they witnessed the