“Blast!”

  Orion kicked at the vine and then joined Nina in the temple.

  “You can never, ever kiss me again.”

  He frowned and glanced down at the vines now limp on the marble step.

  “It appears that is to be the case.”

  He sounded as disappointed as she felt, but this was for the best.

  “Those are evidence of why we can never be more, Orion.” She pointed to the vines. “I would not have you injured, nor do I wish to be.”

  His frown deepened. “I still wish I knew why the vines behaved in such a manner.”

  Nina shrugged. “Not even the dryads know.”

  She glanced up into his warm brown eyes and Nina’s heart painfully constricted with the knowledge of what was never to be.

  She’d been so foolish. Nina kept telling herself it was simple infatuation, and one that she would get over, and that they were only friends. She was wrong or she had been lying to herself because her caring for him went beyond infatuation, but she was too afraid to label it as love. But what else caused the pain of a heart being crushed?

  “You should go!”

  “Why?” he asked in alarm.

  “It is for the best.”

  Orion reached out toward her. “What is for the best?”

  The intensity of his question had her pulling back. She could never allow him to touch her again. She needed to put distance between them.

  Nina pulled in a deep breath and did her best to calm herself and straightened her spine. She must be strong. “It is best if you keep your visits to the grove for only when your presence is necessary and required.”

  His face contorted into pain, worry and disbelief. “Is this because of vines? I promise never to kiss you again.”

  It did not matter if he did or not because Nina would still crave his arms about her and his lips on hers. “You will want to kiss me again, or I will wish you would,” she admitted. “It cannot be. It is best if you leave and not return.”

  Nina didn’t wait for a response but turned away from him and calmly walked from the temple, down the steps and onto the path. As soon as she was out of sight, she ran for her home.

  In time her heart would grow stronger, and she would once again be content with living in the grove.

  She must be.

  Besides, she’d known Orion not even a fortnight and it was foolish to upset her life and her heart over someone who was fleeting in her life. Not seeing him would bring her the perspective she needed, and Nina was certain that when she looked back, she’d be able to see more clearly that her infatuation was only because he was new and different, but nothing more.

  If a heroine in one of her novels behaved in this manner, believing that she was possibly in love after such a short time, Nina would have considered her a fool. Therefore, she mustn’t succumb to such foolish notions of longing for someone she’d known hardly any time at all. In fact, she hardly knew him. Yes, he was a beautiful man, but he was simply someone new and different. The novelty of the new friendship would wear off and she would return to how she was before Orion ever walked into the grove, and it would be for the best. She simply needed to allow herself time to heal her heart, become reasonable again and then all would be well.

  At least she hoped that was the case.

  It must be what happens because longing for what she could never have would only lead to unhappiness for the rest of a very long life.

  Besides, what he claimed to be feeling might not even be real. She’d heard the stories of men becoming possessive and desirous of dryads and all manner of nymphs. It was why her friends hid. It’s very possible that Orion was only responding to that small part of her who was a dryad, a nymph, and if she was simply a human and nothing more, he might never have noticed her.

  Eighteen

  Orion stared after Nina, wishing to follow her, but knew that she’d disappear as she had before.

  He thrust his fingers through his hair, heart aching and stomach tight. She had sent him from the grove. Not just for today, but he was not to return unless it was necessary.

  All because of a simple kiss.

  Except, it wasn’t so simple. Each touch of the lips ignited something within him that had nothing to do with passion. Yes, he desired her, and he had a passion for Nina and wanted to experience all the wonders that men and women have enjoyed since the beginning of time with her, but what burned deep inside was so much more.

  To be honest, he didn’t truly understand the draw, pull, and need for her. He’d never experienced such with any other woman he had ever met.

  Could it be as she said, that because she was linked to the dryads, she was also a nymph? He had read accounts of men, though mostly gods, losing sense and pursuing nymphs. It would explain why his draw to Nina was so strong. She was in his mind nearly always and in his dreams at night. If she weren’t part nymph, would he even have returned after first seeing her in the grove?

  Yes, he would have because of his curiosity, and he’d still want answers for why she was here. But that didn’t explain his current obsession for someone whom he’d known such a short time.

  Was there a potion that his sister could brew that would keep him from being susceptible to a dryad?

  If there was, then he would take it so that he would know for certain if his emotions for Nina were true or simply the madness that gods and mortals before him had suffered.

  With those thoughts in mind, Orion quit the grove and went in search of Petra, who he found in the stillroom.

  After he explained what he needed, Petra frowned. “I am certain that there was probably such a spell or potion long ago, but I do not know of one.”

  “Could you create one?” he practically demanded.

  “It is not so easy. I would need to create something strong enough to block the power of a lesser goddess. I am not certain any witch has strong enough powers to do so.”

  He’d forgotten that dryads were lesser goddesses, which meant Nina was one as well.

  Bloody Hell! He wasn’t even worthy of her. He’d kissed a goddess!

  No wonder he was drawn to her, yet he still wasn’t certain if it was because of being a partial dryad or if it was Nina, the person, he wanted.

  Orion pinched the bridge of his nose. There must be an answer to his dilemma. He needed to know if any of what he was experiencing was real.

  “I promised Nina that I would work on a spell that would help her break from the tree and not die, but that too is proving to be difficult. I can find nothing in the spell books, and I’m also afraid it won’t be possible.”

  “Why?”

  “Dryads are also very old. They may have even existed before man. That means they have ancient magic, and combined with being lesser goddesses, I’m not certain even with the powers of our family combined we could conjure what you need, or what Nina needs to break the connection to her tree.” Petra glanced around and stepped closer. “I am also not certain that I wish to risk offending Gaia,” she whispered. “Who am I to undo something the Goddess of Nature already put in place, such as saving Nina by making her a dryad, or blocking the power that nymphs have over men. What if even thinking about doing so angers her?”

  Orion frowned. Gaia was protective of all that is in nature, and as the goddesses are connected to trees, she’d care for them and would not take too kindly to a spell being cast.

  Not only did Orion not want to suffer from the wrath of Gaia, but he also didn’t want his sister to fall out of favor or even be punished, so he would need to find another way.

  The dryads were waiting for Nina when she arrived at the cottage.

  “Your heart aches.” Basilia’s warm, caring tone nearly brought Nina to tears. She sounded like a mother who wished to protect her child. Nina would give nearly anything if she could have her real mother to help her understand. Oh, to return to childhood when she could sit on her mother’s lap, especially when frightened, with her arms around her, promising that all would be well.

  The memory was so vivid that Nina wished to grab onto it and keep it close.

  “Humans suffer many painful emotions,” Cressida informed her. “As you are part of them, you too suffer.”

  “They also have many joys that we never experience,” Hermia reminded them.

  “That is true,” Zephyra agreed.

  “But we always have peace,” Danae said.

  Nina did wish to live in peace and not hurt. More than anything, she wished for her pain to end and for this longing to be free to disappear.

  “Many women have become dryads when their grief and heartache is too painful,” Cressida offered.

  Nina frowned. “Do you mean that if I fully embrace what began when I was four that I will no longer feel this way?”

  “Yes,” Cressida answered. “But as a dryad, you would still inspire strong emotions among humans such as peace, joy, and awe.”

  Zephyra quickly stepped forward. “It is not a decision that should be made now. You are hurting and as you are also human, irrational decisions sometimes accompany strong emotions.”

  Cressida shot Zephyra an irritated glare.

  “If this is something you want, I urge you to take time and fully consider all that you will be and not be,” Zephyra insisted.

  Nina wasn’t certain that her life would change all that much. She’d still be stuck in the grove, and her appearance wouldn’t change unless she wished to blend with her tree. But this ache and longing would be gone.

  “They are correct,” Basilia, the oldest and wisest stepped forward. “Now is not the time for such a decision. Even if you insisted on joining us fully, we would not allow it.” She sent a pointed look to Cressida.

  Of the five dryads, Cressida trusted humans the least. It wasn’t a surprise that Cressida would wish Nina to join them fully and assist her in doing so. However, Nina learned long ago to first listen to the wise counsel of Basilia and then weigh the opinions of the others. Except, none of her decisions had ever been this serious or life changing.

  “When your heart and head are no longer clouded with such strong emotion and if at that time you wish to become one of us, we will discuss the matter fully so that you completely understand the options that you have.”

  “I will think on what you have said,” Nina finally said. And she would think long and hard. “I am not yet ready to make such a decision.”

  Basilia smiled gently and nodded as if she approved.

  “I am always here if you wish to talk,” she promised as the dryads retreated into the thicket and disappeared.

  Heaviness weighed on her as she entered the cottage and closed the door behind her.

  She had never given serious consideration to fully becoming a dryad. Nina knew that the option was there but saw no reason to change her life further than what it was.

  Except, she did hurt and wanted things that could never be hers. Yet, this pain was new and could very well lessen over time so it would be foolish to make such a rash decision now.

  What if by losing the ability to experience this heartache also took away the elation of happiness, or wonderment or fascination of new discoveries and knowledge, or the inspiration at staring out at a star-filled sky? Did she simply just wish to be? Would simple peace be enough? She was already confined here, did she also wish to be nothing as well?

  She might as well not even exist if that was going to happen.

  Nina glanced at the newssheets that had been stacked on the table and the books beside them. She would still read everything and learn all that she could. Just because she could not leave the grove did not mean she wished to be ignorant.

  It was also probably best if she avoided all humans except for Cassian. Visiting with Orion, his sister or cousins only made her long for things she could never have. Except, it was also so nice to speak with other females that were near her age. The dryads in the grove were ancient and had always been dryads and knew nothing else, nor did they desire to go anywhere or be anything other than what they already were. They did not understand Nina. But Petra had, as had the Norcott sisters. They now visited and Nina wasn’t so certain she wished to go back to how things had been, with no human friends or at least acquaintances.

  Yet, it would be best if she did not see Orion again, but should she encourage visits from the females or should she ban everyone?

  Her mind was a muddle, as was her heart and Nina wasn’t certain what was best for her.

  No doubt she would encounter Orion in the future, but they could not carry on as they had, and they certainly could not kiss. Her heart hurt enough, and she didn’t wish for it to shatter completely. Therefore, she would not read in the temple, but near it so that she could disappear into the bushes if he returned. If women came to visit, then she would show herself and hope that true friendships did grow.

  Nineteen

  Orion spent a restless night not certain what he was to do. Did he stay away as Nina asked? Could he?

  Following breakfast, he wandered outside and looked toward the grove, fighting the urge to go there. He would not. He could not. He had to prove to himself that he was strong enough to resist the urge, the pull, the desire to see and be with Nina.

  Was this strong pull because of Nina or because she was a nymph?

  He wished he had answers. If it was simply because of her being a dryad, then he could reason away his longing as being overcome with lust as those who had come centuries before him had experienced. If a god couldn’t resist a beautiful dryad, then how was a mere mortal, such as himself, to be immune to her? However, that did not mean he would ever behave in such a disrespectful manner as the ancient gods before him. Yes, the desire was there, thrumming through his veins, pulling him toward her, but he would not act on that need. He'd fight it no matter how strong his passion grew.

  “Have you looked in the vault yet?”

  Startled, Orion turned to find Pierce coming from the gardens. “No.”

  “Why not?” he asked in surprise. “We have wanted to know what was locked in there since we were boys.”

  It had been an obsession at one time. Perhaps going through the vault would also take his mind from Nina. “We should see what is in there.”

  “We?” Pierce asked.

  “You are as curious as I am, and I do not see what it can hurt if I show you.” Orion glanced around. “But, until we know what the vault contains, we should probably not tell the others.”

  There was a reason the door was locked and why only one person was in possession of the key and Orion was not going to be the first Drakos to reveal something that nobody else should know. However, if something were to happen to him, the key would then go to Pierce, so there was no reason to hide the truth from him.

  They waited until the others were occupied, then made their way down to the crypt and to the vault.

  Orion’s hands nearly shook as he held the key. There was a mixture of excitement at finally seeing what had been kept from him as a child and apprehension of what he might find.

  “It is not going to open if you do not put the key into the lock,” Pierce said with some frustration.

  “Yes, I know. It is just that…” Orion didn’t even know how to explain, but once he discovered what was within, he could never not know again.

  “If you are afraid of a dragon, I am pretty certain there are not any inside,” Pierce said with a grin.

  “If there are, we will have to tell Simon.” Orion chuckled.

  “But not let him see,” Pierce added with a laugh.

  Orion tried to grow serious. “Stairs to Tartarus, is still a possibility.”

  “Blast! And we do not have our wooden swords.”

  His brother was making it easier to unlock the door and if Pierce had not been beside him, Orion wasn’t certain he’d do so on his own. Of course, it was very likely there was nothing inside to become excited about, but the fear and anticipation from his youth still lingered. “Let’s hope to find Titans, and then we can free them.” He put the key in the lock and turned. The bolt clicked and he pulled the door back wide enough for him and Pierce to enter.

  Nina woke in better spirits than she’d anticipated.

  Though Cressida suggested that she fully embrace being a dryad, it was not something Nina wished to consider right now. There was still so much to learn of the world.

  She’d also neglected that which made her happy and decided to visit each section of the grove where she found enjoyment. It wasn’t just the dryads who were her friends, but the nereids, fairies, and pixies. Each had all cared for her one way or the other as Nina struggled to understand why she must live in the strange cottage with Maude and why she could not be with Cassian all the time. They had also comforted her when she mourned her mother and father.

  What had also helped was being only four and believing she’d found her own fairyland with magic, but none of the scary creatures that were sometimes included in fairytales. Everyone here was wonderful, and they had always cared for her, which was why she needed to visit with them again. For too long she’d spent her time reading and by herself, and maybe that was why she was so happy to have met Orion and the others.

  While she was happy for the friendship with those who were more like her, Nina couldn’t forget who had been with her since childhood, thus, she made her way through the sacred grove, visiting her favorite places and ended in the grotto as the nereids were coming from the water to sun themselves on the boulder.

  Why hadn’t she visited them more often?

  When had she become so reclusive, Nina wondered as she enjoyed their companionship.

  She spent the better part of the afternoon telling them of the wedding, meeting Nephele and then Orion. She was careful not to provide any details and hurried to the visit from Petra and then the picnic. When she finished, the three stared at her in amusement.

  “What?” she asked.