Nik immediately caught me. “Do you really need to do it? You are in no state to walk.”
“I have to do it.” I nodded.
Sighing, he swept me off my feet and started walking outside.
I was about to protest, not wanting to trouble him but it died in my throat. Instead, I decided to simply appreciate his much needed help and said, “thank you.”
He glanced down at me and gave me a small smile that warmed my heart.
We started from the back garden. No tree seemed special or different. All of them looked pretty normal to me.
“Maybe at the frontside?” I asked.
“Let’s see.” Nik changed the direction and started walking towards the front of the palace. I kept my eyes wide open and looked out for any tree that looked different.
“What time is it now?”
“Four fifty three.” He checked his watch.
“Can we go faster?”
“As you wish, Mistress.” He winked and started running. “Anything else?”
“I will let you know if there is, slave.” I joked along with him.
A hearty chuckle left him. “Am I your slave or are you my slave? I distinctly remember paying for you.”
I placed my hand on his chest, making him look at me. I batted my lashes, “you must’ve misread the fine print. I think you got a Queen instead.”
His hold around me tightened deliciously and his smile stopped my heart.
“We are here.” He said and I looked around as he wandered around, not catching any tree that looks special.
“What’s the time?”
He checked his watch again.
“Four fifty eight.”
I sighed. We are never going to find the tree like this. I really, really wanted to do as the lady had said.
“I think I know what tree she is talking about.” Nik said suddenly. “I’m not sure. But it’s our last try.”
“Let’s go.” I replied.
Nik started walking inside the palace.
“Why are we going inside?” My brows furrowed. “The trees are outside.”
“Trust me.” He simply said and so I did.
Nik took twists and turns inside the palace until we entered the throne room.
I’m pretty sure there is no tree in here.
He walked to the side of the throne room, his steps filled with determination.
Nik placed a hand on a pillar which held the red and gold carvings of our blood that covered the walls of the palace. On his touch, the pillar twisted and moved out of the way, creating a path for us.
He walked the short distance and we entered a high roofed area.
The room had circular and tall columnar pillars lined along the borders that supported the high arched ceiling. There was a circle in the middle of the ceiling of the room that was made out of glass.
I felt a slow hum of power and that’s when my eyes fell on a small plant that looked like a tree in the very centre of the room.
Pure moonlight fell on it mixed with the very first rays of the sun through the glass ceiling and it looked like it was glowing. Tiny white flowers had bloomed on it and I could see even smaller whitish-translucent berries like fruits.
It looked very cute.
“This is a Bonsai tree. It’s a miniature tree that represents peace, harmony and balance.” Nik educated. “And from the looks of it, this is exactly the tree that the lady told you to find.”
“Yes.” He walked closer to the Bonsai tree and placed me down.
When I got a closer look, I realised that it wasn’t glowing because of the moonlight. It had it’s own glow. The hum of it’s power grew when I touched it.
Softly, I kneeled next to it and plucked a berry and then popped it in my mouth.
It’s flavour exploded in my mouth and I moaned in delight. It tasted like… like what one would imagine the moon to taste like. It was unlike anything I had ever had before.
Almost instinctively, my hand reached out for another.
“Only one, Ava. She said only one.” Nik stopped me.
Oh yes. I needed to have only one.
“Do you feel different now? Better than before?”
I paused, wanting to be very sure with my answer. My wolf was still absent but the pain was reducing.
“Better than before.” I replied.
“Good.” He helped me up and gave me a deep kiss.
“How did I not know about this room?” I asked.
“This room was supposed to be a part of the throne room but the Bonsai plant was there and for some reason it wasn’t going away. So I just gave it a place for it’s own. I thought this could be a good place to think. It’s nice here… quiet and peaceful.”
That it is.
And then he added quietly. “The palace is filled with secret rooms and passages.”
My jaw slackened.
What? Why?
“The palace is a hundred percent safe, yes. Especially with it having it’s own magical powers. But there are still many people who come and go and reside here. We can never be too sure. That was one of the reasons why I have the west wing sealed from everyone other than our family. Those are the only ones we can truly trust.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” How did I not know about it all this time?
“I don’t want you to worry.” He replied. “But I think it’s about time you know now. I’ll show you the secret passages soon too. No one knows about them, not even our family. And it will stay that way unless it’s absolutely necessary. Only our handprint will open them. And you will use them only when you are in danger.”
I nodded, unable to say anything.
“Promise me you won’t bring any outsider in the west wing. It’s only for family.”
“I promise.” I didn’t even need to think about it.
“Good girl.” He kissed my lips again, slowly and deeply this time.