Page 19 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

They spent a while longer with Eldar before exploring the rest of the property.

There were dozens more animals. Small birds, shiny snakelike creatures, glowing foxes and other small mammals.

Casimir explained most of them were getting ready to be released and Ava was sad to see them go, while overjoyed at the purpose of this place.

They approached the final enclosure, a large aviary filled with small purple-leaved trees. White bell-shaped flowers grew among the grass and swayed in the breeze while bees visited each bloom to collect their pollen.

Durim was standing in front of the door. “Would you two like to help me release these three firefinches?”

Ava bounced on her toes. “Yes! I want to help. Oh, I’m so excited!”

Casimir chuckled as they followed Durim inside the enclosure. “You don’t even know what a firefinch is, princess.”

“I don’t even care,” she said. “It could be a giant worm and I’d want to help.”

Upon entering, three creatures the size of a large songbird flew toward them and soared over their heads, releasing high pitched cries as they landed on a nearby branch.

Raven black scales covered their four-legged bodies and each foot ended in small claws.

Tall rabbit-like ears twitched and they regarded the group with giant turquoise eyes.

Their pink and green leathery wings were iridescent in the sunlight, while antennae on their heads ended in bio-luminescent tips.

Ava put her hands up to her face. “They’re beautiful!”

“I will give you each a piece of their food and they’ll land on your hand. We can walk them outside to release them,” Durim explained as he opened a jar filled with squirming worm-like insects.

The three of them held the worms flat in their palm and the firefinches shrieked and dove for them. The darkest and largest one landed on Ava’s forearm and devoured its treat as Ava followed Durim outside a door at the back of the enclosure.

“Once they finish their worm, they should fly off whenever they’re ready,” he explained.

“Do they have names?” Ava asked.

“The one on the general’s arm is Nymeria, the one on mine is Kirro, and yours is Titus.”

“Hello, Titus,” she whispered. Titus looked at her and chirped as he swallowed the last of his worm. “You are such a handsome boy.”

Ava knew Casimir was watching her as she petted the firefinch who was cooing at her. She looked over at Casimir and Durim, whose creatures had already left.

“You can go now,” she said to Titus. “It’s safe.”

But he wouldn’t leave and crawled along her arm, chattering to her. He sneezed and a small burst of flames erupted from his mouth.

“Are you alright?” Casimir asked. “Did he burn you?”

“No.” She marveled at the creature. “I’m fine. They breathe fire?”

“Yes,” Durim said as he watched Titus curiously. “He doesn’t seem to want to leave.”

Ava spoke to Titus again. “You need to be free, little one.” He climbed her arm and settled on her shoulder, nestling into her hair, and chirped. Somehow, she understood what he was saying.

Ava turned to Casimir and Durim. “Uhhh…he said he wants to stay with me.”

Durim started. “You can understand him?”

“Yes. It seems so. ”

“Impossible,” Casimir whispered.

She looked up at him. “What do you mean? You can’t do that?”

“Not like that.” He shook his head. “Some fae are better at communicating with animals than others but we can only actually speak to our companions. Could you hear him speaking in your head like with Luna?”

“No,” she said. “I just somehow knew what he was saying.”

Casimir observed her with wonder.

“What?”

“I’ve never heard of anyone being able to do that before,” he said. “After the ocean drakes several weeks ago and now this…you definitely have extra abilities with animals.”

“You’re very special, Your Highness,” said Durim. “If Titus doesn’t want to leave, he can go with you.”

Ava’s head snapped to Durim. “What? Like a pet?”

“Kind of. But you must make it his choice,” he explained. “I can supply you with all the worms you need, but he can hunt for the majority of his food.”

She held out her hand and spoke to Titus. “Come here.” He flew off her shoulder and landed on her arm, tilting his head as he looked at her. “You really want to stay with me?” He spun around and chirped. Ava turned back to Durim. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay, you can stay.”

Titus screeched with joy as he flew into the air and released a small burst of flames before landing back on Ava’s shoulder and settling into her hair.

“He’s excited,” Casimir whispered as he watched the whole interaction.

“Of course he is,” said Ava. “He has good taste, like Bale.”

I hope you don’t expect me to babysit , said Luna, startling her.

“Can you hear my thoughts all the time? ”

Mostly. If that creature annoys me, he will make a tasty snack.

“Luna! You can’t eat him!”

“What?” Casimir looked at her.

“Luna said she’d eat Titus if he annoys her,” Ava replied. “I didn’t know the animals basically eavesdropped on us.”

“Oh yes. They can be quite intrusive when they choose to be.”

“Does Aro do that to you?”

“All the damn time.”

They said their goodbyes and headed back to the castle, Titus riding on Ava’s shoulder.

“This was the best day of my life,” she said, breaking the silence as they walked back through the neighborhood, the afternoon sun now high in the sky.

“Really?”

“Yes,” she said with a huge sigh. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy. At least not in a long time. Thank you.”

“If I knew all it would take to see that side of you was a bunch of animals, I would do it every day.”

“What side of me?”

“The free side,” he said. “The giddy one. The side of you that truly lets go because you’re in your element. Where your smile isn’t haunted by the grief in your eyes.”

She glanced at him as they continued along the road, framed by shops and restaurants. “Well, maybe I need to go there more often.”

“You can come with me whenever I go for my monthly visits.”

“I can? That would be wonderful. I can be with the animals. And help them. And apparently, they like me so that would be a help to Durim—what?” She caught him looking at her in amusement.

“I like it when you do that,” he said.

“Do what? ”

“Get excited and ramble.”

“Why?”

“It pleases me,” he said, eyes burning.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Well…I’m glad I could please you, general,” she said, voice hoarse.