Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 105

"Oh, thank Gods," my sister, Even, said with a sigh of relief when she saw me and Dani enter the kitchen. She smiled while she cocked her head and studied me, and worry filled her eyes while she studied me. "Are you ok?"

I hesitated before I slowly nodded. "Yes," I said before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "I am ok. I'm tired and hungry, but other than that, I am ok."

My sister bit back a small sigh before she slowly nodded. "Ok," she said before she cleared her throat and grew serious. "Then, it is a good thing that I have some food for you. Now, why don't you go sit down at the island, and I will give it to you." She gestured to the table, and I looked at it before I looked at her.

I bit back a small smile before I slowly nodded. "Ok," I said, and I walked over to the island and sat down before I set my cat down in a chair beside me. "What is there to eat?"

"Your favorite," she said while she placed it in front of me, and I smiled in thanks. "Now, go ahead and eat. Are you going to go back to the barn today?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

I shook my head no and started to eat some of the food, closing my eyes a little because of how good it was. "I want to get caught up on homework," I said after my mouth was empty, "and I think Papa wants me to stay close for the time being."

"I am sure that Tig would keep an eye on you," Dani said and sat down beside me on the other side. She winked at my cat, and my cat rolled her eyes and scowled. "You never know what she can do." She looked at me when she said that.

"She can catch mice," Even said with a small snort, rolling her eyes. "That is what she is good for." She looked at my cat, and my cat scowled and narrowed her eyes at her.

Even snorted and shook her head. She didn't say a word, but I had a feeling that she understood what Tig was saying.

How many of my siblings can understand you..? I silently wondered while I took a bite of my food, looking at my cat. Is it until Gwen because I don't think anyone else can hear you.

Dani looked at me and then looked at Even before she looked at me again. She didn't say a word, and I had a feeling that she wanted to say something as if to confirm my suspicions.

"I am sure that Tig can catch more than mice," I said while I took another bite of my food. "I mean, I don't think that she can catch a possum, but I am sure she can catch some lizards."

Tig rubbed her head against me, and I looked at her. She slowly blinked and cocked her head while she looked at me with intelligent eyes, and I had a feeling that she wanted me to know that she could in fact attack and kill a possum.

"I don't know," Dani said before she chuckled. "I am sure that she will be able to attack and kill a possum if she needs to."

"Especially if it is bugging you, Ley," Even said with a small wink, and I bit back a small laugh and nodded because what she said was true.

"Yes," I said, laughing and nodding again. "She will protect me from anything and everything even if it is bigger than her." I looked at my cat and winked, and my cat rolled her eyes and flicked her tail.

She said something to my sisters, and they looked at each other before they looked at me with the same expression on their face.

I furrowed my brows and frowned while I cocked my head, studying them. "What is that about?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, becoming amused. "What's going on? What's with that look to each other?"

Even's eyes grew wide, and her face grew pale. She didn't say a word while she looked between me and my cat and then at Dani, not knowing what to say or do.

I am sure that she does know about Ilyrian and about them, I thought, biting back a smirk before I bit the inside of my lip, amused. I wonder how long my father will let this last.

"It's nothing," Dani said and shook her head before she looked between the three of us, amused. She shook her head again and cleared her throat to hide a chuckle. "Don't worry about it, Ley." She winked and silently told me that she would tell me later.

Even furrowed her brows and cocked her head while she looked between the two of us. "What are you two talking about?" she asked while she raised an eyebrow in question before she looked at me. "What are you hiding?"

A lot...

I didn't say a word and shrugged while I took a bite of my food, and my older sister narrowed her eyes at me and scowled, trying to get me to break and tell her what I was hiding.

"Hadley," she warned and narrowed her eyes further. "What are you hiding?"

Still, I didn't say a word and again shrugged but this time grimaced, praying that she would stop asking me what I was hiding and why.

I don't know if you know anything about Ilyrian... I thought while I took another bite of my food. And Papa told me not to tell anyone else except for those who knew.

Even narrowed her eyes and scowled while she studied me. She didn't say a word while she stared at me before eyes grew wide, and realization dawned in her eyes.

"Oh, my Gods!" she exclaimed, and she covered her mouth with her hands. She narrowed her eyes again and studied me. "Do you know?"

Shit...

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I studied her, deciding that it was best to play dumb. "Know what?" I asked and cocked my head further to one side, staring at her. "What do you mean, Even?"

"About us," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know about us?"

I blinked and blinked again, not saying a word while I stared at her with a blank expression on my face.

Even frowned and cocked her head while she studied me, and the realization turned into confusion. "Do you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't say a word and blinked.

Even looked at Dani and then at me. "Well? Do you?" she asked again.

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I studied her. "Do I know what?" I asked while I raised an eyebrow in question. "What do I know?"

Even became hesitant and looked at my sister. Her eyes were wide, and it looked like she had no idea if she should continue with this conversation or not. She didn't say a word, and I could tell that she was getting nervous.

"Dani?" I asked and looked at my sister, who was also looking at me, confused. I raised an eyebrow in question while I cocked my head and studied her. "Do you know what Even is talking about?"

Dani hesitated before she shook her head. "I do not know," she said, apologetically, and I could tell that she was lying. "I don't know what's going on or what she is talking about. I wish I knew, but..." She shrugged and grimaced before she shifted in her seat.

I bit back a small snort before I rolled my eyes and scowled. "Oh, now, I know that is a lie," I said, calling out her bullshit. "You do know what Even is talking about, so why can't you tell me?"

She smiled sadly and shook her head. "Unfortunately, I am not able to say," she said, apologetically. "Even if I know what she is talking about, I am not able to say."

I groaned and folded my arms across my chest while I scowled. "Why not?" I asked. "And don't say "because I said so" because I don't care and don't like that saying."

Dani laughed and shook her head. "What if I say you'll know in time?" she asked while she raised an eyebrow in question while she dipped her head closer to her chest. "And what if I say for you to leave it be for now? Everything will be answered in time. Ok?"

I bit back a small groan while I leaned back in my seat and folded my arms across my eyes before I pouted, silently accepting her answer. "Fine," I grumbled before I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat. "Just know that I don't like it."