Chapter 6

Odette’s point of view: The surprise left behind...

My dad physically started to relax a little and the expression on his face also changed back to normal.

Charlie: “My daughter the healer! Always there to help the ones in need. Isn't there something else you want to tell me darling?!”

With a small grin forming on my dad's lips, he reached out his hand and took something out of my hair.

Charlie: “Did you secretly pick and eat fruit again without bringing some home for your mom and I.”

With an eyebrow playfully raised, dad lifted up the leaf in his hand, he took out of my hair.

My eyes widened a few inches, when I saw the leaf from the trees in the orchard. Then my face flushed with the feeling of guilt.

Odette: “Daddy, I...”

Charlie: “No need to look so guilty my darling. I'm just teasing you a little, for making your mom and I worry so much about you, in the time you didn't come home.”

I slowly calmed down and gave my dad a small smile.

Odette: “Next time, I will definitely bring home some fruit from the orchard for you and mom.”

Charlie: “That's good to hear darling! Now let's go through to the kitchen, where your mom is busy cooking dinner for us.”

When we got to the kitchen, my mom lifted up her head and immediately stopped with what she was doing at that moment, before rushing over and pulling me into a very tight hug.

Sofia: “Odette?! When the other girls rushed home without you and had anxious looks on their faces, I was worried sick about you! They just told us you went back to the lakefront and nothing more...”

Without ending our embrace mom slightly pulled away and sternly looked me in the eye.

Odette: “I am safe and sound mom, no need to worry anymore.”

I reassured her, because I could see that my mom is still very unhappy, about how the whole situation was handled today…

In the mean-time my dad also came into the kitchen and stood right behind me.

Charlie: “I think our daughter handled the situation quite well, my love. Knowing that it was the first time she had a decision to make, as a protector and leader, to put her people’s safety first before her own.”

With that said, Charlie stretched out his arms and warmly embraced Odette and Sofia, with a proud expression on his face.

For a moment mom and dad shared a meaningful glance, before they ended our embrace and mom went back to preparing the food with a much calmer expression on her face.

The rest of the evening was spent in a much happier mood. After we ate dinner and cleaned up afterwards, we spend a little time in the living room together. Just talking some more and taking turns reading poetry out loud. Later on, when we couldn’t keep our eyes open anymore, we said goodnight before going off to bed.

After taking a warm bath and putting on my night gown, I didn’t feel that sleepy anymore. Before falling asleep, I lied in bed and thought about the glances mom and dad often share at times…

Long ago, mom ones told me what it means. She said that they are wordlessly communicating with each other, through the immortal mate bond they share.

Every species in all the realms has an immortal mate somewhere. When the time is right for them to meet, they will find each other.

Even death itself can't separate them, ones both mates declared their undying love to each other.

I closed my eyes, hopeful that I will find my immortal mate someday and that we will share the same bond my mom and dad shares.

The next morning, I woke up very early when the moonlight was still flooding in through my window. After a while of just lying in bed and staring at the window, I thought it through and decided to go and see if Alex might still be in the barn. Without making a sound, I quickly got dressed and sneaked out through my window. Being very cautious, I silently made my way to the barn.

When I finally got inside the barn, I only found the fruit basket sitting on the pile of hay. Even tho I was surrounded by animals, for some reason I suddenly felt very lonely.

When I reached to pick up the basket, there was a neatly folded letter, hidden inside. I lifted up the letter, but something fell out of the folds of the paper.

I was stunned, the moment I laid my eyes on the most delicate and beautiful snowflake necklace I have ever seen, with dark blue and pure white crystals as decoration in the front.

Before I opened up the letter and started reading it, I first picked up the necklace and admired it even more from up close. While gently stroking the snowflake pendent with my fingertips, I can also sense it was made with powerful old magic, because we fairies are connected to all kinds of magic and magical objects since the day of our birth.

The letter was addressed to me:

Dear Odette

I apologize greatly for leaving without saying goodbye. I hope you can forgive me, I will never forget your kindness and hospitality towards me. Hopefully we will someday meet again.

Sincerely your new friend

Alex

I slowly lowered the letter, when I finished reading it and a big smile appeared on my lips, with a glint of hope filling my eyes.

He didn't just disappear into thin air. He left me this precious gift to show his gratitude towards me...

Or maybe Alex also felt the connection between us and gave me this gift as a confirmation of that connection we both felt, in the few hours we have known each other.