Chapter 242: Away from here
Jasper came bounding back into the circle of light where Autumn stood, jumping and hopping high like a Kangaroo.
Autumn’s sharp gaze failed to notice his overflowing enthusiasm initially, as it was busy sweeping over the dancing guests.
She failed to notice that Jasper’s curls were mussed, cheeks flushed, eyes shining with the kind of glee that only something super exciting can offer.
"Mamma, mamma!" he tugged at her sleeve,at the lack of her attention, nearly tripping over his own little feet. "I met someone!"
That made Autumn’s brows knit.
"Met someone?" Her hand instinctively checked his shoulders, as though to make sure he was unhurt. "Where did you go, Jasper? I told you to stay with Orion Dada."
But Jasper wriggled free, too full of his story to care about her stern disciplines. "He was a big scary man!" His tiny hands shot up in the air, exaggerating height. "So tall! With a face like this..." he squished his cheeks together in a comically grim expression, then giggled.
Autumn’s heartbeat stilled. A shadow flickered in her eyes.
"A man?" she repeated carefully, crouching to his height. "What kind of man?"
"The scary kind," Jasper said, still grinning. Then his voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper, as though he was sharing the most important secret in the world. "But he wasn’t scary at all. He just looks scary. He is kind. He caught me before I fell." Jasper giggled with his mouth covered. "He doesn’t know I can fly. Silly, scary man. And he asked me if I was alright!"
Autumn’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her hands hovered uselessly in the air between them.
From beside her, Orion stepped closer, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What man, pup? Where did you see him?" He turned to Autumn and added. " I had gone to relieve myself and when I came back, this little trouble was gone!" He turned back to face Jasper, "Where did you run off to?"
" Why? I went where the music was playing.I did not go out. I promise!" Jasper, delighted with the attention, pulled a thin strand from his little pocket—a glowing harp string, faintly shimmering blue. He held it up like a treasure. "See? I got this from there. I was playing with the music and he didn’t scold me or harm me. He just helped me. And..." his voice rose with triumph, "I helped Mister Wolf smile."
Autumn hurriedly picked Jasper up, brought him near the veil, and shook his tiny shoulders. " Look carefully around, Jas! Can you see the man in this crowd? "
Jasper took only a few seconds. Then his tiny fingers pointed at Kieran as his lips yelled, "There, Mamma! There he is, with that beautiful lady! "
The world seemed to tilt for Autumn.
She could see Jasper was pointing clearly at Kieran and Lyla.
Her breath hitched, but she forced her face to remain still, her fingers curling into her palms as she slowly put Jasper down.
Orion caught the flicker in her eyes. He frowned, his jaw tightening.
"Mister Wolf?" Orion repeated slowly, gaze darting to Autumn. "That’s what he asked you to call him?"
Jasper shook his head eagerly. "No!He didn’t give me a name.Shoot! I forgot to give him my name too. But his Wolf really liked me...it was cute. That’s why I call him,Mister Wolf. They are not scary at all. They are... nice." His little chest swelled as though he had done something noble. "He needed a hug. Poor thing looked sad. I made him smile. See, mamma? That’s good, right?"
Autumn swallowed hard, her throat dry, eyes never leaving Jasper’s glowing face. The echo of his words rang in her skull, pressing against the fragile edges of that murderous past.
At that moment, Autumn realized,Jasper might be unraveling her spell, her power, just by existing around Kieran. That was too dangerous... she had to do something about it.
Autumn’s breath came fast, too fast. Her chest felt tight as Jasper’s words gnawed at her composure, threatening to crack the careful façade she had built over these years.
Her eyes snapped to Orion. "Take him away," she hissed under her breath.
Orion’s head tilted, his gaze narrowing. "What?"
"Take him as far away from here as possible," Autumn repeated, her voice rock hard, leaving no room for contest. " The farthest corner. I don’t care where. Just do not bring him back until this party is over. It’s too dangerous, Orion..." Her eyes almost splashed with tears."I am so close to my revenge... I can’t risk it. This boy was about to give himself away! Just take him away already!"
Jasper looked utterly bewildered at her sudden outburst.
He looked at Orion, his eyes innocently asking, what he did wrong.
" Autumn... " Orion tried but she shut him up with the flick of her hand. She was not going to listen to any argument.
Jasper’s small hands tugged at her sleeve, confusion clouding his wide eyes. "Mamma? Why? I didn’t do anything wrong. I just talked to Mister Wolf...I didn’t go outside...why are you sending me away? Why are you mad at Orion Dada? "
"Enough!" Autumn’s voice cracked like a whip.
Jasper flinched, his mouth falling open in shock.
Autumn had never...ever...scolded him like that before.
His curls bobbed as he shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "Mamma, please! I don’t wanna go! I wanna stay with you! I wanna dance...I can dance here...I don’t want to go down there anymore...please don’t send me away..." His tiny fists balled, his little legs kicking as Orion bent down to scoop him up.
"I said just go...!" Autumn’s words cut sharp, slicing through the music swirling around them. Her hands clenched Jasper’s shoulders, shaking him harder than she meant to. "You will listen to me, Jasper. Do you understand?"
"Mamma..." His voice cracked. A single tear rolled down his flushed cheek.
Orion straightened with Jasper struggling in his arms, his expression unreadable but his eyes dark. " Autumn, get a grip. We are leaving...but you are trembling," he muttered, shaking his head as he left.
"Go," Autumn barked, shoving the air hard towards the veil. "I’m fine."
Orion halted for half a second,turning his head, reading her with that wary old wolf gaze. Then, without another word, he strode towards the door.
"NO! Mammaaa!" Jasper wailed, kicking furiously, little fists pounding Orion’s shoulder. "I will be good! I promise! Don’t send me away, please!"
Autumn turned her face from him, jaw locked, eyes blazing at the shimmering crowd beyond. She couldn’t look at him...not with his innocent voice clawing at her resolve.
At the outer veil, she thrust her hand forward, power sparking like blue fire across her fingers. The air tore with a hiss, opening the boundary just wide enough for Orion to pass.
The veil sealed instantly.
The music played on. The dancers laughed. The feast glittered... it was time for her to make her appearance.
But Autumn’s hands... her hands would still not stop shaking.