Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 41

Anna's eyes widened as Jake continued.

"That's why I said 'it depends' earlier when you asked me. Because it truly depends on what I want. I can have either. It just comes down to me."

"S-s-so, you'll have to give up your humanity just like Maggie might've done?"

"If I want to be fae, yes. Or I could give all of that up and remain human." He talked as if this was the most normal decision to have to make. Anna felt her heart begin to pump faster and suddenly she was glad that she was laying down.

"And when do you have to pick which to give up?" Her voice grew shakier with each word. His grip on her tightened.

"Before I settle into eternal youth along with the rest of the fae. So, in the next year or so, according to the priest Saleh spoke to."

Anna's hand went to her throat as she felt like she couldn't breathe. She couldn't fathom losing Jake. No. She wouldn't entertain the thought. The very notion made her feel like she'd never recover from her broken heart. He couldn't leave. He wouldn't. But, what if he wanted to? What if it was truly better for him to be fae? She couldn't hold him back from that. She'd never forgive herself.

Her mind was headed in a downward spiral when she placed her hands on Jake's muscled chest in an effort to steady herself.

"What do you want?" She finally got the courage to ask. "What would you like to be?"

He looked her over and bit his lower lip as he thought.

"Yours, Anna." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I would like to be yours."

Involuntary tears rolled down her cheeks and Jake laid down next to Anna to pull her into his chest. She nestled in and listened to the soothing rhythm of his heart while he rubbed those idle circles along her spine.

They didn't speak for the rest of the night. They simply laid there and were together.

Even with Jake's arms around her, Anna couldn't sleep as the conversation they'd just had played through her mind again and again.

He would give up everything for her. It was no longer a question. He'd meant everything he said. She fully believed that. Surprisingly, with each passing day, it grew easier to trust him. And now he was faced with this big decision, but to him, it sounded like a no-brainer because of her. She wasn't sure if she could let him do that.

By the time sleep finally grasped for Anna rays of the sunrise were already peeking through the curtains.

***

The next day passed quickly as Jake and Anna were anxiously making the final preparations for the trip into Garen. They went to school as normal and then had their final training session with Saleh before it was time to return home for the evening and rest for the events of the next day.

Jake was on edge, just as the rest of the company was. Noah still wasn't able to access his magic even though he glowed with it and Stella kept staring at the map of Garen and mumbling to herself about hidden dangers. Anna--who now took up the passenger seat on these trips to Radnor Lake State Park--was quiet, pensive as she peered out of the window and into the night.

"And we're sure that we have the guards' rotation right?" Stella asked for the fourth time since getting in the car.

"Yes, Stella," Jake said in a monotone voice.

"Okay. But what if--what if Saleh is setting us up?" Stella seemed to have been thinking on this question for a while and just now had the courage to voice it.