Page 28 of The Other Side

“What are your powers?” Drum asked.

“On this side, I can use glamour to alter perceptions and cast illusions. I have greater physical strength and agility than the average human. I heal rapidly. I can speak to most animals on a basic level. Perform some elemental magic.” He paused. “Hold out your hand.”

Drum held it out and gasped as a black shape formed on his palm, then spread up his arm in the shape of a tree. A moving tattoo. As he watched, leaves grew, changed colour, then fell and disappeared. The image shrank back to his palm and vanished.

What the hell? How had Osian done that? Drum had taken a drink of water… Had there been a drug in it? What else could it be?

“I don’t have a problem with iron,” Drum blurted. It was one of the few things he knew about faery lore.

“Maybe because you’ve never come across pure, elemental iron. It’s too soft, too heavy and rusts rapidly. Things are mostly made of metal alloys.”

Drum swallowed hard. “And do you have the ability to manipulate thoughts, plant suggestions and weave spells to entrance mortals?” Using drugs or not?

“Yes, but I’m not doing that now.”

Of course he’d say that.

“You don’t believe me.” Osian’s voice was flat.

“Imagine if someone suddenly told you they were a werewolf.”

“I’ve never met one but…”

The breath caught in Drum’s throat. “There are such things as werewolves?”

“And vampires, shifters and a whole lot more. Haven’t you ever felt as if you don’t fit in? Do animals gravitate towards you, plants thrive around you?”

“No.” Drum pushed to his feet. “I’d like to go home now.”

“Eat first.”

“No, thank you.”

Osian sighed, packed up everything he’d just unpacked and put it back on Rogue.

They set off in silence. Osian rode ahead of him, his shoulders down. Drum’s shoulders were down too.

“Can you take me there?” Drum asked suddenly. “To Faeryland?”

“I… I think it’s too dangerous.”

“Why?”

“The gate I use to cross the Veil… It’s monitored by the Queen’s consort. A faery called Belem. If I go back, he’ll know and he’ll come. He’s fast. He might kill you. I can’t take that risk.”

That’s convenient. “What about using another gate?”

“I don’t know of any others.”

Also convenient. “How about you take me through just for a second and then we come back?”

Osian sighed. “We could do that.”

Drum was shocked. He hadn’t expected him to agree.

“Tonight,” Osian said. “Come to my place. Nine o’ clock.”

“I’m working. I can’t get there until ten.”