Chapter 31: It has begun.

The goblins had agreed to keep the children safe. Watching Brunhilde hug her baby close to herself, hot tears running down her frozen cheeks, had been the wake-up call Pan had needed.

It was one thing to say that he was going to do this. That he was going to earn the purple, the holy mandate to rule over all nymphs.

But to see just how much he stood to lose, should he fail, was something that broke his heart.

As Michael came to him, Pan tried to smile. He felt that a grimace had been frozen on his lips ever since Brandon had left.

Where to, Pan did not know.

He only knew that he missed his warmth. More than once he had taken the scale from his apple sapling's roots.

Held it close, kissed it senselessly. Wishing Brandon was with him.

"Uncle Pan?" Michael asked, as he tugged at his sleeve.

"Ah, hello, Mike," Pan said, not wanting for the boy to worry about him.