Too tired to glare, she just stared at him, waiting for him to say something. Do something.
His wide eyes slowly hardened, and his fists clenched. “… who?”
Sighing in defeat, her eyes slid away from him and towards the direction of her cabin. The sun was setting. She had to hurry to get there before dark.
Who was she kidding? Her ankle was swollen still, definitely sprained and made worse by the limping walk down the road to this spot. There was only one way she could feasibly get home before she was in genuine danger. It just meant she’d have to swallow her pride.
That was fine. She could do that.
It still took her an extra few seconds as she teetered on bravely soldiering on instead. Maybe Tobias would appear, instead. Anyone, really.
Anyone?
Damnit.
Dropping her head and groaning a little, she turned towards the other pixie yet was unable to look at him directly. She hated this. She hated it so damned much.
But her life was worth the cost of her pride.
“… would you…” She had to clear her throat and choke the words out in a rush. “Would you fly us back?”
He did not speak for several agonizing seconds.
Then he approached, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her close. She reared back from his face as he leaned in, grimacing as she did. Luckily none of her bones were cracked from the assault, just bruises and a sprained ankle as she tried to keep a bit of distance.
His wings opened.
Her jaw dropped.
He was shielding her from his own aura, and she was glad for it. Even with his shielding, she could feel the power radiating from him. His wings themselves glittered with magic, swirling, moving pinks and purples of spring magic alongside swirls of sky-blue summer magic.
This was insane. He was insane.
She hated him so fucking much.
Scowling, she dropped her eyes to his as he chuckled, smirking at her. “You like them.”
She snapped, “I do not.” They weren’t pretty and powerful. She wasn’t envious. Not at all.
He hummed, smiling smugly down at her. Then the smile faded. “… what wrongness is with your wings?”
Her face flushed with anger and indignation. “… I can’t fly, alright? I can float a little.”
He looked more confused. “Even greenlings can—”
She snapped as tears sprung to her eyes, “I used to, okay. I used to.” Her voice cracked as the tears spilled, no matter how tightly she held onto them. She continued in a broken whisper, “I used to.”
It was one of the few times where she had felt free, really. Flying. She managed to escape before they removed the wings, but the damage was irreversible. The only thing they provided now was enough magic to enchant and craft new tools. Had she lost the ability to do that, she wouldn’t have found the will to survive.
She dropped her eyes, gritting her teeth and hissing out, “Shut up and take me home so this nightmare can be over.”
He did so, his hold gentle as he held her to himself. Even with her face turned away and tears of shame, she could smell him. He smelled like earth and flowers after a fresh rain, and she hated it. Hated that he even smelled good. Damnit, even his goddamn sweat had charisma.
When he landed back in the camp, he landed in front of Tobias and a group of five newcomers.
Tobias’s eyes flashed amber, his teeth elongating as soon as his eyes landed on her. He growled out, “Who the fuck—”
She held up a hand and said tiredly, “Don’t worry, it was consensual.”
His anger dropped into baffled confusion.
Good. It wasn’t really a consensual beating, but the last thing he needed to do was punish the perpetrators. With any luck, they will have gotten the “beating up the greenling” aggression out, and she’d be able to continue on without…
Without…
Gods. She was an idiot. That worked in the Capital where there were other greenlings she could disappear amongst. Where she was just the one that was available. These guys weren’t beating up the greenling because she was a nameless greenling. It was a targeted attack.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
This was uncharted territory. She’d never had anyone on her side, let alone multiple high-ranking fey, and now…
No. If they got figured out, that was on them, but she wouldn’t tattle. Wouldn’t risk them getting punished on her account and coming back to hit harder.
Dismissively, she muttered, “It was either sucking a cock or getting beaten, and I chose getting beaten.” She glared pointedly at the male pixie who still had his arm around her waist.
He muttered, “That’s still coercion.”
Dryly, she said, “Gee, it’s like the powerful like to use the tools at their disposal to prey upon the weak.” She finally pushed him back and glared. “You’re no better just because you’re trying for the charming smile instead of the threat of violence.”
He snarled, angry for the first time, but still oddly shielding her from his magic. “It is different. You are not just a face. You saved my life and my niece, bravely charging forward and risking your life for mine for no reason than I needed help.”
Jaw dropped, she said, “How do you even know that, you were aslee—”
“Drugged!” he shouted. Visible frustration gleamed in his bright violet eyes, his accent heavy but words clear. “Drugged and unable to save the most important person in the world to me, but awake and aware. I couldn’t open my eyes or speak, though the gods know I tried. Told you to go on without me. Begged you. And when I finally opened my eyes to eye this tiny scrap of a woman, a goddess-blessed warrior fighting through impossible deadly odds, trading myself for her, who cursed herself with every scratch and apologized whilst running for her life? Forgive me, please, but the only thoughts in my clouded mind were how she was the fiercest, kindest, and most beautiful fey I had ever seen.”
Stunned speechless, she could only stare in a daze.
He grimaced, his anger dissipating into mist. He ran a hand through his hair and said, “You are the single most aggravating female I have ever encountered.”
Her eyes narrowed. That was better. Insult her. That made sense. That she had some idea of how to deal with.
Then he laughed, while shaking his head, the tension abruptly dissipating as the frustration melted to joy. He returned his eyes to her and sighed wistfully.
Nope, back to weird behavior.
She was too tired for this shit.
Tobias muttered, “The potion—”
She snapped, “I already had one today. I’ll heal. It’s just a sprained ankle and a few bruises—I’ve had worse from training bouts, and his lordship has decided to ground me, anyway.”
Tobias blinked repeatedly, his eyes returning to his normal hazel as his wolf fully retreated. “Ground you?”
She huffed. “He has requested I leave the daily hunting tasks to the others while I write him a damn encyclopedia.” She glared defiantly at the rest of the hunters, the ones she hadn’t met yet, but didn’t address a single one. Instead, she gave them all a general bow of acknowledgement before limping towards the creek.
The other pixie scooped her up in his arms, flying her over as she snapped, “Fuck off, let me go, you fucking psychotic—”
Ignoring her, he set her down gently, hovering just behind her as he waited, his eyes pained on her bruises. Scoffing at his ridiculousness, she limped forward, stripping off her leather armor and the uniform underneath until she was bare before dipping a cloth in the cool creek to wipe herself down.
He studied her from far too close, his wings conspicuously between her and the others in the clearing. “What are you doing?”
She answered in a snipping, “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m bathing.”
“But you have a bath inside. A hot bath.”
Exhausted, she dropped her head rather than argue. Privileged rich kid. Her tone remained angry but lost a touch of the edge. “I’ve never had a hot bath in my life and cold is better for fresh injuries.”
He didn’t speak again as she finished up, simply using his wings to act as a visual barrier.
Glaring at him over her shoulder, she said, “What the hell are you doing?”
He crossed his arms and glared over his shoulder. “They don’t deserve to see your beauty.”
She barked out a disbelieving laugh. “Beauty. That’s rich.”
“It’s true.”
Deciding not to waste further energy answering, she finished and dressed in old clothes worn thin with use that acted as her sleeping clothes. He scooped her again, and she didn’t protest this time, knowing there was no point when he was being as stubborn as she was. He deposited her on her doorstep, waiting until she went inside and shut the door before he stopped hiding her with his damn glittering wings.
Pompous asshole.
Decoded by Lord Everwinter using the Dex’at cipher:
Dear Lord Everwinter,
The reports I have received from Brock are as horrifying as they are worrying. To think they are dumping fey into the Everwinter Wylds to overrun us from within with feybeasts is a strategy no honorable fey would ever use, particularly not children. It heartens me greatly to hear that Prince Feldan and his niece-by-mating were recovered safely. While it will not prevent war from our borders so long as his father remains in charge, it grants us a bargaining chip I could never have dreamed of having.
The huntress of yours is a hero for many reasons, it seems.
I have been looking into her history, and I believe I have found someone who knows of her. She speaks of a greenling she once knew that seems to line up appropriately, but there’s something off about the fey I can’t seem to shake. It doesn’t help that she is one of the archmagis of the Capital University, and although she has done nothing to earn my mistrust, I cannot shake my instincts.
Right now, Zoln is watching her carefully. We haven’t indicated whether the pixie we are investigating is alive or where she is, but I fear it is only a matter of time. The archmagis is powerful enough politically to pull rank and find her. Perhaps this is even why she will not part with her own name.
By the start of the summer, I will send out the first wave of Ranin’s trainees to your lands. Everwinter is the first province to be hit by any form of hostility, and hopefully with such an early warning, we will be able to mitigate risks and restore balance to Everwinter.
In the meantime, Ranin and Gortha are distributing the trap schematics to all of our Guard. Rest assured that the patents have been secured under the pseudonym Athereon, and all profits related to it will be set aside in an account for her should she come to the Capital to receive her tithe.
Do whatever you can to prevent Prince Feldan from taking her with him when he leaves. Without him, Skye Kingdom’s crops are starting to wither, and their attacks will grow more desperate in response. I’m unsure of the solution at this time, as his father would violently oppose their union should it come to that.
Their nobles will happily part with him so long as there is a solution for the crops—he is useful and decently popular amongst the people, but the nobility over the mountains is fed up with his disappearing acts and general disregard for propriety. Perhaps there is something there we can use to drive a further wedge if he should refuse to return without her.
Though personally, I can’t imagine anyone holding his attention for this long. The very fact she has is a miracle all on its own.
Be well,
Queen Annabelle