15
Valen
I’m bloody and raw, and my instincts are on fire. I kill one, two, three—four depleted as I carve my way back across the main part of the camp. That’s when a commotion in the far corner catches my attention. Gensted, brutally taking down a depleted, then—
Tania, throwing herself between the Autumn Fae and what would assuredly be a mortal blow.
Tania!
I’m racing across the square, paws sliding in the mud and sand. The depleted draws its taloned hand back and attacks. The strike is perfectly aimed, dead center above Tania’s heart. Inches. The thing comes inches from her before striking not Tania but a solid shield of ice.
The instant the depleted comes in contact with the barrier, it stiffens, turning translucent and solid. The ice shield disappears, and Tania kicks out, shattering the thing into a million jagged pieces.
I let go of my wolf and reach her as chunks of the depleted hit the ground. They’re mixed with tiny bits of bracken and leaves—a mix of Fae and druid magic.
My intention is to drag her close, throw my arms around her, and never, ever let go. We’re not at the estate. We don’t know these Fae, and they don’t know us. But she knows me. Better than I know myself, apparently. Sidestepping my arms, she bends over to catch her breath, bracing her hands against her knees as Daroose reaches us, in his human form now.
“I leave you alone for five minutes…” He’s trying to joke, but it’s clear he’s concerned. His gaze skims Tania from tip to toe, and his shoulders sag.
“You—” Gensted takes a step back. He’s staring at Tania like she’s something mythical and rare. “You could have been killed.”
Tania straightens and wipes the blade of a small knife across the leg of her pants. It leaves a smear of dark red, and she cringes before tucking it back into her belt. “You didn’t see the depleted. You wouldn’t have heard if I called out a warning. There seemed like no other choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” Gensted shakes his head. “The most obvious one being to let me die.”
Tania stares him down. There’s a weird energy between them, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“That might be what you’d expect from a human,” she says, “but like I said, we’re not all the same.” I don’t like the way she’s smiling at the Autumn Fae. Like they share some big secret or funny inside joke.
Daroose throws his arm around Tania’s shoulder and bares his teeth at the Autumn Lord. “Keltania is no mere human. Her best friend is a kelpie—that makes her quite rare.”
Gensted quirks a brow, then bows to Tania. “There is no greater honor than sacrificing yourself for another—especially one you have no ties to.”
“I didn’t sacrifice anything,” she replies cooly. Gently, she removes Daroose’s arm and steps away.
“You live only because your lord was here to save you.” Gensted holds out his hand, then looks at mine. “Maybe magic isn’t as useless as I thought it was.”
Hah. I’m your lord!
“Goddess…I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“I owe you a debt.” Gensted bows to Tania. “Ask me for anything, and it’s yours.”
Ask him for that fancy sword of his. Then you can put on some chainmail—nothing else, obviously—and present it to me. I am your lord , after all.
“That’s a good idea.” Tania flashes me a quick grin. “I should ask him for the sword. You won’t like where I stick it, though.”
Ouch…
“What I want is for you to agree to help us, but I won’t ask that because of some stupid Fae debt you think you owe me.” She starts back toward our hut.
We watch her go, and Gensted shakes his head, clearly confused. “My experience with humans is limited, but she’s—”
“A pain in the ass?” I supply. “She’s right, though. If you’re going to help us, it should be because you trust us. Because you want what’s best for Fae—all Fae.”
“I’ll help you. She’s proven to me that there’s more to her”—he looks me up and down and snickers—“and possibly you than I thought. I have no army to offer. There are fifteen warriors in my village, and they’re needed here. But my sword—and if I must, my magic—is yours to wield.”
“I appreciate that, Gensted.” He offers his hand, and I take it, grasping firmly. “I am honored to have you as an ally.”
“But I am still honor bound to her.”
“Yeah,” Daroose says, heading back to the hut. “Good luck with that.”
…
The next morning, we help as best we can with the cleanup. Despite the Autumn Court’s fortifications, depleted raids happen from time to time, but Gensted said this one was the least damaging, thanks to us. Only three lives were lost. Three too many, if you ask me, but he seems happy.
I offer to use the stone Zana gave me to prove my proposition is real, but Gensted politely declines. I’ve never come across a Fae who abhors magic so much. He swears that he’ll participate in the transfer at the estate, but until then, he is fine as he is.
Gensted leans back and tips his glass to the sky. We’re leaving at first light, but tonight he insisted on a small celebration in our honor. Well, Tania’s honor. There’s not much food, but the blue dandelion ale is flowing in abundance, and the Autumn Fae seem to be having the time of their lives.
The festivities are winding down, but there’s still a small group singing and dancing by the bonfire. Daroose skulked off hours ago with an Autumn Fae woman on one arm and a man on the other. He disappeared into one of the huts, and we haven’t seen him since.
“If the druids are your enemy, how did you end up with her ?” Gensted points to Tania laughing across the way with several Fae women.
“The druids aren’t our enemy. Just Aphelian. And Tania is…”
Several Autumn Fae women pull her away from the fire as music begins to play again. They gave her clean clothing to change into—a long red skirt and a top that shows her midsection. It’s nice to see her in something other than leathers, but the clothing isn’t what makes it impossible to drag my gaze from her.
It’s the expression on her face.
I’ve never seen her look so light, so unburdened. I’m not the only one who notices. Gensted follows her movements like a starving wolf. “She’s magnificent for a human.”
I grit my teeth but say nothing. Tania catches us watching her and smiles. Waving, she bows before being pulled back to the dance by several other Fae.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask—is she claimed?”
“Humans don’t do that,” I say tightly.
“Well, then whatever it is humans do. Does she belong to anyone?”
Despite the irritation I feel over the way he’s practically drooling over her—only I’m allowed to do that—I chuckle. “Don’t let her hear you say something like that. She’ll gut you.”
“That just intrigues me even more.”
“Well, get over it.” The words come out with more bite than I intend. “She’s spoken for.”
Gensted clucks his tongue. “Pity. I’m sure I could sway her if I wanted.” He laughs. “After all, I’ve got looks, power, and charm. Who wouldn’t be interested?”
Gods. Did I sound that obnoxiously cocky?
“But we don’t meddle in heart bonds,” he says.
“Let me guess—it’s dishonorable ?”
“Anyone who doesn’t view it as such disgusts me,” he replies, holding my gaze for several moments before tipping his head to the sky. “Respect for relationship bonds is what holds us together. Friends, family, lovers—we are no better than those we surround ourselves with.”
I bite down hard on my tongue. I need him. Punching a hole in his face, or letting my wolf out to tear into his intestines, wouldn’t do me any good in the fight against Aphelian. “How noble,” I say under my breath.
Tania bounds over, her cheeks flushed from dandelion wine and dancing. She settles next to me, her knee brushing mine.
“You should have come dance with me!”
It takes every ounce of strength I have, but I shift my position so that our knees are no longer touching, then force myself to look away from her.
I would have loved nothing more. But I suspect if I danced with you, we’d turn heads and pique suspicions.
“Only if you groped me right there on the dance floor.”
Heat rises in my cheeks, and I shift uncomfortably, moving even farther away from her. Behave, please. I don’t like being the grown-up.
Tania grins. She turns to Gensted and says, “Who will run things while you’re gone?” She leans a little closer. “Are you married?”
“I’m unclaimed.” His smile widens. “I actually inquired to Valen about your status.”
“Oh?” The way she tilts her head toward him bothers me. “I thought you didn’t like humans.”
“Maybe you’ve made me change my mind.” He leans back against a large rock, stretching out his legs. “Alas, Valen said you were spoken for.”
“Well, nothing is official.”
I choke on my ale.
Gensted’s grin turns wicked. “Is that so?”
Tania!
“Sorry! Sorry…” She covers her mouth and hiccups, then laughs. “I might be just a smidge drunk. And, let’s be honest, seeing you twist is fair payback.”
For what?
“I’m not sure. But I know you must owe me for something.”
The smile I give her is involuntary. That’s probably fair.
Tania steals one of the grapes from my plate and pops it into her mouth. “Still, official or not, my heart belongs to someone already. Sorry.”
“Well, they’re a lucky human.” Gensted winks at me. “Or Fae.”
…
I’m not able to sleep much that night, and by the time the morning comes, I know I’m going to regret it. Gensted bids his people farewell and leads us back to the surface through the tunnels. I understand how they’ve survived all these years in secret. The hole we stumbled into was one of many used to trap wildlife and game, though they haven’t had as much luck with it in recent years. Once a month, they send small hunting parties into the forest, but half the time most—if not all—never return. The depleted in this area are plentiful and seem to have just a bit more awareness than I’m used to.
We make excellent time, and by nightfall on day five we reach the section of forest that used to border the Spring Lands. The map marks a path through the mountain that will lead us directly to where the Spring Court stood, but it’s impassable, blocked by massive boulders and an overgrowth of large trees decades old.
The sky is clear, and the temperatures are far warmer than what I’m used to. We stop beside a small lake to refill our water, and Tania sets down her pack. “This looks like a decent place to set up for the night.”
Daroose glances at the lake and shudders. “I’m not a fan of places like this anymore. But I suppose if my lovely druid wants to stop…”
I’m tempted to suggest going farther, but everyone is tired. We should be rested and on guard. “It can’t hurt. We’re going to have to go over the map to see if we can find a way around the mountain.”
Gensted drops his pack and stretches. With a wink at Tania, he peels off his shirt. “It also seems like a good place for an evening swim.” He backs up several steps, then runs to the edge of the bank and propels himself into the lake. Water cascades everywhere, splashing both Tania and me. Daroose manages to dance out of reach.
I groan. “Is that really wise?” I bend down and dip my fingers into the water. It’s warm and inviting, and just a month ago, it would have been me jumping in first. But I’ve been trying to be more of a leader. To be an example. Good monarchs don’t do things like sleeping under tables…or jumping into lakes. They’re serious. Regal.
Obviously I have some things to work on, but I’m trying.
Tania grins at me, then drops her own pack and bends to untie her boots. “Come on. What harm could it do?”
Really? This coming from the girl who cautioned me against swimming naked in the pond outside the estate?
“It’s a little different in the Winter Lands. You could freeze off something important.” She laughs. “We found Gensted. We’ll find the others. We’re going to be okay. This is a rare opportunity for us to simply exist. Take it!” She tugs down her leathers, revealing an expanse of creamy skin, and I’m too enthralled to respond. She senses it, and as she moves to the edge to jump, she gives her backside a provocative shake before diving in.
“Woohoo!”
I’m hit with another modest spray of water as she breaks the surface.
“Come on, Valen.” Gensted splashes Tania and laughs. “I was hoping you’d be less like the stuffy monarchs of old. Show me you know how to have fun. I bet you’ve never done anything you weren’t supposed to.”
“I— You— How dare you!”
Daroose howls. He settles on the bank and points at me. “He certainly has you pegged, Frosty.”
Gensted thinks I’m stuffy? I’ll show him.
I unlace my boots and tug my shirt over my head, then throw myself off the bank and into the water.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Gensted laughs. He grabs Tania around the waist, hauls her upward, then tosses her back into the water.
Gensted motions to Daroose. “Come on, kelpie! You’re not going to let Valen show you up, are you?”
“No thank you.” He shudders. “I spent more than my fair share of time in a little hole like this. I’m more than happy to watch you three make fools of yourselves.”
The sound of Tania’s laughter is light, and even though it makes me happy to hear, a twinge of jealousy gnaws at me. She’s got no interest in the Autumn monarch, and he seems respectable as far as her declaration that she’s spoken for. No. What eats at me is the ease with which she interacts with him. The lighthearted laughter, the effortless smile.
Tania is cautious. She’s wary and stoic, and it took me forever to crack through her walls. But with Gensted, she’s…different. She’s open. It should make me happy. All that repression surely would have given her a heart attack eventually.
“Admit it. This is nice.”
It’d be nicer if we were alone. I’ve always wanted to mess around in the water.
“Who says we can’t?” Tania disappears beneath the surface. A moment later, something brushes my thigh.
Hmm… Despite the fact that Gensted is splashing a few feet from me, my mind wanders to our first night on this trip. To the way it felt to have every inch of her pressed against me, the feel of my hands as they—
Something brushes my thigh again—this time higher, while at the same moment, Tania breaks the surface on the far side of the lake.
“What the—” Whatever is lurking under the water winds itself around my waist, and there’s just enough time to suck in a mouthful of air before it drags me under.