Chapter 16 #2
Nym, Jessip, and Felix all looked in confusion at one another, but Kole’s attention stayed focused on me. “How are you going to transport your supplies without a carpet?” he asked quietly.
“We’ll fit it,” Felix said. “Prim can come with us. And four of us traveling together is safer than three if it truly is dangerous for her.” Felix leaped off the carpet and reached for one of my boxes, but Kole stepped into his path, stopping him.
The warrior’s aura swelled, and Felix bristled.
Kole gave Felix his back, then leveled me with a heavy stare. “Have you thought this through, Prim?”
I knew he was not only referring to his warning about continuing north, but also about the fact that I didn’t actually know these three. And while the Faewood fairies seemed harmless, and I certainly didn’t think they would murder me in my sleep, I also didn’t know for certain that they wouldn’t.
I also didn’t know what kind of traveling companions they would be, or if Felix’s harmless flirtations would morph into him wanting something more physical, which I didn’t particularly want to pursue.
And then the issue would eventually arise of who would claim the Stone if we were lucky enough to find it.
Challenges would lie ahead if I chose to travel with them. I nibbled on my lip. Kole was right. Impulsively joining them might not be the best option, but it wasn’t like I had a plethora of traveling choices to choose from.
Felix glared at Kole and sidestepped him so he could clearly see me. “What’s there to think through, Kole? We’re offering her a ride because she no longer has one, and there is safety in numbers. She’ll be safe with us. She’ll be safe with me. I’ll watch out for her.”
I nearly snorted, because I was a hundred percent certain that if something truly dangerous occurred, I would be the one saving him.
“Is a ride all you’re offering her?” the warrior said so coolly that he put the icy breeze to shame.
Felix smirked. “Well, that will be up to her to decide.”
A pulse of energy shot from Kole’s aura. Facing me squarely once more, he said gruffly, “I have room on my carpet. Come with me instead.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You do?” I glanced behind him. “Where’s your carpet?”
“Still in my chambers.”
“Oh, of course.” He’d obviously had the foresight not to leave it out here either, even though I didn’t recall seeing a large rolled carpet anywhere in his private suite.
“You can still come with us.” Felix waggled his eyebrows. “I promise to make it enjoyable.”
Kole cut him a hard look, but I thought of the fun I’d had last night with the three—the dancing, laughing, and drinking. Felix was right. I could join them, probably even enjoy myself on this lonely journey.
But then I frowned. Fun and adventure weren’t why I’d left Whiteolf and my family behind.
Finding the Stone and claiming it were all that mattered, and I knew Kole’s time up here wasn’t because of Stone hunting.
I didn’t have to worry about him fighting me for it if my uncle’s device led me to it.
And then there was the matter of who Kole was.
I would be safe with him should another creature come prowling.
He’d proven that last night. We could even sleep in shifts if need be.
I eyed the warrior again. “Are you sure?”
For the merest second, a satisfied gleam filled his eyes, but then he blinked, and it was gone. “I’m sure.”
I gave Felix, Nym, and Jessip an apologetic smile. “As much as I’ve enjoyed meeting you and spending time with you all, I think I’ll take Kole up on his offer.”
Felix pouted. “You’re breaking my heart, Prim.”
I rolled my eyes, but a playful smile tugged on my lips. “I’m sure you’ll survive.”
He shook his head dramatically. “I fear I won’t.”
“You’ll make it,” the warrior said dryly, then stepped closer to me. “I’ll be back shortly. We’ll leave soon. Just wait for me. Okay?”
I dipped my head, and Kole ducked back inside the inn.
“Now’s your chance.” Felix hopped back onto their carpet and held his hand out. “You can ditch him, and we’ll be out of here before he knows it.”
But too much relief was flowing through me for Felix’s offer to be even remotely tempting. I blew him a kiss. “Farewell, my friends. Safe journeys.”
Nym tugged on Felix to sit down. “You lost, my friend, and the warrior won. Take it like a gentlefae.”
Felix sighed but continued professing words of love for me as they sailed down the street, and even though I knew he was just being silly and overly dramatic, another breath of relief filled me that I wasn’t going with them.
Knowing that I could travel with the warrior, at least for a short while, had most of my nerves calming.
However, there was still the matter of what to do once Kole and I parted ways.
I would still have to travel back to Whiteolf eventually, and I couldn’t do that by walking, especially if I needed to hurry back if my uncle took a turn for the worse.
I contemplated how long it would take for Kole to grab his carpet and figured I would have enough time to place an order at the shop down the lane for my own.
Because while I hoped the warrior meant it that he didn’t mind me traveling with him for the foreseeable future, I also knew that I couldn’t rely on him entirely.
If the Imperial Council demanded that he venture in a direction opposite of where I believed the Stone to be, the warrior and I would have to part ways.
Even if that meant being on my own again in dangerous territory.