Chapter Fourteen
Miriam
We landed in the precise location I’d studied on the map, and it struck me how much the area resembled a wilderness. Trees wide enough to carve out and build shacks inside stretched until they blended into the milky sky on tall snow-peaked mountains.
Nice place to hide. Or live. The air was fresh, and the soft hum of insects had its appeal. Maybe the Crone really could be here.
For another sister, you will follow the beasts, respectful of their home, cherishing their struggle under the leaf-encrusted dome. Where the day will spook you and the night will guide you, she will watch from afar, judging.
Technically, if this were the right place, the Crone probably already knew we were here. Too bad the note didn’t mention how to draw her out, except for a vague mention of day and night.
Was that what he packed into these backpacks? Supplies to sleep here? I didn’t even think about that in my constant worry about the wedding.
My mind eased as the howling wind made the tree branches crash against each other.
The leaves rustled, and a few squirrels popped their heads out to investigate.
One sat on a branch a couple of feet above me, its black, protruding eyes tracking my every move.
I reached toward it, and it screeched so loud I startled and dropped to the ground in panic.
Immediately, I turned to Michael for an explanation, only to find him dry heaving, kneeling and clutching the strands of grass as if he were afraid he might drift away.
Looking away was all I could do to preserve his dignity. Men didn’t react very well to being perceived as weak.
‘Don’t. Mess. With. Them,’ he managed to utter between sharp intakes of air.
‘I wasn’t planning to. Are you okay?’ I asked him after a minute of his unnatural stillness.
All I heard back was a grunt, before he forced a smile and asked, ‘Are you so used to that feeling that it doesn’t affect you, or am I a wuss?’
‘You’re not a wuss.' Laughter bubbled in my throat as I sat on the ground before him. ‘In fact, you’re handling it better than most people. It’s impressive.’
‘You must be lying,’ he argued, throwing an apple-sized fireball at the squirrel closest to us.
My heart sank at his cruel display of mindless violence.
‘Hey, don’t torment it!’ I raised my voice while he looked at me dumbfounded.
‘We landed in their breeding ground, and they’re assessing how quickly they can wipe us out.’
I looked back at the innocent-looking creatures. ‘Okay. Next time, I will ask before I try to touch any of your… animals?’
‘Bordering on vermin but sure,’ he said, snarling at another. ‘How do you even get used to this jumping?’
‘Don’t worry, you’re doing very well. Ava puked her guts out the first time she jumped. Some people faint even. It’s a peculiar experience.’
A scowl darkened his features as he let out a low, humourless chuckle. ‘Like my molecules had been sprinkled over hundreds of miles, before your shadows finally pieced them together once we reached this place.’
That sounded horrible. It had been so long since I’d learnt how to jump that I’d almost forgotten the struggle. ‘Sorry about that. It will get better every time, though.’
The tree creaked above me, and I whimpered. My shadows burst out on instinct, shielding both of us in a dome of sparkly night. Shivers ran down my spine at the thought of their sharp teeth and snappy jaws.
Michael’s hand trailed the shimmering wall of our hideout, making my insides tickle. The sensation was uncanny and unlike anything I ever experienced before.
It must have been the strange place; it made me hypervigilant. Danger always preferred to disguise itself in beauty.
I swatted his hand to keep it from distracting me. ‘Do you mind? I’m trying to focus on protecting us.’
Michael chuckled weakly, still admiring my power. ‘While I appreciate the fact you wouldn’t let me die, they’re harmless. Let me worry about our safety.’
The implication rubbed me the wrong way. Like I was useless and the big, bad Fire Prince needed to make sure I didn’t get myself in harms way. ‘I’ll have you know I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself safe.’
He nodded, the corners of his mouth quirking up. ‘I wouldn’t dream to think otherwise. But I won’t let anything happen to you anyway.’
His words said one thing, but his mocking expression didn’t convince me. ‘So theoretically if we get ambushed by a pack of night wolves, you’d prefer if I let you get eaten?’
Grey eyes snapped to mine in feigned consternation. ‘Aren’t all wolves night wolves?’
‘No,’ I barked. ‘And you’re deflecting.’
Eyelids twitching, he rubbed them closed, barely containing his laughter. As if the discussion had somehow humoured him. ‘Dear Miriam, if at any point I can’t protect myself against wolves, then it’s probably best to let them feast. I don’t know how injured I’d have to be to let wolves get to me.’
'Ah, so it’s not the fact I’m a woman…’ I mused to myself. ‘It’s just your cockiness.’
A quiet snigger slipped out as our gazes met again, curiosity in his eyes feeling almost intrusive. ‘Why would you think it’s because you’re a woman?’
I ignored him. If he wanted to pretend that a lot of fae males weren’t sexist, that was on him. ‘But you’re pretty incapacitated now… what if something attacked us now? Would you rather I abandon you and hide?’
‘Miriam, you can fight alongside me if you really want to. I’m just saying you wouldn’t have to because I’ll take care of that and return you home in one piece. Does that work?’
Letting go of the shield I cast, I searched for any signs of the tiny beasts. ‘I guess.’
The way he kept staring was starting to wear me out. Just as I was about to confront him, he asked, ‘Are you a soldier at your court? I mean, you’re obviously a princess, but do you serve your kingdom?’
Odd thing to ask. ‘Why?’
‘You’re awfully adamant on fighting your battles so naturally I assumed you must have some combat training.’
There we go; he was about to ridicule me. ‘And if I don’t?’
Michael’s face faltered. His voice softened as he began, ‘I’m sorry. Did I say something to upset you? It seems whatever I say doesn’t suffice—’
I took a deep breath. The cold air helped soothe the little ache I carried in my chest; it was there non-stop, never letting me have even a moment of reprieve. ‘No. I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.’
‘It only just started,’ he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He was doing his best to ease the atmosphere.
A small, reluctant smile found its way to my lips too. ‘Well, it’s been long two days for me. I’ll stop.’
‘No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just trying to understand.’
What in the world? Who was this guy, and what was he trying to accomplish?
'You're confusing me,’ I said, staring.
A loud snort ripped out of his chest before he paled, still clearly unwell from jumping. ‘I’m confusing you? I find your kind so peculiar.’
‘Give me one more minute,’ he begged, looking up and breathing heavily. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he calmed himself down. ‘They can’t hurt us, by the way. The squirrels. They just think they can.’
There was a grin on his face, like my attempt to protect us from a vicious attack was funny. Maybe I should just let one bite him on the ass.
I followed his line of sight toward the peak of the tallest mountain; it looked tens of miles away and disastrously tall. ‘Who do you find peculiar? Dark fae?’
Sitting down from his slouched position, he nodded. Then he stared into my eyes again like they held answers to whatever bothered him. Or he thought they were strange. The fae kingdoms weren’t used to my kind of oddity. Whatever the reason, I avoided eye contact.
‘You’re incredibly secretive, aren’t you?’ he prodded, leaning back on his outstretched arms.
There were many things he could be referring to, but since over the few times we met, we mostly convened regarding politics, that must have been the culprit.
The conclusion was reasonable, though something about it rubbed me the wrong way. It sounded too accusatory. ‘Because we’re not under Elders’ guardianship?’
The stern glare of his persisted. ‘No. Because you tend to stay away from the other fae.’
‘You’d be surprised how many of us live scattered around other kingdoms,’ I shot back. ‘Besides, isn’t that precisely what your kingdom has done?’
‘True,’ he admitted, his confidence faltering after being called out. ‘So are you saying you don’t intentionally seclude yourself?’
I couldn’t understand the point he was making. ‘Not necessarily… Why would you ask that?’
Michael’s body tensed as he leaned in a little. ‘It’s just… can I ask you something personal?’
Stretching my legs out, I prepared myself for the worst. ‘About being dark fae?’
‘Is that all you are? Your eyes are spectacular, like bloody diamonds or the richest of rubies; I’ve never seen anything like them before,’ he said, inching closer to get a better look.
A surge of heat burned my cheeks. Words shouldn’t affect me like that at my age. ‘No, I’m not just dark fae.’
Looking ahead, he admitted, ‘I figured. Is being a halfling more acceptable in your kingdom?’
Dear Gods, who has Ava paired me with?
To be fair, he had seemed perfectly normal when I first met him. Helpful, even. ‘Are you suggesting that it isn’t here?’
Michael blanched. ‘No, that wasn’t my intention; I’m sorry. I meant that obviously with the war, the stigma of Ortensian crimes creates a lot of prejudice towards halflings.’
The conversation was taking an increasingly alarming turn. ‘Are you a puritan?’
‘What?’ His spine stiffened. ‘Never. I embrace diversity.’
I nodded, searching his eyes for the truth. ‘What’s with this line of questioning then?’
Fidgeting in his spot, he spoke quickly, ‘Fae males tend to worry about their mates when they’re out of sight.’
Oh.
My tendency to judge was awful. Of course that’s what it was about. His brother had a right to worry; he hasn’t even seen how or where she lived. ‘I assure you Ava is safest at the Isles. The land itself took a liking to her.’
‘I’m glad to hear that,’ he said more quietly, taking a long breath. ‘Is that where you see your future? And with Luke?’
Not another one. Ava must have put him up to this… ‘Where else could I live? The Isles are my home.’
‘Perhaps with Ava and my brother being mates, it could spark closer relations between our homes.’ A slow smile curved his mouth. ‘It seems we are equally reclusive.’
Interesting suggestion, if only it were based on a fact rather than an assumption. ‘Maybe so, though as far as I am aware she hasn’t forgiven him yet.’
‘It’s a matter of time,’ he sounded certain and looked even more so. The smugness made the scabs of my hands itch. I only stopped myself because fate only knew what monsters my blood could draw to us in these woods.
‘You appear awfully sure of that. What if she decides what he’s done was too much to ever forget?’
‘They’re mates,’ Michael said matter-of-factly, looking at me like I should understand.
I could almost laugh. Lately, the subject of matehood had become tainted in the Nightborn household. ‘That’s not a solution to everything.’
‘Is that why you’re marrying instead of waiting for yours?’ he accused, cracking his knuckles.
The audacity… ‘Excuse me? How did this discussion steer toward my wedding?’
Michael’s smirk deepened. ‘I’m just curious why you would subject yourself to a life with that… ray of sunshine.’
‘He’s not always like that,’ I grumbled, fed up with having to defend him. If he’d stayed, he could have defended himself. ‘Go on then, aren’t you going to tell me I’m making a mistake?’
‘If you want me to warn you, you probably realised it yourself some time ago. Shall we start the search?’ he asked, getting up.
Nightmares rushed through my veins wanting out and promising terror.
Maybe I’d send one after Luke for abandoning me.