Chapter 16 Tegwyn #2
Again, those big, guileless eyes leave me spellbound. My magic depletes, and already I can feel my reserves draining.
“I…healed you, Ivy…” I rasp, trying to ignore the pounding behind my eyes.
She blinks. “With…your tears?”
“Yes. Fae tears have healing properties.”
Her chin drops, and that’s when my vision tunnels, making her my sole focus. I’m fading away, but it was worth it.
At least I can make it up to her now.
It’s rare for a faerie to give so freely, but it had to be done. I took something from her, and as a result, I gave her something of my own. Magic is equal to blood for the Fae.
“Are you all right?”
My eyes droop. “I-I’m fine, Ivy…you…you can pull up your dress now.”
Ivy gasps, remembering that she left her bodice open.
She ties up the strings quickly, turning as red as a poppy, and I do the honourable thing and look away.
The mounds of her breasts are far too tempting, and the last thing I want to do is unleash my beast on her.
She’s seen enough of my beastly side today.
When she’s decent again, she pushes the blankets aside, eyeing me curiously. “Why would you heal me?”
I cock a brow. Is that a trick question?
“How do you mean?”
She shakes her head. “Normally, you’re not so…giving… What’s the catch?”
I smirk lazily. “No catch, princess. Blood for blood, or magic for blood. What I did was unforgivable, so it was the only way I could absolve myself.”
Her eyes shine with something I can’t quite decipher, and that’s when I realise she’s shedding tears of her own. They drip down her fair cheeks.
My eyes narrow. “What are you crying for?”
Ivy sniffs, and how odd—she’s even prettier when she cries. She truly is a rarity.
“I’m…sorry…”
“Sorry for what?”
“For scaring the deer. I just…couldn’t…”
She doesn’t finish, burying her face in her hands, and I watch on, speechless. “There’s no need to cry. I’m not mad at you.”
“No. You have every right to be mad at me. I scared away your chance to eat this winter. How can you ever forgive me?”
It takes a moment for her words to register. When they finally do, I release a grave sigh. “Actually, I wasn’t hunting that deer for me, Ivy. I…was hunting for you. I don’t need to eat as much as a human. Winters here are harsh, and, well…food is scarce.”
She looks up from her fingers, her bottom lip trembling. “You were mad because you were worried about feeding me?”
I don’t know how to tell her without making her feel worse, so I keep my mouth shut.
Nice going, idiot.
Now she throws her face back into her hands, and I really don’t know what to do with her. I’m clueless around crying females.
“I’m so useless. I’m never going to survive out here.”
I run my fingers through my hair, right between my horns as I laugh nervously. “N-no...you’re not useless. Just…gentle. This world needs more people like you, Ivy. It’s just unfortunate that it’s riddled with cold-hearted creatures like…well, me.”
And that goes for both humans and Fae. We’re as bad as each other.
But this girl is different. She’s far too kind. This world will eat her alive, but that’s okay. Because I will be protecting her every step of the way. I’m no chivalrous knight, but I will still uphold my duty, ensuring she’s safe.
She gazes at me, bewildered, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “You’re not cold-hearted…”
The tension eases from my shoulders when she speaks those words, and I can almost believe them.
A dry chuckle escapes me. “Trust me, you’ve no idea of the things I’ve done.”
She regards me peculiarly, and my heart hammers in my ears.
Then she smiles and says, “I don’t care about any of that. In fact, the more time I spend with you, the more I’m starting to think that my mama was wrong about you. You’re not like all the other Fae, Tegwyn.”
My heart skips a beat, but I maintain my decorum, acting as if her words have no effect on me. Truth be told, they’re making me nervous. It's as if she’s cutting me wide open, baring my soul for all to see.
“Then what am I like?” I chortle, trying to lighten the mood.
She grins, reaching across to palm my face with her warm hand. I freeze, the breath fleeing from my lips when she circles her thumb around my cheek.
“That, I’m still trying to figure out.”
A tense silence follows, the only sound my raging heart. What is this female doing to me?
Her mere touch alone is enough to make me do her bidding. Maybe I’m not as cunning as I thought.
“Well…when you’re done figuring it out, Ivy, let me know. Goodnight.”
I could do with some sleep. I need to replenish my magic.
As I rise, she grabs my wrist, whispering, “Thank you for healing me.”
I meet her gaze. This is the part where I usually run away. But I stay put, merely accepting her thanks. “You’re welcome.”
Finally, she lets go of my wrist, lying down beneath the furs and blankets. “Good night, Tegwyn.”
“Yeah, you…you too…”
She snorts at my lackluster response, rolling onto her side.
Once again, I vanish into the shadows, but I decide to wait until she falls asleep. Watching her sleep is rather pleasant.
When did I become so perverse?
Well, time to get some rest, myself. I’m going to need all the magic I can muster these next few weeks.