Ch. 26
“Singly”
“I’m fine.” I say to Devlyn crossing my arms, my turn.
Devlyn grabs my left wrist. “You’re not.” She whispers. The Samca is still on the wrist she holds, along with the faint pink outlines of fingers. She turns my palms upward. Deep cuts and even burns cover every line. “And that is okay. We will figure it out.” Her eyes flick up to mine. Nyx, I hate that she is so accepting and willing to help. I don’t deserve her friendship. “Plus, you look like shit.” A small smile on her face but worry fills her brows. I feel my chest fall. “Your Mother would have all our heads if we delivered you back like this. Follow me.” She laces her fingers within mine and spins me around toward the camp.
I quickly glance to my left, now right side. Still leaning against that tree, still with that observational, studying stare, but the darkness in his eyes is gone. Hmm. A shadow moves over his shoulder. The edges of his mouth twitch and the shadow disappears.
A shiver runs down my spine which I chalk up to being just water boarded basically in a creek during a chilly autumn day in Adros not from the growl echoed in my head earlier…that wasn’t Kiza. I look down at my hand, the one laced with Devlyn’s as she tugs me along. Still pale, but pink outlines dance along my wrist. I really need to figure out what is going on with me and stop dragging my friends into it as well.
Devlyn stops as she catches a glimpse of Iamys with a red-headed light high fae following close behind him. She lets go of my hand.
Iamys stops and looks at me. I tilt my head with a frozen stare.
He gives a full body shiver. “I hate when you do that.” He throws his hands up before moving past us.
“Do what?” I say tilting my head further.
Iamys makes another big circle around. “Just remember Miha, you like me.”
I can’t help but jump toward him as he passes. “That is questionable at this moment.”
Iamys scurries away and Galilea looks at us wide eyed. I shift my attention to her with a small smile.
“I’m really sorry you keep having to fix me up, and or knock me out.” I say with a faint self-comforting laugh to Galilea as she walks toward us. Realizing my fists are clenched, I slowly relax them. As much as I can. Another mess that someone else has to clean up. Shit.
She simply smiles, “You have been making sure my skills are honed and ready recently.” She bows and give Devlyn another modest smile. Still hate that. I am not above her in anyway. I am not royal compared to her. I simply have a title that Mother gave me.
Galilea fiery hair blowing in the breeze. Like a burning ember. She is high fae and without her I probably would only have one arm or worse no fingers or toes.
“How did you burn yourself?” She asks. You mean how did I burn Kiza which also means I burned myself, IN MY MIND. Shit I don’t know. I have no fucking clue what is happening to me. Or the forest or the creatures. I have no idea. A shaky breath escapes me. “You didn’t have that before the sedative and sleeping potion.”
“It is a long story…” I look away from her and scan the scouts, the wagons, and the passing horses. Trying to distract myself from my racing thoughts. Breath in, and out. My mental door is locked.
Devlyn shoots me a look, but I do not blink. This is not a secret I am willing to share…yet. Her attention shifts to a young woman in scout leathers who appears by her side.
A mixture of greens and browns on her scout leathers and attire. No shifters patch sewn in them. Younger than me I am guessing. Unless she is high fae, but she doesn’t have that feeling or glow like Galilea does. Or low fae? Honestly, I don’t really know what the differences really are anyway. Her spring filled eyes are not harden with experience or death. She has blonde, almost as bright as Iamys, hair with hints of amber. Much like a sunset before the sun moves past the horizon. She must be part of the new recruits. She hands Devlyn what looks like a black sleeveless shirt. No doubt part of Devlyn’s personal attire. I’m not sure she owns anything that isn’t black, or brooding. Devlyn and the young scout woman start whispering about something. I’m knocked down before I realize what hits me. The smell of earthiness and lake water. Halfy.
“Careful!” Devlyn hisses and reaches for my hand. Throwing the shirt over her shoulders.
Halfy’s paw pushes against my stomach, holding me to the ground. My lungs feel small. Devlyn freezes. A deep growl starts in Halfy’s chest. I feel the vibrations once they reach his paw. He leans down to me. His nose moving across my ribs. The air coming from him with each smell is pure heat. His lips part, and his teeth, his fangs shine.
I’m sorry…Halfy’s head snaps up, inches from my face. He opens his mouth, sharp flesh tearing teeth fill it, and he cracks his jaws together. Saliva spraying my face. I’m fine. I promise.
Halfy’s ginger eyes looking at me for what feels like a lifetime, searching my soul. He slowly removes his paw and backs away. The weight of him gone from my lungs. Devlyn yanks me up and gives me a wary glance.
“He is pissed at me.”
“I gathered.”
Galilea’s eyes widen before regaining herself and looking around nervously. I forget that Halfy’s presence can be intimidating at times. I just had a giant wolf/orca creature bigger than any of the horses at this camp standing over me with its jaws snapping mere inches from my face. If he wasn’t mine, my guardian, my safe place, I would be terrified, too.
“Go behind that wagon.” Galilea says with a shaky voice while pointing at a currently empty wagon that is parallel to the start of the tree line at the edge of the camp about twenty feet from us. The wagon is mostly hidden from any passing scouts or guards. No horses are attached to it yet. I am guessing that most of the wagons are already filled with gear and camping supplies. So behind a wagon will have to do.
Ch. 26
“Singly”
“I’m fine.” I say to Devlyn crossing my arms, my turn.
Devlyn grabs my left wrist. “You’re not.” She whispers. The Samca is still on the wrist she holds, along with the faint pink outlines of fingers. She turns my palms upward. Deep cuts and even burns cover every line. “And that is okay. We will figure it out.” Her eyes flick up to mine. Nyx, I hate that she is so accepting and willing to help. I don’t deserve her friendship. “Plus, you look like shit.” A small smile on her face but worry fills her brows. I feel my chest fall. “Your Mother would have all our heads if we delivered you back like this. Follow me.” She laces her fingers within mine and spins me around toward the camp.
I quickly glance to my left, now right side. Still leaning against that tree, still with that observational, studying stare, but the darkness in his eyes is gone. Hmm. A shadow moves over his shoulder. The edges of his mouth twitch and the shadow disappears.
A shiver runs down my spine which I chalk up to being just water boarded basically in a creek during a chilly autumn day in Adros not from the growl echoed in my head earlier…that wasn’t Kiza. I look down at my hand, the one laced with Devlyn’s as she tugs me along. Still pale, but pink outlines dance along my wrist. I really need to figure out what is going on with me and stop dragging my friends into it as well.
Devlyn stops as she catches a glimpse of Iamys with a red-headed light high fae following close behind him. She lets go of my hand.
Iamys stops and looks at me. I tilt my head with a frozen stare.
He gives a full body shiver. “I hate when you do that.” He throws his hands up before moving past us.
“Do what?” I say tilting my head further.
Iamys makes another big circle around. “Just remember Miha, you like me.”
I can’t help but jump toward him as he passes. “That is questionable at this moment.”
Iamys scurries away and Galilea looks at us wide eyed. I shift my attention to her with a small smile.
“I’m really sorry you keep having to fix me up, and or knock me out.” I say with a faint self-comforting laugh to Galilea as she walks toward us. Realizing my fists are clenched, I slowly relax them. As much as I can. Another mess that someone else has to clean up. Shit.
She simply smiles, “You have been making sure my skills are honed and ready recently.” She bows and give Devlyn another modest smile. Still hate that. I am not above her in anyway. I am not royal compared to her. I simply have a title that Mother gave me.
Galilea fiery hair blowing in the breeze. Like a burning ember. She is high fae and without her I probably would only have one arm or worse no fingers or toes.
“How did you burn yourself?” She asks. You mean how did I burn Kiza which also means I burned myself, IN MY MIND. Shit I don’t know. I have no fucking clue what is happening to me. Or the forest or the creatures. I have no idea. A shaky breath escapes me. “You didn’t have that before the sedative and sleeping potion.”
“It is a long story…” I look away from her and scan the scouts, the wagons, and the passing horses. Trying to distract myself from my racing thoughts. Breath in, and out. My mental door is locked.
Devlyn shoots me a look, but I do not blink. This is not a secret I am willing to share…yet. Her attention shifts to a young woman in scout leathers who appears by her side.
A mixture of greens and browns on her scout leathers and attire. No shifters patch sewn in them. Younger than me I am guessing. Unless she is high fae, but she doesn’t have that feeling or glow like Galilea does. Or low fae? Honestly, I don’t really know what the differences really are anyway. Her spring filled eyes are not harden with experience or death. She has blonde, almost as bright as Iamys, hair with hints of amber. Much like a sunset before the sun moves past the horizon. She must be part of the new recruits. She hands Devlyn what looks like a black sleeveless shirt. No doubt part of Devlyn’s personal attire. I’m not sure she owns anything that isn’t black, or brooding. Devlyn and the young scout woman start whispering about something. I’m knocked down before I realize what hits me. The smell of earthiness and lake water. Halfy.
“Careful!” Devlyn hisses and reaches for my hand. Throwing the shirt over her shoulders.
Halfy’s paw pushes against my stomach, holding me to the ground. My lungs feel small. Devlyn freezes. A deep growl starts in Halfy’s chest. I feel the vibrations once they reach his paw. He leans down to me. His nose moving across my ribs. The air coming from him with each smell is pure heat. His lips part, and his teeth, his fangs shine.
I’m sorry…Halfy’s head snaps up, inches from my face. He opens his mouth, sharp flesh tearing teeth fill it, and he cracks his jaws together. Saliva spraying my face. I’m fine. I promise.
Halfy’s ginger eyes looking at me for what feels like a lifetime, searching my soul. He slowly removes his paw and backs away. The weight of him gone from my lungs. Devlyn yanks me up and gives me a wary glance.
“He is pissed at me.”
“I gathered.”
Galilea’s eyes widen before regaining herself and looking around nervously. I forget that Halfy’s presence can be intimidating at times. I just had a giant wolf/orca creature bigger than any of the horses at this camp standing over me with its jaws snapping mere inches from my face. If he wasn’t mine, my guardian, my safe place, I would be terrified, too.
“Go behind that wagon.” Galilea says with a shaky voice while pointing at a currently empty wagon that is parallel to the start of the tree line at the edge of the camp about twenty feet from us. The wagon is mostly hidden from any passing scouts or guards. No horses are attached to it yet. I am guessing that most of the wagons are already filled with gear and camping supplies. So behind a wagon will have to do.
