Page 47

I needed to air out. And scheme a way out of this coil.

Wrapping myself in a blanket, I crept out the door and sucked in Autumn mist. Magpies sang, their carols jumping through the air. A hedgehog waddled into a bush. A chipmunk sat atop one of the pumpkins, its cheeks bulging with breakfast.

The gourds still pulsed, orange bulbs of light blinking through the morning fog. This had to be the famed pumpkin wood.

Punk roosted on my shoulder. I explored with her, wending around hickories and squash, which gave me time to recap. Nicu and I had made the sorriest getaway pair in history. And that was before those fox wenches—fox mavens—ambushed us, snagged my hat, and tied me up.

My width against theirs, I could have snapped any of one them in half. If I’d known how to actually use my fists. And if I hadn’t been outnumbered.

Verbally, I’d wiped the floor with plenty of girls and lads. I’d made them cater to me. I’d made them sweat for my approval.

If I ever met that clique of forest shrews again, I would annihilate them. I would make them cry.

Dammit, my cute hat!

The First Knight had played the falcon savior right before arresting and interrogating me. Once we’d gotten to this cottage, he hadn’t wasted a second grinding me into the floor with his questions.

At least I hadn’t given him details. At least he hadn’t done an intimate search of me, seeing as I’d clipped the stolen acorn back into my garter before setting out from home. I could name a certain nugget that I wouldn’t mind Aire finding under my skirt, but the fairytale nut wasn’t it.

The acorn tickled my inner thigh. If he’d so much as peeked while I’d been hanging from the tree like a roasted pig, he would have seen it. Good thing he’d remained chivalrous, letting me preserve modesty instead of patting me down too indelicately.

In the shed at home, I’d told Nicu not to say anything. On the way from the fox dell, we’d swapped a wordless glance, with me reminding him of his promise.

Punk swooped up a tree and latched onto its bark. She began to stab it with her beak, the noise knocking through the forest.

After picking around pumpkins, I squatted in front of one and pressed a finger against the surface, to see if I’d feel a change in temperature. A grin crawled across my face as lukewarm light stroked my fingertip. Nature was amazing, refusing to give up whatever secrets it didn’t want its people to know.

“Going somewhere?”

The ethereal voice swept up my back. I glanced over my shoulder.

There he stood, wearing a mild expression. At the break of dawn, his irises matched the sky.

Aire hadn’t reached for his swords. I guess he’d finally figured out I wasn’t stupid enough to tackle him. I hadn’t even heard him sneak up on me.

Last night, on a freak whim, I’d asked for his help. After staring at me forever and thinking Seasons knew what, he’d nodded. Huzzah, I thought I’d had him.

While nodding, he blew one word into my face.

He’d saidno. Of course, he had.

Punk stopped pecking the tree. I got to my feet, crooking my arm for her to land there, still an ally after all I’d done to try and corrupt her morals.

Aire peered at the woodpecker perched on my arm. “I take it, you were the culprit who freed her.”

My sidekick sprang and looped behind me for protection. Twisting, I ruffled the razor cut of feathers along her skull.

She quivered like a guilty citizen under Aire’s gaze until he said, “You’re loyal to your mistress yet armed with an Autumn conscience. I’ve only seen such dedication in select creatures. However, I would advise you not to defy my wishes again, little one. I shan’t be as forgiving the next time.”

He shifted his gaze to me, hoisting a winged brow into his forehead. “I was prepared to toss you over my shoulder, but your aura does not bespeak of defiance at present. I’m listening, however lie to me, and I’ll draw my sword before you finish your sentence.”

Couldn’t blame him for that. Any other alpha would have grabbed my arm and hauled me back to the Royal retreat while growling and snarling. By comparison, Aire’s ire verged on elegant.

Still, I’d seen this man in action. When the need arose, he could change in an instant, turning into somebody exquisitely lethal.

I combed my fingers through my hair. “It was stuffy and sooty inside. My woodskin needed refreshing. Besides, I’ve never seen the pumpkin wood before, and I was bored being tied up.”

Skepticism. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to the latter.”