Page 129

He immediately thought of bandits and slavers, neither of which he’d tolerate living in the place he’d built for those displaced.

Rion’s magic rose, humming in an angry swarm as he marched up the two stone stairs and slammed the door open.

He froze.

At least two dozen people sat inside, all on the floor curled up with their blankets and packs. They leapt to their feet and backed away. The children ran to their mothers, fear covering their faces, and more than one drew their weapons. Old, rusted blades Rion was fairly certain wouldn’t hold up in a real fight.

The world fell silent. Their breaths turned shallow, then one heart rate spiked followed by another as they noticed the magic around Rion’s body and realized who stood before them. One stepped back, tripping over his pack.

Not bandits. Not even slavers. There were wanderers without a home. Fae who had nothing to their names. Their clothes were tattered, their bags dirt-covered and worn. He noted the food they’d spread across the floor, a meager meal that wouldn’t even come close to feeding half.

A young male stepped forward, a pure-blood, and though the adults shot pleading looks at the youngling, they didn’t appear to possess the strength to command him to back down. To keep his mouth shut and bow his head so maybe, just maybe, The Demon would let them live.

Rion swallowed the lump in his throat. Why had anger risen in him every time he entered a village? Why had he looked at everyone with so much hatred in his heart?

Because none would have hesitated to kill him. Even now he saw it in their eyes. The abomination. The creature that would wreak havoc upon the world. A festering wound that needed to be cleaned before the infection spread to the rest of the body.

That was him.

Rion cleared his throat and eyed the young male. He couldn’t have been older than eight. No magic, which meant the youth likely hadn’t grown into it yet.

Rion slowly set his pack on the floor. Their wide eyes watched his every move. He didn’t have much, some fresh water and Ellie’s packed lunch, but it would be enough for the children at least.

Rion backed toward the door. “I’ll be outside working. There’s food in the bag if you need it.”

The young male clenched his fists. “You’re not mad?”

“About what?”

“Us being in your home.”

“It’s not mine.”

His young eyes widened. “Whose is it?”

“Yours, if you want it to be, as is anything else I build here.” Those in the room looked between one another, but he exited before they asked him any more questions.

Rion wasn’t sure what he expected, but when the boy finally left the house, others joined him, watching Rion as he used his magic to build the chimney of the cabin next door to theirs.

Rion’s heart beat just a little faster. He’d given someone in need shelter. Even if they decided not to stay, they were safe for a time. He’d shown a stranger he wasn’t going to hurt them and they hadn’t fled at the first given chance.

Maybe Ellie was right. Maybe things could change for the better.

The afternoon wore on and Rion continued working, pulling down trees before splitting them apart. He left a few that were thick and sturdy to provide shade during the warmer months.

The youngling never stopped watching him. Not once.

He had short, dark blond hair that seemed to carry every shade of the earth and golden amber eyes that contrasted against his tawny skin. His pants were torn at both knees and stitched together across the top of one thigh. The shirt was at least three sizes too large even with the tie he’d used to tighten it at one end.

A glimmer of something caught his eye then, but Rion couldn’t identify the object until the male drew closer.

Iron. The boy wore an iron bracelet. It wasn’t a shackle, and the thin material looked as though it would slide off his slender wrist easily enough. But he wasn’t a half-breed. Even if he possessed magic, it shouldn’t overwhelm him. Such a phenomenon was rare. Fae were made to possess magic, it was part of them.

The youngling stepped closer and Rion angled his body so it appeared he wasn’t watching. He didn’t know what the male needed, but he could sense his fear, along with those watching from the doorway. It looked like they wanted to intervene, but once again they didn’t. None were the young male’s parents, then.

Rion finally turned to face him and the male startled. “Do you need something?”

The youngling balled his fists then loosened them. He moved his feet in the dirt, then finally steeled himself and marched right up to Rion. “You come from somewhere, right? If this isn’t your home.” Rion nodded. The male’s lip trembled slightly, but he bit the inside of his cheek. “Can you get medicine?”