Page 52 of A Fate of Ice and Lies (Fated #1)

“Okay, okay, we’re getting off track here.” While Donnie’s words were placating, his expression was anything but. “We called this meeting because food will be in short supply sooner than any of us are ready for. Because of that, our rations will be cut in half.”

Shouts erupted around me. Slurs and offenses far more creative than what Steph had shouted at Teddy. Silently, I took it. Knew I’d earned it. Didn’t even flinch when someone threw a boot at me.

George growled while Brenton picked up the boot.

“Think I’ll keep this,” Brenton said with a wink. “See who ends up with frostbite on their toes.”

When George prowled forward, I gripped his arm and held him in place. His eyes, darker than onyx stones, roamed toward each person at the square.

“Let it go,” I told him.

From above, Nalari roared with her own anger. When she landed in the open field where many of the younger children played, Victoria took off toward my Guardian while parents ushered their kids away.

While I felt Nalari’s rage pulse through our connection, she stilled for Victoria when she pressed against one of her front legs.

Gently, Nalari nudged her out of the way and lay down.

Her glare stayed menacingly on the people of my region, but she let the small girl touch her side before she sat down, leaning her back against Nalari.

I almost laughed. Almost teased Nalari about it.

“Y’all are too ignorant to see what even a seven-year-old can see,” Teddy said, her voice low but still carrying over the now quiet crowd.

“Temper your people down before their discontent grows,” Nalari said.

“I don’t know how,” I answered.

I wasn’t strong like my father, wasn’t gentle like my mother.

“You’re a mixture of both.”

I drank in a gulp of air that I held in my lungs for a few beats before releasing it.

I cleared my throat and stepped to where Donnie still stood. Everly, George, and Brenton followed.

“Everyone’s rations will be cut in half,” I announced.

“Until we secure more trades with other regions”—I spoke the last word at Margie, whose eyes flared in defiance—“until our hunts prove more productive. If you wish to hunt for yourself, you may do so. Whatever you catch is yours to keep. You may trade with your neighbors, slaughter it yourself for food, raise it to breed. Whatever you choose, you choose for yourself and your family. No fae will use their magic to tend to your livestock.” I paused, assessing each face who watched me.

“Should you choose to hunt, go with a small group. Always keep your weapon on you and be prepared to battle the creatures from my realm. If you wish to learn how best to strike these creatures, you may speak to any fae here, and they will teach you. This same opportunity will not be offered to anyone who tries to offend us.” Another pause as I settled my chaotic nerves.

But I was their leader, whether they despised me or not.

More, I was also the fae’s leader, their prince, and it seemed too many had forgotten that.

I had willingly allowed myself to forget it.

“My kindness, my patience only goes so far. I have long ago agreed that any disputes among the humans will be resolved by Donnie and your police force. You will not like the consequences if I must get involved. What you saw at the barbecue is normal among my kind.” I let my canines elongate and with a snarl, bared my teeth at the crowd.

“Let this be your final reminder that we are not human. We are fae.”

With the ensuing silence, I half expected Brenton to start clapping, if only to break up the agitation filtering around us.

“Well”—Donnie started—“if no one has any questions, you’re welcome to leave. Teddy will be back at the food bank tomorrow morning. Ryenne will keep the coffee shop open for another hour. For today only, everyone is allowed one cookie each. After that, it’s half rations for everyone.”

“Can we trade one ration for another?” a woman asked. “I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but my kids would do well with extra milk.”

Donnie waited for me to answer. The way we’d divided up the rations allowed each person a certain quantity of each necessity and luxury. I hadn’t accounted for trades. Hadn’t thought about it when I started this venture to reopen the coffee shop for Teddy.

“If anyone wants to trade, write your name on a piece of paper. Include how many are in your family and what you wish to trade for,” I said. “Once I have everyone’s lists, I’ll see how we can best accommodate. ”

With that, the crowd began to empty while I spoke with Donnie. There was still so much that needed to be done. So much I wasn’t sure how to accomplish.

I’d start with a fae police force, overseen by George. Maybe if the people saw we were willing to hold ourselves to their same laws, they’d come to see we were trying to forge some sort of alliance between our kinds. Maybe they wouldn’t.

Before the woman who’d asked for more milk could leave, I asked Brenton to speak to her. See how much we could spare from our own rations to give her enough for her babes.

It was Teddy, though. . . Teddy who I watched. I hoped she’d come to me. For a few stupid beats, I thought she would. That the words she spoke to her people, the way she hung back with something that looked a lot like longing in her soft features meant something.

I was a fool to hope.