Page 7

CHAPTER 7

MIRA

“Why did you leave your home, Mira?”

The deep, rumbling voice startles me. I gasp and spin around, holding the ax high in a defensive manner. Not that I have any fighting skills whatsoever. My arms tremble under the weight of the ax, and I narrow my gaze at the high-handed fae male who, for some reason, thinks he can order me around.

“I asked you a question, and I would appreciate an answer.” He steps forward, plucks the ax from my hands, and casually tosses it on the forest floor. “Why did you leave your home?” His nostrils flare and he crosses his arms over his chest. He levels a scolding look on me.

I bristle. “Isn’t it obvious? I left my home so I could come out here and chop some firewood. The nights keep getting colder and my supply is running low.”

He glances at the small stack of firewood I’ve accumulated thus far. “Humans aren’t yet allowed to leave the walls of Trevos. How did you escape undetected?”

“Well, I figured most of the fae soldiers patrolling the city and guarding the walls would be distracted by the explosion, so I checked a secret opening in the wall that I’ve used a few times, and sure enough, no one was nearby to stop me from leaving. So, here I am.” I retrieve my ax from the forest floor and turn back to the fallen tree. But before I can even lift the ax to take another swing, the infuriating male plucks it from my hands again. Oh, for gods’ sake.

“You were supposed to remain in the safety of your house until I returned. I ordered you to?—”

“Who are you to give me orders?” I clench my fists at my sides, angry at myself for being tempted by him earlier. Just before the explosion, I’d been about to let him kiss me. What had I been thinking? I try to push away the warmth I’m experiencing now. Despite how frustrating I find his behavior, I still feel a strange tug between us, an attraction that’s beyond magnetic.

Kaiden draws himself up taller. “Who am I to give you orders? I am your—” He stops speaking mid-sentence and his eyes flare wide. He growls. “You shouldn’t have left your house before I made sure the danger was over. Promise me you will heed my orders in the future.”

I scoff. “I will make no such promise. Now, please hand the ax over. I’d like to finish and slip back inside the kingdom’s walls before dusk.”

“If fae soldiers caught you out here, they would assume you were a runner. Haven’t you seen what happens to runners?” He gestures in the direction of Trevos. “Don’t you have any concern for your own welfare?”

“I do have a concern for my own welfare, and that’s exactly why I’m out here chopping wood. You know, so I can avoid freezing to death this winter. Sorry, Lord Kaiden , but I’m not a fancy fae lord like you. I don’t have an army of servants to attend to all my needs and keep me pampered.” A small voice in the back of my mind whispers that maybe I ought to stop talking. Maybe I shouldn’t speak so boldly to this fae lord. He might decide to eat my heart or throw me off a mountain. Or he could just as easily snap my neck, I’m sure. He’s more than twice my size and I’ve seen how well the fae can fight. If he decides to hurt me, I won’t be able to stop him.

Kaiden releases a long sigh, then guides me out of the way and proceeds to finish the job I’d started. He quickly chops the fallen log up and adds the pieces to my pile, which rests atop an old snow sled outfitted with straps to hold the wood in place. He ties the makeshift straps over the firewood and grabs the handle. He’s still gripping the ax in his other hand, holding it as though it weighs nothing.

“Take me to this secret passage through the wall, little nymph, and I will escort you home.” He walks a few steps, easily dragging the firewood behind him while holding the ax.

I scurry to catch up. “You don’t need to escort me home. Thank you for the offer, but?—”

He pauses and turns to face me. “If you don’t walk with me willingly, little nymph, I’ll simply toss you over my shoulder and carry you back into Trevos through the main gates.”

My face heats. I believe he’s serious, and I can’t fathom anything more humiliating. “Very well. Follow me.” I walk ahead of him, taking the familiar path through the forest. I used to help my father transport firewood back home. As a result, I know my way around pretty well.

“What happened to your family?” Kaiden asks as he catches up to me, and his tone is so gentle that I’m caught off guard. “You live alone, don’t you? On Tribute Day, you announced that you were the last of your household.”

I glance over at him, my throat abruptly burning. His dark eyes glimmer with concern, further taking me aback. Why does he seem to care? I’d been taught that all fae are unfeeling monsters, and I’m having difficulty reconciling those lessons with Kaiden’s treatment of me thus far.

“They passed away last winter,” I say. “My parents and my two little brothers. They caught a fever and faded fast. I hired every healer in Trevos to help them, but none of the treatments worked.”

“I am sorry for your loss, Mira. Truly, I am.”

The burning in my throat increases, and I find myself blinking back tears. Fuck, I really don’t want to break down crying in front of the fae male. Somehow, I manage to get my emotions under control before I glance at Kaiden again. His dark eyes gleam with compassion, and I don’t think he’s faking it. “Thanks,” I finally reply. “I miss them every day.”

“It sounds like you cared about them very much.” His eyes flicker with compassion.

“Of course I did. My brothers were several years younger than me and quite mischievous, but I loved them dearly. My parents were both kind and patient.” My parents were everything I’d want to be if I ever became a parent myself, but I don’t say it aloud. Needing to change the subject, I blurt, “Tell me about your family and Linnshire and the Summer Court.”

A shadow starts to cross his face, but he’s quick to don a neutral expression. “I’m an only child. My mother died about a hundred years ago. My father’s still alive, and he’s a highly respected lord who cares deeply about his people. I care deeply about the faefolk who live in Linnshire too. Regular faefolk possess very little magic and depend upon highborn fae like myself for protection, and it’s my life’s duty to keep my people safe. As for the Summer Court, I haven’t visited the bustling heart of the court in hundreds of years. I prefer more rural locations like Linnshire. I find court to be stifling.”

“I’m sorry about your mother,” I say softly, then a thought strikes me. “You said you haven’t visited the heart of the Summer Court in hundreds of years. Exactly how old are you?”

“Nine hundred and fifty-eight.” He gives me an almost pained look. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two,” I reply in an almost breathless tone. I’m reeling from the shock of his age. Holy shit. I knew the fae lived much longer than humans and orcs, but until now, I’d had no idea just how long. He doesn’t look a day over thirty.

A long silence stretches between us, but it’s not awkward or uncomfortable. It’s oddly peaceful, and I find I’m starting to enjoy the fae male’s company. I’d been dreading this trip into the forest for a while now, worried that I might encounter fae soldiers or a dangerous animal. At this time of year, wolves are frequently spotted near the city walls. But I feel safe with Kaiden. Yes, he’s a fae soldier himself, but I don’t think he’ll have me detained upon my return to Trevos. I mean, not only did he finish chopping my firewood, but he’s pulling it back home for me.

Excitement winds through me knowing that he came looking for me. When he returned to my home and couldn’t find me, he actually came looking for me. To make sure I was safe. My breath falters a bit and my pulse increases, and it’s not from the exertion of walking. I sneak another glance at Kaiden and can’t help but admire his huge, masculine form as he pulls the firewood and carries the ax. All things considered, he's behaving rather gentlemanly. Well, except for the part where he thinks he can order me around.

“What happened?” I finally ask. “The explosion, I mean. What happened at the castle?” I can’t believe his presence distracted me so much that I’m only now asking. My face grows warm. Gods, why does he make me so flustered?

He meets my eyes. “The explosion was caused by a disgruntled human man. He’d hoped to set the castle ablaze, but when our wards caused the accelerant he was sprinkling to disappear, he moved on to an unprotected outbuilding instead. Two human servants died in the explosion.”

“I see. How awful.” I don’t know what else to say, and I soon become lost in my thoughts. My stomach twists. I don’t like the idea of more violence in the city, though I suppose I can’t blame the man, whoever he was, for his attempted attack on the castle. The fae are our enemies and if we don’t drive them out of Trevos, who knows how long they will occupy our city. I can’t help but wonder if there’s an organized rebellion in the making, or if perhaps it’s too soon for that.

Fleeing to a kingdom that’s not under fae rule might be the safest option, but my heart breaks at the thought of leaving my beloved homestead. To say I’m attached to the place would be an understatement. My parents worked hard to keep the property fruitful over the years, and before them my grandparents did the same, and before that my great-grandparents and so on. It’s been in the family for generations and I can’t imagine just abandoning it.

Yet I’m living there alone, and I don’t plan to marry or have children. What will happen once I’m gone with no heirs? Will the place fall into ruin, or will the neighbors swoop in to take over? I hasten my pace through the forest, as though I might outrun the morbid ponderings.

The castle towers eventually come into sight, and we reach the stone wall that surrounds Trevos. I push aside thoughts of solitude and my own mortality as I walk along the wall, looking for the hidden entrance a friend showed me a long time ago.

Finally, I spot the thick layer of vines that conceals the passage. I push the vines aside and gesture at the entrance. “Here we are.”

“How many people know about this secret entrance?” Kaiden asks with a frown.

“I honestly don’t know. A friend who died several years ago showed it to me when we were children. But, I have a feeling if a lot of people knew about it, you would’ve caught more runners after the battle ended.” Guilt settles over me. I hate that Kaiden knows about this hidden entrance now, and it’s all my fault. He’s the enemy, I remind myself. What will he do with the information? Will he seal the passage? Or will he station soldiers here to try to catch people using it?

“This is a vulnerability to Trevos, and it must be sealed immediately.” He approaches the vines and sweeps them fully aside, revealing the expanse of the secret passageway. It’s not large, but it’s wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Well, two humans anyway.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Gods, I feel like a traitor. Must you really seal it?”

He guides me inside, and I walk slightly ahead of him as he continues to pull the firewood. “Yes, I must. It’s my job to keep this city safe. Any breach in the walls, whether small or large, is a liability.”

I peer over my shoulder at him. In the darkness of the passageway, his face is cast in shadows, and I can’t quite see his expression. “What do you mean, it’s your job to keep the city safe?”

“I was recently appointed as the new warden of Trevos.”

I stop in my tracks and turn to stare at him. “Warden? How… how long will your people be occupying Trevos?”

He steps into a ray of light that’s coming through a gap in the vines, and I nearly gasp at the resolute look in his eyes. “Yes, the warden. As for how long my people will occupy Trevos, I am uncertain. Years, most likely, but possibly forever. My people cannot risk further attacks on our new settlements.”

Years. Possibly forever…

My knees go weak, and I suddenly can’t draw in a full breath. How can Trevos survive years under fae rule? I think of the violence I’ve witnessed on the streets and the cruelty Kaiden’s people have shown mine. I also think of the families that have been ripped apart, the households who couldn’t afford the tribute and were forced to hand over a son or a daughter.

I erect a wall around my heart and try to harden myself toward the fae male who’s standing before me. He’s the enemy, and he likely killed scores of my people during battle, and possibly afterward.

Gods, I almost let him kiss me . He would’ve kissed me, if not for the well-timed explosion.

“You don’t look happy.” He comes closer, and I retreat a few steps, backing up toward the other side of the passage.

“Why would I be happy to learn that your people will remain in Trevos for years or possibly forever?” I can’t keep the bitterness from my tone. “The absolute cruelty I witnessed on Tribute Day haunts my dreams. How many of my people have been taken as slaves? How many of my people were tortured or killed simply for trying to escape your oppressive rule?”

“Might I remind you, little nymph, that humans attacked us first.” His jaw tightens.

“Why can’t you stay in your fancy, glittering courts?” I ask even though I think I know the answer. But I want to hear him say it. I want a confirmation of whether the rumors about fae magic spreading are true. “Why are your people suddenly encroaching on human lands? I’ve heard you’ve moved into orc lands as well. What gives you the right to take over the entire realm?”

“As you’ve probably heard, fae magic is spreading across the lands, and my people are naturally drawn to areas that contain high concentrations of ussha, the lifeforce of our magic, the very essence of our souls. We settle in areas that call to us, and we’ve tried to maintain peaceful relations with humans and orcs, but unfortunately, our settlements keep getting attacked. Naturally, we must retaliate. Blood for blood. We must retaliate and do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our new settlements. You might think our methods are cruel, but cruelty works as an excellent deterrent. Once other human kingdoms learn what’s happened in Trevos, they won’t be likely to attack any fae settlements.”

I’m not sure what to say. A sense of defeat weighs me down as I worry about the fate of my people. Not just the fate of Trevos, but the fate of all humankind. Are my people destined to live under fae rule forever?

“Why is fae magic spreading?” My voice is thick with emotion.

“It’s the will of the gods,” Kaiden says. “Or at least that’s what our priestesses tell us. Many thousands of years ago, my people were split into two kingdoms, Unseelie and Seelie. Then the Great Shattering occurred, and eventually, very gradually, our four current courts formed. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Our priestesses say we’re on the verge of another new beginning.”

My stomach bottoms out. Is there no hope for my people? Will we always live under the fae’s terrible rule? I can’t fathom it, and I fall silent again, uncertain how to respond to the devastating news Kaiden just imparted. I can only hope and pray that the fae priestesses are wrong. Please let them be wrong. Please let there be another way.

“Come,” Kaiden says with a nod at the passageway behind me. “It’ll be dusk soon, and I would like to see you safely home.” His gentle, caring tone nearly undoes me, making it difficult to keep those walls erected around my heart.

I don’t want to like anything about Kaiden. I shouldn’t like anything about him. Not only is he part of the enemy forces who conquered my city, but he’s the new Warden of Trevos. So why do I keep experiencing waves of warmth whenever he comes near? Why do I feel an attraction to him so powerful it defies logic? He’s sworn that he hasn’t glamoured me, and though I haven’t known him for long and we’re on opposite sides, I don’t believe he’s lied about it.

“Mira?” he prompts in an even gentler voice when I don’t respond right away. He nods at the passage again. “Shall we continue?”

“Right. Almost dusk. Of course.” I turn and head for the vines that conceal the other side of the passageway, and we soon emerge within the walls of Trevos.

No one witnesses our return to the kingdom proper, but once we make it further into the city, many people stop to stare. And whisper. My face heats as I realize I’ve become a spectacle.

What will my neighbors think? What sort of gossip will spread about me now? I hasten my pace, longing for the refuge of my house. I don’t have many friends, but those I do have might not want anything to do with me if they believe I’ve been intimate with a fae male. Well, all my friends except Yvette. She will understand, and she won’t believe any false accusations made against me.

Finally, we reach Sunflower Lane. I hurry down my street, and Kaiden keeps pace with me. Once we reach my home, he adds the new firewood to the stack beneath the overhang, then he opens my door and escorts me inside. He places the ax down carefully and turns to face me. When he takes a step in my direction, I back up and lift my hands in a defensive manner.

“Thank you for helping with the firewood, but please, you must leave. You must leave right now.” I need him gone before I lose my mind again. I need him gone before I’m tempted to let him kiss me… or more. An ache pangs steadily between my thighs.

His dark eyes flicker with disappointment, and damn how it guts me. Why does it gut me? Why do I care if I’ve offended him or caused him any sadness? I swallow past the abrupt dryness in my throat and gesture at the door.

“Please, I-I don’t want any trouble. You must leave my home, and you must leave me alone from now on too. Like I said, I don’t want any trouble, and I doubt any good could come from us… spending time together.” Spending time together? I cringe at my own choice of words, but I’m not sure what else to call the rather unusual interactions we’ve shared.

The disappointment in his eyes is soon replaced by steely determination. “Distance,” he says in a deeper than usual voice. “Yes, distance. That’s probably for the best. You are right. No good could come from us spending time together. Goodbye, Mira.”

Then he’s gone. In a flash of light, he just disappears.

I’m alone. As I should be. As I need to be.