Page 5

5

FUCKING FAIRIES

Rachel

I f I had a moment of doubt the first time I heard the word fae from the lilac-skinned, flying woman's lips, I wouldn't have doubted it seeing this man.

He's tall—taller than anyone I've ever seen, even Tanis. His skin is taut and tanned and his hair, golden, falling into waves around a face too pretty for a man. Too pretty for anything. His ears are hidden under it, but there's no doubt that they curve into a delicate point. Never has anyone looked more the part of the fairy prince. He wears red and gold—a doublet over a ruffly shirt—like he's about to attend Snow White's court. But despite how beautiful and delicate and harmless he looks, when he steps through the destroyed window, both of my attackers flinch.

" Dread ," Tanis whispers, half in awe.

"You know, I mislike that sobriquet," the newcomer intones with a lovely smile. "Accurate enough, but it's a bit on the nose, don't you think?"

The woman's wings fold behind her back and she stands, barely reaching my waist. "There's two of us, bone prince, and our quarry's awfully fragile. We wouldn't want to misstep, now, would we?"

There are blades in each of her hands, sliding from her sleeve.

"No, we wouldn't," the man replies. "And with that in mind, I suggest you walk out before we break something useful."

"We found her first!" Tanis grouses.

"You did. And I am prepared to be generous for your effort. Why, with the mess you made of things, it wasn't hard at all to locate the right apartment. Would a thousand gold be a sufficient compensation for your loss?"

He's...offering to buy me?

"We took a commission from the guild," the woman replies, regretfully. "We gave our word we’d bring her back."

"Ah." The prince shrugs indifferently. "I suppose I'll have to break a few bones after all."

I don't even see him move, but the blond prince now stands in front of the man.

"Please! I didn't give my word," Tanis rushes, begging, just like Ben did mere moments ago. "I'm just an apprentice. I'll go. I'll go. I'll forget all about?—"

I'll never know what he'll forget about. His head's facing the wrong way. Before the body falls, the man's lifting the lilac fae in the air, and then she's under his talons, and a crack rings in the silence. All before I manage a scream.

The predator moves with a deliberate slowness. I step back, though my eyes have seen just how useless trying to run would be.

My lungs fill, bracing for a scream.

And then he bends his great height in two, lowered in an elegant bow, and lifts his head.

"Apologies for the unpleasantness and the delay, my lady." He offers his hand, and I stare at it in complete horror, my fight-or-flight instinct still very much set on flight. "I was sent by your sister."

I blink. Slowly.

"My sister?" My voice doesn't sound like my own. "Where…where is she?"

"In the Hollow, at the heart of Ilvaris. Under other circumstances, I would bring you back with me, but I've been charged with your protection, and I fear it would be just as unsafe as this hovel, if not more so."

"Hovel?" I huff. "Look, buddy, I don't know you from Adam, but if you really have been sent by my sister, then you take me to her, right now."

"It would be...unwise."

"Right now," I snarl between clenched teeth.

I don't know what gives me the courage. He could kill me as easily as breathing; he's proven that much twice over. But he's playing the part of a prince bloody charming for some reason. I refuse to fall for it. I've been choked and watched my fiancé die and my sister is missing and my parents are missing, so he can bloody kill me or he can take me to her.

I burst into tears.

I don't know how or why. I haven't cried in years, let alone like this. Messily. Loud.

"No. No . Cease that this instant. This is not appropriate."

I'm terrified and there are three bodies around my home including the man I was going to marry and my window is broken and it's raining.

"Take me to my sister !" I manage between sobs.

"All right. I will. I vow it."

I look up, though my eyes are so full of tears and hair, all I can see is a blurry mess.

I push back the strands of hair, wiping my face with the back of my cardigan sleeve."You will?"

"I'm one of the folk. I cannot lie."

I know that to be true, because I've long suspected Darina couldn't. Oh, she's good at finding ways around the truth, but she never outright says any lie.

"It's just going to be tricky right now." He winces. "See, the thing is, she's a little dead."

What?

"Only a little," he assures me, panic at the edge of his voice, as my eyes widen.

I think he's afraid I'll cry again.

"She should be undead in a moment or two, if all goes well."

"Undead, like a vampire or a zombie undead?"

"A vampire or a what?"He tilts his head. "Regardless, neither. She should be entirely not dead, by all accounts. I can give you moments to pack what you strictly need. But no more than a moment. You were found by the seeker's guild already, which means there's a bounty on your head. And more will come, soon."

A bounty on my head? What the hell happened to the universe?

My sister happened, that's what. My sister, who's a little dead.

I push down whatever anger and frustration I can feel gathering under the surface, forcing myself to ignore the bodies—one, in particular—as I walk around the house, gathering my things in a daze. I'm not sure what to take. My ID. Cards. Clothes, maybe. I only grab a few panties and tops. Spotting my phone on the kitchen counter, I suddenly think of Rain.

I fucking hate Rain, but that doesn't change the fact that she loves my sister.

Dammit.

I shoot her a quick text.

Me: Rina's in trouble.

I can't bring myself to type dead.

Me: Fucking fairies showed up. I have to go with one of them. I don't know when I'll be back. But I'll find her.

I can feel a headache forming at the back of my eyes.

I'll find my sister.

And then I'll murder her myself for leaving without news, before dragging her ass back home.

Why do I have to be the sensible one all the time?