Page 11 of Of Pixies and Promises (Fae Guardians)

Chapter

Eleven

N yra lowered to her knees before her mother.

“Mother,” she pleaded. “I don’t know how or why, but I feel this is right in my heart. The Well gave him to me. We may not be Well-blessed, but we’re something.”

“You’re confused,” Queen Juniper said softly as she placed her palm on her daughter’s head and stroked. “If only your fathers were here. They’d know what to say.”

“It was humans like her mate who destroyed them,” Nyra’s Uncle Robin pointed out.

Nyra glared at him before returning to her mother. “Why do you think the Guardians are all mating with humans? The Well is trying to repair this relationship between our races. It wants us whole.”

Understanding flickered in her mother’s eyes, and then she glanced at Colt.

“Cousin, you are a respected Councillor of the Order. You are in the midst of it all. What do you think?”

Colt frowned at Nyra before answering. “I think trying to understand what the Well wants is like trying to catch air in your fingers.”

Nyra slumped.

“But, Nyra may have a point.” Deep in thought, Colt tapped the glowing teardrop on her lower lip as she paced the length of the empty crescent seat. It was empty because it was where the queen’s consorts usually sat. Where Nyra’s fathers used to sit.

“It wasn’t Sid who killed my fathers.”

But even as the excuse fled her lips, she knew it was weak.

He could have. She’d never asked. He promised to never lie to her, but there was nothing stopping him.

What if she started blaming him for it? They would never repair their relationship.

They would never make the gully whole and nurtured in peace.

But the point remained. She believed the Well brought Sid to her for a reason.

Colt hovered her finger before her lips.

She stared at the glowing refractions the blue Mage mark left as she spoke.

“The humans mated to the Guardians are not of this time and were gifted with an unending supply of mana during their frozen sleep cradled in the Well’s embrace.

Nyra’s human is of this time, and as such, has no mana.

I don’t see how this could work.” Her gaze landed on Nyra.

“I want it to, but logistically, it’s impossible. ”

Nyra remembered something. “He knows Silver. Isn’t she one of the Twelve’s mate?”

Colt nodded wearily, then rubbed her forehead.

“Well,” Nyra continued, “if she could switch sides, how is Sid’s change of heart not good enough for you?”

Colt slid her gaze to Juniper and shrugged. “If it were only a matter of hearts, she has a point.”

Nyra whispered, “If I have him only for a brief few years, it will still be a gift. It will be better than being lumped with a harem that can’t truly share everything with me.

That can’t help me give you an heir. You told me I needed to pick my dicks, Colt, before they were picked for me. Sid is mine, I stand by it.”

Queen Juniper sighed. “The wings dust who they want to dust. We cannot stand in the way of that. It is natural. It is unbidden. Perhaps this human of yours is only the first of an unconventional harem.”

“Or the only one,” Nyra added, sensing her mother coming to her side. “If it’s just him, then I’m okay with that. We’ve managed to keep this gully safe with your low supply of mana. Who’s to say we can’t continue to do this for a few more decades.”

Her last words caused a lump in her throat because that’s all a human life span would afford her. Decades. Maybe less.

“I suppose if he makes you happy…”

“He does.” Nyra shot to her feet, unable to hide the hope in her eyes.

“Juniper,” Robin chided. “Reconsider.”

But the queen’s gaze landed on her daughter fondly. “I remember her look, Robin. It was echoed back at me when I looked at my mates. It is undeniable. If this human?—”

“His name is Sid,” Nyra said.

“If Sid is Nyra’s true mate, then we cannot tear them apart. The pain of that loss will be worse than death. And I will not suffer my only child the same agony I’ve endured.”

“But the tithe,” Robin pointed out, wide eyes shifting to Colt for backup, but she gave him no support.

This was the queen’s decision. “Times are changing, Robin. Perhaps we need to change too if we want to strengthen the gully again.”

Nyra launched into her mother’s arms and embraced her tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered for her mother’s ears only, knowing that a debt could now be claimed according to the fae rules of the Well.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Juniper said and addressed the group.

“I will do my best to retain the crown for a further year. We will give Nyra and her human mate a chance to explore what their partnership means. If this is truly the Well’s wish, then Sid will survive the grueling first year.

” She touched her daughter’s cheek. “I know that feverish look in your eyes, daughter. He will need to prove his worth before becoming the consort to a queen.”

“He is strong, in both heart and body.”

“Time will tell.” Juniper’s hand dropped, and a sad look entered her eyes. “Go on. Enjoy your mate.”

Nyra couldn’t help feeling her mother had left words unsaid. Enjoy your mate… while you can. Shoving it down, she turned, intending to walk out of the hollow and release Sid from the cage but was stopped by the sound of her mother’s gasp.

It was wrong. Pained .

Nyra turned back and found her mother doubled over, her skin pale, a sheen of sweat dappling her upper lip. She ran to her mother’s side. “What is it?”

Juniper’s glassy gaze met hers. “It’s the gully. It’s in pain again. I think… I think…”

A soldier ran in, his wings fluttering to give him speed. He skidded to a halt before them, a panicked expression on his face. “They’re back. The raiders are back. This time, they have more weapons.”

“No,” Nyra breathed, freezing at the memory of having one of those metal, magic-cutting weapons pointed her way.

Robin glared at her and furiously spat, “Your human lied. And your mother doesn’t have it in her to keep the gully safe.”

But he promised he would never lie.

“Sid?” Nyra cried, running out of the hollow. “Is it true?”

But the cage was open, and Moss stood beside it wearing an unreadable expression.

Once, as childhood sweethearts, they used to share everything.

He was Robin’s son and part of the inner royal circle.

She’d been encouraged to play with him. He grew into adulthood as a handsome, strong, and capable warrior.

And with his easygoing demeanor, comforting smile, and warm green eyes, how could she not fall for him?

They became inseparable. Everyone assumed he would be the first pixie her wings dusted.

But it never happened. Eventually, he grew embarrassed, resentful, and ashamed at her obvious rejection.

He was bitter over it, but she didn’t think he’d resort to this—her gaze snapped to the empty cage. Whatever this was. With her heart thumping in her chest, she asked him, slow and steady, so her fear didn’t show, “Where is he?”

Moss raised a brow, and he shrugged. “He made his own choice.”

To leave? To run back to his people? To betray her?

No.

She shook her head.

He wouldn’t do that.

“Who shifted him to full size?” she asked.

Guilt glittered in his eyes.

“You did,” she accused, pointing at him. “What did you say to him?”

Moss’s deep voice softened, and for a moment, Nyra believed he had her best interest at heart. “All I did was give him the opportunity. He’s the one who asked me to take him back to the lake.”

She gasped. “The ceremonial lake?”

Colt arrived at Nyra’s shoulder. “I have to alert the Order.”

But whether it was for the invasion or because a human dared to initiate in the lake, Nyra didn’t get the chance to ask. Colt’s rainbow wings became a blur, and she left.

Moss’s gaze narrowed on Nyra. “I didn’t do anything but give him what he wanted—a chance to be with his mate.” Pain flashed in his eyes. “If you had chosen me, I would do anything to keep you. I can’t blame him for wanting that.”

“He…” She couldn’t voice it.

“He’s gone to face the Well-Worms.”

“No.” Nyra’s heart stopped. As the bustle of activity rose around her, as pixies prepared to defend their gully, her world grew small.

Her vision crowded. And what made it worse was that she saw the truth in everyone’s eyes.

Sid might not have returned to his people, but his lie would spell the end for their gully.

He would have known the humans would be back.

There was no way the Well would reward him by giving him power. Sid would float.

But he hadn’t left long ago. Maybe she could stop him before he waded into the depths.

She bared her fangs, screamed at Moss, and palmed his chest to move him out of the way. He staggered and fluttered his wings to stop falling from the branch. She launched into the air, wishing that she missed the last of his words.

“Go to him, and you’re choosing him over the gully.”

It wasn’t until she was a few minutes into the journey that she realized someone must have flown Sid to the lake, and it was a few hours away.

Moss had a second pixie helping him, or he’d used a portal stone to transport Sid there instantly.

And if that was the case, no matter how fast she flew, she wouldn’t arrive in time to stop him.

Her wings faltered. Gravity pulled her down. A hand clasped her wrist and lifted, helping her regain equilibrium. Nyra looked into Colt’s eyes.

“I thought you left,” Nyra gasped.

“I did. And then I realized you were probably headed in the same direction, and you might want to get there faster than your wings can travel. I have a portal stone.” Colt gave her a small smile as she held the smooth, small stone in her palm.

“You were right when you said the Well works in mysterious ways. There have been too many strange coincidences with your story. If what you say is true, if he’s your one true dick, I’ll take you with me. ”

“Even if I should be defending the gully?”

Colt’s eyes met Nyra’s. “Even then.”