Page 35

“ Y ou’ll be needing this.”

I blinked up at the small shifter, Penina, holding a white garment with a small smile on her pierced lips.

It widened at my questioning look. “Not that it bothers me. You’re like goddess hot but I do believe it will help Quinn focus on the faeling rather than your tits. It’s putting Eshe on edge.” She shrugged non-committedly, further explaining. “Shifters are complicated.”

Quinn cursed. “For goddess sake, Penina.” His eyes suddenly focused hard on his work, a subtle blush rising over his sharp cheekbones.

I snorted and then glanced over at the leader of the shifters, in her leopard form, pacing the length of the beach.

“Thank you.” I took the white material in hand and quickly dressed.

The white cloth flowed over my body with perfection.

An asymmetrical strap hung over one of my shoulders and the rest draped down my side with two long slits to give my legs room to move.

I gave the small shifter a speculative look. “A remarkable fit.”

She winked, her gold piercing glinting in the sunlight.

“It’s one of my talents, shifting things.

Designing clothes is always my favorite.

” She waved down at her person with a sense of pride, the scraps she had modified from my outfit into her own.

A white sash covered her small breasts and a short skirt wrapped around her hips exposing her navel that was also pierced with multiple gold rings.

The healer cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him.

“What is it?”

Brilliant blue eyes stared hard at me. “Can you tell me how she got this way? I may be able to stabilize her fever but she is going to need more than what my novice powers can give. We need to move her out of this heat and —” He looked up at his leader who was still pacing agitatedly. “We will need to take her to the city.”

Eshe snarled, overhearing Quinn’s assessment but otherwise continued her pacing.

I licked my lips, forming my words carefully. “She is water fae, we came from The Under, through their last remaining whirlpool portal.”

Quinn’s blonde brows raised upwards with disbelief. “Was this her first shift from her water fae form.”

I shook my head slowly and answered honestly. “I do not know.”

He sighed and studied the girl once more.

The energy around us shifted and Riella sighed softly in her fevered sleep.

“This should help her get to the city. There she will need to see the master healer. There is a strange power surrounding her, one I have never seen, almost as if something is blocking her transformation and it’s causing her to—. ”

I gave him a hard look. “If she dies, there will be no saving you or your people from me, healer. Morta will look like child’s play.”

Riella somehow had replaced the cold dark hole in my heart the moment she took my hand in hers. I would show this world no mercy if she was ever taken away from me.

Quinn inclined his head, understanding rather than fear flashing in his eyes. “Then we should move quickly.”

Eshe shifted, her long blonde hair swaying freely in the subtle breeze and her features grim. “Penina. Go ahead of us and prepare the master healer for our arrival. Inform our general that Remnant Dark will be entering the city.”

I snorted. “Yes. Let him know the lost shadow fae betrayer is paying his city a little visit.”

Penina sent me an apologetic look. “It’ll be alright, you’ll see.” Then leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear. “Don’t fall for her shit.” She whispered before shifting, disappearing into the high grasses before I could even blink.

I turned to see the remaining two shifters watching me warily. I sighed. “I will honor our agreement.” I reassured them. “So long as she lives.” I added.

“I won’t take any chances with my people. Even you can understand that, shadow fae.” Eshe’s yellow-green eyes pierced me with malice. “The child can ride with me.” She frowned. “I assume you can use your shadows to anchor her securely to me?”

“No.” I said firmly, meeting her stare of malevolence with my own. “I will carry her myself.”

Eshe’s eyes narrowed. “Despite our shifter strength you cannot both ride with one of us.”

“That was never my intention.” I shot back.

Quinn’s bright blue eyes widened with understanding. “Mistress Dark. The quickest way to our city is for you to ride. The trek is difficult and the child needs every minute we may gain by doing so.”

I flashed a confident smile towards him. “I can keep up with your leopard pace.”

“That’s foolishness! No fae can run as far and as long as our beasts. Barefoot no less!” Eshe spat, waving down at my bare feet. “You will only end up putting the child in more jeopardy and with less time for our healer to work.”

I shrugged and wiggled my naked toes with amusement.

“I assure you I am no fool. I can and will keep up, carrying Riella. This child is in my protection and quite frankly I don’t fucking trust you.

But, should I fall behind, my pride will not stop me from asking for your assistance…

then and only then will I ask you for it. ”

A strange sort of gurgle emitted from the shifter leader before she turned to releasing a growl of curses that even I admired.

Quinn watched Eshe wearily before he spoke. “I see we cannot deter you Mistress Dark. Prepare yourself. We must leave soon if we are to give the faeling enough time. ”

I nodded and wrapped the shadows around Riella in a body suit of armor. I slung her with ease over my shoulder and I clasped her legs close to my body dispersing her weight evenly. My opposite arm remaining free to defend and wield shadows as needed.

Cracking my neck side to side, I sent one final glare to the sun. It was the true enemy here, weakening my powers and always mocking me during circumstances of fate.

“Listen up little one.” I whispered to Riella from the corner of my mouth, watching the two shifters hissing angrily at each other.

“I need you to fight and stay with me. I will be here for you, always.” I choked on my last words, the same words I used to say to my baby brother.

“I won’t fail you like I did him, you’ll live, even if I have to fight the death god himself. ”

Hidden deep in the grasses a lone chickadee chirped, acknowledging my words.