Page 41 of The Wind and the Wild (The Keepers of Faerie #1)

“ Truly, I can’t believe neither of you has asked me to bring him to meet you,” I say casually, and both look equally appalled and interested. Niall settles on a grimace, and Una shakes her head.

“ We ’re not even sure if we should be encouraging you to speak to him,” she whispers. “ Are you certain you have never mentioned our names?”

“ Yes, very. Nor my own.”

“ That does not anger him?”

The question feels odd. “ He doesn’t anger easily. At all, really. The only time I saw a temper was when I startled him and when he was worried I’d get myself killed wandering deeper into Faerie.”

Una gives me a skeptical look.

“ I’m not stupid,” I tease, then wince. “ I was frightened out of being stupid.”

Una leans against me, cheek on my shoulder. From behind us, Niall says, “ If Blain ever comes near your house again, I’m going to beat him until he can’t have children.”

From outside, there’s a sharp laugh from Olivia as I glower at Niall’s perfectly innocent expression.

He spoke that particular sentence loud enough I’m surprised the nearest cottage didn’t hear.

I set the pies on the sill to cool in the cold night air while Una tries picking apart the newest one without burning her fingers.

Wiping my hands on my skirt, I plop myself into the chair beside Niall.

“ You’re not bigger than him, you know,” I say. “ And he’s had swordsmanship lessons.”

He gives me a look accurately portraying how I’ve stung his ego. “ Yes, but I’m quite scary with an axe, remember?”

Smacking his leg and then ruffling his hair, I make a face back at him when he sticks his tongue out. Cara is in bed, but her attitude seems to have taken over Niall for the moment.

“ Well, we’ve heard no more hounds, nor have we seen any evidence there are more,” Una says, joining us with a slice of the blueberry pie. I’ll take a bit of each to Aidyn tomorrow. “ Though after the other night, if they ever showed up again, I’d be shocked.”

“ Thrice is the charm,” Niall grumbles, eyeballing the pie and trying to steal her piece.

“ I don’t think he’s well,” I murmur, finally voicing what’s been nagging at me all day and long after I bid him goodbye for the night.

Both glance at me.

I take a long breath. “ For one thing, he seems to be staying the same at best. He is evidently still in some sort of pain or ill—I’m unsure. Today, I don’t think he felt well at all, though he said nothing of it. He didn’t eat much. It’s an unusual thing for him.”

Una ’s expression turns sympathetic, Niall’ s considering.

“ He hasn’t told you what’s wrong?” he asks.

I shake my head. “ I believe if he could lie, he’d simply tell me nothing’s wrong. He’s quite proud.”

“ How would you even help a creature like him?”

“ I don’t know,” I mumble. “ I do not believe he trusts me—not enough, at least.”

Una snorts a tad, and I glance her way.

“ Do you trust him ? ” she asks, and I realize the point she is making.

“ Probably not enough,” I admit. I don’t know what else to do for him—it seems he will never tell me how I might help, or there is no way I can possibly help. It seems incorrect. He may be of the fae, but they are creatures of flesh and blood as any human.

Perhaps tomorrow I will edge a little closer to gaining enough trust.

In the morning, I watch the men across the field as they ensure the grasses are trampled down enough for the dancing.

A few familiars from the neighboring villages are filtering in.

It is less than a week now—a few days really, if I bother to count them—and I am little enthralled with the idea and more forgetful of my baking aspirations, instead stumbling about with my thoughts full of Aidyn.

That I might help him somehow.

The only somehow I know is to return and speak to him, perhaps cook him another meal that is comforting and wholesome for healing and hope he provides me with something I can do.

“ Here,” Una whispers, dropping a jar of salve into my hand as I stand in the garden, watching the sun get high enough I feel safe to return to Faerie, helping Olivia with her gardening.

“ I know you brought him medicines already, but this is elm bark for infections, in case he decides to confide in you at some point. Doesn’t hurt to be prepared. ”

I hug her about the shoulders. “ I’m going to tell him my friends are concerned.”

“ You’d better not,” she hisses. “ Just imagining him frightens me. Besides, most of it was your idea to begin with.”

When I finally slip away, I glance again toward the preparations and wonder if Blain will dare show his face again.

I believe I see Mister Haskel’s wagon, but that doesn’t mean his son had the guts to follow.

I hope not. Each time he appears, my nerves fray further and further.

All my little excursions to Faerie cannot be helping.

Strangely enough, perhaps Aidyn himself may be.

I know those lands are full of magic, as is the man himself, but his presence is calming, comforting.

The more and more time I spend near him, the more I feel as if I have known him forever.

For a few moments, I simply stand inside the border of Faerie, breathing in the honeysuckle and considering the trees. They are calm as ever.

I shall ask Aidyn about the strange faerie woman I saw.

Perhaps he will know her. It is time we have a few honest conversations with each other.

Besides, he can ask me most anything. I feel as if I may not ask him most anything.

We should even the grounds of the conversations, just a bit.

Even if we don’t get anywhere today, it will be good to start.

Pleased with the determination I’ve scraped together, I shove open the old door and weave through the maze of books I’ve come to know well.

The other halves of the pies I baked are in my basket—it will be good to get Aidyn’s vote on his favorite, or pick berries on this side of the border if his eyes don’t light up at any of them.

I should simply pick berries on this side of the border anyway. A guaranteed win.

“ Aidyn? ” I call, trotting toward his room. “ I brought pies. I need another taste tester—”

Pausing in the door, I watch the shape of him under the blankets near the hearth. His sides rise and fall slowly, but he appears more asleep than lounging. I press my lips together. Lying there still and comfortable, he looks entirely human and unthreatening.

“ Are you still asleep?” I whisper, creeping along the old creaking floorboards to his side, worry beginning to nag at me. “ Aidyn? ”

As carefully as possible, aware it may not be a wise idea, I brush my fingers across his shoulder. His hair has partially fallen across his face, and my fingers twist to brush that aside instead. I’m not sure he’d appreciate such a thing.

“ Aidyn? ” I whisper again, partially unwilling to wake him but even more unwilling to let him sleep without knowing if he is all right.

I give his shoulder a slight squeeze through the blankets.

His eyes flicker open.