Page 45

A va dragged her feet through the streets as the sun painted the town in an orange glow, turning day to night.

They had been out all day, and she longed for a place to sit and something to drink.

Thanks to Kai, she was feeling much better, but the exhaustion was hitting after being on her feet for hours.

She was about to suggest to Raine they find a place to relax, when he tilted his head, appearing to hear something communicated to him through his wolf companion.

He grinned at her. “Everyone’s meeting at the pub. Let’s go.”

He picked up speed as he walked down one of the side streets and she almost had to jog to keep up with his pace. “Slow down, I’m not as fast as you.”

“Sorry,” he said as he slowed his stride. “I forgot you have short little legs.”

She furrowed her brow. “Actually, I’m tall for a human woman. You guys are just giants.”

“There are women shorter than you?”

“A lot.” She rolled her eyes. “I usually towered over most of my friends. Even some men were shorter than me. ”

“That’s…” He glanced at her as they walked. “Strange. You look dainty to me.”

“I’m not dainty. ”

“To us you are.”

They turned onto another street, this one less crowded than the rest of town. Crickets sung in the shrubs and the call of a nocturnal bird pierced the night as they continued under the canopy of trees.

“So, you said everyone’s going to be at the pub?”

“Yes, everyone.” Raine’s eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. “Even Cas.”

“I don’t care if he’s there,” she replied, looking away.

“Oh really?” he asked. “Did I imagine you lusting after him this morning?”

“I wasn’t—I mean. He—” She clenched her fists as she walked next to him. “Fine. He’s good looking. I can appreciate a good-looking man. It’s not a big deal.”

“Mmm hmm,” Raine murmured, amused. “The pub’s just around this corner.”

“But I don’t want anything. With anyone,” she continued.

“Why not?”

“Maybe because the last man I fell for turned out to be a demon in disguise,” she replied bitterly.

“Good point. But you’ll probably change your mind eventually,” he said.

Ava huffed in frustration and picked up her speed, boots sounding on the cobblestones, leaving Raine behind. She turned the corner and immediately crashed into someone.

A low voice sounded as strong hands gripped her arms. “Whoa.”

It was Casimir. Arriving at the same time as them, from a different direction.

And he looked devastatingly handsome in a dark tunic and pants, his unbound hair adorned with braids.

Despite her insistence to Raine that she wanted nothing, her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the feeling of Casimir’s hands on her arms and the way the corner of his lips tilted as he looked knowingly down at her.

“Shit,” Ava backed up as Casimir let go. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

“That’s the second time you’ve done that today.” Raine said from beside her, having easily caught up with her haste to get away.

“It happens a lot,” she admitted.

Casimir turned to head into the pub. “See you two in there,” he said, then disappeared into the building.

Ava took a deep breath and grabbed the handle of the door as Raine whispered, “Need I remind you fae have excellent hearing.”

She stopped and turned toward him. “Did he hear us?”

“Probably.” He shrugged and gave her a sly smile.

“I can’t go in there now.”

“Sure, you can,” he said as he reached over her and opened the door. “Cas will pretend like he didn’t hear anything. He’s almost as awkward as you are.” He turned her around and pushed her forward slightly. “Now let’s go.”

The pub was full of high fae and lesser fae creatures.

There were goblins laughing and drinking with a group of orcs, while pixies darted above Ava’s head.

Giant golden chandeliers hung from the warm wood ceiling covered in candles, illuminating the dark space.

Several bar maidens waltzed around with trays of snacks and pints, serving the full tables with a smile.

There was an air of cheer about the place; everyone was laughing or dancing as they enjoyed a relaxed evening after a long day.

One wall was completely open to the outside, leading to a fenced in seating area under the trees. Glowing orbs were suspended among the branches, providing light for the area. Raine came up next to her and pointed toward the outdoor tables. “They’re over there. ”

He led her through the crowds and outside to a long table where everyone was already seated with a drink in hand.

“Ava!” shouted Jorrar as he held up his pint, his arm around Kai. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“He’s already drunk,” whispered Raine as she sat down in an empty seat next to Kai, Raine sitting on the other side of her. “Slow down, old man,” Raine said, leaning over Ava and Kai. “You gotta let me catch up.”

Jorrar chuckled, taking another sip. On the other side of the table sat Thorne, Quinn, Fanya and Casimir. She was surprised to see Thorne out casually with the group, wondering if this was typical for him.

“It’s nice to see you again, Ava,” said Fanya enthusiastically from across the table.

Ava smiled. “You too.”

Thorne scrutinized her over his mug of ale and she fidgeted at his intense assessment. “You look well rested. How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thanks to Kai.” She turned to him and smiled. “Thanks again.”

He squeezed her arm gently and nodded.

A barmaid arrived with two pints, setting them in front of Ava and Raine and as she was about to take a sip, a tall brooding Orc winked at Raine.

Raine leaned in. “See him?” Ava nodded. “That’s who I’m going home with tonight.”

She stifled a laugh and whispered harshly. “We haven’t even been here five minutes and you’re already lusting after a stranger and yet you gave me shit about this morning.”

“What happened this morning?” Quinn asked.

“Oh,” Raine answered. “Well, Ava and I were?—”

Ava pinched his leg under the table. “Nothing. Nothing happened.”

“You’re violent.” Raine rubbed his leg .

Quinn started laughing and Ava gave her a half smile. Turning away she met eyes with Casimir who was looking at her with almost no expression save for a hint of amusement in his eyes. He knew exactly what they were talking about.

Ava looked away and took a sip of her drink, almost choking immediately. “What is this?” She gasped, looking at Raine.

“It’s ale, dear.”

She shook her head as she noticed the others laughing at her. “That’s not ale.”

“It’s made right here,” explained Thorne across from her. “It’s the owner’s specialty.”

“It’s a tad dark,” said Fanya apologetically. “And a bit strong.”

“I’ll say,” Ava replied. She took another sip, wincing, but swallowed it. She didn’t want to offend the owner.

Kai leaned in. “You don’t have to drink that.”

“Are you sure?” she whispered. “I don’t want to upset anyone.”

Kai nodded and then waved to the closest bar maiden. She approached, and he whispered something in her ear before she disappeared. The woman returned within minutes and set down a new pint of drink in front of Ava, smiling brightly as she disappeared before Ava even had a chance to thank her.

“I’ll take that.” Raine grabbed her first pint, sloshing it on the table, and took a swig, somehow already finished with his own.

Ava tried a sip of the new drink and smiled as she swallowed the sweet taste. “What is that?” she asked Kai.

“Honeyed mead,” he replied. “I don’t like that other stuff either.”

“Thanks, it’s delicious.”

She sat quietly, sipping her drink as she watched the group laugh with each other.

As when they were traveling in the wilderness, there was an easiness in their interactions.

A closeness. They teased each other, smiled warmly and truly seemed to care.

Exactly like a family, though only two of them were blood related.

Though she knew they still watched her closely, not completely trusting her, she was shocked at their hospitality and quick acceptance of her into their close-knit group. Something she had always longed for.

“So…” She leaned to Raine. “How do you all know each other? Like did you grow up together, or…?”

He clapped his hands together. “Well, let’s see if I can explain this long story quickly.”

Hearing Raine’s loud voice, the rest of the table quieted and looked at him, waiting for the story. “Jorrar and Kai have been around for… a thousand years or whatever.” He waved his hand.

“We are not that old, Raine,” countered Jorrar, playing with Kai’s curls next to him.

“Yes, yes,” Raine continued. “A lot of us lost at least one parent in the war. Fanya and I lost our mother when we were very young.”

“I’m sorry,” Ava said.

“Thank you,” he replied. “Casimir lost his too and had nowhere to go. So, our father took him in and raised the three of us together.”

She glanced at Casimir who was watching Raine with intensity.

“Then Quinn showed up when we were adolescents, so we all became close then. Thorne was a young king, having lost both his parents, and Jorrar was advising him as he came of age.” He took a sip of ale. “It just kind of happened that way. And that’s that. Our band of misfits was created.”

Ava smiled at his story. Admired their devotion to each other. “My parents are dead too,” she said. “I’m sorry you all had to experience that. ”

Everyone was watching her now and she fidgeted under their scrutinizing eyes. “What happened to your parents?” Thorne asked her.

She sighed. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the mood of the evening, but she decided to open up. “I never knew my father. The only thing my mother told me was he died before I was born. Then a few years ago, my mother died from a disease that couldn’t be cured.”

Raine tensed beside her and she looked at him. He was looking down at her and a realization passed over his face as if he had figured out her secret.

“Ava,” he said quietly as the others watched. “Where are your parents from?”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then turned toward the group. “Here.”

The fae around the table were completely silent as they all regarded her with surprise.

“I knew you weren’t completely human,” he said, running his fingers through his hair. “I could sense it. What were their names?”

“I don’t know my father’s name. My mother’s name was Sarah,” she answered, hands shaking as she waited for their reaction.

Raine exhaled, seemingly disappointed.

“We don’t know anyone by that name,” said Jorrar. “It’s not a fae name.”

After a few moments of silence, Thorne spoke. “This is significant, Ava. We must?—”

He was cut off by a scream outside the fence of the tavern.