Page 43 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

Everywhere.

“Well? Do you agree to accompany me?”

“Of course,” I tell her, and it’s completely sincere, for once in my very long life. “All you had to do was ask.” I motion to the bubble around me. “This is a nice bit of insurance though, I suppose.”

“And you’re not going to try to double-cross me or hurt me?”

“Why would I?” I counter.

Keeping her on her delicate little toes while we spend lots of time together on the road is going to be fun. So much fun with this lovely, surprising creature.

“I can hardly stand the excitement of planning for our journey,” I tell her as she continues to glare at me, as if this entire endeavor was all my doing.

A laugh threatens, but I push it down.

“We’ll leave tomorrow morning,” she says tartly. “I expect you packed and ready at dawn.”

“Perfect,” I purr. “I can’t wait to spend day after day in your company, golden Wren.”

“It’s not, that’s not?—”

“Of course, I’m truly looking forward to seeing what you have in mind for your newly bound fae,” I motion to myself, “at night. Mmm. And just as it’s getting cold out. You sly minx. Don’t think I don’t see straight through you.”

“I will see you at dawn.” Her voice cracks like a whip, and I can tell I’ve pushed her just a bit too far.

“Begone, Caelan of the Underhill,” she finishes.

And just like that, I’m back in my bed, wide awake, and afire with delight.

What an excellent turn of events.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

WREN

My hands shake as I set the blueberry and spiced walnut scone (with required cheeriness spell) out on the nicest piece of china I have. Gilt-edged, a pink wreath of flowers and vines around the outside and so thin I’m afraid my trembling hands will be the end of it.

A teacup full of milk and a sugar cube follows, because if I’m going to entice the brownie to stay, then I’m going to do my damndest to make sure they want to be here.

Once I’m done setting out the sugary feast, I retreat to my room and collapse face first onto my bed.

“What a day,” I moan, the words muffled by soft bedding.

I set out to find more people in town to network with, and I checked that off the list early, basically overwhelming my social barometer right off the bat. Then I worked on new enchantments and the physical work of goldsmithing.

Then I got into an argument with a dwarf.

Then I bound an Unseelie fae to do my bidding until we bring home the dragon sapphire or die trying.

I flop onto my back, my feet hanging off the edge of the bed. A few nudges of my toes and the brownie-crafted green leather shoes topple to the floor.

I bound an Unseelie fae to me.

Now he has to do my bidding, until I see fit to unbind him.

I would feel terribly guilty about it, if he hadn’t been such a complete asshole as soon as he appeared in that bubble.

What happened to the clever, funny, and kind man I walked around town with last night?

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