Page 20 of A Storm Rises

He muttered, then raised his dagger in a slow show of compliance. “I am sheathing my weapon now.” He slid it in place at his waist. “There.”

The Enbarr stilled. After a satisfying snort, it sauntered to a nearby cluster of clover and started grazing. Her tail flicked innocently as if she had not charged between them.

Mateo glanced at the Enbarr, as if worried it might stampede him. He approached Avalynn with an outstretched hand. “Let me help you.”

She swatted him away. “I do not need your help, Sublander.”

He furrowed his brows and stepped back. “I have a name. It is Mateo. Mateo Vela.”

She rose and dusted herself off. “You are not allowed out here at night, Mateo Vela, lowborn of the Sublands. It is forbidden. You should know this.” His lowborn brain had probably already forgotten.

He tilted his head and huffed. “You are out here.”

Her pulse quickened. She gritted her teeth. She rested her hand on her bow, ready to jerk it into firing position. “Hold your tongue. I am the future High Queen. These are my lands.” The lowborn needed a lesson in respect.

“Oh, I know who you are, ice princess.” His hand wrapped around the dagger’s hilt. “And I know where I stand…in unwelcoming Stromm land.”

“What did you call me?” She clutched her bow and grabbed an arrow. She knew of this nickname, but hearing it spoken ignited a wildfire within her. He had no idea with whom he dealt.

He stepped forward and jerked his chin. “You heard me.”

The Enbarr snorted. It pawed at the ground and backed up between Avalynn and Mateo. It shook her head and let out a low bray.

“Not now,” she hissed to the creature, moving to the other side of the beast and coming face-to-face with the Sublander.

Mateo crossed his arms, and a small, irritating smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Even your horse knows you are acting ridiculous.”

Every word out of the Sublander’s mouth vibrated her insides and dug his last place grave deeper. “Name-calling will get you nowhere, Sublander. And it is no horse. It is an Enbarr! It does not belong to me but to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. A magical beast that transports people to the Passing Place and can only be ridden by the purest of hearts.” That excluded him and his people in the Sublands.

A look of wonder spread across his face. “This is an Enbarr?”

The magnificent creature stamped her hooves. Its mane hung long and flowy. Those long lashes curled at the edges. While on the petite side, it still possessed the typical long legs and slender body. By the light of the bright moon, Avalynn saw the purple tint in the Enbarr’s wise eyes. “You have never seen one?”

He approached the beast with slow steps. “I have not. We do not have much magic in the Sublands.” He stretched out his hand. “May I touch it?”

“Sure. If it wants you to, that is. It might bite your hand off.” Visions of the Enbarr attacking the Sublander brought a smile to her lips. It would serve him right.

He cocked a brow. “Now you jest with me.”

She shrugged. “I am not jesting. It is up to the Enbarr if it allows your lowborn touch.” If it were up to her, he would lose an arm.

He clenched his teeth. “Enough with calling me lowborn and Sublander.” He double-tapped his fist over his heart. “I am Mateo Vela. A fae and a hunter like any other. My bloodline belongs here as much as any other bloodline.” He raised his voice. “I share this land with you!”

She swallowed. Pain etched across his perfect face, his features tightening as if he carried the weight of a thousand crushed souls on his shoulders. Despite her softening heart, he was still lowborn, a Sublander, and she had a job to do. Despite all that, she wanted to say something to him but could not find any words for Mateo Vela from the Sublands…except that he was unexpected.

The Enbarr moved closer and nudged Avalynn. She stroked the beast’s silky soft muzzle and cleared her throat. “You can touch it. The creature will not hurt you.” There’d be no harm in letting the lowborn touch something so magnificent.

“I’ve changed my mind.” Mateo shoved his hands in his pockets and started back to the palace. “Nice to meet you, future queen, current princess, Avalynn.”

Her jumbled thoughts left her speechless. He and his kind were beneath her. They caused anguish and turmoil in Faevenly for as long as she had lived. Even before. Still, he had a point. They did share the land. Not Summit Range land, but Faevenly land.

With her head resting against the Enbarr's glimmering mane, she watched Mateo walk into the dark shadows. With no further light from the moon or stars, he slowly disappeared from Avalynn’s view. Her heart twinged with a deep ache. She could not understand why.

Avalynn scaled back up the lattice. She plopped into her room. Her feet hit the floor, and a knock sounded at the door. She froze, bow in hand, and boots covered in grass and mud. If it was her father, she would as soon leap back out the window. “Who is it?”

“My lady, it is me.”

Whew! She exhaled and opened the door. She needed her faithful maid servant and friend now more than ever. “Oh, Nia.” Finally, someone she trusted.

---