Page 41 of Their War

“You're not asking us to do this. It's what we were chosen to do. Avalonia assigned us as your consorts, which means that we are the ones to take the risk, to protect you, and ensure that your reign as Queen is peaceful. If we get hurt, then so be it. It's our destiny to serve you.”

“I don't need you to serve me. Can't you see that?” I pleaded with him. “I need you to be by my side. I need you to support me but not hold me back. I need to do this for myself as much as to keep y'all safe. I don't want you to serve me. I want you to be my partner.”

Sighing, he pushed his hands through his hair. “I can't lose you because of this,” he admitted to me softly. “As much as it goes against all my instincts, I'll support you. I don't know if I can convince the others, but I'll try.”

His words, pulled from a tormented throat, spoke to me, moving me when I thought I was immovable. Drawn to him, I wrapped my arms around him. “That's all I ask. Be my partner, Baer. Don't hold me back.”

“Okay.” His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his embrace, squeezing me tightly, and warming my cold demeanor. I leaned into him. He kissed the top of my head. “I'll talk to the others. I'm sure I can reason with Lennox and Arryn, but Callum will never agree to this. However, if we outvote him, he'll have no choice.”

“Thank you, Baer.” I leaned up on my tip-toes, claiming his mouth and lowering the wall to the bond, allowing him to feel how much this meant to me.

I couldn't help that I was still guarded, still wary. A part of me felt that this would be a battle that would probably keep recurring, and my instincts were screaming at me to protect my heart. However, if he could give me this, I could keep myself open to him. I would give him this trust. For now.

“Come on. I was supposed to come and get you because the contact has found us and is requesting a meeting. I just couldn't leave here with us so unstable and distracted.”

“Okay. Let me put my boots on and grab my gear, and then I'll be right out,” I told him, bending over to pull on my boots. When I stood back up, I caught Baer's eyes on my ass, and I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face.

Adjusting himself, he cleared his throat. “I'll just be out here.”

I grabbed my knife, sliding it into my boot before grabbing a couple of other daggers to strap into place. I'd never been one for weapons, but I wanted to be prepared for anything.

Entering the main living area, I found the guys waiting for me with varying expressions. Brannoc was still cold, Callum still angry and stubborn. Lennox was unsure, and Arryn was considering me carefully.

“Alright, we're going to meet him at the edge of the woods outside of the city. Brannoc will take us out of here, but we'll need to make our way on foot through the city and to the meeting spot. We need to conserve his magic for when we need it,” Arryn explained, the commander in him taking over.

No one argued as we circled Brannoc, letting him whisk us away. Landing outside, I was surprised to find it was already nighttime, though the streets were still bustling with activity.

Putting a finger to his lips, Arryn gestured for us to follow. Brannoc morphed into his Raven form, flying above and ahead to scout the area, communicating somehow with Arryn. Several times, Arryn held up a hand to halt our progress after glancing at Brannoc, barely missing running straight into the city guards. Slowly but surely, we made our way out of the city, keeping low as we darted across the open field that separated the woods from the city.

After what felt like hours, my nerves zinging in anticipation, we arrived at what Arryn knew to be the meeting spot. None of us dared to speak aloud, the quiet night oppressive around us as we waited. In the silence, every noise seemed to be magnified. Every rustling of the bushes, every chirp or creak of limbs, had me jumping at shadows.

Brannoc remained in Raven form, landing on a branch about twenty feet away, his head tilted to watch us. The guys were all alert but not as jittery as me. Clearly, they had the training to remain calm. This was all new to me, almost surreal in many ways.

Time ticked past, and I slowly started to relax. Looking at Arryn, I shrugged my shoulders, questioning where this contact was. A tingle ran down my spine, and I whirled just as a man appeared behind me. I squeaked in surprise, too scared to even scream properly, stumbling away from the mysterious man until my back met Arryn's chest, his arm wrapping around my middle to secure me and keep me from falling on my ass.

“Who are you?” Arryn asked, his voice promising violence for any answer he didn't like. Shit, why did that turn me on so much?

Needing some distance from the distracting thoughts, I pushed away from Arryn, standing slightly in front of him, the others forming a semi-circle behind and around me but allowing me to remain in charge. I studied the man as we waited for his answer. His smile promised all sorts of trouble, his shaggy brown hair falling messily into his eyes. He was shorter than my guys but still taller than my short human form.

“Gorn sent me,” he teased.

“You're Gorn's contact?” Arryn asked.

“Aye. He said you might have a use for my skills.”

All of my men were now tense as I remained relaxed. Something told me we could trust this man. “And what skills exactly can you provide?” I asked him.

He laughed. “Well, for starters, I'm a Puca,” he stated proudly as if that name should mean something to me.

At my puzzled look, Callum explained, “They're tricksters.”

“Now, now. No need to be hostile,” the Puca said to Callum with a chuckle, obviously unconcerned by the promised violence in Callum's narrowed gaze. Turning to me, he said, “While my kind do enjoy a little mischief every now and then, we're also the most adept at illusions.” He winked at me, smiling proudly at his declaration.

Eyeing me, he stepped closer, earning a growl of warning from Callum. “Although, I'm not quite sure why you need me. It seems your glamor is quite a masterpiece in and of itself.”

“My glamor is not something I can claim credit for,” I told him. “Apparently, someone else placed it on me, and it can't be undone.”

Tilting his head, he studied me, stepping so far into my personal space that my men moved to try and pull him back. But he didn't touch me; instead, he leaned forward with a deep inhale, sniffing me.

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