Page 167 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

“It’s a wayfinder,” Vaeril says with shock, and as I glance up, his face looks as surprised as he sounds. Even Naril appears astonished and comes closer to have a look at the gift. I have no idea what it is, but thankfully I’m saved from having to ask. “It’s an invention of the sea elves, one they are very secretive about. It helps navigate where you need to go. Their unique magic is imbued into it.” He looks at the item with awe, and I get the impression this unassuming object is more important than I realise.

Plucking the wayfinder from my hands, Naril raises it up to his eyes, squinting as he examines it. I can’t help but notice that the arrow stopped moving as soon as he took it from me. Letting out a whistle of appreciation, he hands it back to me. “I wouldn’t let the queen know you have this, she’s wanted one for decades. In fact, it’s been a bit of a sticking point with her,” he warns. Nodding, I wrap the wayfinder carefully back up in the fabric and remove my bag from my shoulder to put it safely away. No way am I going to leave it here unattended.

Naril watches me, his confusion evident. “But why would the sea elves giveyouone?”

Ignoring his emphasis on the ‘you,’ I shrug my shoulders as if it’s obvious. “The sea elf I helped yesterday. They must have given it to me as a gift.”

I act casual, but my heart is glowing. They gifted me with something they made. Grayson and Vaeril have given me things like clothing and safe spaces, but I’ve never had anything given to me in thanks before.

I hope I get to see them again so I can thank them,I think to myself, but I have a horrible, bone deep feeling that I won’tget that opportunity, that I won’t be coming back here again for a long time. Taking a deep breath, I push those feelings away.

“For them to have given it to you…they have never given one to anyone who’s not a sea elf before.” Vaeril is still watching me intently as he speaks, and I get the impression he’s implying something.

“What does that mean?” Silence meets my words, and I look between the two pensive elves. Their silence only makes me anxious. Is this a bad thing? Why is this such a big deal?

Naril is the one who finally answers me. “It means they recognise you as one of their own.”

“Will you hurry up?” Naril calls from the other side of the tree I’m leaning against, his smarmy voice is full of amusement. “It’s not that bad,” he continues, and I can just imagine the smug look on his face. Growling low in my throat, I stand tall and rub my sore backside and legs from two days’ worth of riding from Galandell to the forest the wood elves call home.

“You try riding side saddle and then tell me ‘it’s not that bad.’” Thanks to the dresses, my companions informed me that I’d have to ride like this, otherwise the skirt would ride up and expose my legs.Mother forbid,I curse internally as I change into one of the wrap dresses the elves favour. Once it’s on, I twist the fabric around my upper legs, turning it into a makeshift pair of trousers. If only I’d packed my workout trousers, but I knew we wouldn’t be training so I hadn’t thought it necessary.

“She’s not used to riding on horseback,” Vaeril says to his friend, but I can hear the smile in his voice giving away his own amusement.

The journey from Galandell had been smooth, and the three of us managed to leave without any hold-ups. I hoped we would get to see Eldrin and say goodbye, but he was nowhere to be seen. When we escaped from Arhaven, we were constantly looking over our shoulders, constantly on alert. But I’ve quickly learned that normal travel is exceedingly boring, so I’ve had plenty of time to think over everything that’s happened over the last couple of days. Mostly, my mind has been stuck on the prospect of one woman being bonded to three males and how that could possibly work. Then a certain scarred, golden maned elf would enter my mind, and I’d abruptly push all thoughts of mates aside and move on to safer topics.Something else that plagues my mind is guilt that I never got the chance to visit Vaeril’s old friends Saril and Taelir before we left. At the ball in Galandell, Saril had a vision when I touched her of me leaving the elf city, and she asked me to visit her before I left. As we left in such a hurry, we didn’t have the chance, but I did get Vaeril to write them a letter which he left with Master Ardeth.

We’d reached the outskirts of the forest a few hours ago, but they told me the elves make their home in the deepest parts of the forest, so I know I’ve still got some time before we reach them—hence my makeshift riding outfit. Glancing down and examining each leg, I’m pleased with my creation. I still have a good range of motion with the fabric wrapped around me. Picking up my bag, I come out from around the tree and start to walk over to my horse.

As soon as he sees me, Naril instantly starts laughing, and I’ve had enough. Dropping my bag, I spin and stride up to his side. He’s still sitting on his horse smirking down at me, so I reach up and grab the bottom of his jacket and yank. Heobviously isn’t expecting it, as he’s plenty strong enough to stop me, but the surprise catches him off guard and he tumbles off the side of his horse.

“You say one more thing, Naril, and I will shove this wayfinder so far up your ass, you’ll need a map to find it,” I snarl in his face, before letting go and stalking back over to my horse with Vaeril’s laughter following me. I’ve never actually seen a map, but I’ve heard them talking about them before when they were planning our journey.

Once settled, I look back over to see him still on the ground, gaping at me in shock. Vaeril, however, is grinning as he walks his horse over to me, looking happier than I’ve ever seen him. “There’s my mate.” His voice is deeper than usual, and I can see the approval in his eyes. Running his gaze over me, he lets out an approving purring noise. “The longer you’re with us, the more your fae side is coming out.”

He’s right. Eldrin said that the longer I spent around the elves, the more I would unlock my fae side, but I thought he just meant in my training. At first, I thought I was only adopting the habits of those around me, but I feel like I’m changing, growing, and adapting. It’s scary. I’ve left behind all I’ve ever known, and I’m becoming someone I don’t recognise, yet I’m starting to realise that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“Speaking of fae, I’m surprised we haven’t seen any imps or other fae yet.” Looking around as I speak, I half expect to see one of them peeking around a tree.

Shaking his head, Vaeril reaches over and takes hold of my hand, raising it to his lips for a kiss. “You won’t see them, they don’t like us very much. Plus, they hide deep in the forest.” His lips quirk up, and I relish this more playful side of him. Before I knew him, I believed him to be surly and scary, but once we escaped, I began to get to know him better as he started to trust me and open up. Once we reached Galandell, I thought I wasseeing the true Vaeril, but I realise now that I was just seeing the mask he wore. Away from the pressures of the palace, he’s able to be himself.

Smiling at his gesture, I look out at the forest, close my eyes, and extend my senses. I don’t know how I do it, I’ve never tried to sense anything other than magic, but I canfeelthem, like little nudges of energy pushing back against me. “I can feel them, they’re close.” Opening my eyes, I don’t miss the look Vaeril and Naril share.

“You can feel them?” Vaeril asks cautiously, as Naril climbs back onto his horse, glancing around as if the fae are about to jump out at him. “You can feel the other fae?” he clarifies.

“Yes, they’re curious.” I can’t help but smile at their inquisitive and mischievous natures, which bounced back at me. Pulling my senses in, I realise Vaeril and Naril are watching me with strange expressions. “What?”

“That’s not a normal skill for an elf.”

I tap the horse’s sides with my heels, and she obediently starts walking forward again, not bothering to see if they follow after me. “Well, I’m not exactly a normal elf, am I?” I call over my shoulder.

“She has a point.” Vaeril sounds amused, but is farther away now and I know he’s not talking to me. “Come on, I would like to reach the elves before dark.”

We continue to journey through the forest, making light conversation here and there, but mostly we keep quiet. That’s when I notice something different.

“I can hear them.” My voice is an awed whisper as I look around the forest, my eyes wide. We are much deeper into the forest now, and the canopy is so thick, only the occasional thin beam of sunlight makes it through the dense leaves. The trees are huge with large, gnarled trunks and twisting branches. I’d thought the trees in the forest we walked through to get toGalandell were different, but this is something on a whole new level. This forest isold, and the trees carry knowledge in them that no human or fae could ever hope to understand. It’s almost like they are sentient beings, and I can feel them examining us, trying to determine if we are friend or foe. I have no doubt that they would expel us if we meant the forest or its residents harm.

“Who?” Vaeril asks softly from my side, on alert as he looks around for whoever it is I can sense.

Gesturing around us, I tilt my head to one side as if that will help me hear them better. “The trees, they’re talking to me.”

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