Page 38 of The Reign of Blood

She probably needs to get in bed and rest, but my grandmother used to always go on high alert when I was unwell. If I were as white as a sheet, she would be at my side the entire time, but instead of tucking me under the covers, she would have me out in the garden, playing, exerting energy, and remaining present.

“You can sleep when you’ve shown me how strong you are,”she would say, and now I find myself in her shoes, eager to watch this fae girl prove her strength, despite the obvious.

The pathway becomes shaded as we slowly walk along the trail. The trees loom tall above us, and when I glance toward Adrianna, her eyebrows are pinched. Thankfully, she speaks before I can question it.

“Why do I always end up here with one of you?”

Glancing around, I realize we’re in the spot where I first saw her, where she first unleashed that wicked tongue and put me in my place despite my efforts. The fallen tree lingers to our right, and I head toward it, eager for her to sit down.

“It’s clearly our special place,” I muse, and she scoffs. “Just don’t get too sentimental over it,” I add, aware my harsh front is slipping.

“Why would I?” she questions, cocking a brow at me.

I clear my throat, peering at her before fixing my gaze straight ahead. “Girls are strange with semantics like that. Don’t give me that look, I’m just stating the facts,” I add when she starts to glare.

Thankfully, she softens it with an eye roll, and I relish in the spark of her usual self rising to the surface, even if it is only for a split second.

She sits with a sigh, her head slumped forward as her eyelids close.

Taking off my red cloak, I drape it over the stump and take a seat beside her. Despite my eagerness to keep her present, I give her a few minutes to relax and come down from the walk.

I still can’t wrap my head around seeing her like this. Maybe I should get the others, but a part of me wants to keep her all to myself. She doesn’t need more people falling over themselves when she’s not at her full capacity. Not that I know what any of this means for me.

She’s the enemy, a fae, a faeprincess, but a fae all the same.

I should hate her, now more than ever, just like Sean said when he tried to attack her earlier, but I can’t. I was drawn to her before, but now? This is something else entirely.

A groan slips from her lips as she leans back, rolling her neck in an attempt to rid her limbs of the ache.

“Okay, let’s focus on your magic so you’re not consumed with the pain,” I murmur, rising to stand before her. She looks up at me through her lashes as though she wants to punch me in the dick. She’s struggling. If I can see it, she is most definitely feeling it. Distraction. That’s what she needs. “So, you pretended to rock the earth magic for a while, and I’ve seen you use your air abilities, but you’re going to have to rank all of your royal skills for me so we can figure it out.”

“I’m not telling you any of that,” she grunts, wiping a hand down her face.

My nose scrunches in confusion. “Why?”

“Giving you my abilities in order of my skill level only serves to reveal my vulnerabilities,” she states, leaving me to gape at her.

“No, it doesn’t.”

“How so?” She looks at me like I’m insane, and I shake my head.

“You have access to all five magics a fae can harness. There’s nothing vulnerable about that.” She raises her eyebrows but still doesn’t offer the information. “How about you don’t tell me that then, but you rank yourself out of ten when compared to your usual abilities.”

She purses her lips, considering her options as she always does before giving me a subtle nod. Her jaw ticks and a vein pulses at her temple when she pushes up onto her feet. I almost retract my offer to help her. She’s not up to it, but life isn’t fair and neither is this. She has to push through whether she likes it or not.

I open my mouth to encourage her when her gaze whips to mine. “Please just stop talking. I’m trying, and I don’t need you dictating to me what should be done,” she snaps, the warning clear in her eyes.

Snarky as fuck. I like it.

“Whatever you say,” I reply, lifting my hands in surrender.

It’s not lost on me that she interprets every action as a negative, but I don’t correct her. Not if it fuels that fire burning deep inside of her.

Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath. Nothing happens for a beat until the discreet sound of something stretching comes from below me. I look down to see vines protruding from the ground, inching toward my feet.

I take a step back, wagging my finger at her. “Not again,” I grumble, earning a small smirk from her. I haven’t forgotten the last time she did that when I was sitting at the table with the guys. I was ready to chase after her when she got up and sauntered off, but found myself rooted to the spot.

“But it’s fun,” she grumbles, giving me puppy-dog eyes, and I shake my head at her.

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