Page 26 of A Shard of Ice

“Don’t say that.” Kyrie stands. Her eyes are narrowed, and her hands are on her hips.

“I’m telling you that—” Cyrano starts to say.

“No! You have no idea what you are talking about, Cyrano. You were attacked by a lizard bird and badly wounded. You would have died if not for us picking you up. This fae healed you with his magic. He didn’t have to, but he did. You are alive because of him.”

He frowns, looking at me with distrust. “Taylor…I don’t understand. What happened to you?”

“It’s not Taylor. My name is actually Damon. I had a magic spell cast over me, making me think that I was human. I believed it, and therefore, I lived it. I thought I was human for over twelve years. I never knew who or what I was. The spell was undone when it snowed. Like Kyrie said, you are quite safe.”

“I am?” Cyrano asks.

“Youaresafe, Cyrano,” Kyrie tells him.

The male nods once. His eyes roll to the back of his skull, and he falls onto his back with a thud.

“Cyrano!” Kyrie yells. “What’s wrong with him?” Her brows furrow in a scowl, and her lips press tightly together for a moment.

“He’s fine. He—”

“He clearly isn’t fine. I thought you healed him. I told him that he was safe.” She tries to rouse Cyrano by shaking him softly and saying his name. It doesn’t work.

For a moment there it felt like we might be getting somewhere but it’s clear that we are not. It took all of five seconds for the distrust to creep back in.

“He passed out, that’s all. He’s weak from the blood loss. We will have to wait for Cyrano to gain back some of his strength before we can travel on. Heissafe. Ididheal him. Let’s move him to the shade. With rest and some food in his belly, he will be right as rain in no time.”

Her expression softens, and she nods. “That makes sense.”

Kyrie

I refuse to feel guilty about my reaction.

No.

Not happening.

It’s normal that I would be skeptical of a fae after all they have done to us. That he used to be my best friend has no bearing. In fact, it means that I mistrust him even more. He lied to me, and there is no coming back from that.

“Ready?” Damon asks, his blue eyes on me. I’m getting used to seeing them, to seeing his platinum hair and pointed ears. It’s starting to feel normal, which worries me.

It isn’t.

I realize that I haven’t replied and nod once.

“On three,” Damon says, and I nod again.

He counts down, and we lift Cyrano’s deadweight, carrying him to a nearby patch of grass under a grove of palm trees. Thankfully, Damon takes most of the weight. He turns and leaves as soon as we have Cyrano where we want him. I watch him walk away.

I sigh heavily.

Then I spend some time making sure that Cyrano is comfortable. I try to give him some more water and thankfully, he swallows some down. I take my time, one small mouthful at a time, until I feel like Cyrano has had enough. His coloring is much better. His breathing, too. I put a hand on his forehead, and he feels normal to the touch.

Damon healed him. It’s just a matter of getting him stronger. He can rest for a while, and then, hopefully, he’ll be up for some food.

When I finish, I see that Damon has untacked the camels, who are happily eating off the nearby bushes. The saddles and all of our gear are under a tree, ready for when we need them again.

I look down at myself. I’m covered in dirt, grime, and sweat. I make my way down to the water, expecting to find Damon, but he isn’t there.

I would like nothing better than to strip down naked, but I can’t risk it, so I take off my chemise and linen scarf. Then I take off my sandals. Lastly, I remove my pants. This leaves me in just my shift. It’s thin, but it comes to just below my knees and covers me well enough, just in case Damon returns. I normally wouldn’t be quite this modest around Taylor, but things have changed.

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