Page 33 of Don't Fae With Dragons

“Yes, I suppose so.”

There’s a moment, then, when we just stare at each other, each lost in thought. I look over her thoughtlessly, noting the tight leather garments (a gift of Cory’s, no doubt) wrapped snugly around her pointed waist, holding in her soft belly. She even has a weapon on her: a dagger, strapped to her thigh.

My eyes shoot open. “Do you even know how to use that?” I ask without thinking.

She narrows her eyes at that comment, and frowns. “What? Of course I do.”

“Do youactually?” I ask. Somehow, I’m not convinced. “You know, it’s more dangerous than being unarmed if you don’t know how to use your weapon. An assailant can take it and use it against you.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re afraid I could hurt you,” she says, chin lifted in defiance.

I bark out a laugh at that comment; it’s so nonsensical, I can hardly believe she means it. “Oh, that’s funny,” I shoot back, “and utterly ridiculous.”

“What’s ridiculous about it?” she asks, voice rising. “I’m one of the most powerful beings in Ethelinda, and I doubt you can say the same!”

Hardly aware of myself, I take several steps towards her, until the gap between us is almost closed. She gasps at the closeness, but doesn’t step back. I stare down at her, realizingjust how much taller I am, and feel my eyes soften – I don’t want to scare her.

“You don’t know how to defend yourself, Mili. I’m a hunter, I can tell.” My voice comes out softer than I mean it too, so I say with a bite, “I’d have you knocked out and tied up in a minute’s fighting.”

Her glower only gets stronger with my half-threat, and she moves a hand to slap me. Without thinking, I catch her arm and twist, an instinct I didn’t even realize was tucked away. She cries out in pain, and I immediately release her, kneeling with her as she falls to her knees.

“Oh, my gods, I’m so sorry,” I whisper.I’ve already hurt her. The thought races through my mind, and I feel my vision start to blur.

“No,” she says firmly, “it’s okay. I wanted to see if you would do it.”

I frown, barely restraining myself from reaching out to hold her. “What do you mean?”

She looks up at me, rubbing her arm gingerly. “I wanted to see if you’d stand up to me. Max, I–”

“What is it?” the words tumble out of me, the urgent need to help her entirely overwhelming. Damn, Cory is not the only one with the alpha issues.

“I–” she chokes out, just as she starts to cry. It’s not a small sob, either; it’s heavy, gasping, and I can’t help but kneel down beside her. I just start to rub her back, feeling awkward but needing to help her, as she screams out a battle-cry of sorts and launches into me.

We roll across the ground and land with Mili straddling me, total rage in her eyes. If I wasn’tslightlyconcerned for my safety, I would pull her to me and kiss her, take her right there in the grass and pine needles.

Then she pulls a hand back in a vicious fist, and I roll sharply, flinging her off me to the ground. She lands on her back, knocking the breath out of her, and I almost,almostfeel bad as I stand above her with a smirk, watching as she gasps for air and tries to crawl away from me. I kneel down, twisting her chin to face me, a crooked smirk on my face.

“Got you.” She stares at me, eyes blazing, but – to my great shock –a bright smile breaks out on her face.

As she pants, she asks, “Will you train me?” gazing up at me with her shining hazel eyes. My eyes go wide, and one of my eyebrows shoots up to the sky, disbelieving, so she continues, “I know the others won’t. Cory, and probably Port, too, I’msurewill worry they’ll hurt me, but that’s exactly why I need to betrained.I need to get my strength back, I need to replenish my magick, I need –I need you.”

She blinks, and I watch her eyelashes dance, like dark black feathers fanning across her eyelids. A hair is caught in them, probably from when she fell, and it waves gently with her breathing.

My breath stutters at the sight of her, staring up at me so earnestly, and I reach a hand out to brush her hair back from her eyelid. Before I touch her, though, I stop myself, and stand hurriedly.

“Max!” she calls out as I walk away.

“I will train you,” I yell back, already several paces across the clearing. “We’ll meet, starting in a week.”

“Really?”

I nod, completely honest. I can protect her. I know I can.I have to.

“Will I see you before then?” she asks, her face just slightly flushed. My heart aches at the question, and as much as I’dliketo see her, Realm knows I’d follow her around like a dog if I could –I shake my head. Her eyes narrow and she asks, “What? Why?”

“I’m sorry, alright? It’s better for you, though, the less we interact.”

She frowns and starts to storm up to me, but trips on a branch. Before I realize I’m doing it, my hands are wrapped around her, catching her effortlessly. She gasps and turns to face me, but I set her on her feet quickly and walk away, praying she doesn’t hear my heart pounding in my chest.

---