Page 57 of Don't Fae With Dragons

I scowl loudly at him, but Mili laughs, which is enough to get Port laughing, too. Soon after, the whole lot of us are chuckling as we walk, feeling much lighter than we did a few moments before.

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I thought the Ethelindans would be glad to see Milica, but nothing could have prepared me for the love they expressed for her upon her return. Whatever Mili has done for the town, they received her with utterly devoted adoration; one particular young boy was so excited to see her that he burst into tears and clutched her legs upon seeing her.

“Mili, do you remember me?” he’d said through his squeaky sobs.

She’d smiled and knelt before him, “Of course I do! You told me to go see my friend. I am very grateful to you for that. What is your name? You never told me.”

The boy sniffled and replied, “Halenius. My friends call me Leni – you can call me that, too.”

They spoke a little longer, Mili holding him gently by the arms as he slowly stopped crying. She smiled softly at him for their entire conversation. Leni gazed at her with such appreciation, such total trust in her; I thought, briefly,this faery deserves to be loved, really loved.

“Oh, there’s your mother!” Mili said with a smile.

Leni jumped up and ran to his mother, who gasped when she saw Mili. Mili walked over to her, hands outstretched, and the woman embraced her warmly –it looked like they’d been friends for years.

Our faery and the townsperson spoke quietly for a moment, then Mili turned and beckoned us over to her with a smile. Max and Port exchanged a nervous look, but I patted them both on the back and walked over confidently. The two followed shortly after.

“Helennia,” Mili said, “this is Cory,” I nodded, “Port,” he smiled and waved, “and Max.”

“I may be last, but certainly not least,” Max announced with a wink in Helennia’s direction. The woman laughed kindly at his little flirtation, and although Mili rolled her eyes, a smile danced on her lips.

“We can’t thank you enough for welcoming us so kindly,” Port said softly. The woman’s eyes softened as he spoke, and he bowed his head respectfully as he finished his sentence.

Helennia sighed and held Leni tighter as she replied, “It isyouwe cannot thank enough. Our entire town thanks you, fromthe bottom of our hearts, for helping bring Milica home. We wouldn’t have lasted much longer without her magick.”

Mili’s eyes started to water as Helennia spoke, and I took her hand in mine with a gentle squeeze. She sighed shakily and smiled gratefully up at me.

As I gazed down at Mili, a shadow moving across the courtyard caught my eye. It was a woman, another faery; she had long blonde hair that shined almost silver—almost Moonlike. I expected her to come to Mili as the other Ethelindans had, but she ran away as soon as I spotted her.

“Cory, are you okay?” Mili whispered to me.

I straightened my shoulders and nodded, brushing off my concern. If someone had a problem with Mili, our faery certainly would have mentioned it to us. Besides, between Port, Max, and myself, any antagonist would have a mess of a time trying to harm her.

“Howdidyou all meet Mili?” Helennia had asked, eyes suddenly skeptical.

Mili’s eyes had shot wide open, and she appeared at a total loss. Luckily, at that same moment a large group of townspeople entered the courtyard and ran to Milica in a chorus of gasps and gleeful shrieks. As the group made their way over to us, Helennia had politely excused herself and Leni, allowing Mili to be greeted by the other townspeople.

Now, hours later, I can’t shake the feeling that the Ethelindans won’t be as welcoming to us once they realize who we really are. The worry plagues me as Mili leads the three of us to her friend’s house. She shoos away Port and Max’s insistingthat she go home and rest for a moment, walking determinedly through the wild front yard to the cottage door.

Mili glances about the overgrown yard with a weary smile on her face, smiling here and there at small spots in the brush. Max and I look at each other, confused; she seems to be looking at specific places, but there’s nothing there.

“Um, what are you looking at?” Max asks, bewildered.

Milica turns around and grins mischievously. “You won’t be able to see them.”

“See what?” Port asks, suddenly curious, too.

“The pixies,” she replies, matter-of-fact.

I have half a mind to accuse her of blatantly lying, but itispossible that as the faery healer of the realm, she can see creatures that us dragons can’t. The thought fills me with both annoyance and pride; I don’t like people to have one over me, but if it’s Mili, I suppose I’ll survive.

Once Mili arrives at the front door, a sudden shift in her mood hits the three of us shifters square in the chest. She seems completely terrified, almost ... heartbroken? I frown quietly, feeling my brows pull together in concern, but Mili doesn’t turn to face us. She knocks loudly on the door, four quick raps, and exhales a shaky breath.

We wait there a moment, and I can feel Mili’s anxiety starting to grow. Port looks at me, concern covering his face, and I tilt my head towards the faery.Go to her, I send across the bond to him. He nods and moves towards her softly.

“Hey,” he whispers, so low I almost can’t hear him, “it’s going to be alright.”

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