Page 70 of Don't Fae With Dragons

We’re walking to a nice patch, just between the forest and the river, where we’ve been enjoying training as of yesterday. Since the dam broke, and Mili seemed deeply anxious about it, Max and I moved from our typical spot inside the forest to have a view of the river –just in case the vandal returns.

I smirk back at Max, nudging him with my shoulder. “Likewise, my friend.”

Once we arrive at the clearing, I stretch and let my satchel fall to the ground. I close my eyes and raise my arms above my head, pulling until I feel it in my spine. When I open my eyes again, Max is frowning at a spot across the river.

I follow his line of sight, but see nothing. “What is it?” I ask.

“I thought I saw something flicker.”

Brows furrowing, I step around him and get a better view of the other side of the river. I see a flash of light, too, bouncing off a head of long blonde hair. The person is dressed in a dark cloak, so I can’t make out their build, but they look (albeit from afar) strangely familiar.

The figure disappears as they walk down the other side of the hilly field, and I turn to Max with a shrug. “It might just be someone from town going for a walk.”

“How did they get across the water, then?” Max replies, skeptical.

“I’m sure there are loads of faeries in Ethelinda.”

He huffs and shakes his head, but continues unpacking his bag. I go to kneel beside him and lay a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t let it worry you, Max. They didn’t seem to be up to anything wicked, did they?”

Max grumbles something that sounds likeI suppose notand lifts his slingshot from his heavy leather satchel. I smile, the thrill of an impending training session rushing through me, and move to grab my short sword.

The two of us stand and face each other, starting to circle one another slowly. Max tosses a jagged stone in his free hand, and I grin at the sight of the gears turning in his head. It’s been a few days since we trained with weapons, and I have to think fast to match Max’s tactical, defensive mind.

He’s quite a bit taller and heavier than me, but he doesn’t fight like a front-line fighter, preferring to hold back and launch counterattacks from a distance. By contrast, I’m happiest fighting at close range with melee weapons: my daggers and short sword are my best friends in battle.

As such, when we fight, it’s always full of surprises and little delightful dangers. It’s as erotic as it is risky, battling Max; our bodies clash and bounce off each other like thrown marbles.

“Well?” Max asks, hand on his hip in impatience.

I laugh before throwing myself at him, hoping to catch him in a moment of surprise. He anticipates my movement before I make it and side steps as he launches a stone straight formy ankle. I pivot quickly, barely dodging it, and Max snarls in frustration.

We continue like that for a while, each of us anticipating the other’s movements, both of us barely avoiding injury. I’d be frustrated if it were anyone else, since I haven’t landed anything more than a small scratch on Max, but it’shim–so how could I stay mad?

Finally, I call for a break, and Max agrees readily. We drink water straight from the river and feed each other dried meats and cheese, chatting about Ethelinda, Mili, Cory, each other –anything we can think of, really. Finally, we train again in hand-to-hand combat, then head back to the cottage.

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At the cottage, Max and I are both surprised to find it empty. It still smells faintly of Mili, so she must not have left too long ago; hopefully she’ll return home soon. I haven’t gotten to spend enough time with her recently, and I miss being surrounded by her scent.

I turn to see Max equally as disappointed –apparently, I’m not the only one hoping for a little more companionship. He turns to me, caught in his wistfulness, and blushes.

“Hungry?” he asks, no doubt trying to distract me.

Luckily for him, Iamstarving, so I nod and smile as he heads to the kitchen to fetch us something to eat. Once he’s in the kitchen, the sound of faint footsteps from outside reaches my ears.

I sit up straighter on my spot on the couch, hoping either Mili or Cory have returned. The door slams open abruptly, andmy excitement turns to worry. I jump up at the sight of Mili’s stormy face and rush over to her.

“Mili, is everything okay?” I ask in a rush, words tumbling out of me haphazardly.

She shakes her head, almost shaking with rage, and calls out, “Max, come here!”

Max rushes into the living room, wiping his hands on his trousers and leaving breadcrumbs on his thighs. He blurts out, “What is it?” worry covering his face.

Mili lifts a shaking finger and points to the loveseat, ordering, “Sit, both of you.”

I glance at Max, who’s looking at me, too, and both of us quickly sit on the small seat. I squeeze Max’s thigh with my hand, since it’s bouncing nervously already, and he sighs shakily.

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