Page 10 of Fae Exile

I was frowning at the memory of the traitorous bossy-pants when Xeno said, “That’s ’cause you got stabbed in the motherfucking heart, Wyn. You don’t just get up and walk away from that.”

“You got an arrow through the heart.”

“Yeah, and not gonna pretend that didn’t suck. But I’m a shifter, babe, and Malessa had our best people on it, stat. From what they told me, she about strangled the weasel who did it.”

Out of habit, I scanned the woods. “I’m surprised she didn’t kill him.”

“She would’ve, I’m sure. But you know her, the dragons always come first, no matter what. She probably didn’t want to draw any more attention to Nightguard than necessary.”

“Or what we protect there,” I added with a nod. “Makes sense.”

“What we protect right here too.” He moved his hand from Bolt to Saffron, rubbing the dragonling along his back, between his wings. His hand also squeezed my thigh. “Come on. Let’s get you guys down before Finnian gets his britches in a bunch.”

Xeno finally removed his hand from me to extend both arms to Saffron. Where he’d touched me, my skin remained hot.

“Get down, boy,” Xeno said to the little dragon. “Come with me.”

Saffron craned his neck around, seemingly only to glare at Xeno, then nestled even more snuggly into my chest, his snout between my breasts.

I chortled though Xeno groaned and said, “Saffron, come. Now.”

Saffron rubbed his nose against my skin, pushing my shirt down and skirting the wound that had barely closed, and wrapped his wings around my arms.

“Seriously?” Xeno protested. “I’m a dragonprotector, or did you forget that fact, little guy? I’m tasked with defending you to my dying breath.”

Saffron didn’t so much as twitch in response.

Xeno grunted. “How the dragonfire is Wyn supposed to get down now with your stubborn ass latched on to her like glue?”

“No worries, Xeno,” I said. “I’ve got it.”

Did I really though? I wasn’t all that sure, but I tightened one arm around Saffron, the other around the saddle horn, and swung a leg over Bolt’s flank. The scar on my chest stretched, and I had to bite my cheeks to keep from crying out in pain.

I stumbled and slid ... straight into Xeno’s waiting arms. Gingerly, he held me against his broad, strong chest until I steadied.

Twisting in his arms, I looked up at him and smiled, hitching Saffron higher in my grip. “Thanks for catching me.”

His eyes warmed and lost their blue hue, transforming into a molten green as bright as the dense forest around us. The sunlight, which had already dipped beneath the tree line, still somehow caught across his eyes, glinting.

“I’ll always be here to catch you, Wyn,” Xeno said, his voice deeper than usual, a rumble that swept up and down my skin, cooler now that night was nearing.

My stomach clenched—and my thoughts sped toward Rush.

I frowned. Why would I think of the man who’d betrayed me when this wonderful man—who’d only ever defended me—was here helping me, making sweet promises?

Itsked.

Xeno’s brow furrowed as he took Bolt’s reins. “What? What is it?” His stare swept around the edges of the clearing.

“It’s nothing. Really. Thanks for helping me.” Then,because I owed Rush nothing, nothing fucking at all, I slid Saffron to one hip, rose to my tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for being here for me.”

His gaze once more on me, so intent it warmed me from the inside out, he rumbled, “Always, truly. I’ll always be here for you. Forever.”

I chuckled nervously, awkwardly. “Yeah, well, forever’s a sunshine of a long time. Let’s focus on just getting through the night for now.”

“Yes, let’s,” Roan snarled, appearing abruptly behind us. During the weeks of travel, I’d learned that Roan didn’t speak; mostly he growled and grunted. “Remember your priorities, lassie,” he reprimanded sternly, then stalked toward the center of the clearing, where Pru and Reed were already gathering kindling for a fire.

Even though I shouldn’t have, and I sure as shit didn’t owe the drake a damn thing, I couldn’t help but assume he was referring to Rush—that Rush was supposed to be my priority.

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