Page 23 of How To Please A Princely Fae

What an asshole. I’m not sure how Wren can stand him.

"Then you should probably let me finish," Druze says. He cracks his knuckles, and Caelan sniffs.

Next to him, Lila sighs wearily and then gives me a pointed look.

As for Kieran, he's foregone the cups Lila brought. Nope, no cups for him. He’s drinking the piping hot tea straight from the top of the adorable cabbage-shaped pot.

Right. Of course he is.

"The main theme of the stories passed down amongst my people about the three Elder Gods was that they were protectors of the forest and even the towns and people that lived on the outskirts of it.” He gestures broadly around with a green hand, clearly trying to signify Wild Oak Woods. "But they were not protectors without a price. Every so often, they would manifest and demand something from those whom they protected, whether or not they ever invoked them and asked for their protection. Was only ever in great times of need, like in the redwood wars several centuries ago or in the deep winter fires more recently." He shakes his head. “You can understand why we would think them to be fiction. Maybe it was wishful thinking, because the thought of such a vast power and the price it may exact is frightening. But there's also a certain comfort in the idea that something you cannot fully understand is trying to help you in ways that you may never see." He shrugs again, and his eyebrows lift in time with his shoulders.

"Now we know what they want," Nerissa says, crossing her arms over her chest. "They want us."

Druze nods his head in agreement. "They want you. And I've never heard of them asking for anything like that. Food, yes. Tokens of gratitude, yes. Livestock? Yes. But never a bride."

"I think it's worth asking the question of why the prices are going up for their protection," Ruby says slowly.

A shiver goes down my spine as what she's suggesting finally materializes in my mind.

"What is so terrifying that they require the payment of three brides as the price to protect Wild Oak Woods?"

I find myself looking at Druze, trying to deduce if he has the answers to any of the questions racing through my mind.

Violet shifts, chewing her lower lip nervously, her eyes darting around before finally settling on Piper. "But if we could ask them, should we?”

“What do you—” Caelan starts, but Wren holds a hand up to stop him from speaking.

“Are they here right now?” Piper’s voice is hushed, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.

Kieran abandons the teapot on the table and narrows his eyes at me.

Before I can clock what he’s about to do, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight to his chest.

I choke out a little cough, sure my eyes are near bugging out of my head, because?—

“Can’t breathe,” I wheeze.

His grip loosens slightly. Which is to say, not very much at all. I gulp down the little air he allows.

Violet’s eyes are wide as saucers, her gaze darting between where Kieran’s arm is around me like a vise, and what I assume to be his expression behind me.

A quick look up verifies my suspicions.

Yep.

His lips are pulled back in a snarl; the gorgeous iridescent wings I’ve spent too many hours avoiding staring at are on full display behind him.

Oh. Oh my.

His eyes, normally a deeper purplish blue, are nearly full black, something I’ve never seen before.

“Easy boy,” I choke out.

“Not really,” Violet finally answers slowly, dragging the words out and looking beyond Kieran.

Beyond the crowded tent and the citizens of Wild Oak Woods milling about.

Caelan clears his throat meaningfully, and Ga’Rek looms larger than ever.

---