Page 29 of Fairies Don't Fall

“I still don’t understand, but thank you, Lord Max.”

“No, thank you, Princess Sparkles. Ah, we’re here.”

Here was a large field with enormous white beasts on the hard black roads. It took a lot of persuading for Max to get me on one of the planes. He actually picked me up and carried me inside, holding me secure until the engines rumbled, the thing jerked, and we were moving.

It was bad enough being on the ground inside an iron beast, but in the air? With those flimsy metal wings that couldn’t even beat? Impossible.

Once we were in the air, he released me, set me in a seat next to him, strapped me in and then stretched out, propping his feet on the end of the long seat. “Princess Sparkles, sky hunting is going to be you riding my wolf through my old territory. Thatis going to be exhausting, so I’m going to take a nap. Keep an eye out for me, okay? Let me know if we’re about to crash.” He winked at me and then closed his eyes. “If we do crash, it’ll be a painless death.”

I sniffed. “I’m not dying. I’m tearing through the wall with my teeth and gliding to earth.”

“Perfect. Then you don’t have to worry.”

“But you’re definitely going to die, smashed like a grape in a wine-press. Your limbs will be strewn around for miles. They’ll find your kidneys in a pine tree someone cuts down for Christmas. You’ll be…”

He covered my mouth with his strong hand, and I had a flashback of Shotglass’s shameless desire for him.

I pulled his hand down and stopped talking, crossing my arms instead. He fell asleep, his head less than a foot away from me, his breathing deep, even, his bare face relaxed and almost angelic. I stared at his face, the curve of his throat, the steady pulse and rise and fall of his chest. He smelled so nice, spice and woods, with a hint of the wild wolf underneath.

I watched him until his eyelids twitched and he stretched and then opened his eyes to find me staring at him.

He squinted. “Everything okay, Princess Sparkles? We should be there soon. Are you thinking about killing me? You’re staring at me like a psycho killer.”

He had no idea how psycho it was for me to look at a werewolf and not think about killing him. “You fly inside metal beasts. You don’t care if you die.”

He only smiled and then sat up and buckled up as the plane started descending. I watched out the window, the patches of green getting closer and closer until the wheels came down, and I flinched and grabbed Max’s hand, squeezing too tight. He squeezed back, and little by little, the panic ebbed and I couldbreathe again. Riding inside a metal beast was very fast, and we’d survived.

The drive from the airport to the mountain wasn’t very far, and when we got there, we left the car and Max shifted into his huge wolf without warning me. I took a deep breath and leapt up and landed lightly on his back, spreading my wings to get some extra loft, then we were off. It was even more wonderful running through meadows and woods than through Song and the caverns, leaping springs while the birds flew above us. It was a glorious morning, sun shining happily through the dappled leaves and warm earth. He was so unbelievably fast, faster than a dragonfly, and soft, his fur well-conditioned thanks to my efforts.

He slowed down when he reached a ravine and headed down it, careful not to drop me. When we got to the floor, he stopped. This must be the end of the ride. I slid off and stared at the waterfall while my heart pounded.

“I forgot shampoo,” I said. I’d also mostly forgotten that I’d agreed to wash his beast. The idea was terrifying.

I felt him shift behind me and my skin prickled while my claws poked out of the tips of my fingers. The scent changed, the tension grew thicker in the air while goosebumps popped out on my arms. My heart started pounding faster, but I didn’t run away screaming. I just stared at the falls. I could handle a poetry-spouting monster that could rip off my head with one hand. No problem. They called me the death fairy. Which meant that I could die, right?

“If I don’t have shampoo, I guess I’ll have to do it another time,” I said, turning to give Max’s beast a shrug. I froze mid-shrug, staring at the enormous monster that I hadn’t really taken in while we were in the caverns. First, he was wearing a suit, with a white button-down shirt beneath the sculpted jacket. A hat perched on his head, lending him the air of a jackal musician.Second, he looked at me like I was his sole focus, his prey that he’d stalk for as long as possible until I was utterly consumed. I needed to run, but it was too late. I could never evade this creature. I’d have to kill him, but I wasn’t sure I could. If I punched my claws into his chest, would it even reach his heart?

“It’s up by the water,” he rumbled, putting his massive paw on my shoulder to urge me forward. He was much gentler than Max’s implacable grip, but my whole body went cold then hot at the contact. He was so dangerous. And I was supposed to give him a shower? How did this make sense? Why didn’t he give himself a shower? Probably because his claws weren’t any good at opening shampoo bottles.

I swallowed hard, but I couldn’t seem to make my feet move. “Why are shampoo bottles by the falls? Are they left there for random werewolves who need a shower?”

“My exquisite night flower, I called ahead and arranged things.”

“You mean Max called?”

“I am Max. And the wolf. Are you too afraid to keep your promise?” His eyes gleamed, like he’d happily exchange the shower plan for a meal plan. Me as meal.

I shook my head. “No. Although, to be honest, you are terrifying. Could you smile a little less?”

His smile widened. “No, my sweet fluttering butterfly. I look at you and cannot contain my joy. To see you is to smile.”

No more questions, because every time he said something flattering, it sounded like he wanted to eat me. I clenched my fists and turned, heading towards the falls, climbing over rocks and boulders with Max’s beast a step behind me so if I slipped, he could catch me. In his jaws.

When we got close to the broad stone where the water splashed, I saw the black wire box with four bottles of shampoo and conditioner each. Was I really going to do this?

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Apparently, I was, but not in Ruin’s clothing. I wasn’t going to destroy this outfit like I’d destroyed so many others. I pulled off the hoodie and the pants, leaving me in the small under clothing and tank top.

“All right,” I said, grabbing a shampoo bottle and turning to Max’s beast, who was in the process of pulling off his shirt. The movement of his arms above his head was like branches in the wind, and the massive chest beneath the shirt rippled with raw and deadly muscles.

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