Page 62 of Pieces of Halves

“Prove your worth first.” Her tone is sharp.

Fairies.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with then,” I grumble.

Jorgan leans against a thick tree, making himself comfortable.This asshole.When it comes to Izzy, he is always on edge, searching for a threat. Right now though, he’s acting as if he’s without a care in the world.

“This is going to be unpleasant,” she mumbles to herself.

Great.It would’ve been too simple if this was painless.

Extending her hand, she faces her palm towards me. The green stone around her neck lights up and her eyes shut. A tingly, cold sensation crawls through my skin, cooling me. It feels strange, but it doesn’t hurt. Staring at her, I wait for the agony to start as she takes what she needs.

Another quiet moment passes, and a string of fire forms from my chest to hers. The flames travel into the stone, but her face contorts as she grunts. With labored breathing, she doubles over with a wince, her palm still pointing at me. Puzzled, I look down at her. Did it not work?

“A little more exhausting than I last remember it,” she huffs, straightening her body.

Swaying, she looses her balance and extends her arms to find something for support. Finding nothing, she falls. Sluggish with confusion, I watch her.

“Woah, there.” Jorgan sweeps in, lifting her in his arms before she hits the ground. Compared to him, she looks small and fragile. “Um, I’ll take her to the fire fay city, you go back to Isabella. She will need you,” Jorgan says and looks down at the sleeping fay in his arms.

With an inhale and a few blinks, my mind clears, and no headache persists. Relieved, I sigh. For a while, I thought I had no way out of this.

“I have a feeling she will be very upset that you carried her home.” I chuckle with a small curve of my lips.

The woman seems like the type to bite someone’s head off for doing something against her will.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Jorgan laughs.

I sure hope he doesn’t think that she will be his sixth wife. The man has been married five times already. Each time, he loved them dearly, but the idiot kept falling in love with humans. They age, and he watched them die. I don’t understand how he remains so optimistic when it comes to love. If Izzy died, I don’t think I would be able to love again. I’m not sure how I would be able to keep living.

Power.

Chapter Twenty-Five

ISABELLA

verything is set up and ready to go. The army is split into three groups, each one surrounding the places where we know the followers are gathering to plan their attack. Everyone in the castle was sent home early as well. The only people left are soldiers, a few of the fire fay, and Anna. Yanuk insisted she needs to stay here. According to him, because she is a witch, the followers might want her for her power.

I don’t mind her company, but I do have questions. Those will have to wait until this battle is over.

My armor feels heavy on my body, but even with my increasing power, it is best to stay protected. We got intel that the followers in the city are all in the safehouses. That does not mean they are not also planning another attack.

Jorgan and Jona left with one group. Yanuk and Jacob are with Anna and me at the castle. My palms are sweating as we wait in the silent building. With my foot tapping against the floor, I sit in the study with Jacob next to me.

The wait is painful. If everything goes well, the – my – soldiers should be back in a few hours. Jacob places his hand on my thigh, pausing my twitchy leg. Sighing, I try to calm my nerves by glancing at Yanuk and Anna.

She’s on the other sofa in the room, occasionally stealing looks at Yanuk. Every time, her cheeks turn pink. Their interaction puts a smile on my face. It appears as though both are afraid to make that first move. Watching them provides a small distraction, but not enough to forget that there might be an attack tonight.

It seems time slowed to a crawl as the arrow of the clock moves at a sluggish pace.Tick-tock. Tick-tock.An hour passes. My worry has not lessened, and my restlessness has increased.

“Can I look at the books?” I hear Anna ask, but I don’t turn my head to look at her. I worry that if I give her my attention, she will shy away and refuse to do what she wants.

“Of course,” Yanuk answers, his tone delicate.

I nudge Jacob on his ribs with my elbow, and when he turns to look at me, I give him a knowing smile. Shaking his head, he rolls his eyes.

Another hour passes. I am pacing back and forth. Anna is flipping through a thick, brown book. Jacob is sitting on the couch, his arms resting on the back of it. And Yanuk is standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, pulling back the red curtains and peeking outside.

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