Page 7 of Of Pixies and Promises
He eventually said, “I’m Sid.”
“I know.” Her lips twitched in a half smile. “I’m Nyra.”
She had an official title but somehow thought keeping that to herself would be wise.
“You mentioned a source of power,” he said.
She begrudgingly nodded. “I need to get to high ground, and then I can figure out which direction to find one.”
He gave a curt nod and searched around them. He picked up sticks from the mud. He tested them, discarded them, andthen hunted deeper into the plant, where he snapped off bigger branches.
“What are you doing?” she asked, curious.
He glanced at her, then went back to work.
Right.He’s a talkative one.
Huffing, Nyra checked on her wings. She stretched them with a wince but bit her lip to stop whimpering. Showing weakness probably wasn’t a good idea. In fact, she should give him the slip and find a way to get to her coronation. But something stopped her.
You good?he’d asked after they’d crash-landed.
And before, when they’d slid down the leaf, and she’d cried out in pain, he’d cocooned her in his arms. Her enemy had protected her again. When Sid returned with a long stick and a sharp rock, she realized he was still trying to protect her.
“Are you making weapons?” she asked.
He gave a grumble she supposed sounded like a yes.
Chapter
Four
Sid gripped his new spear and tucked the rock inside a pocket, then started moving through the mud. Didn’t care where. He was sure he’d figure out a plan as long as he kept moving. The pixie had said something about needing to find higher ground.
She followed him.
Her little puffing breaths were like fingers plucking his strings. His body vibrated at any reminder of her femininity. It took him a few minutes of silence before he realized why. He’d stopped calling her an “it” long ago. He frowned and slowed his steps. Was he attracted to her?
“I’ve decided to help you,” she chirped happily. “You’re welcome.”
He stopped. Glanced around. Had no idea where they were. Light barely filtered down into this low area through the canopy and underbrush. He wasn’t sure what to do even if he located the sun’s direction. He was the size of a bug.
There were too many fronds. Grains of sand were small boulders. Ferns were trees. Ants were the size of dogs. At least they stayed away.
With a sigh, he turned to the pixie and raised an eyebrow.I’m listening.
“If we want to get to a source of power faster, we’ll need wings and—” She cut herself off as if to stop revealing something. But then sucked in a breath and continued. “And I’m not helping you because we’re friends. I’m helping you to repay a debt of protection. That’s all.”
His other brow joined the first. She thought they were friends?
Cute.
Did he just thinkcute? He gave a disparaging shake of the head. She was still fae, and he could be stepped on at any moment. Which meant he needed her help to return to his normal size. He took her hand and shook it, “Deal.”
A spark zipped up his arm, and she jolted as if she felt it too.
Her eyes widened. “Oh no, I didn’t want to make it official.”
Official… Sid’s eyes narrowed on their hands. That jolt.Shit. He’d just made a fae bargain. Now he had to protect her, and she had to help him. Fae bargains were notoriously tricky, and every Reaper knew never to say thank you or sorry to the fae because they could entrap you. But he’d just gone and trapped himself.
