Page 70 of Fate and Flame
“Welcome,” she said cheerfully. “Where are you coming from?”
We exchanged glances, trying to decide suddenly who the leader was and who should talk, if anyone. Rhogan shoved me forward and Nadra snorted. Two against one, then.
“We come from the north.” I had no plans for revealing how far north most of us came from.
“Obviously,” she said. “My name is Sabra. I’ve brought you some water.”She pulled the jugs loose and handed them off to the group. They drank eagerly, passing them around as I fought with myself to reveal anything at all.
“We were told we could seek refuge in this kingdom.”
“Indeed, you can. I’m just out here checking on some of the border lords. I’ve got a friend with me, she can get you all to the city pretty quickly, I think. She’s new to the south also. If you want to follow me, we will have to head back to my father’s place.”
We had no choice. We followed the cheerful high fae, exchanging glances of disbelief as we walked. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. High fae were never nice to lessers without enchantment or serious motivation. It wasn’t how things were done. I expected her to treat Nadra nicely, but not the rest of us.
Eventually we saw the farm in the distance, and it took forever to get there. So long that the sun began to set, and the unbearable heat transformed into a bitter cold. My body struggled with the adjustment and Nadra shivered beside me.
We followed Sabra onto her father’s land, and though she invited the whole group of us in, we preferred to stand outside, shuddering but together. Where we could run if we needed to. To my utter shock, Gaea walked out of the house holding a tray of goat meat, cheeses and more water.
Nadra sucked in an audible breath and I squeezed her fingers, hoping to reassure her. Gaea hadn’t noticed me yet, but Rhogan recognized her.
“Isn’t that your friend?” he asked, waving like a giant troll.
“Yes,” I hissed.
He turned and walked away, suddenly too busy to be a buffer between us as Gaea walked over.
“Temir?” Gaea asked, nearly dropping her tray. “Oh my gods, Temir!”She shoved the tray into Sabra’s hand and pulled me into a hug.
I kept my hand in Nadra’s, but the awkwardness was suffocating me.
“I see you’ve finally realized your mating bond.” She smiled as she looked between me and Nadra.
“We have,” Nadra answered, unfazed. Was the tension only my own?
“I’m so glad you’re here, but how did you get away?”
“It’s a long story,” I answered. “Maybe another time.”
Gaea knew me well enough to understand that I wasn’t comfortable with any of this. Her, Nadra, the uncommonly nice high fae, none of it.
“I need to start spiriting the crowd to the city anyway. We’ve got a place there. There isn’t much privacy, but it’s safe.” My eyes flicked to Sabra and back to her. “You’ll get used to it, Temir. They don’t even use the terms lesser and high fae in the Flame Court. There are no servants, and no one is demanded to do a single thing. It’s a different world in the south.”
She walked away from us and I instantly pulled Nadra into my arms.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Because I think you were right to want to come here. And not because Gaea is here, but because I think they’ll let me love you. I think the looks we’ve been getting about a lesser fae and a high fae together will stop.”
“Let them look, Temir. And I’m not worried about Gaea, if that’s what you think. I think we’re going to need her.”
“How so?”
“I’d bet my last coin she’s already working with Ara and the prince. We must get to them as soon as possible. They have to know what we know.”
“Right.”
Gaea spirited each of us into a makeshift village within a city. We stood in the center of a compound of buildings labeled on the outside for clarity. Barracks and wash houses and a dining hall filled one side. It wasn’t immaculate, but it was freedom.
I wanted nothing more than to finally have alone time with my mate. She’d slept in my arms for weeks, but that was as close as we were able to get while traveling with a group of people. I needed to get her safe and then get her naked. That was it for me. Basic mated male needs, and I wasn’t even ashamed of it.
