Page 50 of Tempting the Fae Lord
“It saddens you.”
He nods. “I had thought maybe I wasn’t old enough or not big enough, but I always thought someday it would be my turn. But it will never be my turn, will it?”
I loathe dousing his hope. “No.”
Gently, he picks up my hand and turns it in his. Palm to palm, he interlaces our fingers. Warmth blooms between us. I squeeze.
He returns the gesture and catches my gaze. “What happens now?”
“That’s the question, isn't it?”
“Petru is suffering,” says Gale softly.
“I don’t want the death mage on the other side. Though magically gifted, he’s human and doesn’t belong in the fae realm.”
More selfishly, I think of my private cemetery. Those I’ve shared my live with, loved, lost, and buried with my own two hands. They’ve earned their peace. I won’t jeopardize that by bringing a death mage to their resting grounds.
“We can’t keep him in the dungeon, sir. He needs food and water. Rest. A proper bed. If you won’t let him cross, we should find an inn. I will care for him while you rest.”
I stare at Gale’s hand in mine. Why is he so hard to say no to? “This is a nightmare waiting to happen.”
“Maybe not.”
I shoot him a look.
“All right, yes. It probably is.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and presses a light kiss to my knuckles. “Please?”
Honestly, it’s embarrassing how fast I crumble.
Chapter Fifteen
Gale
We retrievePetru from the underground pit Ezra calls a holding cell. The mage can barely walk, but between us, we manage to escort him out.
Ezra is vigilant, gaze darting across the landscape for any sign of Sonja, but without her mage, I doubt she’ll make an appearance.
The forest is quiet. Even the night bugs are asleep in their hidey-holes. Only the crunching of our footsteps breaks up the eerie calm.
Ezra guides us through the evergreens due south, hugging the shore of a frozen lake. He strides with purpose. I’m glad someone knows where we’re going. That is until he says, “We’ll never make it before daybreak at this pace.”
“Make it to where exactly?”
“To food and shelter.”
The landscape is beautiful but rather barren in terms of human settlements large enough to host an inn. “Can you fly us?”
“I shouldn’t. Not together.”
I want to ask why not, but I’m worried I won’t like the answer. Ezra looks tired. More than that. Worn. “You could take him while I keep walking, then come back for me.”
“I can’t leave you alone. Not with her lurking about.”
“Sonja won’t hurt me.”
Ezra scoffs. “Don’t be so sure. Look what she’s done to him.”
I skim my gaze over poor Petru. He’s starving, sick, and exhausted. “Fair point. But she thinks I’m your thrall. That I’m protected.”
