Page 21 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

My defenses rose, though I didn’t really feel attacked the way I had when my mom or dad or ex-boyfriend would insult me. He hadn’t even really insulted me… just calmly stated the facts and made me feel bad that way.

“My life is as valuable to me as I decide it is,” I told him, standing up and moving away from him. “I would rather risk myself than have someone else’s death on my conscience, and that’s my decision to make. Not because I’m a life-bringer, but because I’m a person. If you can’t respect that, then you need to back off.”

He sat up, and the motions were smooth enough that I assumed he was done healing. “The fact is that Korrik had a much higher chance of survival than you did. And regardless of your gender, the only person who should risk their life is the person with the highest chance of surviving.”

“Does that mean that the next time a klynna shows up, you’re going to stand back and let me deal with it myself, since I seem to have the highest chance of surviving them now?” I countered.

He didn’t answer immediately, but stood slowly, so he could face me.

I took another step back, and he didn’t try to stop me. “I didn’t think so. If you can’t respect my right to make decisions that will impact my life and peace of mind, our friendship is over, and the temporary mate bond we’ve built will be broken as soon as we’re back at the Stronghold.” My voice was shaking a little when I got to the last sentence.

Aev slowly lifted his hands in surrender and took a step back himself. His lips had formed a tight line, his forehead smoothing icily. “I overstepped my boundaries; I understand. It won’t happen again.”

My heart was pounding fiercely in my chest, but it stumbled a beat when I realized what I was doing.

I was treating him like Naomi would’ve.

Like I’d wanted to treat my ex, and my parents, but always been too afraid to.

He didn’t deserve that. And I didn’t want to be that person.

I could still set boundaries and clear things up without hurting him, or putting distance between us.

“You didn’t overstep,” I said quietly. “You protected me, and I appreciate that. I’m sorry that I risked my life, but the endurance thing didn’t occur to me. I really thought I had a better chance of surviving the klynna than Korrik did, and I knew they’d never give me the time of day if I brought it up.”

Aev’s eyes softened slightly, though he still seemed a bit colder and more closed off than he had been earlier. “The council and the Wild Hunt don’t often take your opinions or feelings on important matters into consideration. I apologize for that.”

My face reddened. “It’s okay, I’m used to it.”

His forehead wrinkled, and I knew I’d let too much slip again.

“We should probably get going.” I gestured toward the sky.

He dipped his head in a nod. “The skies are too dangerous. Will you ride with me? On my back?”

My probably-blotchy, red face, heated further. “I guess. But if there’s a klynna, you have to let me try to deal with it.”

He let out a rough laugh. “Already dying to risk yourself again?” The words came out playful, not harsh.

I rolled my eyes at him. “I just don’t want to watch the damn thing kill you.”

“We’ll conceal our scents.” He gestured toward one of the many bushes with leaves that could wipe out a person’s smell. Sunny had taught me how to use them one day, after I asked her. She knew all kinds of shit about Vevol thanks to her mate, and was happier than I’d ever seen her. “I can move silently enough through the forest that they won’t be able to sense us, or track us.”

I bit back a sigh. “Alright.”

His lips curved upward a bit. “You sound extremely excited.”

A quiet laugh escaped me. “I love flying. It makes me feel strong, and free. I don’t want to be reduced to a passenger.”

He smiled.

The expression was so gorgeous that my breath caught.

“You’ll feel the same way when we run together.”

“Would you, if we flew together?” I countered.

I knew how men were. They didn’t want to be upstaged, ever. And riding on the back of a woman? None of the men I’d ever known would’ve been caught dead doing that.

---