Page 84 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

“That doesn’t exactly say we don’t have feelings for each other.”

“My people expect me to be protective and possessive while we’re mates—and while you’re keeping me hidden from the Demon. No mated male would sleep far from his female, regardless of his feelings for her.”

“The Demon’s still flying above us, so if I’m a protector, I’m a terrible one.” I gestured upward.

“He doesn’t know what I look like, and you’ve concealed my magic from him,” Ravv countered. “He would have to burn the whole city to find me, and even then, he wouldn’t recognize me. His magic prevents him from purposefully killing anyone but his target, so you’re doing as good a job as anyone could ask for.”

I didn’t really believe him, though his words did relax me slightly. “As long as you don’t think it’ll get us killed.”

“I can protect you.”

“Not while you’re sleeping.”

His scoff told me we were never going to agree on that topic, so I changed it. “Alright, we’ll spend our nights together. I’m going to learn how to cook, too.”

Ravv’s continued scowl told me he didn’t love my subject change, or idea about cooking.

“It’s going to be great,” I told him, though I didn’t really believe it myself. “Now, can you show me where you think I could be useful? I can try to melt some ice.”

He grudgingly agreed, and we slipped onto the backs of the idorr who had agreed to stick with me.

It took nearly an hour on the beasts’ backs. Finally, we reached the part of the city beyond the fae-made rivers and streams that fed their crops

Ravv remained on the idorr’s back as he introduced me to Cree, who was apparently in charge of keeping the rivers flowing. He was one of the roughest-looking men I’d ever seen, with a thick, scraggly orange beard, and eyes that glowed black. His body was covered in scars, and he was built even thicker than Ravv.

“What do you want, Highness?” the man grumbled.

“Laeli has offered her magic up to help with the ice dams.”

The man looked at me.

A long moment passed before he finally looked back at Ravv and shook his head. “No.”

Ravv’s eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t asking. She can take care of the dams faster than any of the rest of you.” He nodded to me, and I slipped off the back of the idorr I was seated on.

“Fine.” The man strode away.

I looked at Ravv, and he waved me toward Cree.

I hurried after the guy, with two idorr following me. Ravv remained where he was, watching me intently.

“Tell me if anything goes wrong, Lae. I want to know everything,” the king warned me.

I shooed him away mentally, the same way he’d shooed me with his hand, and he chuckled into my mind.

Chapter 18

Laeli

I followed Cree to the river, and immediately saw the problem. The water was actively freezing, with ice slowly spreading from a set of rocks that felt like they possessed magic of their own. As it spread, it slowed the river’s flow and started freezing the water.

There were dozens of massive metal tools on racks near the ice, and one fae was positioned on each of the icy rocks, hacking at it.

“This is the dam?” I asked Cree. The handprint on my arm was already aching with the distance between Ravv and I, but I was trying to ignore the slight pain.

Cree gave me an affirmative grunt. “The ice swells and spreads every night, and we spend every day keeping the water flowing.”

“What do the rocks have to do with it?” I asked him.

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