Page 8 of Hunted

Valerian swallowed, his throat working silently. “I truly meant no offense. People talk… and I didn’t know you were part human.”

“My mother is half human.”

“The Queen? I also did not know that.”

“Well, now you do. I would suggest, for as long as you’re here, that you check yourFaeat the portal.”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m not sure I understand that.”

I shook my head. “Just… don’t say anything stupid. Okay? As long as we’re guests in my grandmothers’ house, you’ll behave properly, and respectfully. Understood?”

He slowly nodded. “I do understand.”

“Good…” I paused. “Have some soup.”

Valerian gently reached for the bowl on the side of the bed. It was still warm, and it smelled delicious. He picked up the spoon I had left for him and started to eat. After the first swallow, he looked up at me, his blue eyes sparkling. He didn’t have to tell me he liked it; I could tell just by the look in his eyes.

“Finish it,” I said, “I can wait.”

I sat in silence for a little while as Valerian continued to eat the soup my grandmother had prepared for him. It didn’t take long for him to finish, but I tried not to engage him in conversation until he was done all the same. I wanted him to eat, to feel comfortable here, like I did.

Or, at least, that’s what I told myself.

In truth, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Earth. I had been here a few times before, but this wasn’t my home, and Valerian had been partly right. The airdidsmell different, here. It was thicker, heavier, without barely a hint of freshness or nature. At the very least, being here was going to take some getting used to.

I was resolved to get back to Arcadia and fix this mess as soon as possible, though. I didn’t want to get used to Earth.

“You were right about the soup,” Valerian said, after he had finished. “It was delicious.”

“Grandmother Pepper makes the best food,” I said. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“Pepper…”

“And Evie, and Helen. Those are their names.”

“And we can trust them?”

I nodded. “I do. And as long as you’re under their care, you can as well.”

“That’s… good enough for me,” he said, meeting my eyes.

I had to look away, even for just a moment. “They’re going to find a solution to our problem.”

“They are?”

“They’re going to try. They are all skilled mages, and there are more mages like them here. One of them will know what to do.”

Valerian’s eyes narrowed again. “Do about… what, exactly?”

“Right, you were asleep. Well, we have a couple of problems. Number one, nobody knows who we are back in Arcadia. Number two, when we do cross back over, there’s a Fate monster to contend with. And number three, we’re stuck here.”

“Stuck?”

“I don’t have the magic to send us back, and Arcadian magic doesn’t regenerate here. I’m about as magical as that bowl of soup, right now.”

“Can you shapeshift?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t tried… but I think I can.”

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