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Territorial marks by a mate? What was he—
Eon.
I must have gotten them from Eon! He’s the only person who’d—
My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe I’d walked around with those marks on my neck. Even worse, I couldn’t believe no one had noticed them. But with my hair down all the time and shielding me, I could only call it a blessing.
“He’s not a Fairy or an Elf, is he?” he asked slowly, cautiously. “Our kind don’t show such… affection before bonding.”
I nodded, hearing the concern in his voice. Guilt flooded my chest, and I stared up at him helplessly because I didn’t know what to say or how to make him feel better.
“All is well.” He smiled, his hand dropping from my shoulder. “I wish for you to be happy, and if this male makes you happy, be with him.”
Even though he was smiling genuinely, the dimness of his eyes proved a different emotion.
Snow lowered his gaze again. “Even though you want another male, can we… still be friends?”
I bit the insides of my cheeks and threw my arms around him, and when his arms wrapped around me, I sighed.
“You dream we wouldn’t,” I promised, hiding my face in his chest.
He patted my back, then retreated and nodded behind me. “Are you going back to the ritual?”
I shook my head. “I need to go see that male. Are you?”
“I guess I am.”
“Snow, you’ll see my brother.” I gazed into his eyes. “Please don’t breathe a word about this to him, please. Tell him I went back to my world to have some time for myself.”
“But—”
“Please,” I stressed. “Tell him not to go back because of me. Ineedto see that male.”
Snow blinked slowly, his lips down. Concern brimmed bright in his eyes, but I pleaded with him still. Then, he nodded slowly, and the relief that rushed inside me deflated me.
“I’ll cover for you, so don’t work your heart about it.” He smiled once more, patting my back again. “Take care, lady Elf.”
My grin nearly split my face. “Only the brightest for you, pretty Fairy.”
He laughed, leaning down to touch his soft lips to my forehead. The sweet gesture made me fidget with the need to wrap him in my arms and shower him with words of affection, but I resisted and bowed, and after a thankful glance, I left.
And once it was only me and my companion, that pleasant lightness his presence filled me with evaporated. My shoulders squared and my spine straightened, and my bouncy steps became sharp, deliberate.
It was dark in the Spiders’ world, and it was too quiet. Chills ran down my spine and dotted my flesh with goosebumps, so I hurried to the tall dark cliff that led to his land.
My destination was in sight, mere sprints away when a familiar fire-eyed panther jumped in my way. A small squeak escaped me, and I bounced back a few steps, staring wide-eyed.
He growled, sharp teeth bared as his head lowered, his eyes not leaving me. “Stay here.”
I looked at the panther, confused and upset and hurt. “Eon—”
“There’s a female with him.”
My next breath became sharp ice burning my throat and slicing into my lungs.
I should have known.
What would a Spider want with an Elf other than a hunt?
