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It was her.
She smelled like ... It didn’t matter.
I had to save her. Stepping forward, I attempted to pull my feet from the mud with no luck. “Hold on, Josephine,” I called, but my voice sounded small.
Like a child.
Deep, methodical laughter rang through the treetops, sending crows scattering around me.
Josephine stalled in the distance, placing one hand on a tree, she turned to look at me. Her blue eyes were vibrant, though the distance should have dulled them.
Deidamia formed behind her. Bigger than life. The horns on top of her head were large, those vicious green eyes full of hate and smug arrogance.
“Too late, Kellan,” she said in that sultry voice. “It’s too late again.”
I woke to a wet face, and the faerie leaning over me with a pitcher of water. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, handing me a towel. “You were screaming, and I didn’t know what to do. I need to leave. I can feel him getting antsy outside.”
I swiped my palm down my face. Taking the towel, I wiped off my chest. “Thank you.”
The sun was higher in the sky than I would have liked.
My body needed the rest.
The faerie stood uncomfortably by the door, avoiding my gaze as I dressed. “Who is Josephine?” she asked softly. “Your wife? Is that why you didn’t take me up on my offer?”
I slid my T-shirt back over my shoulders. “No. My wife died decades ago. Josephine is who I came to rescue. Deidamia took her.”
The faerie’s eyes were wide in shock. “You’re going to face off with Deidamia? Oh, dear. Please be careful.”
The genuine look on her face made it harder to hand her over to the creep lurking outside my door. I could hear his breath. “I can handle myself,” I whispered. “Can you?”
She swallowed. “Thank you for the good time.”
I didn’t doubt she meant it. A good night’s sleep without a creepy guy’s hands all over her probably was a good night.
I walked toward the door, glanced back at my room to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything and opened the door.
The Fae outside sighed in relief at the sight of us. His purple-colored eyes greedily took her in, and it raised my anger.
“About damn time,” he hissed. “Has he paid you?”
She shook her head.
Digging gold coins out of my pocket, I handed them to her. The fae intercepted my hand, and I snapped. It was unlike me to do so. Well, most of the time, but I pressed him against the window by my forearm and watched as he gasped for breath.
The faerie behind me grabbed my T-shirt and begged me with those big storybook eyes not to make it worse for her. But I would make it better. Using the knife lodged into my boot, I slid it along his cheek, drawing blood.
“Why don’t you run, little faerie?” I asked, looking over my shoulder. “I’ll keep him here until you're safe.”
She didn’t budge.
“Run, girl,” I hissed. "This will be your only chance."
She nibbled her bottom lip, turned, and took flight, leaving sparkles in the air like something out of a child’s storybook.
The Fae chuckled deeply. He craned his neck to gather breath enough to speak. “I will find her, fool.”
I pressed harder. “Yeah, maybe after you heal.”
