I gasp for breath, the cold air like knives in my lungs, but I welcome the sensation, even when my vision tunnels and I begin to lose consciousness.
The last thing I recall before I pass out are those glowing eyes of amber—eyes hidden beneath a cowl of forest green.
It’shim...the male from my dream. Now I know I’vedefinitelylost the plot.
Finally, I slip away, grateful for an end to this nightmare at last.
4
Tegwyn
AsIliveandbreathe... A human girl.
I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. Nope. She’s as real as the bow and quiver that hangs from my shoulder.
I drag her out of the marsh, lying her flat on the bank so I can check her pulse. It’s faint but there.
My gaze finds the kelpie floating in the water, its blood-red eyes glazed over with death, and I send a silent prayer to the goddess Maghelena.
Forgive me.
What have I done? I killed one of my own just to save a human. I’mdefinitelygoing to hell for this.
I have no idea why I intervened. The moment I caught her trail through the woods, I became possessed; I had to find the source of that delightful, honeysuckle scent, and that’s when I found her at the mercy of the kelpie.
Why is she here? The north is Fae territory. I’m surprised she managed to survive this long.
I locate her bags, finding one filled with rations, and another with a map and a music box. Then I sniff a couple of apples, hissing when I detect Fae magic.
Pixies—wicked little blights.
It looks like they glamoured her bags, making them appear as if they were empty. They just couldn’t help themselves, could they?
What must have gone through the poor thing’s mind when she thought her food was gone?
My eyes flick back to her unconscious form. The worry lines have vanished from her fair countenance, and she almost looks at peace.
But I know that face will be etched with horror the moment she re-opens those sweet sea-green eyes again. She made a grave mistake coming here.
Although she may not be a complete idiot; she came here bearing iron on her person. It’s close by. I can tell by the burning itch of my skin, and the way my stomach threatens to eject its contents.
Iron is harmful to the Fae. It incapacitates us, and this girl is fully aware of that. The creatures of this forest won’t take the slight lightly, and I suppose saving her from the kelpie was pointless in hindsight.
Either way, she’s dead. There’s nothing more I can do for her.
But I find myself unable to leave her side, and the longer I gaze at her sopping wet form on the grass, her chest gently rising with each breath, the more reluctant I become to do so.
I’m no idiot. I’m wholly aware of the effect she’s having on me—and most other males, too, I bet, Fae or otherwise.
The girl is beautiful. Painfully so.
Anyone with eyes can see that, and I can’t help but be drawn to her honeyed scent again as it makes me wonder...
Why am I so attracted to her?
Unfortunately, her beauty only makes her an even bigger target. What am I going to do with her?
I can’t just leave her to the wolves.
