Silence stretches between us. Something isdefinitelyoff with him today. He’s standoffish, whereas before, he was caring.
This creature, who I once considered callous, healed my wounds with his very own tears. I will never forget the kind thing that he did for me.
He acted selflessly, giving up his own magic to ensure I was healed, and my heart hiccups as I remember the sensation of his fingers on my skin. They weren’t sharp or prickly, but warm and gentle.
I return to my porridge, wishing again for some berries. We have no honey or sugar in the mountain, and I shove my spoon into my mouth, trying my best to enjoy the bland taste.
That’s when he drops a cloth onto the table, and there I find an assortment of round, juicy berries.
My heart flutters. He must have hand-picked them just for me. There are a few nuts in the mix, too, and a smile curves my lips when I look at him. “Thank you, Tegwyn.”
The faerie doesn’t meet my gaze, but I do spy a similar smile curving his mouth. “Don’t mention it, princess.”
Now I add the berries to my porridge, noticing that they taste much sweeter than usual. Did he pepper them with magic?
Nonetheless, I’m grateful, and maybe I will just make it through these next few days.
Finally, he speaks, his voice husky with something I can’t quite decipher. “When your…bleedis over, Ivy…we’ll head east. There’s a market where you can stock up for the winter. People travel far and wide just to sell their wares there. All the berries you could eat and more...”
His voice ends on a slight growl, one that goes straight to my core, and that’s when I notice the change in his scent—sharp, potent, and musky.
His claws are drawn, digging into the wood of the table, and my heart flaps like the wings of a bird.
Now his strange behaviour makes sense.
I gaze down at my berries, muscles trembling as his scent smothers me like a warm blanket.
I must get a hold of myself. He’s Fae; I’m human. We would only destroy each other.
He comes back to his senses, turning my way. His scent vanishes instantly; did he use some kind of cloaking spell?
Now he tries his best at an amicable smile, and I can’t help it now. I snort at his silly expression.
What on earth has come over me?
His fangs gleam in the candlelight. I really am becoming accustomed to his grin.
Once upon a time, his fangs scared me, yet now, I look forward to seeing them every morning.
“I can’t wait,” I reply.
His heated gaze never leaves me, and I return to my porridge, hoping he doesn’t spy the colour my cheeks have turned.
Something has changed between us, and life inside the mountain really won’t be the same again.
18
Ivy
Fivedayslater,Iwake to a pair of glowing eyes hovering in the corner of the cave, startling me for the briefest moment.
But when I rub my eyes, letting my vision adjust, I finally make out the horned silhouette of Tegwyn watching me sleep.
Yeah. That’s not unnerving at all. I roll my eyes, curling up under the blankets.
I’m so used to him by now that I can just tune him out. If he wants to watch me sleep, then so be it.
His lilting tone carries across the cave. “When you’re done snoozing, Ivy,you can make a start on getting ready. We leave in thirty minutes.”
