He was too distracting, too intimidating...too captivating.
She scrunched her eyes, willing that last thought away.
“Handsome, isn’t he?” a feline voice crooned from over her shoulder.
She whirled to find that slender white-haired female, the one from the night she ran.
Helaina turned back around, attempting to ignore her. She was met by the muscled redhead with the petulant demeanor taking a seat right across from her. The first feature Helaina noticed up close was the pointed ears. They were fae folk.
She wanted to leave, but they were the only ones daring to get near her.
“I suppose he is. It’s his character that’s repulsive. Since I’ve been here, I can’t tell if he wants to train me or kill me.”
The white-haired one’s laugh was dainty and delicate as she straddled the bench beside her. They both wore black iron breastplates with leathers underneath. “Oh, you sweet, ignorant thing. If he wanted you dead, you would be.”
Helaina swallowed hard at that. Everyone here was very accepting of their leader and his temper, as if it were some minor character flaw like chewing too loudly or snorting when you laughed.
“I’m Fiona. Everyone calls me Fee.” The white-haired one outstretched a delicate hand.
Helaina didn’t take it at first. This was the second time that a hand had been outstretched in her direction. Trust for anyone under these mountains didn’t exist. Then again, they had braved sitting with her, and no one else had.
Fee began to retreat, but Helaina grabbed her hand before she could get too far, and shook.
“Helaina.”
Theodon had mentioned no other being here came from a castle, but Fee looked the part. Regal, like how Helaina imagined fae lords and ladies might carry themselves, with hair that appeared to be made of glittering snow, and skin of frost.
“This is my mate, Breyer.” Fiona gestured to the well-built redhead. She was stunning, in a brutish sort of way, almost like the Troika. She looked deadly.
“Mate, as in lovers?” Helaina clarified.
“Yes, I’m afraid she’s stuck with me, but from the looks of this lot, she could have done so much worse.” Fee smirked. Breyer’s cold stare didn’t waver.
“We wanted to apologize for our first meeting. Our actions toward you were a tad immature, far from welcoming.Right?” Fee patted the table, signaling Breyer to admit the same.
The fiery fae looked straight through Helaina. “Right,” she repeated snidely.
She remembered Breyer’s bullying attitude from the first night. “Have I offended you somehow?” she asked curtly, not really caring what the answer would be.
“Don’t mind her,” Fee answered. “She’s been on high alert since you got here. She doesn’t understand how you captured our captain’s attention so completely. I don’t think he came up aboveground the entire time you were recovering. He hasn’t involved himself with any other recruits like that, not since we’ve been here at least. Plus they used to have a thing.”
Breyer’s eyes lit up. “Fee! Shut up.”
Helaina began rolling her ankle in circles and flexing her calf, attempting to reduce the ache in her leg. She couldn’t care less who Theodon had slept with or who he currently took to his bed. At least... she didn’t think she cared.
That couldn’t be jealousy circling in her gut. She pushed it down, deep down.
Fee’s talon-like nails connected with the wood of the table, making repetitive clicks. “Oh, it was ages ago, can we not joke about it? It’s flattering, really, I don’t think he’s taken anyone else to bed since I’ve been here. Besides, I don’t care who you experimented with when you saved the best for last.” She flashed a conceited smile while her eyelashes fluttered.
“I thank Adonna every day for the privilege.” Breyer narrowed her eyes, donning a sarcastic grin in agreement.
The two of them were such polar opposites, fire and ice. Fee with her shimmering colorless hair absorbing the turquoise hue from above. Breyer’s deep-maroon locks pulled back tight, showing off high cheekbones, a sculpted warrior’s body beneath her armor. Helaina was almost jealous of the strength she exhibited.
“Does mates mean that you’re married?” Helaina asked, trying to understand the customs here. “Do demigods get married or have children?”
Fee’s grin faltered into a flat line. “What we have goes beyond marriage, much stronger than any ring or ceremony. Up here, marriage is a bit pointless, it’s not what we’re made for, and there are most certainly no children in these mountains. The gods take away our fertility when we plunge that dagger through our hearts. We forfeit the ability to bear offspring.” She let that wry grin reform on her face as she examined Helaina. “But believe me, many continue to try.” She winked.
Helaina’s eyes shifted uncomfortably at the implication.
