Page 35 of Tell Them That I’m Coming

I reach up instinctively, groping for my horns, and finding nothing.

They’re gone. Hidden. The illusion seamless enough that even I almost believe it.

Glamour, I think. Thane used fae glamour to hide my horns.

“They won’t see them,” he confirms. “Most fae here won’t look twice if you pass for one of us. You have the pointed ears, and your shadows are barely visible. That should keep some of the worst away.”

“I’m proud of who I am,” I say. “I don’t need to hide.”

He meets my eyes. “You do if you don’t want attention. In Noctavara, attention is dangerous.”

Everything in this fae world seems to dangerous.

With a sigh,I let my hand fall. Binx rubs against my ankle, letting me know that he doesn’t mind my missing horns. I blow him a soft kiss that has Thane frowning.

We walk in silence for a while after that.

When this part of the woods opens onto a wider clearing that makes it easier for us to spot any prospective threats, Thane stops. He studies me for a moment—really studies me—then exhales like he’s made a decision.

Suddenly, the glamour lifts. The weight returns, and so do my horns.

I glance at him. “You didn’t have to remove the spell.”

“I know.”

“So why did you?”

His mouth tilts into something that isn’t quite a smile. “Because I like looking at the real you, demoness.”

Unbidden, heat curls low in my stomach. The bond stretching between us becomes a tangible thing, and I find myself stepping toward Thane before I catch myself and dig my boots into the dirt.

“Really?”

He jerks his head, a silent assent, before he looks away from. Running his fingers through his dark curls, he clears his throat. “We should keep moving. If I sense someone near, I’ll pull the glamour back together. Until then, pay attention.”

Oh, I promise you, Thane, I will.

As he lopes away, Binx brushes against my leg, too smug for an ungez.

“Hush,” I murmur.

He clicks his fangs.

“I know, I know. But I can’t worry about that now.”

I can’t worry about the way Thane is reacting to me. My horns… he likes my horns. He likes seeing the real me enough to drop the glamour when we’re alone. He doesn’t know why he’s drawn to me yet, but it’s undeniable that—in some way—he is.

And somehow, that feels more dangerous than the blade at my throat ever did.

CHAPTER 11

THE LAKE

As become our new habit, the three of us walk in silence for a while after that.

The forest no longer feels so hostile. Even without the glamour to shield me, we’ve entered a stretch where no one attacks us, thank the gods (even if I can’t thank my fae companion). Thane says it’s because the two bandits he battled would’ve warned any other locals to give us a wide berth. Even the monsters in the woods settle down as evening falls so we should be safe once we settle down for the night.

That’s coming soon, once Thane finds a spot that he trusts. I’m ready to settle down again, but as we go on, I just can’t shake the awareness of dried blood on my skin. It itches. Smells weird; almost metallic. It flakes off, and I use my claw to get rid of some of it, but nowhere near enough.