Page 101 of The Fox Heir

I wave my hand dismissively. “I’m not afraid of the fae.”

Both men turn to me and say in unison, “You should be.”

I roll my eyes.

Hunter folds his arms across his chest. “And if this beast is the one delivering his meals, I don’t feel comfortable with you training with him. Especially not alone.”

I tilt my head at Hunter. “Oh, and you’re here to boss me around now, are you?”

“I’m not trying to boss you around; I’m trying to protec⁠—”

“I don’t need your protection!” I throw my hand up in frustration.

Hunter straightens his spine. “The queen assigned me to⁠—”

Tristan barks a laugh. “Look who’s doing the dirty work of the Dead Queen now.”

Hunter’s face grows crimson. “I’m not doing this for her.”

Tristan’s cocky grin is back. “No. Of course not. You’re spying on Red for her own good. Patronizing prick.”

Hunter stomps up to where Tristan’s still languishing on the stone column. “What did you call me?”

I groan. “I can’t handle any more of this masculine pissing competition that you two have going on.”

They both turn back to me. I clench my fists to keep from punching them both in their pretty, stupid noses.

I point toward the sun-bathed Spires. “We have much bigger problems to deal with.”

They both glare at each other, but thankfully, don’t open their damnable mouths again.

“Hunter, can I speak with you?” I ask.

Tristan makes a move to stand, but I give him a firm head shake. I give Hunter a pointed look. “Alone?”

Tristan shrugs and lies back on the stone. He tilts his face to the sun. “Be my guest.”

By the look on Hunter’s face, I can tell it takes a great amount of effort for him to back down from the smug Wolf, but he does. I turn and trudge through the melting slush, toward the tree line. Reluctantly, Hunter follows a few paces behind me. When we reach the cover of trees, I turn to him.

“Hunter, I’m glad you’re here. I truly am. I missed you. But things have changed.”

His jaw is set. “I can’t help you if you keep doing dangerous things.”

I sigh wearily. “Everything is dangerous here, Hunter. I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing.”

He studies me, his brown eyes trying to read my mind. “All of this … Annwyn, the queen, you and Tristan … it hasn’t been easy for me, you know. I’m trying.”

I close my eyes and rub my aching temples. “I know.”

Hunter thinks for a moment, then squares his shoulders, facing me. Something on his face is open, vulnerable.

“How do you think this makes me feel? I sailed the frozen sea and lost a hundred good men to save you … only to see you with him. A Wolf.”

I stare at him, my eyes disbelieving. “You knew I came here with him.”

He shakes his head. “Not like that, I didn’t.”

“Like what? What’s that supposed to mean?”