Page 8 of Escape from the Green

"When you get back to the human realm and have all the freedom, what do you want to do?"

To that, her face fell a bit, her lips parting, her brows drawing together, like it never occurred to her to think that far. Or maybe it was more accurate to say that she wasn't sure what freedom was, so she didn't even know how to think about.

"I have no idea," she admitted, shaking her head. "But I have human money. And, from what I can tell, it's enough to find a place to stay and keep me fed and such. I guess... I guess then I have to find a job."

Jobs were jobs. Human or fae, you had to work in life. Though, for most common fae, work was generally of the sort that kept you and yours fed, clothed, and sheltered. The fae who lived in more populated areas occasionally went to markets and sold their goods which was likely more what a human job would be like. Somehow, I couldn't imagine Amethyst doing that kind of work. Maybe it was simply because she came from a family that was important in The Green, had old wealth and respect, and therefore... no one ever needed to work.

"What?" she asked, smiling a little. "You don't think I can work? I can work. I mean... I don't know what skills of mine would be useful in the human realm. I think my sister made sculptures to pay her way."

"And Jasper?"

Her brows knitted at that, her green eyes going a little sad. "I have no idea."

I felt myself wince slightly, knowing Jasper and Jade were likely sore spots for her, knowing she had older siblings, but never being allowed to know them, to learn from them, to play with them as kids, or stir trouble with them as teens.

I had my own siblings I hadn't been able to see in years. I could relate to that piece of yourself that smarted when it got pressed.

"Well, I'm sure you will figure out your place in their realm," I assured her, seeing the slip in confidence, knowing her spirits needed to stay up if she was going to get through the next couple of days of cold and pain and, possibly, hunger if we weren't careful. "Come on, let's keep moving. We need to get as much distance between us as possible by nightfall."

"Hey, Drake?" she called, making my stomach do a strange dropping thing at hearing it. First, just my name. It had been so long since someone used it that it almost sounded foreign to me. It was always draca, the word spat like an insult. Second, though, I maybe liked it a little too much how her sweet voice curved over the sounds of it.

"Yeah?" I asked, turning back, feeling oddly tense.

"Do you know how to get to the human realm?"

No, I fucking didn't.

Not exactly anyway.

That being said, there was always a strange tug inside when you got close to the borders, something inside telling you to turn back, that you weren't welcome. I hadn't felt it in too many years to count, but it was distinct. I would know it when it happened.

And this tiny little slip of a woman was looking up at me with those big green eyes, barely knowing me at all, but somehow seeming to put a vast amount of trust in me to take care of her anyway.

I couldn't let her down.

I couldn't tell her I was just as lost as she was.

For her, I would find the goddamn human realm.

I would even escort her into it myself to make sure she was safe.

I owed her that.

"Of course I do."

With that, I quickly turned, hoping she didn't see or hear the lie in my voice.

THREE

Amy

Cardio.

Definitely, definitely cardio.

Was it my fault that I was kept inside the house almost at all times and that there was literally no way for me to try to 'shape up' my body? No. But even so, when Drake had been dragging me through the woods, his long-legged pace unrelenting, his own breathing even and easy, I had been huffing for air. My lungs had felt like they were in a grip that just kept squeezing tighter. My heart, well, a part of me was worried it might explode from beating so hard and fast.

It had been, whether it was logical or not, embarrassing when he stopped and had to teach me how to even out my breathing.