Page 127 of Fae Farewells

As the clusters of trees thinned, Sloane stopped him. “This is where his magic hit you. I can feel it lingering.”

I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on the magic surrounding us. It wasn’t easy for a demon, but sealing my bond with Sloane had opened up many new tricks to explore.

Black, tar-like magic had left a residual mark in this spot, spreading inky strips into the distance. I recognized it from Pete’s memories, the feel sticking with me as something wholly unnatural.

Pete tossed his trunk, continuing to walk until we saw the first destroyed home.

The village was long deserted, mature trees growing through the centuries old houses. The branches had pushed their way through walls and roofs, tearing their homes down to the foundations as materials were dragged and hanging above our heads.

In some places, only a foot of stone walls were left to show us where a home once sat.

“Let us try to remove the curse again, Pete,” Sloane suggested. “We were so close last week, but we didn’t know what we were trying to lift.”

“Do you know what the magic is?” Vaughn asked her.

“I don’t know what kind of curse it is, but the magic is dark. We already knew that, though. Feeling it still lingering tells me ‌it was something more powerful than I’d originally guessed. I’d like to try removing it from Pete and cleaning the land. I just won’t know how to do that until I can get my hands on it.”

Pete dropped to the ground, laying on his side as he peered at Sloane. She maneuvered around his body, dropping to her knees. Then Vaughn joined her, both of them placing their hands against the back of the pedmar’s head.

“Do you feel his magic dripping?” Vaughn asked, continuing when she nodded. “It should flow like a river, not trickle like a leaky faucet. I’ll heal as you go, but you have to scrape all the black tar away.”

“The darkness tinted with purple, I remember.”

Sloane scrunched her face, as if she’d taken a hit from some invisible force. Her jaw muscle ticked, and her shoulders tensed.

“Are you under it?” the fae inquired softly.

“One. Last.” She jerked away from Pete, landing on her ass in the dirt. “Got it. Now, what do we do with it?”

“Hold on to it,” Vaughn guessed. “If it’s not fighting you, then maybe you can use it.”

Pete chuffed, his tone growing deeper as his color faded. His trunk shrunk. Bones began to rotate until he was no longer a pedmar, but not quite a man yet.

He groaned as he rolled onto his back. Sloane kneeled beside him, touching his cheek gently. His eyes flew open, though he made no other movements of surprise. We stayed silent, not wanting to spook him.

“Are you okay?” she asked him. “That didn’t hurt too badly?”

Pete held his arm out, wiggling his fingers. Then he leaned up on his elbows to peer from his destroyed village to Sloane. He studied her before smiling.

“Fine,” he rasped, sitting up.

He slowly climbed to his feet, his legs shaking but holding his weight… And then he ran. It wasn’t graceful. He hobbled and tripped before righting himself and trying to weave between the leftover foundations of the village.

Excitement filled the air as the giant shifted freely between his forms. He stumbled and fell, but he didn’t stop moving until Sloane waved to get the pedmar’s attention.

“Pete?” Sloane called, motioning him toward us.

He shifted mid-step, landing on wobbling legs. That didn’t slow him down, though. He bounded toward us… Dick swaying in the breeze.

“We can’t stay here,” she explained, pointing at us. “We’re going to leave soon to hunt down Alric. I need to know what you want.”

His brows furrowed. “Want?”

“Do you want to stay here or go to the Underworld? Or you can go back to our house.”

“I need time,” he rumbled. “Space to learn.”

“I know you do.” She nodded, then chuckled. “You also need clothes.”