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Baine’s gaze penetrated my common sense and I almost told him the truth. “Lie to me all you want, human, but Lord Demious will learn, and I suggest you be honest.”
Without giving me a proper moment to argue, Baine swept me into his arms. “Close your eyes and hold on. This will be uncomfortable for you.”
Like a winter gale, Baine shot through the woods, moving so fast I couldn’t focus on our surroundings. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched his neck while he held me tightly to his chest.
He was the rustle I heard, quick, deadly, unseen. Any creature that moved faster than the wind had come from deep magic, wild like mine. His scent reminded me of the dewy air right by a waterfall, crisp, clean, refreshing. With my head pressed against his chest, I inhaled the delicious aroma and captured it for my dreams later.
I don’t know how long he ran for, but when he stopped, my head didn’t.
“Ugh. I feel sick.” I gripped my temples.
“This is the uncomfortable part. I would’ve had you ride me in my wolf form, but that is not a smooth ride, and your ankle may have been agitated. This was the best solution.” He gently set me on the grass where I vomited, not once, but twice.
“Here.” With an arm around my waist, he helped me stand and walk over to the fountain. “Drink.”
I leaned over and drank the cool water, not caring it drenched the front of my clothes or my face.
“That was more than uncomfortable.” I relaxed against him and wiped my mouth. “Can we please rest for a minute?”
Baine nodded, jaw clenched, his fingers gently pressed against my hip. I glanced down and saw why: my dress covered absolutely nothing thanks to the water.
Covering myself with my arms, I said, “Thank you for coming for me.”
“I am the head of the guard. It’s my duty.”
We were back by the marble pool, hidden from all eyes, surrounded by the sweetest smelling peonies in all the lands. Baine set me down on the nearby bench while he stood.
My thoughts went to the fae beside me. I had so many questions about him, and his people, if he knew any other fae that could shapeshift like him. Some of the races were biased against others, and hybrids were considered shameful. There were rumors inbreeding decreased magical abilities, and to a point it did, but then there were people like my twin and me where the unique hybrid became something else.
Needing to break the silence, I decided to see how much Baine was willing to share. “How long have you been Lord Demious’ bodyguard?”
Baine’s mouth curved into a frown.
“Not a small talker, I see.” I sighed.
If I thought winning this dark beauty to my side would be easy, I was wrong. Fae were supposed to be full of passion, danger, and alpha personalities to rival the great grizzlies, but this one couldn’t even hold a conversation.
“If you’ve regained your composure, you need to return to your room.” Without waiting for an answer, he scooped me up in his arms and began walking.
“Hey!” I squeaked as his rough hands gripped me tight.
“Lord Demious will need to learn about the raptors.”
This close I could see tiny flecks of pink in his lavender eyes. Pink. A color so far removed from this fae’s façade.
“And the rest?” I asked while placing a hand on his chest.
“He only needs to know what happened with the raptors, not that you provoked them.”
Baine could pretend he wasn’t attracted to me, but the fast beat of his heart told me something else. If I could win over this fae, and escape, not only would my home be saved, but I would have a powerful ally who could help me bring my brother back home from war.
I just had to figure out how to seduce a fae.
