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It’s heaven.
Cool. Refreshing. The best water I’ve ever tasted.
The hint of relief calms the last of my adrenaline and makes all my aches known. My throat begs for more water. The muscles in my legs jump. Sweat sticks my clothes to my skin.
I grab a second glass and practically collapse in the chair near the one Galen claimed.
He pops something that looks like a blue strawberry into his mouth. Drool nearly drips down my chin. I probably should have gotten something to eat too, but now that I’m sitting, there’s no way I’m getting back up. At least, not yet.
In an effort not to think about the weird fae woman or the king probably still scowling my way, I examine the man near me. He’s handsome enough. Strong. A warrior, maybe? But there’s a heaviness to the set of his shoulders, as if he carries the world on his back. Whatever did he do to anger the woman he loves? Does he seek her forgiveness? Is that why he can’t go home?
I shouldn’t ask. It’s never proper to pry in other people’s business. But curiosity eats at me worse than my hunger, and I need the distraction—anything not to think about my own problems.
“So.” I lean in. “Is your home nearby? Why can’t you go back?”
He coughs, almost choking on the berry. His fist slams against his chest as he clears his throat.
Oops. The toes of my boots press together. “Sorry.”
“It’s…” He shakes his head. “Complicated.”
I roll my eyes and sigh. Is every fae going to tell me that? “And I thought we were friends.”
Galen only blinks at me.
Okay, maybe friends is a stretch. “Allies?”
“Why do you want to know?” He cocks a brow at me.
To ignore my problems.But instead, I say, “I dunno. You left things poorly with the woman you loved, right? Well, I’m a woman. Maybe I can help you find a way to apologize?”
He throws his head back and laughs.
My stomach drops. I didn’t think my offer was that ridiculous.
“I don’t think an apology will be enough. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t get to her to apologize anyway.”
My brows pinch together. “Why not? You don’t live around here?”
“I was born here. But no.” He looks past me, somewhere far away. “The Court of the Forest is where I belong. It’s where she is.”
A little golden leaf dangles from his ear, and he takes it between his fingers, rubbing it like I sometimes do my necklace. It must remind him of her. Or maybe she gave it to him?
“Why not just…go?” I ask.
Galen looks at me closely. “I see you know something about the courts?”
“Not much.” I rub the back of my neck and look away.
“Tell me.”
“This is the Court of Air.”
He nods.
“There’s a Court of the Forest,” I hedge. He waits, and I swallow my nerves before continuing. “The two courts may not be on great terms.”
Galen snorts and crosses an ankle over one knee. “No, not anymore.”
