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“How did Geras teach you to fly if he can’t fly himself?” Dreyden’s voice is full of curiosity as he questions my new skill.
The gold stars stamped across his skin reflect in the light, nearly blinding me, and I quickly adjust my angle before it turns into an accident. That’s the last thing I need right now. My bruises from the last failed flight just finished healing. My fae skin has no imperfections for the first time in as long as I can remember, likely as far back as the moment I became fae.
“Geras is patient with me, and he’s smart. He has studied the art of fae flight, and I’d be willing to say he knows more about it than you do,” I wink at him as I say that last part.
A jealous, low growl rumbles in Dreyden’s chest, almost too quiet for my ears to pick up, but I manage to catch it. A mischievous smirk slides across my lips.
Target hit.
He’s too easy.
“I could have taught you,” he snaps under his breath.
I change my pace, slowly soaring over the red canopy, and Dreyden matches my speed.
“When?” I glare. “You’re always gone, and you’re beyond exhausted when you’re home.”
He was quiet for a moment as he thought over his answer. “I’ve been trying to give you space, and I keep my time filled by helping the people of Tartarus. That doesn’t mean I don’t have time for you to teach you things I’d like you to learn. Things youneedto learn.
He always does this. He tells me what he thinks I need, but the reality is I don’tneedanything. I have everything I need. Iwantspace to work through my grief, Iwantto learn to use my powers to the fullest extent, and Iwantto spend days in peace with my mate without arguing about what Ineed.
I roll my eyes toward the sky. “And what haven’t I learned that you’d like me to learn? I’m flying, aren’t I?” I throw my hands in the air as the volume of my voice increases. “I’m training almost every single day, aren’t I? That’s not good enough for you? What am I missing?”
Dreyden comes to a halt, fluttering in place. It takes me a second to stop, but I turn around to meet his hard eyes.
“Everything you do is good enough, Adeena,” his voice is softer than I was expecting after I raised mine. “You are a high lady, and we don’t know what exactly that entails yet. It may never mean anything more than what it is now, but what if it does? What else will we face in our lifetimes? I need you to be strong both mentally and physically if I’m going to stay sane throughout our lives.”
I shake my head as I create more distance between us. “You’re not hearing me.” My head drops as I hold back tears. “You’re not listening.”
Dreyden flies closer, trying to maintain eye contact. “I’m trying to, Adeena, I really am. I’m just struggling to watch you spend so much time with Geras, yet you push me away. You say you need space, and I feel like I’m giving that to you, but I’m missing out. I wish I could have been there for your first flight. Your first everything. I want to be there for it all.”
He’s pulling on my heartstrings. I want to be angry, but the look on his face melts my insides. He’s hurting more than he’ll ever say aloud.
“You’re giving me space in all the wrong ways. You disappear all week, then return exhausted and grumpy, and you bully Geras around every chance you get.”
Dreyden’s eyes widen at the mention of his interactions with Geras. “How do you know about that?”
I laugh in disbelief, “Geras and I are closer than you think, and harassing the poor guy only amuses him.” I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s beside the point, though. I’m trying to tell you I need yoursupport, not your demands or disagreements.”
His eyes flicker to my wings, and I know he can tell I’m tiring. “I do support you, but-”
A flash of movement in the forest below catches both of our eyes. We clamp our mouths shut, abruptly ending this conversation as we follow the movement, hovering silently over the trees.
I catch a glimpse of an unfamiliar man inside an opening in the trees. “Who is that?” I whisper as we watch him.
The man is walking quickly, but he seems disoriented and rattled by a lack of direction. Small branches tangle in his feet as he moves, nearly bringing him to the ground. He’s fae, and I’m pretty sure that’s the only thing keeping him upright.
Dreyden’s eyes darken as he watches the man. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”
“What should we do?” I ask quietly, not wanting to unknown man to hear us.
Without warning, Dreyden descended through the trees, falling as quickly as he could before hitting the ground with a thunderous crack, one loud enough to frighten anyone passing through. Caught off guard and a slower flier than Dreyden, I took longer to reach the bottom of the forest. Maneuvering around branches and vines was tedious and hard, but the high lord made it look easy.
I land gently beside Dreyden, surveying the situation.
The unfamiliar man is tall, well built, and muscular, and he has silver eyes like mine. His faded hair is a deep burgundy, styled neatly on the top. He looks well put together, but he’s clearly confused or under some sort of spell. I glance toward Dreyden, trying to read what he’s thinking, but his face is expressionless.
“Who are you?” Dreyden demands the answer from the stranger.
