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“I see. Well, I will simply command Nivira to be on her best behavior and to ask for the human to be reassigned if it gets to be a problem. Now if that’s all…”
Raskyuil’s teeth gritted with displeasure at the note of finality in the ringmaster’s voice. “That is all.”
“That is all… my lord.”
His blood boiled with a fury that he only just barely quashed. He wouldn’t be helping matters if he killed the insufferable noble.
“That is all, my lord,” he growled.
Elwyn smirked and flicked his fingers toward the door. “Good. Now begone. There is much that demands my attention at the moment and even more now with this news. I am tempted to bring back the old traditions of the fairy ball… but that may have to be a project for another year. I am not quite ready to find my mate just yet,” he murmured, his attention returning to the parchment in front of him.
Raskyuil grimaced as he quietly slipped out of the tent, not even bothering to wait for the servant to part the curtain for him. He had no patience for such things. He had dithered around long enough, and now he simply wanted to get back to his mate and prepare things before she woke. He wished to see pleasure on her face in more ways than one.
ChapterNineteen
It was a persistent beam of warm sunlight that woke MaryAnne. It wasn’t particularly bright, but the beam had somehow found its way through the small gap where the material hung over the entrance didn’t quite meet the edge of the tent. She scrunched her nose as her eyes opened and she rolled over onto her back with a yawn. She must have slept forever judging by how crusted her eyes felt.
She paused for a moment, evaluating how she felt. The exhaustion that had plagued her was gone, as was the empty hollowness in her chest that had gotten worse over the days since she left the children’s home. She rubbed a hand against her chest, aware of a pleasant, warm weight there that was as comforting as it was foreign.
How strange.
She sat up as her eyes hunted the tent for the troll. She felt as if he were right there beside her. She could practically smell him and feel the heat emanating from him. Except… he wasn’t there as far as she could see.
“Raskyuil?”
There was a faint rustle outside the tent, and the curtain was pulled back from the entrance as an unknown male popped his head in and smiled.
“Ah, you’re awake! Forgive me for not entering and introducing myself properly, but I was told to remain out here and so out here I remain. Unless you insist otherwise.” The way he spoke was not a question, and yet he cocked his head in an almost expectant manner.
If he thought she was going to insist that he come in and get comfortable, he was in for a long, cold wait. Although he looked friendly enough and possessed features that would have been considered model-worthy in her old world if not for the vivid green hair and strange whorled markings covering his skin, she couldn’t quite help that whisper of unease that skittered through her.
“No. No. That’s okay,” she hastily agreed as she self-consciously adjusted Raskyuil’s shirt. She had felt oddly comfortable in the confines of the tent with Raskyuil, but the idea of any other fae in there with her made her chest tighten with the familiar instinctive panic. “Do you know where Raskyuil went?”
The male nodded and gave her a wry smile. “He’s been running about most of the day in order to prepare things for you.”
“Prepare?” she stared at him blankly, and he laughed, exposing sharp fangs that glinted in the light.
“Of course! As the newest resident of the carnival, there were certain things that were required to approve your stay with us. Most notably getting permission from Elwyn. Nothing happens here without his approval, you should know. Then he insisted on laundering your clothes and his. He went to speak to the drya you will be assisting when we are open for guests and to acquire food.” He grimaced. “Hopefully he hurries before the orcs descend upon the midday meal or else there will only be scraps left. That may be good enough for Dezar, our resident Lupi who will happily peel fat from bones, but not good eating for a dryad.”
“Lupi?” she echoed faintly. She wasn’t sure if she even wanted to know what sort of creature had an appetite like that. That sort of ravenous feeding had to come with a killing instinct. She twitched uneasily, her free hand not clutching the shirt grazing her side over the larger of the scars beneath the tunic.
He chuckled. “Haven’t seen a Lupi yet? Magnificent predators. They will hunt and kill almost anything to feed themselves and their clans.” His gaze slid over to her speculatively as her stomach lurched and her hand tightened around the tunic. “But not humans nor most fae, so you have nothing to worry about. If he could even manage to get past that troll of yours. But he is an imposing creature and foul tempered, so just best to stay away from him.”
“I… I see.”
He gave her an apologetic look. “A little too much, yes?”
“A bit.” Her voice sounded faint to her ears, but she attempted a smile despite the fact that she felt the overwhelming need to burrow beneath the blankets and hide. “I… I do appreciate your help, though.”
She appreciated it but she wanted him gone. Although he smiled and was perfectly friendly, it seemed almost as if he were intentionally trying to frighten her. Or she was simply reading way too much into his “friendly advice.” But then he was fae, and they didn’t always understand exactly what frightened humans. Being at the outpost had demonstrated that much. And their odd sense of humor.
When it came right down to it, she just wanted him to leave and to have her troll back. She was sick to death of always being afraid, and when it was just them, she had a moment of truly being able to release her fear. Not even the children’s home had the ability to truly remove her fear as everything outside its walls terrified her. But with Raskyuil, she felt entirely safe, which was novel in a strange sort of way. Part of her simply wanted to just curl into him and enjoy having his bulk surrounding her like a living fortress. Given their size, few things would dare a troll’s anger. And her troll was larger and scarier than the one at the outpost.
Drawing Raskyuil’s blanket back around her, she buried her face into the blanket to hide the blush she could feel climbing into her cheeks at her wayward thoughts. Although he told her in no uncertain terms that they were mates, she hadn’t expected to feel any sort of mutual claim over him. And yet, here she was, privately claiming him where no one could hear her. It was admittedly hard not to feel a little attached to the big guy after yesterday.
Not only had he come for her and agreed to bring her back to the carnival despite the fact that doing so opposed his deepest instincts, but he had also protected her from the horror that descended upon them and then cared for her in its aftermath. He had pried her from the truck and helped her walk across the carnival grounds even though she shook like a leaf and jumped at every little thing she saw. And he’d been the one to take care of her needs before tucking her into bed.
He’d been… sweet. And now, hearing everything that he’d been out doing for her, the small gesture, whether necessary or not, warmed her heart a little more. It was a bit disarming and made her afraid all over again but for different reasons, but with that fear there was a tremor of excitement that made her both eager and anxious to see how everything played out next. More than an outpost of fae who learned to live side by side with humans, Raskyuil’s actions made her feel like she was facing a changing world all over again. But it wasn’t so bad because she felt like she had someone to lean on this time. If anyone could navigate her through the world that she found herself in, and help her find her children, it was Raskyuil.
