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"No. To be honest, she probably didn't make it," Ronan said, harsh as ever.
Senara flinched slightly at the words. "So why did I?"
"Because you're fae." I would have thought that was obvious, but maybe she still didn't understand.
She took a shaky step backward as she blurted, "No, I'm human."
I couldn't stop the sigh that escaped me. "If you were, you wouldn't have survived the veil."
"Is it a guarantee that all humans die if they go through the veil?"
Ronan and I both hesitated, but it was Ronan who replied, "I suppose if they have magic and are powerful enough, they might survive. But most humans suffer a terrible death at the hands of the magic of our forefathers."
Senara's brow furrowed. "But Wyn has magic. Sheispowerful. So she could have survived, right?"
I wanted to gather her into my arms to show her how sorry I was for everything she'd been through recently. Even more so that I couldn't tell her about it. But
The thing about the fae lands was you never knew who was watching. A lot of high ranking powerful fae had animal familiars, sometimes multiple that they sent out through the kingdom to gather knowledge and information and bring it back.
We had already sent word of our return and advised that we would be along to the capital as soon as we could. But the last thing I wanted was for a bird or a small mammal to report back that a sun kissed had been seen embracing a moon marked, that would just bring trouble on both our heads.
The low growl of one of the beasts that claimed this as its territory hummed on the air. "Come on, let's go back to camp." I turned and began to move back to the woods. Mainly because if I stayed watching her like that I wouldn't be able to resist her, and that was something I had to do above everything else now. The only exception was keeping her safe.
We had only walked a few paces when Senara exclaimed, "Just how fucking tall are you?"
"That's the first thing you're asking?" Ronan asked, looking at her over his shoulder. The possessive streak in me wanted to yell at him to keep facing forward, but I bit my tongue instead.
She almost sounded disappointed as she spoke, "Well, I'm sorry, but it's a little surprising. I thought fae were supposed to be small."
Ronan and I couldn't help but chuckle. He was the one who explained, "No, that's a human misconception from an overheard conversation that they took the wrong way. Fae by themselves are not small. We get small when we go through the veil and into the human lands. As you can see, we are quite a bit larger. This is our true form."
"I told you she wouldn't be happy." Ronan's gaze was boring into the side of my head and I knew he wanted me to engage in the conversation more, but I couldn't, not if I had any chance of resisting her.
"Who would be happy after their lover pushed them to their death?" she sassed.
I froze, she may as well have driven a blade into my heart. All I could do was try and explain, but even that wasn't something I wanted to do out in the open. I turned and tried to say what I could to soothe her. "We didn't have a choice. Even now there will be consequences to my actions that I won't be able to undo."
"You threw me into a wall of magic that's known for killing people! You can't expect me to not be upset by that. I mean how did you even know I would survive?" Anger blazed in her violet eyes, making them sparkle with what looked like moonlight itself.
I had to turn away to stop myself from reaching for her. "Because we knew you were fae. Didn't expect it to take you so long. But there we go."
"What do you mean take me so long?" she asked.
I saw Ronan look at me but I shook my head. Getting into the technicalities of magic and the veil was not our strength. She could talk to one of the mages at the capital when we got there and they could explain it to her.
Instead of answering I grunted, "Sit. You must be hungry."
"I guess," she mumbled, getting comfy by the fire. I was glad she was willing to warm herself up at least. The wind across the grassland could be bitterly cold, especially as the seasons began to turn.
"You were in there for ten days. You should have an appetite by now. I'm surprised you're even alive," Avalros said. I hadn't even had chance to introduce them yet but there he was sticking his opinion in things he shouldn't.
"Ten days?" she repeated, her tone making me turn and look at her only to see that the blood had drained from her face. "It only felt like a few hours."
The snap of a twig in the distance drew my attention and I missed any reply that Ronan or Avalros gave. Another figure was moving in the trees, clearly trying to be sneaky, but failing. I took a long breath in through my nose and let my mind fill in the blanks of who it might be. I knew they were either human or a fae child based on their size and as I mentally filtered out the animals and greenery that surrounded us, I was left with one conclusion.
Human.
"Wyn?" Senara's voice quivered with hope as a flash of red hair was visible through the trees.
