I gaped at him in amazement. He couldn’t be serious. I gestured back to the forest behind him. “And why did she bring them here?” I lifted the small bag between us, unable to keep the disdain from my words. “Was the bag too heavy for you to hold when you flew?”
Xenith’s chin lifted, the princely air erasing all traces of the little brother he used to be. “She is a servant. This is what she is for.”
It was my turn to flinch. “I am a servant, Xenith. Is that all I am for?”
“You are a fairy. She’s a human.” His gaze lowered to mine. “You’re my brother.”
“You know as well as I that I am lower than she. Lower than any fairy or human alive.”
His princely air vanished, and once more I saw the child I loved through the handsome face of the man. “Not to me.”
I stared at him, my anger beginning to soften. For the billionth time, I nearly told him the entire tale. Still, I could not. If Xenith knew it all, I would never see that glimpse of innocence again. “When you interact with the servants, both the human and fairy, remember me. Treat them as you would treat me.”
Xenith looked away, a flush of shame rising to his cheeks. I nearly stopped then, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t hurt him with the truth, but neither could I have him take such a risk again. “And beyond that, what if someone noticed? What if we are discovered? All for the price of jewelberries?”
“Quay, I’m the prince. No one will follow me or spy upon me.”
Involuntarily I lifted my hand, cupping his cheek. How I loved him. “I am not certain that is so. I actually have a worrisome issue to discuss with you.”
His shoulders straightened, and he puffed out his chest, an unconscious exhibit of both his strength and pride. “Has someone threatened you?”
“No, nothing like that, brother. I’ve been thinking of the deer we healed the other day.”
“Oh.” He let out his breath, his posture returning to a more relaxed stance. “Is that all?”
“There was a detail I didn’t show you that day.”
“Aren’t you going to eat them?”
“What?”
He motioned toward my hand. “The jewelberries. I brought them for you.”
I glanced down at the crystalline fruit. I’d forgotten about them. “Technically, it was not you who brought them.”
He rolled his eyes but managed to look somewhat abashed nonetheless. “Come on. Eat one.”
I let out a sigh and looked back at the berries. From high above, a cloud drifted, allowing the sun to break through and glisten against the jewel tones in my hand. It had been so long. The emerald ones had always been my favorite, tasting of mint and cocoa. My fingers hesitated over it, then picked up the amber one instead. It reminded me of Flesser’s beautiful eyes. I lifted it, causing it to twist and refract the sunlight in a prism-like rainbow. Gingerly I placed it on my tongue, then closed my mouth. Despite myself, I groaned, shutting my eyes to savor the taste. The flavor was all spice—cinnamon and clove, rich and pungent.
Xenith’s laugh broke the spell, bringing me back to the present. “See, aren’t you glad I brought them?” He reached out and plucked one out of my hands, then popped it into his mouth. “I like the clear ones.” He let out a long, nearly orgasmic groan, mocking me.
“Be still.” I laughed as he waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Would you like me to give you a few minutes alone so you can enjoy the rest in private?”
“You are ridiculous.”
He shrugged. “Yes. Probably.” He took another one, the green one this time. “So what is it that has gotten you so worked up?”
All lightness fell away at his words. In the bliss of the jewelberries, I’d forgotten my fear. My dread of something coming. I’d allowed myself to get lost in the illusion we were brothers.
I shoved the sentiment aside. “I didn’t want to worry you the other day, but it wasn’t a human hunter’s arrow that wounded the deer. It was a fairy weapon.”
He took a step back, sobering, inspecting me as if uncertain of my sanity. “You were mistaken.”
I shook my head. “No. There was no mistaking. The weapon was fairy made.”
“That can’t be.” Xenith looked away, gazing out into the darkness of the trees. I allowed him time to process the unthinkable. Suddenly he turned back to me. “Just because it was one of our arrows doesn’t mean it was wielded by one of us.”
