“No, I’m fine.” Faye paused. “Have you got anything a little stronger than tea?”
“I’ll second that,” the demon agreed.
The old innkeeper clearly wasn’t convinced, but nodded and shuffled away. He glanced back over his shoulder at them before disappearing behind the bar.
“Who are you?” Faye hissed.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Faye hesitated, wondering just how much information she should unveil to a complete stranger. “Have you been following me?” she whispered.
“Not intentionally.”
Well that explained why she had felt so on edge back in the forest. Faye had been right to be suspicious. She had been tailed by this mysterious demon. No doubt it was his strange, electrifying majick that she had sensed. Even now, the surface of her skin tingled in response to his presence.
The innkeeper walked to their table and placed a dark glass bottle down with two glasses. The demon sat in front of her grabbed the bottle and poured out a glass of brown liquor for them both. He picked up his glass and took a small sip.
“How have you come to be here?” he asked.
“I’m not telling you anything until you tell me who you are.” Faye reached for her glass and lowered her nose to it before hesitantly taking a sip. It was smooth, warming her mouth and throat.
“My name is Raxx.”
“Faye.”
“Pleasure. Faye, what is a majborne faerie doing wandering around in the woods in the early hours all alone?”
Faye’s heart thundered in her chest and her palms grew sweaty. The demon’s dark eyes bore into her. She took another sip of her drink before answering.
Faye balled her free hand into a fist beneath the table and looked away. “How did you—”
“You’re glowing, but even if you weren’t, I could have sensed your majick from a mile away. What are you doing out here?” Raxx asked again.
“I’m looking for someone.”
The demon raised a brow curiously. “Likewise.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Raxx placed his glass down and got to his feet. He unstrapped a bag from his back and dropped it onto the table in front of her. Faye recognised it immediately. She reached out with shaking fingers and pulled open Lori’s satchel. Inside, were all of her sister’s belongings. Faye’s heart was in her mouth.
“Where did you get this?” she whispered.
“It was buried in the snow at the side of the road.”
“Oh.” Faye closed her eyes as cold dread washed over her. Where was Lori? Was this bag going to be the only remnant of her sister Faye would find?
“Are you looking for the princess?”
Faye’s eyes flew open at the mention of Lori.
“How do you—"
“I have reason to believe the person I’mlooking for is with the princess.”
Lori had left Awrelwood alone, that Faye was certain of. Who was the mysterious demon tracking and how did they come to be with Lori?
“Who are you looking for?” she asked.
“A friend.”
