We hug quickly.
Then he walks back and mounts Delphine, giving me a final nod. Then, with a powerful beat of her wings, the dragon launches into the sky.
We watch until she disappears.
“Isla.”
I turn back to Terra. She’s looking at me strangely, her head tilted, her eyes searching.
“What is it?” I ask.
“So you did not bring the Shadowfae King with you after all?” She bites on her bottom lip for a moment. “I have to say that I am shocked. I expected him to return with you. For the two of you to have made up by now.”
I shake my head slowly. “I’ve forgiven him, but…” I trail off, looking down at my boots. “I don’t think there’s a future for us.”
“I take it that he tried to fix things, but you…”
“I couldn’t do it. Not right now.”
“But you love him,” Terra says. It’s not a question.
“Sometimes that isn’t enough.” My voice sounds a little broken. “We were always destined to go our separate ways. You know that.”
Terra considers this for a moment. “That is a pity.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the two of you scented right together.”
I let out a startled laugh. “We scented right? What does that even mean?”
Terra nods a few times. “Just the right amount of lust hormones and pheromones, mixed with the feel-good ones that a person only gets from being with someone they truly love. I could smell all of it on both of you.” She shrugs. “Oh well.” Her eyes drift over my shoulder toward the forest. “You will not lack in interest here. That much I can tell you.”
She steps forward and raises her voice. “Attention all! We will leave soon! Get ready.”
A large male shifter approaches. He’s broad-shouldered and handsome in the way that all fae seem to be, with dark hair and amber eyes.
“Would you like to ride back on me, Isla?” he asks. “I am a hy-were and very strong and swift. I will get you to our court safely.”
“I’m sure she would be more comfortable astride a dragon,” another male snarls, striding up to the first. This one is leaner, with blond hair and broad shoulders.
“Nonsense,” the first male insists. “I’m sure—”
“She doesn’t want to ride on a slow, grounded beast,” the second one cuts in. “She just came from flying. Why would she want—?”
“Grounded beast?” The first male’s eyes flash. “I am twice as fast as any of your winged—”
A third male joins the argument, and suddenly all three of them are shouting at each other, gesturing wildly, voices rising in the quiet night.
Terra laughs and pulls me away from the squabbling group. I glance back and see that the argument has devolved into shoving.
By now, my mouth is hanging open.
“See what I mean?” Terra says, still laughing. “They have been fighting like this since we left to fetch you.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“They are all interested in the human with magic.”
