Cloudtree frowned.“There are stories about Elves.But I do not wish to give offense.I wish…to become neighborly.”He raised his chin.“I have heard that in the human realm, it is most customary to pursue a daily labor.I am prepared to do that.”
Laurette turned.“You want to work to get paid so you can afford food and shelter.Well, fuck me, but that was not in the daily horoscope for today, was it, Gertrude.”
“You don’t read the horoscope, my lord.”Gertrude was absently polishing the flat side of a claw hammer against her coat.
Theo sighed.“Okay, the chatter is great, but can we please go and get my friend and his fiancé?It’s only a rescue if we get them back.”
Laurette smiled at him.“We will, but it takes the deer a moment to get here.”
Theo opened his mouth to ask, but he never got the chance.He felt the vibrations from his feet all the way to the tip of his nose.“What in the fuck—”
With a crash, something large and pearly white broke through the trees on their left.
Chapter 20
Peterwasnotafan of wildlife, mostly because wildlife could often sense that he was different from the average predatory human, and that could lead to him being found out among human circles.Faerie wildlife in particular was just too shimmery.
And yet, seeing Theodore’s eyes go wide with wonder at the sight of some deer was a treat the likes of which Faerie didn’t normally offer.Lord Laurette had magicked a whole herd of them here, their coats a pure white or golden-brown with a metallic sheen.The deer looked inclined to do the Elven lord’s bidding.Either that or he had used magic to make them so.In the troubling column of the day’s spreadsheet, Peter had seen no indication of Laurette using magic.
So much easier with human witches.So much easier to stop them when they need stopping.
“Up and on, everyone,” Laurette said as he swung himself onto a white doe.
Cloudtree easily sat upon an antlered stag, as did Getrude, and shifted Carl-Conrad moved between them, sniffing the air.
“Um.”Theodore clutched the shoulder strap of his bag and turned to look at Peter.“I…”
“Would you like to ride with me?Only because there are no saddles, of course.”
Theodore hesitated for a moment, then nodded.Peter was very aware that Laurette was watching them as closely as an old lady might a telenovela, but he ignored that, walked up to one of the stags that looked strong enough to carry them both, and lifted Theodore up by his hips.
“Oh, fuck, that’s—okay.”
Theodore’s eyes were wide.His hand sank into the fur where he placed them against the beast’s neck.Peter made a mental note of that.People these days were so estranged from nature, but he had a feeling Theodore might enjoy meeting some wildlife face to face—maybe not to ride, but perhaps they could visit a zoo.Typically, not all of the animals freaked out when they realized Peter was a vampire.Reptiles in particular barely cared.A crocodile had even tried eating him once, but he had a feeling Theodore wouldn’t enjoy that kind of display.
Peter himself swung up behind Theodore quickly and without issue.It wasn’t a horse, but riding a horse was much like riding a bike, even though bikes were a much later fad.Riding magical Faerie deer wasn’t too different from either.He wound one arm around Theodore’s waist, holding him close.
Laurette nodded.“All right.Everyone, hold on.We’re going to move quick.”
At a nudge of his heels, Laurette’s deer galloped across the moors, followed by the others and by Carl-Conrad, who had to struggle to keep up.Peter couldn’t say for certain, but he had a feeling that the deer’s speed was boosted by magic.
Peter felt Theodore’s heels scrape against his shins and saw his hands dig into the stag’s neck.It was the reaction of someone who didn’t know how to use his thighs to hold on and had never experienced speed like this on horseback.He’d at least leaned forward though; a good instinctual reaction.
“I have you,” Peter whispered into his beloved’s ear, and just to show it, he tightened his hold on him.
Theodore didn’t say anything, but he was tense, afraid.The brightness of Faerie made Peter squint, even as he was doing his best to pay attention to where they were going.Laurette seemed to be enjoying the ride, the pink tips of his hair flying out behind him, and the Fae of course looked imposing, like a chiseled warrior ready to attend a victory parade.
They eventually slowed when the grassland gave way to cultivated fields.Peter saw sunflowers and grain, neatly maintained roads between them, and a few thatched cottages in the distance.
“The house is just a few paces yonder,” Cloudtree said, pointing and elegantly swinging off the stag’s back.
Theodore was breathing heavily.“Fuck.That was…” He shook his head.“I think I prefer the tram.”
“We’ll have you back home riding the tram soon enough.”Peter said that, but he had no intention whatsoever of letting his beloved out of his sight once they returned, much less to ride the tram.There might be explaining to do—maybe some groveling—and also, it seemed far wiser to make sure Theodore could get his degree without having to go to campus every day.Really, it was excessive, all this in-person stuff, and Peter was determined to explain as much to Theodore’s professors.
He helped Theodore off the stag’s back first though, then slid off himself, landing with ease.The others had dismounted, and while Laurette was waiting for them, Gertrude, Cloudtree, and Carl-Conrad were already making their way to the road, which was just a dirt road cut into the landscape by those Fae or servants who did the farming here.
Peter frowned.For all he knew, it could be human servants, captured to do the work here.Not that he should concern himself with any of that.He didn’t enjoy taking cases pro bono, but it made him wonder.He put one hand on the pommel of his sword, the other at the small of Theodore’s back.
