“We going to the fairy village today?” Eddie asks, shoveling eggs into his mouth.
“Yeah, we should probably get that out of the way. Let’s leave at one. I’ll drive.”
“Yeah, fucking right, I’ll drive, Buttercup, but nice try.” I smile as I eat the breakfast he cooked. I knew I wasn’t driving. I haven’t gotten behind the wheel since I woke up from my near-death experience, and there he suddenly was in my room. He’s completely inserted himself into my life, and I can’t say I’m even remotely mad about it.
“You wanna shower first?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’ll be quick though,” I say, popping up from my chair and heading towards the shower.
“Not too quick!” he hollers, smirking down at his food.
“Eddie Enchanted, are you saying I stink?” I pop my head into the archway of the kitchen.
“No, Buttercup. You smell like roses.”
“I should smell like buttercream and honey!” I shout, walking back to the bathroom. I took a shower last night, so while I might not need one physically, I need one mentally. I’ve never been to a fairy village, and I’m nervous. I’ve never met a fairy, and now I’m going to a village filled with them. I can thank karma for that, I’m sure.
With Eddie doing the driving, this ride will give me the perfect time to overthink the situation in its entirety. Ghostwanted to hurt me, kill me, and now I’m being whisked away to a fairy village. Wow, what a life I get to live.
I cut off the shower and step out of the tub, watching the water drops trail down my skin as I brace myself for this visit. At least, in this, I’m not alone. Eddie is going to be with me. The thought makes a smile, and I lotion up and get dressed before seeing the wonderful man waiting for me by the front door.
“Ready, Buttercup?”
I nod and follow him out to the car. Maybe the Moon Goddess isn’t that cruel after all. I mean, Eddie may not be my mate, but maybe that doesn’t mean I can’t experience love again? I don’t know. I bite at my lips as he pulls out of the driveway. This isn’t what I’m supposed to be focusing on right now. I need to focus on the fairies.
It isn’t long before we arrive at Thunderwood Village, home to all the fairies in the state of Michigan. Eddie pops out of the car and rushes over to my door to help me out of the car. Not that I needed it, but it sure is nice to be cared for.
Visiting this village is similar to going downtown, a park-and-walk-everywhere situation. The concrete road stops at the village’s entrance, and the rest of the way is made of curvy walkways and train tracks. Dense forestry blocks a lot of the entrance, and we walk for a while before we meet civilization. The fairies guard their towns and villages with the elements, which stops humans. Other paranormals aren’t as quick to give up. With enhanced strength, we can get through as long as the fairies maintaining the barrier allow it. They know we are coming. They may not know why or what for, but they let us pass through, anyway.
The sidewalks are lined with little houses and shops. It’s all homey and cute. Pulling out my phone, I find the closest herb shop to us, figuring we can start there.
Fairies mostly kept to themselves. It’s obvious in the way they clear the pathway for us to walk through, some even crossing the street to avoid us. I’ve heard fairies hate other paranormals for destroying the earth. Which could I blame them? The damage to the ozone, deforestation, sure we partook in that, but did we deserve to be cast as outsiders for it? Well, maybe, yeah.
“Woods, Leaves, and Bees. The map says we’re here,” I mutter, laughing to myself at the name of the little shop. It appears exactly as I would imagine an herb shop to. The outside resembles a tree stump, and the inside is decorated as if an earth fairy threw up leaves and vines everywhere. Wood shelves line the walls, and little shelving units take up most of the space on the floor. Glass bottles are lined neatly in rows on every available surface. Eddie, with a hand on my lower back, leads me straight to the checkout desk.
“There are too many shifters in this part of town,” the shopkeeper mutters to herself, laughing sarcastically. Her long blonde hair almost matches the color of her skin. Her cheeks are strained, and her forehead lines don’t hide her displeasure at seeing us.
“That’s what we came here to talk about,” Eddie says, leaning against the counter. He keeps an arm around me, and I can’t help but lean into him. It’s instinctual at this point. Every day that we spend together makes it harder and harder to remind myself that he’s not mine to keep. “What other shifters have you seen here?”
“I can’t tell you that outright.”
“Can I ask what he came in for, and you can nod yes or no?” I ask, hope building in my chest and my skin getting tighter. I’d hoped she’d freely tell us what we need to know, but I can tell that’s not going to be the case.
“Since you asked so nicely. I could help a cute bear like you out.” She gives me a partial smile and that little gesture gives me hope that she’ll help us catch Ghost.
“How’d you know we were bears?” Eddie asks, pulling me back slightly. I send a glare to the side of his head, which he doesn’t acknowledge. I can’t have him getting overprotective now that she’s willing to help. He pinches my side, and before I can say anything, the shopkeeper speaks.
“I’m a fairy. I can just tell.” She shrugs, rolling her eyes and focusing back on me. “I have an inkling about something. I’m curious if that’s what you came in for.”
“Okay, has a shifter come in here asking for you to put banana into tea bags?” I ask.
“I can’t tell you anything unless you give me something in exchange for what I know.” I furrow my brows and glance at Eddie, who finally looks at me. A favor? She wants a favor? What could she possibly want from us? What does she know that would be worth a favor?
“Oh, well,” I say, trying to weigh my odds. I already owe Eddie a favor, which I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten. Can I risk adding another favor, to a stranger no less, to my pile? “It depends on the favor?—”
“Is what you know worth a favor?” Eddie challenges.
“I guess you won’t find out, huh?”
