“Good.” He stands tall, towering over me as all Fae do. “Now explain what you’re doing.”
His voice is colder than it was a moment ago, and I remember where I am.
What I saw.
My gaze finds the Fae in the pile, but his eyes are closed, and his face is half gone as the fire consumes him. I’m imagining things again.
“It was nothing.” I shake my head, turning away from the pile of burning bodies. “His blessing fell, so I was fixing it.”
“We both know that’s not what I’m talking about.” Callum’s eyes narrow.
His Crown Guard armor adds width to his already broad shoulders. The wind whips through his chin-length, nearly black hair. It blows back off his face, revealing the tight clench of his strong jaw.
As if being immortal and lethal aren’t enough, the Fae are larger than most humans and blindingly gorgeous. It’s something I’m reminded of every time I’m this close to Callum, and I’m forced to crane my neck all the way back to look at his beautiful face.
Gods, his lips are perfect. I bet they would be soft if he lowered them to mine.
“Let’s go.” He urges me away from the pyre, snapping me out of those thoughts.
I glance around to see the Guard has started leading the humans back to the village now that the burning has begun. With a final look at the pyre, I offer a farewell before starting the long, cold walk home.
Callum is silent at my side at first. Not unusual with how many people are around us.
Besides the sound of footsteps, the forest is quiet. When I was younger, the trees were alive with noise. Animals skittered.Creatures howled. Birds chirped. It had its own melody, and it was soothing. But now, there’s only silence.
We near the end of the path where the forest parts for the village. As I’ve slowed, others have pushed ahead, thinning the crowd around me and Callum.
Callum leans closer. “You promised you’d stay in the village while I was gone.”
“And you promised you’d stay in the Ley Court for two full turns of the moon.” I glare up at him. “It’s been one.”
The Fae Guard rotates regularly to ensure they don’t suffer the fate of the Beating like the prisoners inevitably will. They take ships between Alyssium and Ruse Village, a small village on the coast of the Ley Court, where they stay long enough to restore the magic in their blood.
Callum always waits too long to leave, pushing the limits of his heart. It’s why he was meant to stay in Ruse Village for two moons before returning this time.
“It’s a good thing I returned when I did, with you running into fires and tempting fate. Is it too much to ask for you tonotconstantly run toward death?”
“It’s almost as if he doesn’t know you at all.”The island chuckles, and I shake it off.
“Is that your way of saying you like me better alive?” I nudge Callum’s arm, trying to be playful.
“Of course I like you better alive, Elorie.” As annoyed as he sounds, I know he’s telling the truth.
While most of the Guard looks down on humans, Callum has a soft spot for my family. He’s spent a century guarding Alyssium, and in that time, he’s grown close with the humans here. First my grandparents, then my father. Now me.
Although, I suppose he considers me less of a friend and more of a nuisance when I’m always causing him trouble.
“Whyareyou back so soon, Callum?” We make the final turn into the village just as the first flake of snow lands on my nose.
Villagers disperse toward their homes while the Guard settles into their posts at the edge of the fence line.
“We’re short on guards, so they needed me back.” Callum’s storm-gray eyes avoid mine.
“Don’t lie to me. The Guard has doubled its numbers on Alyssium this past year. If they were short, they wouldn’t have been able to do that.”
“It’s Fae business, Elorie.” He breathes out an annoyed sigh. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Of course I’m going to worry when yourFae businessalways inevitably affects us lowly humans.” I glare.
