1
WREN
Unless I’m transporting someone else, the transition between worlds is a gentle slide. A soft breath. But the Winter Court royals never do anything so nice. My arrival into Hex leaves me feeling like meat chewed up and spit out by a giant. I heave a breath and suck in mud and grease from the gravel road. Rain pelts me and I try not to curse the sky of my new home.
I lay in the mud for a few breaths, my left wrist burning where His Majesty injected magic into my bloodstream. The one skill I prided myself on more than anything isn’t mine to command any longer. I heft myself to my knees and grab the now ruined silk shirt holding my meager possessions. A handful of trinkets for a decade of service. I’m naked from the waist down, not allowed to take anything given to me by the court, which meant I only had a gag shirt given to me by Lark and a silk shirt meant to seduce. I chose to wear the gag shirt though it doesn’t cover anything from sensitive eyes. The silk shirt I’ll never wear again. It’s too much of a reminder of what I lost.
My home.
But this is what I wanted, right? Freedom. At the cost of my home and everything I’ve known. I never thought...
I shake my head. Never assume anything with the royals, certainly not Fae royals. Mother’s begging for me to be allowed to stay still echos in my head.
This is what I wanted. Choice. Freedom. And the royals gave me that. If only they hadn’t taken away my teleportation. I can’t even hop through other realms. They ripped every realm away from me except for the one I chose. The human realm, because that’s where Lark usually stays. Maybe now we can build our relationship again. Be brothers again.
I push to my feet and lift my face to the sky, hoping the rain washes away all the mud. I’m soaked to the bone and shiver, not caring. It’s time to start anew and I hope Lark forgives me for barging into his world unannounced.
The portal mages had mercy on me and dumped me in Hex instead of one of the neighboring cities. I can’t imagine how I’d make it here dressed the way I am. Though I’ve heard Evansville has a pleasant portal Fae that owns a delightful bakery. I might have to venture there one day to see how they compare to Wick’s.
But for now, I must walk to Lark’s. Hopefully, he’ll take me in until I get my feet under me.
My stomach rumbles and I realize it’s early. Lark might not even be awake yet. I suck in a breath. Everything is fine. I just have to find my way to Lark’s house. No problem.
Except it is a problem. I’ve always only teleported to everywhere in Hex unless I’m walking to Wick’s. I have no idea how to get to Lark’s because I don’t know where the fuck it is.
My wrist throbs. I’m sure my magic knows I want to use it, but I can’t. I’m not even sure if I can glow.
I drop my pathetic silk shirt of trinkets and pull the back of my shirt up and over my head to free my entire back. Sure, my ass is out, but this is more important. My wings snap out and flutter.
I squeeze my eyes closed and will my magic through my wings. That subtle warmth buzzes through my body, but I keep my eyes closed a little longer. What if I can’t glow? What if they’ve blocked all of my magic and not just what I’ve tapped into for teleporting? My breathing picks up and I force myself to calm, digging my nails into my palms.
“Everything is fine.” I open my eyes and a small cry falls from my lips. The reflection of my wings glow in the puddles around me. “Okay, crisis averted.”
I pull in my wings and right my t-shirt before grabbing my silk shirt back from the ground.
None of this is ideal, but everything is fine. My stomach rumbles again and I pat it.
“I’m going to eat so much food.” I chuckle. “Maybe stop working out.” I don’t have to be beautiful anymore. “Maybe I’ll cut my hair!” I spin and said long as fuck wet hair whips me in the face. Scowling, I throw it over my shoulder. “Yes, I do think a hair cut is in my future.” Courtesans weren’t allowed to cut their hair no matter the gender. I’m no longer a courtesan.
There’s a pep in my step as I make my way towards Hex proper, with its bustling streets. At least I hope I’m going in the right direction. Trees flank me from every side, so it’s hard to tell. I’m working on vibes here. And the vibes say go forward. So I do.
Oh, shit. I tug my t-shirt down as far as I can, but it barely grazes my knees. I can make a loincloth situation from the silk shirt, but then I have nowhere to put my trinkets.
I drop my silk shirt to the ground again, splashing mud up my legs. Then pull off my t-shirt. No one’s around, so standing naked for the few minutes it takes to fashion a quick outfit shouldn’t be too bad.
There’s a cough behind me and I spin, twig and berries on full display. Of course it’s Talon. The one man in Hex that getsme all hot and bothered. The sexy baker of Warwick’s Wicked Bakery. His golden hair and neatly trimmed beard are darker in the early dawn light. His bright blue eyes look me over before a blush creeps down his suntanned skin and he looks away.
“Sorry, I don’t know what this looks like, but I’m trying to get everything covered.” I cup myself as if I’m a shy virgin and laugh. I’m not embarrassed in the slightest, but the griffin in front of me blushes so prettily.
Talon shakes his head and pulls his t-shirt over his head. “I don’t know what your plan was, but this should cover everything important.” He hands the shirt over and his blush goes all the way down his yummy sculpted chest. He won’t look at me.
“I was planning on making a crop top and wrap skirt so everything was covered, but I hated the idea of tearing up a gift. Thank you.” I take the shirt and pull it on. “You’re right. Everything’s covered. Thank you.”
Talon bobs his head and swallows. “Glad I could help.” He continues walking the path I’d been on.
I grab my silk shirt and run to catch up with him. “Since you’re here, could I ask you a favor? Well, another one.”
He puffs a sound and nods.
