Sitting down from his slouched position, he nodded. Then he stared into my eyes again like they held answers to whatever bothered him. Or he thought they were strange. The fae kingdoms weren’t used to my kind of oddity. Whatever the reason, I avoided eye contact.
‘You’re incredibly secretive, aren’t you?’ he prodded, leaning back on his outstretched arms.
There were many things he could be referring to, but since over the few times we met, we mostly convened regarding politics, that must have been the culprit.
The conclusion was reasonable, though something about it rubbed me the wrong way. It sounded too accusatory. ‘Because we’re not under Elders’ guardianship?’
The stern glare of his persisted. ‘No. Because you tend to stay away from the other fae.’
‘You’d be surprised how many of us live scattered around other kingdoms,’ I shot back. ‘Besides, isn’t that precisely what your kingdom has done?’
‘True,’ he admitted, his confidence faltering after being called out. ‘So are you saying you don’t intentionally seclude yourself?’
I couldn’t understand the point he was making. ‘Not necessarily… Why would you ask that?’
Michael’s body tensed as he leaned in a little. ‘It’s just… can I ask you something personal?’
Stretching my legs out, I prepared myself for the worst. ‘About being dark fae?’
‘Is that all you are? Your eyes are spectacular, like bloody diamonds or the richest of rubies; I’ve never seen anything like them before,’ he said, inching closer to get a better look.
A surge of heat burned my cheeks. Words shouldn’t affect me like that at my age. ‘No, I’m not just dark fae.’
Looking ahead, he admitted, ‘I figured. Is being a halfling more acceptable in your kingdom?’
Dear Gods, who has Ava paired me with?
To be fair, he had seemed perfectly normal when I first met him. Helpful, even. ‘Are you suggesting that it isn’t here?’
Michael blanched. ‘No, that wasn’t my intention; I’m sorry. I meant that obviously with the war, the stigma of Ortensian crimes creates a lot of prejudice towards halflings.’
The conversation was taking an increasingly alarming turn. ‘Are you a puritan?’
‘What?’ His spine stiffened. ‘Never. I embrace diversity.’
I nodded, searching his eyes for the truth. ‘What’s with this line of questioning then?’
Fidgeting in his spot, he spoke quickly, ‘Fae males tend to worry about their mates when they’re out of sight.’
Oh.
My tendency to judge was awful. Of course that’s what it was about. His brother had a right to worry; he hasn’t even seen how or where she lived. ‘I assure you Ava is safest at the Isles. The land itself took a liking to her.’
‘I’m glad to hear that,’ he said more quietly, taking a long breath. ‘Is that where you see your future? And with Luke?’
Not another one. Ava must have put him up to this… ‘Where else could I live? The Isles are my home.’
‘Perhaps with Ava and my brother being mates, it could spark closer relations between our homes.’ A slow smile curved his mouth. ‘It seems we are equally reclusive.’
Interesting suggestion, if only it were based on a fact rather than an assumption. ‘Maybe so, though as far as I am aware she hasn’t forgiven him yet.’
‘It’s a matter of time,’ he sounded certain and looked even more so. The smugness made the scabs of my hands itch. I only stopped myself because fate only knew what monsters my blood could draw to us in these woods.
‘You appear awfully sure of that. What if she decides what he’s done was too much to ever forget?’
‘They’re mates,’ Michael said matter-of-factly, looking at me like I should understand.
I could almost laugh. Lately, the subject of matehood had become tainted in the Nightborn household. ‘That’s not a solution to everything.’
