Page 50 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

I flung out my arm toward the round window that gave view of the sprawling forest top. “Good, then we’ll kill them and be done with it.”

“Aoife, I know you want to free your people⁠—”

“I don’t think you do know. Sometimes I think you just want more people to rule over, to command.”

The words were unfair and not even true, but I’d wanted to hurt him, and I’d succeeded.

He reared back, face stricken. “How could you think that about me?”

I crossed my arms. “Like you said, we barely know anything about each other.”

He sighed and moved toward the door, hunching over and opening it. He paused in the doorway, his back to me as he said, “If you ever need someone to sleep next to, I’m here, Aoife. I’ll sleep by your side in this closet every night if that’s what you need.”

And then he was gone.

CHAPTER 24

Lor

Istalked toward the barrier of Fairwitch Isle, invitation from Aoife clenched tight in my fist. I’d slept by her side a few nights ago and hadn’t seen or heard from her since—except for this invitation to train with her.

Outside the boundary of Fairwitch Isle. I’d agreed to do whatever she wished of me, but this was reckless, and I intended to let her know.

I stepped through the invisible barrier, feeling so exposed out here in the forest surrounding our city. Sunlight dappled across the uneven ground, that familiar crunch of pine cone needles echoing around me.

The cone shaped trees surrounded me, punctuated by tall thin trees with leafy canopies that provided shade from the warmth of the sun, though up this high, the sun was usually welcome with the brisk mountain air.

Other than the rustle of leaves and the snap of branches I stepped over, I couldn’t detect any sound. I followed the trail of footprints, hoping wherever Aoife was, it wasn’t too far outside Fairwitch Isle.

I’d asked her many times to consider training in the courtyard, but of course she refused.

Finally, I came upon a small clearing of grass where many of the Fair Folk stood, all in various training stances.

None of them held any weapons, and I watched as Ambrose fought a female faerie, both of them striking in quick jabs with their arms and hands. They moved so fast I could hardly keep track of who did what until Ambrose struck out his hand, knocking his female opponent in the stomach and causing her to fall back onto the ground.

My gaze strayed to Aoife, and the entire forest faded away as I watched her, unable to tear my gaze from her as she moved. She wore tight black trousers that fit like a second skin, hugging her wide hips, thick thighs, and rounded ass. She bent her knee forward, arm out as she pushed it through the air in a series of movements I didn’t recognize. I’d seen a few of the Fair Folk adopt this fighting style in our courtyard, though most of them trained with weapons, but I loved how they used their bodies like this. I could easily see them disarming someone who held a sword or dagger.

Aoife bent forward until her hands pressed into the ground, then she walked her feet backward, her body forming a triangle as she stretched her muscles. Sweat glistened on her russet skin, and I swallowed thickly.

“I did try to tell her you wouldn’t appreciate being made to come all the way out here,” Ambrose said from next to me, and I startled.

I’d forgotten all the other Fair Folk were here.

I cleared my throat. “It’s dangerous. Not a risk worth taking.”

Aoife stood, stretching her arms up above her head, her long hair in a braid that whipped around her back.

“Maybe not to you,” Ambrose said.

His words hung between us, and they niggled at something in my brain, but before I could think on it too much, Aoife had spotted me and was headed straight for me.

“Are you ready to train?” she asked, gaze roaming from my head to my boots, and I noticed the way her gaze briefly lingered on my arms.

I normally wore long sleeves, but today I’d chosen a black leather vest with my black pants, and a thrill shot through me that my wife seemed to admire my body just like I’d admired hers.

“I’m ready,” I said as I walked forward to meet her in the middle of the clearing.

Fair Folk around us continued to train and fight.