Page 92 of A Lick of Flame

Orion closes the distance between us. “I will see you a little later.” He brushes a quick kiss against my mouth.

“Be careful.”

“I will.” He squeezes my hand, and then he and Xander leave together.

I set about laying out the firewood, ready for lighting a fire a little later.

“So, you and the Beastfae King?” Thesha says as she sits on a nearby rock and starts braiding her hair.

“I could say the same about you and the farmer who isn’t actually a farmer.” I shake my head at how bizarre this all is. If someone had told me a week or two ago that I would be sitting in a clearing in a forest on fae territory and be totally and completely in love with the Beastfae King, I would have laughed in their face.

Thesha smiles; her eyes light up. “Yes, I am very much in love with Xander. I never thought I’d see the day. I didn’t think I would fall for a man, let alone a fae.”

“You are telling me.” I laugh. “You must have been shocked to your core when you found out about him. I know I am.”

“I was.” She nods. “I wanted nothing to do with him, but then Xander reminded me that he is the same person, whether he has pointed ears or not. Title or no title.” She shrugs.

“I knew Orion was a fae, but I didn’t know that he is a king as well. That piece of information shocked me deeply.” I widen my eyes. “I didn’t want to fall in love with him. I fought it hard but…”

“We can’t help who we love.” She keeps braiding her hair.

“Indeed,” I say, fascinated by how easily she does it and without the aid of a mirror. I can tell that she has done it a thousand times before.

“The two of you make a great couple,” she adds.

I stand. Twigs and moss are all set out and ready for kindling. Midnight sees me and nickers. I smile at him.

“I see that you have won the heart of more than just the Beastfae King. And to think that Xander was a little worried you took Midnight. He said that the horse can be headstrong and a little tricky to ride.”

“I have not had a moment’s trouble. He can get a little enthusiastic at times, but I don’t mind it at all. He stays with me. We have a good understanding.”

“So not just good at handling a strong-willed fae male, but good with animals as well.”

“I hope that you are right,” I say, clutching my chest, thinking about Delphine. “I will need to convince—”

I get a sharp pain in my belly, which I clasp with both hands, crying out.

“What is it?” Thesha jumps to her feet, the last of her braid forgotten.

“I don’t—” I start to say as the pain subsides, only to return in my skull. My head throbs like it is going to explode. “No! What?” I try to hold back a scream, but it proves impossible. Blood floods from both my nostrils; the copper liquid clogs my throat, traveling in warm rivulets down my chin and neck.

I stagger forward, choking, then I fall to my knees in the dirt. I am sure they will be bruised, but right now, I can’t feel a thing save the terrible agony in my skull. It can’t be Raila.

What then?

Thesha drops to her knees beside me. I think that she is shouting my name, but I can’t hear a thing save for my own heart beating like a frightened bird in my chest.

Make it stop!

Make it stop!

I’m not sure if I say the words or if I just think them, but the pain leaves me in the next instant.

Thesha is shouting my name. I am breathing like I just ran up a mountain. My ears are ringing a little, but aside from the blood, it is the only sign that anything even happened.

I groan when there is a familiar sharp pain on my right shoulder. I wince, clutching myself tightly, my eyes squeezing shut. “Nooooooo! This can’t be happening.”

“What is it?” Thesha asks, looking concerned.

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