Page 37 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

“Mira.” Kaiden’s voice is heavy with admonishment and fear. Fear for me. “Get back here.”

But I’m busy destroying the first two greshhlins, and I’d like to do whatever I can to hasten the process, so I followmy instinct to stroke the leaves on the lowest branch, gently tickling the undersides as I murmur cordially to the tree. “Such a beautiful, hungry tree you are. I know you want to be bigger. Taller. Stronger. Don’t you? I know you want to take more nourishment from the soil. That’s it, love, feed yourself.”

The two greshhlins in Kaiden’s ward are so small they barely reach my knees. Hope fills me. I’m doing it. We’re doing it. I wouldn’t be able to destroy them without Kaiden’s help first. If the creatures aren’t contained in one of his wards, they won’t be solid enough for my particular magic to work.

Wondering what’s taking so long with the other two gresshlins, I turn my attention back to Kaiden. He’s standing very still as he swirls both his hands in the air, a look of immense concentration on his face. Each time he hurls blue light at the remaining greshhlins, they either become invisible for a few seconds, or they jump out of the way.

Shouts echo in the forest. I also hear the pounding of quick, heavy footsteps. It sounds like a small army is headed this way, thundering toward us at full speed. The ground shakes, and Kaiden and I exchange a look, though he quickly returns his attention to the two free greshhlins.

The warded greshhlins are nearly gone. Nearly destroyed. My gods, Mira. You are powerful.His voice reverberates in my head.

I don’t feel powerful, I admit.All I’m doing is wishing and talking to the plants. It feels rather easy. Natural. I still wish I had wings.

He chuckles aloud. “As I’ve already told you, little nymph, you may consider me your personal transport.”

“Who’s coming?” I ask. “Could that be a contingent of Prince Lucas’s army?”

“I’m not certain, but it’s doubtful it’s part of the Summer Court army. They marched north seven days ago. Whoever it is,and whether they’re friend or foe, they’re almost here. We’ll find out soon enough.”

Friend or foe? I suppress a shiver. I’ve been so busy worrying about destroying the four greshhlins that I never once considered that the approaching force might be an enemy. My heart sinks. We’re on fae lands. What if my people decided to attack the fae again? There are many large kingdoms in addition to Trevos. I swallow hard and pray I won’t have to fight my own people. Never mind that I’m part-fae and most human soldiers would gladly kill me if they knew about my ancestry and my magic.

Kaiden growls and hurls another wave of blue light at the greshhlins. One of the creatures escapes, but the other becomes trapped. I heave a sigh of relief and watch as my mate places a series of wards around the contained greshhlin. Three down. One to go. And possibly a small army if the newcomers aren’t friendly…

The first two greshhlins Kaiden trapped disappear into the soil. The moment their remains vanish, a patch of flowers appears inside the warded area. Beautiful yellow tulips. My mother’s favorite flower.

They’re gone, I tell Kaiden.The first two, that is. I’ll get to work on number three. If you wouldn’t mind capturing that fourth one, that would be great.

He growls.I am trying. I’ve never encountered a greshhlin so fast or large. If this creature made it to a village, he would feast on a thousand faefolk within an hour.There’s a pause, and I sense Kaiden’s continued astonishment over my magic.You are an amazing female, Mira. In my lifetime, the highborn fae of Linnshire have only managed to kill two greshhlins. Just two! The others we’ve driven back into the mountain caves, which we try to keep warded, though they manage to break free far too often. Yet within the last few minutes, you’vedestroyed two greshhlins yourself and are now working on a third. You are remarkable.

It's not lost on me that I couldn’t do what I’m doing alone. I couldn’t destroy the greshhlins without Kaiden’s help. Before I can wish them into the soil as nourishment for the forest, he must trap them first. He must erect wards strong enough to hold them captive. Though I’m capable of summoning plant growth, and it’s something that comes easily to me, I have no idea how to create a ward or send beams of tangling light from my hands.

Also, wings. I can’t summon wings.

Not going to lie, I might have attempted it a few times during the last week as I trekked through the forest. Each time, nothing happened.

At last, Kaiden catches the fourth greshhlin in a tangling beam of blue light that shoots from his hands. The creature howls pitifully and struggles on the ground, attempting to crawl away. Kaiden steps closer to the screeching spirit being and sends another wave of blue light that I suppose is the actual ward. I’m not certain. I’ll have to ask him about ward creation later. Now that I know I’m part-fae, I find myself becoming more and more interested in the different kinds of magic wielded by highborn fae. I’m also curious about the lesser magic that regular faefolk can exert.

The third greshhlin is decomposing into the soil at a rapid pace, per my wishes. Just the mere thought of nourishing the plants is enough to make it happen. So easy. So fulfilling. I like that I can use my magic for good, though I know there are plenty of fae who use their powers for nefarious reasons.

Just as the third greshhlin is finally destroyed and a patch of yellow tulips rises where it fell, over a dozen fae males and females burst into the clearing with their weapons drawn. Kaiden snarls and draws me close, but I soon feel him relaxing next to me.

“Father,” he says.

A man who looks very much like Kaiden sheaths the sword he’s holding and steps forward. The others put their weapons away as well, and a few of the leather-clad fae peer in curiosity at the seemingly empty, faintly glowing, blue wards that contain the yellow tulips.

“Kaiden,” the fae male says. “I didn’t expect to find you here. I thought you were in Trevos.”

“I was in Trevos, but then I had to hunt my mate down.” He tightens his arm around me and gives me an affectionate look. “We were on our way back to Trevos but stopped here for the night, and the greshhlins suddenly came upon us.”

“And you’ve destroyed three of them. Holy gods, how?” Kaiden’s father glances between us with a questioning look, his wide eyes revealing his utter astonishment. His companions appear equally shocked.

“Technically, my beautiful and exceptionally talented mate destroyed them.” Kaiden presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Go on, little nymph. Show them what you can do. Kill the fourth greshhlin.”

What am I? Your party trick?

Please, little nymph. The sooner you kill it, the sooner I might take you to bed again. I’m eager for us to continue exploring one another’s bodies. Eager to teach you how to suck my cock and…

Okay, okay, I’ll do it,I tell him.Stop talking dirty to me in the company of others.

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