Page 12 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

A long silence stretches between us, but it’s not awkward or uncomfortable. It’s oddly peaceful, and I find I’m starting to enjoy the fae male’s company. I’d been dreading this trip into the forest for a while now, worried that I might encounter fae soldiers or a dangerous animal. At this time of year, wolves are frequently spotted near the city walls. But I feel safe with Kaiden. Yes, he’s a fae soldier himself, but I don’t think he’ll have me detained upon my return to Trevos. I mean, not only did he finish chopping my firewood, but he’s pulling it back home for me.

Excitement winds through me knowing that he came looking for me. When he returned to my home and couldn’t find me, he actually came looking for me. To make sure I was safe. My breath falters a bit and my pulse increases, and it’s not from the exertion of walking. I sneak another glance at Kaiden and can’t help but admire his huge, masculine form as he pulls the firewood and carries the ax. All things considered, he's behaving rather gentlemanly. Well, except for the part where he thinks he can order me around.

“What happened?” I finally ask. “The explosion, I mean. What happened at the castle?” I can’t believe his presence distracted me so much that I’m only now asking. My face grows warm. Gods, why does he make me so flustered?

He meets my eyes. “The explosion was caused by a disgruntled human man. He’d hoped to set the castle ablaze, but when our wards caused the accelerant he was sprinkling to disappear, he moved on to an unprotected outbuilding instead. Two human servants died in the explosion.”

“I see. How awful.” I don’t know what else to say, and I soon become lost in my thoughts. My stomach twists. I don’t like the idea of more violence in the city, though I suppose I can’t blame the man, whoever he was, for his attempted attack on the castle. The fae are our enemies and if we don’t drive them out of Trevos, who knows how long they will occupy our city. I can’t help but wonder if there’s an organized rebellion in the making, or if perhaps it’s too soon for that.

Fleeing to a kingdom that’s not under fae rule might be the safest option, but my heart breaks at the thought of leaving my beloved homestead. To say I’m attached to the place would be an understatement. My parents worked hard to keep the property fruitful over the years, and before them my grandparents did the same, and before that my great-grandparents and so on. It’s been in the family for generations and I can’t imagine just abandoning it.

Yet I’m living there alone, and I don’t plan to marry or have children. What will happen once I’m gone with no heirs? Will the place fall into ruin, or will the neighbors swoop in to take over? I hasten my pace through the forest, as though I might outrun the morbid ponderings.

The castle towers eventually come into sight, and we reach the stone wall that surrounds Trevos. I push aside thoughts of solitude and my own mortality as I walk along the wall, looking for the hidden entrance a friend showed me a long time ago.

Finally, I spot the thick layer of vines that conceals the passage. I push the vines aside and gesture at the entrance. “Here we are.”

“How many people know about this secret entrance?” Kaiden asks with a frown.

“I honestly don’t know. A friend who died several years ago showed it to me when we were children. But, I have a feeling if a lot of people knew about it, you would’ve caught more runners after the battle ended.” Guilt settles over me. I hate that Kaiden knows about this hidden entrance now, and it’s all my fault. He’s the enemy, I remind myself. What will he do with the information? Will he seal the passage? Or will he station soldiers here to try to catch people using it?

“This is a vulnerability to Trevos, and it must be sealed immediately.” He approaches the vines and sweeps them fully aside, revealing the expanse of the secret passageway. It’s not large, but it’s wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Well, two humans anyway.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Gods, I feel like a traitor. Must you really seal it?”

He guides me inside, and I walk slightly ahead of him as he continues to pull the firewood. “Yes, I must. It’s my job to keep this city safe. Any breach in the walls, whether small or large, is a liability.”

I peer over my shoulder at him. In the darkness of the passageway, his face is cast in shadows, and I can’t quite see his expression. “What do you mean, it’s your job to keep the city safe?”

“I was recently appointed as the new warden of Trevos.”

I stop in my tracks and turn to stare at him. “Warden? How… how long will your people be occupying Trevos?”

He steps into a ray of light that’s coming through a gap in the vines, and I nearly gasp at the resolute look in his eyes. “Yes, the warden. As for how long my people will occupy Trevos, I am uncertain. Years, most likely, but possibly forever. My people cannot risk further attacks on our new settlements.”

Years. Possibly forever…

My knees go weak, and I suddenly can’t draw in a full breath. How can Trevos survive years under fae rule? I think of the violence I’ve witnessed on the streets and the cruelty Kaiden’s people have shown mine. I also think of the families that have been ripped apart, the households who couldn’t afford the tribute and were forced to hand over a son or a daughter.

I erect a wall around my heart and try to harden myself toward the fae male who’s standing before me. He’s the enemy, and he likely killed scores of my people during battle, and possibly afterward.

Gods, I almost let himkiss me. He would’ve kissed me, if not for the well-timed explosion.

“You don’t look happy.” He comes closer, and I retreat a few steps, backing up toward the other side of the passage.

“Why would I be happy to learn that your people will remain in Trevos for years or possibly forever?” I can’t keep the bitterness from my tone. “The absolute cruelty I witnessed on Tribute Day haunts my dreams. How many of my people have been taken as slaves? How many of my people were tortured or killed simply for trying to escape your oppressive rule?”

“Might I remind you, little nymph, that humans attacked us first.” His jaw tightens.

“Why can’t you stay in your fancy, glittering courts?” I ask even though I think I know the answer. But I want to hear him say it. I want a confirmation of whether the rumors about fae magic spreading are true. “Why are your people suddenly encroaching on human lands? I’ve heard you’ve moved into orc lands as well. What gives you the right to take over the entire realm?”

“As you’ve probably heard, fae magic is spreading across the lands, and my people are naturally drawn to areas that contain high concentrations of ussha, the lifeforce of our magic, the veryessence of our souls. We settle in areas that call to us, and we’ve tried to maintain peaceful relations with humans and orcs, but unfortunately, our settlements keep getting attacked. Naturally, we must retaliate. Blood for blood. We must retaliate and do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our new settlements. You might think our methods are cruel, but cruelty works as an excellent deterrent. Once other human kingdoms learn what’s happened in Trevos, they won’t be likely to attack any fae settlements.”

I’m not sure what to say. A sense of defeat weighs me down as I worry about the fate of my people. Not just the fate of Trevos, but the fate of all humankind. Are my people destined to live under fae rule forever?

“Why is fae magic spreading?” My voice is thick with emotion.

“It’s the will of the gods,” Kaiden says. “Or at least that’s what our priestesses tell us. Many thousands of years ago, my people were split into two kingdoms, Unseelie and Seelie. Then the Great Shattering occurred, and eventually, very gradually, our four current courts formed. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Our priestesses say we’re on the verge of another new beginning.”

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