Page 11 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

CHAPTER 7

MIRA

“Why didyou leave your home, Mira?”

The deep, rumbling voice startles me. I gasp and spin around, holding the ax high in a defensive manner. Not that I have any fighting skills whatsoever. My arms tremble under the weight of the ax, and I narrow my gaze at the high-handed fae male who, for some reason, thinks he can order me around.

“I asked you a question, and I would appreciate an answer.” He steps forward, plucks the ax from my hands, and casually tosses it on the forest floor. “Why did you leave your home?” His nostrils flare and he crosses his arms over his chest. He levels a scolding look on me.

I bristle. “Isn’t it obvious? I left my home so I could come out here and chop some firewood. The nights keep getting colder and my supply is running low.”

He glances at the small stack of firewood I’ve accumulated thus far. “Humans aren’t yet allowed to leave the walls of Trevos. How did you escape undetected?”

“Well, I figured most of the fae soldiers patrolling the city and guarding the walls would be distracted by the explosion, so I checked a secret opening in the wall that I’ve used a few times, and sure enough, no one was nearby to stop me from leaving. So, here I am.” I retrieve my ax from the forest floor and turn back to the fallen tree. But before I can even lift the ax to take another swing, the infuriating male plucks it from my hands again. Oh, for gods’ sake.

“You were supposed to remain in the safety of your house until I returned. I ordered you to?—”

“Who are you to give me orders?” I clench my fists at my sides, angry at myself for being tempted by him earlier. Just before the explosion, I’d been about to let him kiss me. What had I been thinking? I try to push away the warmth I’m experiencing now. Despite how frustrating I find his behavior, I still feel a strange tug between us, an attraction that’s beyond magnetic.

Kaiden draws himself up taller. “Who am I to give you orders? I am your—” He stops speaking mid-sentence and his eyes flare wide. He growls. “You shouldn’t have left your house before I made sure the danger was over. Promise me you will heed my orders in the future.”

I scoff. “I will make no such promise. Now, please hand the ax over. I’d like to finish and slip back inside the kingdom’s walls before dusk.”

“If fae soldiers caught you out here, they would assume you were a runner. Haven’t you seen what happens to runners?” He gestures in the direction of Trevos. “Don’t you have any concern for your own welfare?”

“I do have a concern for my own welfare, and that’s exactly why I’m out here chopping wood. You know, so I can avoid freezing to death this winter. Sorry,Lord Kaiden, but I’m not a fancy fae lord like you. I don’t have an army of servants to attend to all my needs and keep me pampered.” A small voice in theback of my mind whispers that maybe I ought to stop talking. Maybe I shouldn’t speak so boldly to this fae lord. He might decide to eat my heart or throw me off a mountain. Or he could just as easily snap my neck, I’m sure. He’s more than twice my size and I’ve seen how well the fae can fight. If he decides to hurt me, I won’t be able to stop him.

Kaiden releases a long sigh, then guides me out of the way and proceeds to finish the job I’d started. He quickly chops the fallen log up and adds the pieces to my pile, which rests atop an old snow sled outfitted with straps to hold the wood in place. He ties the makeshift straps over the firewood and grabs the handle. He’s still gripping the ax in his other hand, holding it as though it weighs nothing.

“Take me to this secret passage through the wall, little nymph, and I will escort you home.” He walks a few steps, easily dragging the firewood behind him while holding the ax.

I scurry to catch up. “You don’t need to escort me home. Thank you for the offer, but?—”

He pauses and turns to face me. “If you don’t walk with me willingly, little nymph, I’ll simply toss you over my shoulder and carry you back into Trevos through the main gates.”

My face heats. I believe he’s serious, and I can’t fathom anything more humiliating. “Very well. Follow me.” I walk ahead of him, taking the familiar path through the forest. I used to help my father transport firewood back home. As a result, I know my way around pretty well.

“What happened to your family?” Kaiden asks as he catches up to me, and his tone is so gentle that I’m caught off guard. “You live alone, don’t you? On Tribute Day, you announced that you were the last of your household.”

I glance over at him, my throat abruptly burning. His dark eyes glimmer with concern, further taking me aback. Why does he seem to care? I’d been taught that all fae are unfeelingmonsters, and I’m having difficulty reconciling those lessons with Kaiden’s treatment of me thus far.

“They passed away last winter,” I say. “My parents and my two little brothers. They caught a fever and faded fast. I hired every healer in Trevos to help them, but none of the treatments worked.”

“I am sorry for your loss, Mira. Truly, I am.”

The burning in my throat increases, and I find myself blinking back tears. Fuck, I really don’t want to break down crying in front of the fae male. Somehow, I manage to get my emotions under control before I glance at Kaiden again. His dark eyes gleam with compassion, and I don’t think he’s faking it. “Thanks,” I finally reply. “I miss them every day.”

“It sounds like you cared about them very much.” His eyes flicker with compassion.

“Of course I did. My brothers were several years younger than me and quite mischievous, but I loved them dearly. My parents were both kind and patient.” My parents were everything I’d want to be if I ever became a parent myself, but I don’t say it aloud. Needing to change the subject, I blurt, “Tell me about your family and Linnshire and the Summer Court.”

A shadow starts to cross his face, but he’s quick to don a neutral expression. “I’m an only child. My mother died about a hundred years ago. My father’s still alive, and he’s a highly respected lord who cares deeply about his people. I care deeply about the faefolk who live in Linnshire too. Regular faefolk possess very little magic and depend upon highborn fae like myself for protection, and it’s my life’s duty to keep my people safe. As for the Summer Court, I haven’t visited the bustling heart of the court in hundreds of years. I prefer more rural locations like Linnshire. I find court to be stifling.”

“I’m sorry about your mother,” I say softly, then a thought strikes me. “You said you haven’t visited the heart of the Summer Court in hundreds of years. Exactly how old are you?”

“Nine hundred and fifty-eight.” He gives me an almost pained look. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two,” I reply in an almost breathless tone. I’m reeling from the shock of his age. Holy shit. I knew the fae lived much longer than humans and orcs, but until now, I’d had no idea just how long. He doesn’t look a day over thirty.

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