Page 38 of A Bargain with the Fae King

I wipe my hands and arms on my clothes, trying ineffectually to remove the evidence of my error.

May is gone. People died.

Because of me. All because I messed up. Again.

Why? Why, oh why, do I only cause problems?

Riven talks with Ambrose and a cluster of other fae guards. They arrived at some point during the battle. Did they come after me, or did Riven summon them? Doesn’t matter now. An injured fae groans. Riven lays his hands on him, likely pouring out the same healing magic he’d used on me.

May. I’m so sorry.Tears roll down my cheeks. She was so close.

I watch Riven through the blur of my tears, trying to focus on anything at all to take my mind off May. The carefree, cocky fae male from last night is long gone. He’s the Riven I’ve come to care for…almost. Instead of the calm confidence he always has with me, his shoulders slump, as if weighed down by a heavy burden. His jaw works his mouth as if, like the rest of him, it can’t be still. Most disconcertingly, long claws keep extending from one hand and retracting while he speaks with his guard.

It’s still so strange to see him before me. When he appeared in my dreams, he was more shadow than man, a ghost of a form I could only somewhat see and never touch. His voice…that was the same. The one that listened and comforted when I needed him most. Though even that has a slight edge to it now that I don’t remember.

I jump as a large bird, the same one from before, settles on the ground near my feet. It stares at me, head tilting side to side.

“What are you?” I ask.

This bird sticks near me like the forest animals to Snow White, but I’m no princess. The tips of its broad wings brush against my stained pants. The urge to pet it overwhelms the rational part of my head screaming that wild animals are dangerous, especially ones in Faery. I stretch out my hand, aiming to rub its feathered head.

“Stop!” Riven’s voice rings through the space between us.

I halt, my fingertips inches away. The bird gives a loud caw before shifting its focus to the fae king frozen a few feet from us.

Ambrose swears and grits his teeth. Galen is wide-eyed beside him.

What on earth… Do they think it’s going to eat me?

A snarl rips from Riven’s fang-bared mouth as he flicks his hand toward the bird.

A snap sounds, followed by a pained screech.

I stare in horror as a vine wraps around the bird, threatening to crush it under the thorny green length. Already blood mars one wing.

“No!” I’m up and running toward Riven before I think.

Another snap. Another frantic squawk.

“Please.” I launch myself at his chest and scramble for his arms. My fist slams against his armor. “Riven, please.”

His arm jerks to the side as the sounds behind me quiet into an eerie, full silence.

The knot in my throat threatens to choke me. My body goes limp. I can’t bring myself to turn and look. Riven cradles me to his chest.

“Why?” The word is as much a sob as a question. How could he be so cruel? The other fae I almost understood, especially since they’d had my sister, but a bird?

“It was an enemy. A threat. If it realized what you are, what you mean to—” Riven’s words cut off as his arms tense around me. In one movement, he lifts my feet off the ground and spins me around, putting himself between me and whatever had been at my back.

The fae around us step back, all except for Ambrose, who shifts ever so slightly in front of Riven. Riven gazes down at me even more wild and frantic than before. His mouth is slightly agape.

I blink away my tears. “What—”

“Well, that was rude.” The deep, melodious voice floats over us.

Nearby, fae reach for weapons and backs straighten.

“At least I was trying to help the poor girl.” The male voice is calm.

---