Page 8 of Forgiving a Fae Warrior

He’d nearly drifted off when the sounds of crunching dry grass shoved away the haze of sleep. Galen sat bolt upright and silently slid his dagger from its sheathe. He focused in on the sound, the steady pace that someone or something took as they drew near his hiding place. Whatever it was made too much noise to be a small creature, this was something larger.

Galen shifted into a crouch on the balls of his feet and edged toward one wall bearing a few cracks. He peered through the largest, pulse racing as he squinted at the bit of tall, yellowed grass he could see beyond a large fallen stone that had once belonged to a neighboring structure. Nothing presented itself, but the sound continued. The creature was almost upon him now, likely lured by his scent. Galen adjusted his grip and moved silently toward the entrance to his little shelter.

Unseelie creatures could be wicked—more fierce and bloodthirsty than many of those found in the Seelie courts. They had to be to survive in such a place.

He sucked in a deep breath and readied himself to plunge the dagger into whatever stepped through the narrow archway.

Something stepped heavily just on the other side of the wall. The hint of a shadow fell across the doorway.Any second now…

“Galen?”

His entire body stilled. The shock of that voice nearly sent him pitching forward toward the door. It couldn’t be.A hallucination. It must be.

A blonde head poked into the space and swiveled in his direction.

“Woah!” Sylvie stepped into the room, her hands raised and open.

“Sylvie,” he gasped.

Her head cocked to the side, the hint of a smile pulling on her lips. “Expecting someone else?”

“You—” Galen stammered. “I could have killed you. I nearly…” His arm holding the blade fell slack at his side.

“But you didn’t.” Sylvie lowered her hands. “Good thing I thought to call out, huh?”

“Why are you here?” His mouth still hung agape, his mind trying to wrap around the reality that she was truly there, in front of him, in the Unseelie lands.

She shrugged. “I thought you might need some things?”

Finally, he noticed the pack on her back, an extra sword hilt sticking out its top. Not just any blade. It was the sword he’d left in his quarters within the Court of the Forest. He’d recognize those leather bindings—ones he crafted himself—anywhere.

“You didn’t seem to have much with you,” she continued.

“I—”

Galen could only blink, speechless, as she lowered the pack and set it on the ground with a heavy thump. No wonder she’d made so much noise in the brush. The thing must weigh a good deal.

“The king sent you?” Galen guessed. “Ambrose?”

The joy slipped from her features as she shook her head side-to-side. “No. I came on my own.”

Galen’s chest hollowed out. “You need to go back. Now. Right now. I won’t let you get in trouble because of me.” He’d caused enough trouble. Dragging Sylvie into it? Unthinkable.

“I’m already here,” she replied in her carefree tone, as if she brought snacks to the training yard rather than supplies to an outcast and traitor.

“But if anyone finds out, you could be punished.” He couldn’t have that on his conscious too. Not Sylvie. He wanted to be with her again more than anything, but not here, not like this. “Rivenean promised that the Court of the Forest would not shelter me.”

“They’re not,” she snapped. “You’re in the Unseelie lands. I chose to walk out here with some supplies in tow and managed to run into you.” She shrugged again as if her actions were of no consequence. “The Court of the Forest has taken no action, only me.”

“But you—” He jerked his head to the side. “I won’t let you get in trouble because of me.”

“Oh hush,” she scolded him with her lips pursed and brows pinched. “I can make my own choices.”

Galen opened his mouth to speak again, but the piercing look she shot him had his jaw snapping shut.

“It’s already done,” she continued. “Besides, I hauled this stuff all the way out here. You could at least say thank you.” Sylvie plopped down beside the bag, crossed her arms, and stared up at him with her accusing look that always made him wither.

Galen raked a hand through his hair with a sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m very grateful that you brought things for me. To take such a risk is…”Stupid. Foolish. Ridiculous.He pinched his eyes shut. She’d risked so much for him, so much more than he deserved. “I’m honored you would do that for me,” he said at last.

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