Page 111 of Curse the Fae

“We did,” Juniper says, her voice cracking.

“She’s being modest as hell,” Lark adds, sliding a lock of teal behind my ear. “We kicked Faerie’s ass.”

We chortle through our sniffling. As we do, I notice the weapons they’d been carrying. Lark’s whip and Juniper’s archery, sans the iron tips of her crossbow bolts, lay scattered like detritus across the room. They must have clattered to the ground during the fall.

“Make no mistake, you’ll win too,” Lark professes. “We’re here for you. Let any Fae try to get rid of us, and they’ll see what’s what.”

“We can’t help you win,” Juniper amends. “But we’re not leaving without you.”

My spirits lift. “Then you’ve already given me everything I need.”

Juniper is the first to rise and help us to our feet. To my surprise, they’re wearing the appropriate garb, down to the sandals. The latter is a far cry from our matching scuffed leather boots.

Lark dons a strappy yet loose frock that trails to her upper thighs, the gauzy material suitable for the humidity. Juniper wears an airy, oversized tunic that ends several inches above her ankles, which she’s tied with a matching fabric belt. Someone must have advised them on how to dress for The Deep’s climate.

We collect the weapons and set them in a corner. I lead them to the bed, where we huddle atop the mattress. My sisters fight over who gets to speak first. According to their overlapping words, they had assumed stealing into my chamber would be the first task, that maybe the dwelling was bigger than it had looked from the outside, and they’d need to hunt for me, or that I’d be sleeping as deeply as I usually do. Either way, they hadn’t anticipated encountering me so quickly.

In the midst of that explanation, my sisters falter in surprise as a brown-marbled reptile with familiar yellow irises weaves from under a pillow and twines himself on my lap.

“What the hell?” Lark exclaims with a grin. “Is that runt who I think it is?”

“From the sanctuary,” Juniper marvels. “The pond snake.”

“He followed me here.” I beam, petting him. “His name is Lotus.”

They coo over my companion, taking pleasure in a reunion with one of our sanctuary rescues while I recount the details of discovering him in my room shortly after I’d arrived.

Juniper appraises the chamber, doubtlessly searching for reference points or extra clues about my wellbeing. She frowns at the bath, the wardrobe, the nightgown I’m wearing, the water pitcher and drinking glass, the parchment and quill, the satchel filled with morsels Elixir had gifted me, and the comfortable bedding. Her studious eyebrows crinkle, then she slaps her palms on her thighs and temporarily dismisses whatever hypothesis she’s drawn.

“First order of business,” she begins. “Are you all right?”

“I’m well,” I assure them. “I’m unharmed.”

“Mentally? Physically?”

“Both.”

“I have a whip that’s ready to do damage on a certain viperous ruler, so you’d better not be saying that just to alleviate us, hon,” Lark demands.

Juniper gives me a stern look. “The Great Camping Incident of the year 15—”

I cross my arms. “I can’t believe you’re bringing that up.”

With her memory jogged, Lark snaps her fingers. “Shit, that’s right. I’d forgotten.”

Unfortunately, Juniper hadn’t. Her lips purse into a dried fig of disapproval. “We’re hiking for half a day, having a pleasant time, and through the whole thing Cove fails to tell us that she’s been bitten by an insect the size of a walnut and that her leg is covered in red welts from the venom.”

“You were both having such fun. I didn’t want to worry you and ruin the trip,” I defend.

“Exactly! Cove—”

“I promise, I’m fine.”

After a wary moment, Lark and Juniper slump, and Juniper gives a quick nod. “Good. Second: We…” She swaps delicate glances with Lark, then clears her throat and admits, “We have something to tell you.”

Her practical demeanor doesn’t fool me. At their guilty expressions, I pat their hands to console them. “Tidings reached me from the mountain and forest. I know what you’ll say.”

Now it’s their turn to flush, rueful and afraid I’ll despise them for bonding with our enemies. What they don’t know is that I’m no less susceptible. To that end, I wiggle nearer and gentle my voice. “Peace, my family. I could never hate either of you. Now tell me about them.”

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