Page 24 of Tik-Tok

Narrowing his eyes, he took a step past her, tilted his head, and inhaled. “I don’t smell anything unusual. They have all sorts of birds and tree spirits in these parts—could have been one of them.”

North shrugged, knowing she was being foolish. She’d heard plenty of rustling sounds in her life. But she wasn’t at home. This was an unfamiliar place with more new creatures and fae than she could imagine.

“So,” Tik-Tok drawled once they started walking again. “How is it being born of the greats?”

The question always reminded her that she didn’t have any magic, but it made her think of all the good things too. “I have everything I could want in a family. They care fiercely about me, as I do them, even though at times we don’t always see eye to eye. But in those instances, I’ve always had Birch.”

“Birch?” Tik-Tok lifted a brow. “A lover?”

“No…” She could feel her cheeks heat, and she wished they would stop doing that around him. “He’s one of the guards, mostly mine. A friend.”

“Yet you blushed when you said his name.” Tik-Tok smirked, not one to pretend he hadn’t noticed how red she probably was. “Tell me. Who is this Birch, really?”

“Someone who has always seen me as a sister. My grandparents found him when he was a youngling, then sent him to my parents, who turned him into a guard. I recently made the mistake of confessing how I felt to him, but he was about to propose to someone else, so I—”

“Went and found someone else to fuck,” Tik-Tok finished for her, giving an all-too-knowing nod.

North’s entire body grew hot. She didn’t want to reveal all that had happened in the woods after leaving Birch—how she’d acted like a fool when she should have gone home. And she certainly didn’t want him to learn how inexperienced she truly was.

In the distance, a light sound drifted closer to her, tickling her ears. Laughter, music, talking. The pleasant aroma of fresh baked bread hit her nose, and she wanted to tear into the food like an animal. All she’d had before meeting Tik-Tok this morning was a piece of dried fruit.

As they curved around the trail, her stomach softly rumbled at the scent of roasted meat. The town was bustling with fae. A group of centaurs trotted beside blue and yellow buildings, carrying baskets of fruit. Tall faeries laughed and danced in the center, their wings not feathered like Ozma’s, but smooth and iridescent. Sheer fabric dangled from their wrists.

Shops of different sizes lined a stone path—tall, curved lanterns stood in front of each building, unlit. Everyone seemed to be going about their daily tasks, shopping, eating, or… Her eyes widened at the side of a building where one female was being ravished by three different males, her head tilted back in pleasure.

“A lot of females travel here specifically for the brothels. The male prostitutes are willing to do anything their patrons wish.Anything. For a price of course.” Tik-Tok’s voice came out silky, then he chuckled and motioned her in the opposite direction. “Come on. We’re going somewhere quieter.”

He led her behind a yellow and blue striped building with a balcony on its second floor. As they rounded the shop to the back, North’s gaze fell on an area with four rectangular tables and benches pushed beneath them. A pale pink awning provided the perfect amount of shade.

She could still hear the sounds coming from the other street, but it was less noisy than she would have expected.

“I always reserve this side when I visit.” He pulled out the bench for her with his boot.

North took a seat as the back door cracked open. A voluptuous elf wearing a strapless dress of deep blue feathers stepped out. The front of her hair was pulled up into several buns atop her head, forming a neat row, while the rest hung loosely to her waist.

She cast a bright smile to Tik-Tok. “I saw you through the window.” She leaned in to whisper something in his ear and he smirked.

Her eyes turned to North. “You have a new guest? I haven’t seen this one with you before.”

“She’s temporary, Drusile.”

North frowned.Temporary?

“Do you want your usual? Glazed boar and roasted potatoes?” Drusile asked.

“We’ll both have a plate and also two bowls of the vegetable soup.”

“Maybe I’ll bring dessert to your ship later?” She winked and swayed her hips as she walked back into the building.

North knew exactly what kind of dessert she was talking about, and she didn’t want to be around for any of that. She avoided looking at Tik-Tok, not wanting to see what expression he’d given to the elf.

“I’m going to step away for a bit,” Tik-Tok finally said.

North jerked her head up. He must have not been able to wait fordessert. “You’re leaving me here alone?”

“I’ll be close.” He pointed to a garden surrounded by decorative trees, near enough so he could see her but still far enough away where he wouldn’t be able to catch her if she wanted to run. “Will you be all right?”

“I’ll be fine.” She pointed to the weapon at her back. “I have my axe, remember?”

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