Page 61 of Joy Guardian

“But did she lie? Is that not how they execute shadow fae in this world? By exposing them to the sun?”

He shrugged. “That’s one of the ways. But it takes a long time to kill by exposure. Several days at least.”

“Well, thanks, Kurai, that’s very reassuring. How is that supposed to make me feel any better?” I huffed sarcastically, making him smile.

He wrapped his arms around me, drawing me into a tight hug. “We’ll be fine. I’ll rent a small hut or a cave for us. I’ll grow my hair out, like everyone else, and tell people that I’m a scholar who fell out of favor with a city and was exiled into the desert. I’ll trade spells and knowledge for food.”

“I can work too,” I chimed in, my spirits lifting. “I’m a pretty good cook, which…doesn’t mean much to the shadow fae, does it?” I sighed, realizing how useless my cooking skills were to people who didn’t care about the taste of a dish. “Well, I can also make things to sell.”

“We’ll be fine,” he repeated, sneaking a kiss on my lips.

He replenished his satchel with two water bags instead of one, then added a couple of spare skirts, and whatever valuables hewanted to take with him. He also found a new pair of boots for himself and a smaller pair for me.

With one of his curved daggers, he cut short slits in our garments to allow for his tendrils to remain connected to me.

“Can I have one of those?” I pointed at the dagger.

He opened his mouth to say something but then handed a dagger to me without protest. The weapon was heavier than it looked. I turned it in my hand, admiring the charcoal-gray swirls on the shiny black blade. Red sparks ran along the swirls.

“My blades are made from iron,” Kurai explained. “Iron is the only metal in this world that can kill a fae. A wound from any other weapon won’t be fatal for us.”

“You are a resilient bunch, aren't you? Strong, healthy, and healing fast.” I stole a glance at his chest and abs showing between the parted ends of his garment, then slid my gaze up to his face with his strong jaw, high cheekbones, and those brilliant green eyes. “Incredibly handsome too,” I muttered under my breath.

Even if he didn’t hear the last words, he must’ve sensed how I felt when I said them. Giving me a long look, he smirked with a new glint in his eyes.

“If only we didn’t need to leave here.” His voice held a promise that made me blush, but his words brought me back to reality—we had to go.

I tucked the dagger behind the belt of my skirt.

“Do you know how to use it?” Kurai asked.

“Either stab or slash with it, whichever is more appropriate for the situation, right?”

He smiled. “That about sums it up.”

When we snuck up the stairs, thankfully, we saw no royal guards in the temple. Instead, the huge main hall was packed with worshipers. Men, women, and children had crossed the desert in hopes of feeling a drop or two of the highly coveted Joy.

Those who managed to get close kneeled around the enclave, praying with their eyes closed. Inserted through the openings inthe fence, the ends of their tendrils were dipped into the hexagonal vials.

Others laid out food and other offerings on the golden altar in front of the enclave. Dressed in a golden robe, Oria organized the items, making sure there was space for everything. I guessed the offerings would be out there until at least the worshipers had left the temple. It’d be rude to start stuffing them into the coffers and the ice box right in front of them.

With Kurai’s fae energy currently keeping me alive and well, I didn’t feel too bad even with my stomach absolutely empty. I could certainly make it to Himerum where we would get something to eat.

The worshipers paid us little attention, staring in awe at the glowing column of the Source instead. Oria seemed busy too. No one stopped us as we snuck along the wall, then slipped out through the front door.

With the new day, heat was already rising from the black sand of the desert. I braced against the wind of the approaching storm.

“I’m sorry, Kurai. As beautiful as people are in your world, your weather is shit. Are there any days at all that have no storms?”

He looked more amused than offended by my choice of words.

“Rarely,” he said. “And if there happens to be a calm day once in a while, most people are asleep during the day anyway.”

Blown by the wind, the sand pricked my skin, forcing me to shrink deeper into the shelter of my garment. Walking seemed easier this time, however. The boots certainly helped. But my spirits were also higher.

This time, I wasn’t heading into the unknown out of fear and desperation. This time, Kurai and I had a plan. And we were together.

Wind blew steadily, blasting us with sand. The sun had climbed high in the sky by now, it must be close to noon, but the storm had been slow to develop today. Only now, the wind had picked up in earnest.

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