Page 114 of Touched

There are fucking Fae… everywhere.

Something inside me tells me they’re on our side. I sigh in rapt relief as my eyes are almost blinded by the unimaginable beauty of the Fae joining us.

“We got Trevor’s message. Heard you could use some help! I’m Firo.” A male Fae with leading-man muscles, short dark hair, a dark goatee, red-hued wings, and blazing eyes calls down to us. He’s perched on a branch high up in the canopy. Almost dangling off it like he’s freaking Peter Pan, but I don’t have time to process the scene right now. There’s a war going on, after all. I blink. More land on the branches with such ease and silence, perching on them as though they’re dragonflies on blades of grass. They’re all so quiet.

There must be hundreds of them.

Where the hell did they come from? How many Fae colonies… other creature colonies… are there?

I can’t even think about that right now.

It doesn’t matter.

What does is that they’re here and based on the battle gear they’re wearing and the weapons they’re holding, they’re ready to fight.

My head swivels as screams and chaos sound like thunder behind me.

Nodding at the new Fae, I make quick introductions, and we get to work. Within a short time, I’m dividing the troops into squads based on abilities and weapons, making sure they’re mostly even across the board. I quickly explain guerrilla warfare, because there’s no way I’m going to repeat the stupidity of the War of Northern Aggression and stand in front of one another and shoot until the side with the most still standing wins. Nobody has time for that shit. And that would lead to even more unnecessary death.

Nope, we’re going into this fast and dirty. I’m not playing fair when it comes to Aeris. Or those she loves.

Divvying up what weapons we have, I’m thankful that our newfound friends have brought an armory of magickal and non-magickal, but certainly exemplary weapons with them. I don’t know what half of it is, but it seems our troll friends do. So, I let them take the lead with that.

I’ve never been good with pep talks. I just do what I’ve always done.

Looking every single one of them in the eye, I say, “You will not die today. You got that?”

Most nod their heads.

I repeat those words to myself.

I will not die.

I will not die.

Aeris needs me.

After another quick talk, I ask those with enchantment expertise to help conceal us. A group steps forward, mostly those with a spirit affinity, and murmur with their hands raised while they cast whatever they think will help cover us.

Glamors, glitter, invisibility cloaks…

Hell, I don’t know. But I’m thankful for it.

As the groups slowly begin to disperse, I take Aeris by the arm. Her head swivels toward mine. “Hey,” I whisper to her.

She looks up at me. “Hey.” Those gorgeous eyes gleaming back at me.

“Stay with Devyn, or your parents, okay? Don’t try to be the hero, or attempt to do something you’ve read in some book…”

Flitting up on her toes, she plants a soft, lingering kiss on my mouth. Then, she wraps her arms around my neck, weaving her fingers into the hair at my nape.

My worry eases and I sink into the kiss, committing it to memory.

“Hey, lovebirds!” Cyrus interrupts us, bringing me back to the here and now. “You going to stand around and kiss all day, or are we going to go kick some FaeDorcha ass?”

I can’t help but laugh. Her brother is certainly turning out to benotsuch the pain in the ass I thought he was going to be when we first met. Swooping down, I give Aeris another quick kiss. My lips cover hers, hard, but meaningful. Leaning back, she smirks at me, saying, “I’m Air, my love. I’m not with Devyn,” before she rushes off.

Well, I’m Air, too. But I can’t stay on top of her. Shit!

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