Page 116 of The Fae Girl 1

The next hour I asked again. And got an equally stubborn reply. So I picked up the pace. Just a little. Just enough to make her slightly more uncomfortable.

Nela caught my eye, giving me a look like she knew what I was up to. Like she understood the game we both were now playing. But I doubted it, I wasn’t sure I even fully understood my motives.

We approached the edge of the marshes just before sunset, slowing to a walk through it.

Alice stared up at the Citadel and sighed to herself. I side eyed her, seeing the odd expression on her face. Like she was trying to figure out how she felt in this moment.

“What?” She asked.

“You seem pensive.” I said.

“Not pensive.” She replied. “It just feels odd to be approaching Montefore again.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.” She shrugged.

“At least you get a good view of it this time.” I said. “Last time you were half asleep.”

“I forgot about that. You were really horrible to me.” Alice replied fixing her frown on me. “No correction, you are really horrible to me.”

“I don’t mean to be.” I replied. “Would you believe me if I said I was sorry?”

“Not for a minute.” She said before kicking her horse enough to show the conversation was done.

I watched her go shaking my head as the ghost of grin spread on my lips.

“If you want to charm her you’ll have to do better than that.” Ridley said.

I raised an eyebrow. “Who says I was trying to charm her?”

He smirked. “First the blanket. And then there’s the accommodating pace.”

“There was no need to exhaust the horses.”

“Sure.” He muttered.

“Go back to focusing on your farm girl Ridley. I’m sure she’ll be happy for your return.”

He let out a laugh. “She’shermaid. I’m sure if you wanted she’d put in a good word for you.”

I shot him a look. I didn’t need him or anyone else thinking like that. As far as I was concerned the girl was off limits.

To everyone.

But that didn’t stop my eyes from tracing right back to her. To watching her still as we made our way to the city.

Iyawned as my body ached. Ever since we’d gotten back from Seford it felt like both Nela and Jelric had upped their game. Every morning I was practising, learning, developing my magic and every afternoon Nela had me training to fight.

It was relentless. Incessant. And yet I felt satisfied. I felt like I was finally achieving something. Finally doing something.

“Stop yawning.” Nela said. “You’re not going to convince anyone you’re a threat if you look half asleep.”

“Sorry. Jelric’s been a slave driver this week.” I replied resuming my stance. Ignoring the protest in my muscles.

“And I’m not?” Nela asked before pouncing at me.

I deflected immediately, twisting aside and avoiding Nela’s first attack and allowing her to come at me from behind, where I quickly launched my own, throwing her hard over my shoulder and slamming her into the ground.

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