Page 61 of The Fae Girl 1

I knew where she was headed with that, that she’d say her name, bring the whole thing back up. But I was over it. So much time had passed. Elynn was dead. This had nothing to do with her.

“I don’t think she’s like the others.” Nela said quietly. “I think if you give her the chance she can actually help.”

“I don’t want her help.”

“But it’s not what you want is it? It’s what your brother wants, what the High King wants. And whether you like it or not we need her Fain. We need her to fight the Magars.”

“We can fight them well enough…”

“Just like we did at Seford? And Lylex before that?” She said.

I clenched my fists. “We don’t need her.” I stated.

She stepped closer, stepped right up to me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Cut the girl some slack. She’s been dragged from her home, from everything she knows. You think this isn’t hard on her? She’s not like the others. They had years to adjust, years to figure this place out before we found them. Alice has had none of that.”

“She’s exactly like them.” I snapped. “And she’s playing mind games, manipulating everyone…”

“No she isn’t.” Nela replied. “She isn’t doing anything.”

I shook my head. An image of her sprawled naked in my bed flashed into my mind. Which if anything said it all.

“Whatever the hell is going on you need to sort it out.” She stated.

“I’m your commander.” I said, pulling rank, even though I knew it was a low bar. A cheap move.

“Then act like it.” She snapped back. “Act like a leader and not some prejudice arsehole.”

She walked off before I could reply, leaving me stood, watching her retreat into the night.

It wasn’t me. I wasn’t the problem here. I just needed to figure out how to get the girl out from my head.

Ineeded to move. I needed to get up.

Indi grabbed my arms hauling me up but my legs felt like jelly. I didn’t understand what that was. What the hell had just happened.

Nela disappeared around the corner, no doubt chasing after the Prince. I didn’t watch her. I kept my eyes down for fear the man would come back.

Indi took me back to my room, and I walked like I was a robot, like I didn’t have any conscious control over myself.

He’d attacked me. Shoved me against a wall and threatened me.

But why? I hadn’t done anything to him. I hadn’t even been near him. Since that meeting with Jelric after I first arrived I’d only seen him once.

Indi made me a drink. A hot one. I gripped the cup in my hands, though I wasn’t cold per se the warmth of it was comforting.

“I didn’t do anything.” I whispered.

“I know.” Indi said.

I looked up meeting her eyes. “I didn’t do anything.” I said more aggressively. More angrily.

The door shut. We both looked over to see Nela standing, leaning against it. Observing us. Observing me.

“Are you hurt?” She asked.

I shook my head. I wasn’t beyond a few bruises.

“Good.” She muttered walking over, pouring herself a drink far stronger than mine and shot it back.

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