Page 36 of Shadows of Air and Earth
Yes, I did like the sound of that. Swallowing, the gnawing of my stomach that I had been ignoring the whole day finally eased as I moved past the ravenous air elemental and his irate partner, hopeful that we would reach Lacail by morning. As much as I preferred the night, I enjoyed facing my enemies in the light so they could see their upcoming demise—a treat I was savoring for three select fae I knew would be waiting for us.
Whirling around me, they sensed my vengeful mood, and draped curling tendrils over my body. Sighing into their cool caress, a hand with the same leather bracelet as mine, suddenly gripped my arm, spinning me back around to meet the solemn expression of Xi. My shock and frustration quickly dissipated into worry as I met her gaze. "What is it? Are you okay?"
Releasing me quickly as if burned, she sighed, "I wanted to say thank you.” Chancing a look back at Riley, he glanced up from the bag of food to look at us confusedly. Xi shook her head, growling, “Weboth wanted to say thank you, for saving us. I am unsure what we did to deserve it but we owe you a life debt. Both of us. One we vow to honor."
Recovering quickly, Riley stood straighter. "Yeah," he said through a mouthful of jerky, "fank ye."
I looked between them, a surprising disappointment pooling like a sickness deep in my gut. I never wanted a life debt vow to tie them to me, I wanted a choice, a choice of friendship, as muchof a friendship a lonely, abandoned shadow fae could ever wish for.
"Of course, but no need to thank me. I am not that kind of monster, Xi Chin. I don't allow innocent fae to die just because they have personality and passion. Before I was a general, I was just a shadow fae too."
Riley snorted, swallowing his food and finding his proper etiquette once more. "Sorry to break it to you Rem, but you have never been just a shadow fae. We know the stories. Xi has been telling them nightly to anyone who would listen."
I looked between them. Riley's expression full of humor while Xi studied me more closely, a wrinkle forming on the uncovered side of her face.
Giving her my best courtly smile and burying down my irritating sadness, I tossed the unfinished dragon fruit to the shadows. I was no longer hungry. "Shall we continue? I do believe we have proven to this jungle that they better not fuck with us anymore. The last of our stretch should go smoothly."
I turned my back on them as I walked away, my practiced smile falling with each passing step while my fingers spun the leather around my wrist. It was just a bracelet. I should have known it meant nothing.
"No comment on her tone this time?" Riley asked dryly, obnoxious chewing joining their following footsteps.
I awaited Xi's reply but there was none. Just her assessing gaze boring into my back, only enhancing the terrible pit of heaviness in my stomach.
Chapter 25
Lacail. City of Stone—andnot just any stone, firestone. The intricately carved gateway sparkled with flecks of yellows and oranges, almost beckoning to be ignited in an explosion of earth and fire. It would have been a welcoming contrast to the silent emptiness that greeted us now.
Something was not quite right.
Worriedly, I passed a look to Xi. It was rare when her eyes did not meet mine, but this time her focus was elsewhere, and I wasn’t sure if I should be worried or offended that her attention was stolen from me.
Studying her profile, Xi’s brow wrinkled slightly behind the hair that shielded her face, a sign of unease that was directed right at Remnant. The shadow fae’s strong stride led us quietly through the still town, her cropped linen shirt billowing in the gentle breeze, her pale skin glittering against the sun beaming down on her more brightly than anything else around us. An honorable spotlight and I half wondered if she was ever aware of Faerie’s attention on her or if she had grown so accustomed it was of little consequence.
Turning my gaze away, I frowned at the empty marble-flecked streets that should have been bustling with a new day’s morning agenda. Shops were closed with not a single living soul in sight, the air ominously charged as if the entire town held its breath.
"Am I going to be the first one to ask, where in the goddess is everyone?" I said, breaking the tension filled silence and then stilling as shadows slapped coldly across my mouth, cutting off any other comment they thought I would make.
Xi's hair blew out from her face in an aggravated sigh while Remnant spun on her heel, her emerald green eyes shooting through me like a mother scolding a child, a raised finger pressing against her mouth.
Earnestly, I nodded my agreement with more vigor than was perhaps necessary. Anything to get her terrifying shadows off me and a safe distance away, where we could mutually respect one another.
As if noting my wishes, the darkness slid off, pooling at my feet before snaking upwards like smoke from a fire back towardstheir master. Remnant gave me one last narrowed look but her warning silence was all for naught. I felt the air shift, sharp with something far more treacherous than stinky trolls or anthousai bitches. A long hissing wail soon followed, snaking through the streets, dust billowing upon the marble in its wake, slamming into our still bodies.
Coughing, I slashed the air clean with my power and my stomach churned with unease, unable to register the sound, a sound that did not belong in Faerie, and also regretting the copious amount of food I had just consumed.
Shadows sprung forth, wrapping hurriedly around Xi and I before the entire world blurred. Stumbling they tossed us into a darkened shop, the sun barely providing any light, as Remnant raced through, silently closing the door behind her, eyes still trained on the street.
Reaching outward, I steadied Xi just as the shadows shoved her into me. I could not help but think it was their silent way of telling me to keep her safe. Squeezing her tightly just once, my nose inhaled her fresh scent of river rock and grass before I released her.
Remnant spun towards us, eyes glittering with both worry and adrenaline, speaking low in the darkened shop. "I need you both to listen to me very carefully." Thank the goddess for being an air elemental, shifting blades of grass were louder than her at the moment.
Xi’s gaze flickered, meeting mine briefly, before we both hedged closer to the general.
"What is it, Remnant?" Xi's voice a soft flutter of air.
My brows raised, I hadn’t realized she was capable. Knowingly, she jabbed her elbow into me, keeping her contemplative gaze on the general.
"The seal to Hell is here and the beasts of origin’s prison has officially weakened."
