Page 4 of Guarded By the Bigfoot
“You picked a hell of a time to show up, little one,” I muttered, my voice rough against the wind. Shrugging off my coat, I wrapped it around her. Her skin was like ice beneath my fingers, and I gritted my teeth against the flicker of panic that tried to claw its way up my throat.
I lifted her into my arms, tucking her close. Another gust of wind slammed into us, and I growled, bowing my head against the storm. “Come on, sweetheart.”
Thunder rolled across the mountain and shook the ground. But all I could process was her weight in my arms, how delicate she felt, and the urge to pull her closer that made no damn sense at all.
The wind screamed around us, ripping through the forest, but all I could focus on was how still she was in my arms. “What the hell were you thinking?” I gave her a shake, not too hard, but enough to rouse her. “Wake up,” I growled, my voice catching in the wind. “Wake up.” No response. My gut twisted.
The village wasn’t far, but I needed to move faster. Each step was deliberate, my legs carving through the thick brush. Another gust ripped past, bending trees sideways and sending rain whipping through the air, blinding and relentless. I ducked my head and pushed forward. The Veil trembled again, its energy prickling across my senses, but I ignored it. Whatever was wrong with the Veil could wait. She couldn’t.
I crouched lower, keeping my frame between her and the storm. Water rushed beneath me, flowing in wild waves as the wind howled. “Hold on, little human.”
Relief hit me as Glitter and Gruel came into view, a cafe run by my old friends Calla and Finn. They’d have questions about why I was bringing a human into our territory, but they’d help first and interrogate later.
I shouldered the door into warmth. Mason jars of dancing fireflies lined wooden shelves, copper pots dripped stardust intobubbling cauldrons, and hanging vines hummed soft melodies. The air smelled of herbs and magic.
Calla’s poppy-colored hair whipped around the corner from where she’d been mid-spell behind the counter. Her violet eyes sparkled with mischief before they widened, her long, pointy ears flattening against her head and her wings flaring.
“Brock!” she called out, her voice a syrupy mix of sass and song. “What in the seven hells have you dragged in?”
“She needs heat. Now,” I growled, cradling her closer as I moved toward the fire’s welcoming flames.
That got Finn’s attention. The tall, flame-haired fae strode in from the kitchen, a steaming mug of something suspicious in one hand and a spatula in the other. His blue wings fluttered against his back as he gave me an arched brow. “Put her over there. I’ll get some healing tea started.”
I settled her on the plush couch, reluctant to break contact.
Calla darted to my side, her hands already aglow with a soft magenta shimmer. She crouched down, her fingers brushing the forest debris from the stranger’s face as her light pulsed faintly. “Battered, bruised, and exhausted,” Calla murmured, her energy flowing gently into the woman’s skin. “Nothing life-threatening. She just needs some TLC.”
“Good.” I finally took a deep breath. “Wasn’t sure I’d make it here in time.”
Calla grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Look at you, actually worried. Never thought I’d see the day. The mighty Brock, bringing home a stray. And a human of all things. What are the odds?”
“She’s not a stray,” I growled, but Calla’s grin only widened.
Finn paused in his tea preparation, eyes widening. “A human? Oh, that’s just perfect. Did you check for fleas?”
“She doesn’t have fleas,” I snapped, tugging the blanket tighter around her.
He gestured at her with his spoon. “Remember that flea infestation over at...”
“Finn,” I growled. “Enough.”
Calla laughed, leaning against the armrest of the couch. “He’s got a point. You know, Brock, we don’t exactly have a flea collar in her size.”
“That’s it,” I said sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’ll handle this. Both of you, quiet.”
“Oooh, ‘he’ll handle this,’” Finn said, holding up his hands. “Of course. Because you’re just so great with humans, right?”
“Finn,” I barked, my patience snapping. “I swear—” Before I could finish, something fell from her coat pocket, clattering against the wooden floor.
Finn bent down, his smirk freezing in place when he saw the letters gleaming under the lights. “Well, well, well,” he drawled as he picked up the badge. “Agent Parker Woods, Agency of Realm Control.” He tossed the badge to me with a grin. “You’ve brought ARC to dinner? Good luck with that, old friend.”
My stomach dropped as I stared at the badge. Of all the humans in all the world, she had to be an ARC agent. The very organization we’d spent centuries avoiding. The ones whothought they could control the mystical world with their rules and regulations.
“Oh, dear. If she’s ARC, she’s trouble,” Calla’s expression hardened. “No agents in Veil territory. That is your rule, after all.”
“I’m keeping her.” The growl in my voice made both fae take a step back.
“Like a pet?” Finn barked.
