Page 12 of The Dark Fae Princess
“Savvie?” Daddy’s voice comes sharply through the door. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I reply, taking in a deep breath and smoothing my hair and dress down before I slip my shoes back on and open the door to take in my father’s suspicious look.
“Breakfast,” he chides me.
I nod grimly at him, knowing his timing couldn’t have been worse. I know that Jerrick will not let me get that close to him again.
That thought disappointments me far more than I’d like.
6
Savannah
After an interminably long breakfast, in which Jerrick’s lack of presence was markedly noticeable, and not just to me, I head outside needing air. I’m guessing my training session with the Head of the Dark Fae Guard has been postponed. Too bad. I was kind of hoping for a tussle that would end up with us kissing again. I know that I want it to happen again and keep on happening, but I also know now that my head is clear, that I can’t let it go any further. I’m also not so naïve as to know that it will frustrate him.
I sigh and make my way over to the rookery. I need to see my ravens. They have a calming effect on me and right now, I’m wrapped up in knots so tight, I need to unwind.
I enter the huge barn that houses the ravens, rooks, owls and other avian varieties, and make my way straight over to the ravens. I hold my arm out and one of them flies out to perch on my arm, reminding me of Jerrick’s painting of me. I smile and coo softly, stroking the birds glossy black head before I’m startled so fiercely, the bird caws loudly at me and flaps off in a huff.
I glare at the man that, I realize only now, must’ve been in the barn when I entered, I just didn’t see him.
“Princess,” he says with a cheeky grin.
I blink at him, taking in his cute face and curly black hair. The thing that surprises me about his looks though are his bright blue eyes. That usually means only a half breed Dark Fae.
“Who are you?” I ask him with a frown. I don’t recall ever seeing him before.
“I’m the Ravens Keeper,” he says to me, that naughty smile going wider. “My name’s Raize, but they call me Rook.”
“Ravens Keeper?” I blurt out. “I’ve never seen you in here before.”
“That’s because I usually leave you alone. You caught me unawares this morning, Princess. You’re earlier than normal.”
I purse my lips at him. He knows my schedule so well that he disappears when he knows I’m coming to see the birds? What kind of weirdo is he?
I clear my throat and step back slightly, hoping that he isn’t some crazed lunatic. But looking into his eyes, I know that he isn’t. They are completely honest and guileless.
“I’m Savannah,” I inform him, but I’m guessing he already knows that.
“I know,” he says. “It’s pretty.”
“It was my grandmother’s,” I stammer, suddenly feeling shy. My father’s mother died of a rare illness that only affects the Fae, a long, long time ago.
Raize nods. “I’ll leave you alone now. Enjoy your time with them.”
I watch him go, unable to tear my eyes away from the very cute ass encased in tight black jeans.
I find it very strange that I’ve never encountered him before. If the birds are his job, he must be here most of the time.
I turn away from his retreating back with a small smile. I’m in such a good mood now. The ravens always put me in the right frame of mind.
I hear the thunder rumble up above and sit on a bale of hay in the corner.
I hold my arm out again and two ravens come to perch on my arm, happy to let me stroke them.
* * *
After about fifteen minutes, I decide it’s time to find Jerrick for our training session. He is teaching me how to kick ass the physical way. I’m getting quite good at it and it’s an excellent workout. Plus, it’s great for venting frustrations. I have many of those at the moment, so I could do with battering the object of some of them.
