Page 122 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
I tensed when Donnie didn’t reply.
“Do you have magic, Gabe?” Teddy asked, her arms crossed over her chest. “Can you keep your livestock from dying in this weather? Or speed up a pregnancy or make the young grow fast enough to feed thousands of people?”
Gabe muttered something about magic, but I kept my focus on Teddy, who looked around nervously at anyone but me.
“So we should trust him because he’s got magic?” a man from the back of the crowd asked. “Who’s to say he won’t hurt us like he did the night of the barbecue?”
I held my breath, wanting to roar at everyone. At no one but myself for putting that fear back in their hearts.
“How did he hurt you?” Teddy asked, peering back to see who had spoken. She turned around and met the gazes of those around her. “How did he hurt anyone aside from the fae who went after Javier? Elias defended one of our own. Like Donnie said, he’s looked out for us.”
“Fae whore,” a woman spit out.
I whirled around to find the woman who’d dare offend my mate, heat raging through my blood. No, not my mate. A few people across from me shrank back, but it was Teddy’s small smile I focused on.
“Your insults were far more creative in high school, Steph,” Teddy replied. “You can do better than that.”
From beside me, Ryenne snorted out a laugh. “That’s my girl,” she whispered.
It did little to settle my rage, but I let it go. Let Donnie continue.
“Okay, okay, we’re getting off track here.” While Donnie’s words were placating, his expression was anything but. “We called this meeting because food will be in short supply sooner than any of us are ready for. Because of that, our rations will be cut in half.”
Shouts erupted around me. Slurs and offenses far more creative than what Steph had shouted at Teddy. Silently, I took it. Knew I’d earned it. Didn’t even flinch when someone threw a boot at me.
George growled while Brenton picked up the boot.
“Think I’ll keep this,” Brenton said with a wink. “See who ends up with frostbite on their toes.”
When George prowled forward, I gripped his arm and held him in place. His eyes, darker than onyx stones, roamed toward each person at the square.
“Let it go,” I told him.
From above, Nalari roared with her own anger. When she landed in the open field where many of the younger children played, Victoria took off toward my Guardian while parents ushered their kids away.
While I felt Nalari’s rage pulse through our connection,she stilled for Victoria when she pressed against one of her front legs. Gently, Nalari nudged her out of the way and lay down. Her glare stayed menacingly on the people of my region, but she let the small girl touch her side before she sat down, leaning her back against Nalari.
I almost laughed. Almost teased Nalari about it.
“Y’all are too ignorant to see what even a seven-year-old can see,” Teddy said, her voice low but still carrying over the now quiet crowd.
“Temper your people down before their discontent grows,”Nalari said.
“I don’t know how,”I answered.
I wasn’t strong like my father, wasn’t gentle like my mother.
“You’re a mixture of both.”
I drank in a gulp of air that I held in my lungs for a few beats before releasing it.
I cleared my throat and stepped to where Donnie still stood. Everly, George, and Brenton followed.
“Everyone’s rations will be cut in half,” I announced. “Until we secure more trades with other regions”—I spoke the last word at Margie, whose eyes flared in defiance—“until our hunts prove more productive. If you wish to hunt for yourself, you may do so. Whatever you catch is yours to keep. You may trade with your neighbors, slaughter it yourself for food, raise it to breed. Whatever you choose, you choose for yourself and your family. No fae will use their magic to tend to your livestock.” I paused, assessing each face who watched me. “Should you choose to hunt, go with a small group. Always keep your weapon on you and be prepared to battle the creatures from my realm. If you wish to learn how best to strike these creatures, you may speak to any fae here, and theywill teach you. This same opportunity will not be offered to anyone who tries to offend us.” Another pause as I settled my chaotic nerves. But I was their leader, whether they despised me or not. More, I was also the fae’s leader, their prince, and it seemed too many had forgotten that. I had willingly allowed myself to forget it. “My kindness, my patience only goes so far. I have long ago agreed that any disputes among the humans will be resolved by Donnie and your police force. You will not like the consequences if I must get involved. What you saw at the barbecue is normal among my kind.” I let my canines elongate and with a snarl, bared my teeth at the crowd. “Let this be your final reminder that we are not human. We are fae.”
With the ensuing silence, I half expected Brenton to start clapping, if only to break up the agitation filtering around us.
“Well”—Donnie started—“if no one has any questions, you’re welcome to leave. Teddy will be back at the food bank tomorrow morning. Ryenne will keep the coffee shop open for another hour. For today only, everyone is allowed one cookie each. After that, it’s half rations for everyone.”
