Page 45 of A Song of Air
Arlo’s eyes flicked to her. Like he knew, somehow, heknewthat they were here because of her. She wondered if the guilt was on her face. She tried to school her features and was sure she’d failed.
“Arlo...” She started forward. To say what, she wasn’t sure, but he cleared his throat roughly, his meaning clear.
Be quiet.
She snapped her mouth shut, biting down hard on her bottom lip.
“They’re the Resistance.” Ev cut to the chase, his own disdain dripping from his voice. He’d become a different person in front of Arlo like he usually did.
When they were together in the privacy of their little tree, it was always soft touches and whispered promises. Of what things would be like when he finally ruled. When they were in public, he was equally stern as their leader.
She didn’t particularly like that change in him.
“Hmm...” Arlo curled his lip, looking down the line of the new Fae with disgust. “What do you want?” His voice was cruel, demanding.
There was a beat of silence.
“That’s quite a long story,” the prince said cautiously.
“You will tell me, or I will order my men to kill you where you stand.”
Bryson’s heart bottomed out to her stomach. The murderous intent in Arlo’s voice was very real. The energy around them changed within an instant.
Suddenly there was the sharp scent of something soft with the undertone of something sharp. Like powder and steel. It zipped by her in a gust and then there was a voice, soft, threatening.
“You are speaking to the Prince of the Seelie court, halfling,” the man said. He was tall with a shock of white-silver hair and pale, almost translucent skin that was stark against the dark leathers he wore. “You will take care who you threaten, or those will be the last words you ever speak.”
The threat of battle around them made Bryson’s magic rise to the surface. She could sense that presence in front of Arlo. Her magic pushed out, shoving the white-haired Fae away with a single gust of wind. His feet stumbled and he straightened. She could feel his glare cut in her direction, just like she could see Arlo’s pleased smile. The brief sign of aggression from Bryson would placate Arlo momentarily. At least, that’s what she hoped. It would also hopefully avoid a brawl.
“Uric,” the prince chastised. “Don’t.”
Uric huffed and walked back to his place beside the prince.
“Now, if your tantrum is over with,” Arlo drawled. “Let me be clear with one thing. You may be prince of the Fae, but this is not a court. Here you are just another person, and you are no royalty tous.So, if there is a reason you came upon our camp, you will tell me now, or you can die, or you can leave.” He smiled. “Whichever you prefer.”
“Of course, we will tell you why,” the prince said. “But if we could speak privately...”
“No,” Arlo interrupted. “You will speak now, or you will not set foot in our camp.”
The prince’s jaw gritted tightly, like he was fighting back his own annoyance at Arlo’s blatant disrespect. “We’ve traveled across Illyk in search of someone, or rather, several someones.”
The hairs on Bryson’s arms rose at the start of the prince’s story.
“And who might that be?” Arlo’s brows raised.
“The Fae Elementals.”
Bryson’s breath caught, but she did not speak.
Both Ev and Arlo’s gaze cut to her, but she barely breathed, let alone reacted.
To think that the Resistance had traveled far for her. Why? Did that explain the presence of the other three Elementals in their party?
“If you’ve come to kill my girlfriend,” Ev began, dangerously low, “you won’t make it past this field.”
“We have no nefarious plans, I swear you this,” the prince reassured, lifting his hands in a small sign of submission.
“Then what is it you could possibly want withmyElemental?” Arlo demanded.
