Page 60 of The Lost Fae
"Ba--Ba--Barnabus?" The Fae calls, lifting himself up onto his elbows. "Barnabus!" he yells again.
"Yes, please call him over..." I sigh then join him in the chorus of his leader's name. "Barnabus!”
The tent flaps fly open. It isn't just Barnabus’s face that peers in at us. Many of the bandits huddle together, pressing themselves tightly so as many of them can bear witness as possible. Barnabus pushes through the middle of them, slicking back frizzy strands of red hair that poke out from his ponytail.
"Wearl?" He smiles. "How are you feeling? Did she fix you up good?"
"I'm..." Wearl glances at me. "Nothing hurts. All the pain is gone."
"Good, very good." Barnabus turns his gaze on me. "I think you'll be happy to hear your mate is waking up."
Lincoln.
That’s all I need to hear. Ignoring the exhaustion in my bones, I rush to standing, ruffling the abundance of blankets at my feet. My body bounces from one person to the next as I force myself through the small crowd.
Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?My mind shouts reaching out for his bond.
Where are you?He repeats back to me, his thoughts still sloppy with whatever concoction Barnabus had used on us.
As I break free of the men, I see Lincoln sitting up just where I'd left him. They'd left Lincoln alone...thank god. I rush forward, dropping into his lap and crashing into his chest. He leans backward as if he'll fall, but catches us in the last moment, wrapping his arms around me.
"What's happening? Are you okay?"
I kiss up and down his neck. I want to kiss all over every inch of his body. Perhaps one day that urge will disappear, but I doubt it. "You're like my little damsel in distress." I nuzzle my nose into his jaw. "And I save you every time."
"I'm not sure how I feel about being called a damsel." He pulls me away from my body, looking me up and down. The ghost of his own mental touch strums through my mind like someone searching for the right file in an office cabinet. "You made the deal with Barnabus." His perfect white teeth flash in a large smile. Both of his hands leave my waist, grabbing my head to pull me to him.His lips plant a large kiss right on my forehead. "Briar, you've done it!"
"I wouldn't get ahead of yourself just yet." Barnabus coos. 'We've not agreed to anything."
My spine stiffens. Lincoln’s hands fall into his lap between us.
"I did what you've asked." My voice sounds weak, even to me. I hate that.
We need them. The Shadow Court needs them, and I won't be leaving this realm until I come back victorious with an army against Cordelia. I'm doing this for the Shadow Fae. For Jase. For Rowan. For my-fucking-self.
Refusing to acknowledge my shaking knees, I stand from Lincoln and lift my chin toward Barnabus, waiting for his response. I offer one hand to Ziko and he takes it, pulling himself to standing and brushing off the dirt that has gathered on his pants. His eyes have narrowed to two golden slits as he stares at Barnabus and the men that slowly drift away from Wearl's tent with smiles on their faces.
Lincoln is right about them. They care. They care about one another. Which leads me to believe that Barnabus isn't as bad as he makes himself appear to be. How bad could a man who gives to the poor really be?
"Truly," Barnabus places a hand on his chest. "I don't wish to deceive you. But this decision isn't up to me."
Wearl, with the help of another man exits the tent. They make their way toward us. Them and everyone else in the camp. Even Ellie, with a mix of fear and awe in her eyes, saunters forward, holding the hand of her beloved.
"We'll take a vote." Barnabus claps his hands and turns to his band of not so merry men. "Our two thieving Shadow Fae have proposed that in exchange for her healing magic and a chance to return home, we will provide her with assistance laying siege to her castle."
The low murmur of whispers starts before the captain has even finished. "I propose," he continues, "that should we return and assist with placing her on a throne she thinks is truly her own, that she continues to provide us with whatever matter of healing we will need. Or at the very least, offer us another healer."
That seems like something a queen should be able to do. Though the role is and will be new to me for quite some time.
"I can do that," I say hopefully.
I can do that, right?I mentally ask Lincoln.
You can do whatever the fuck you'd like when you're the queen. And I'll sit at your feet just for the chance to worship you.
A blush flushes across my chest and up my neck. The image of Lincoln and the way that he wants toworship meflashes in my mind’s eye.
"We'll put it to a vote then." Barnabus grins. "All in favor of returning to The Shadow Court and the Fae Realm, raise your hand!"
