Page 123 of Owned By the Fae
‘I don’t know,’ I murmur. ‘She’s breathing, but...’
‘She fainted,’ Dane says, looking concerned.
He looks around and then closes his eyes. ‘I can feel magick,’ he states, pointing through the trees. ‘Come on.’
I glance at Grey, who shrugs. ‘We’re going to have to find food and shelter at the very least. Perhaps we can find a healer.’
I shake my head. ‘Fine, but keep your eyes open. If this isn’t the Light Realm, gods only know what Dark Realm we’re in. Can you smell anything odd?’ I ask him.
He sniffs. ‘Only flowers but ...’
‘What is it?’
‘The Dark Realms have a ... scent about them. It’s difficult to explain. This place is different.’
‘Was Lia wrong? Could we be in … the Light after all?’ I whisper, the awe I feel present in my tone.
Gods, what if we are? We’d be safe. Lia and the babe would be safe.
‘I don’t know,’ Grey answers.
Dane looks back. ‘Well, we aren’t going to find out in this forest, are we? Come on and keep your eyes open. There could be any manner of dangers lurking.’
We walk through the trees and reach a shallow stream with small fish darting around a line of stepping stones. Dane begins to cross slowly, looking back at me in case I should need help with Lia but as he turns back around, he stops abruptly.
There are two fae males in front of us. Both of them have fishing rods. They stare at us and then at each other.
‘Where’d you come from?’ one asks.
‘We just arrived,’ Dane begins, stepping across to the other side of the stream, and both fae frown.
‘How? There’s only one Gate, and it’s in the other direction.’
Grey gestures to the unconscious woman in my arms. ‘We need a healer.’
Both fae just stare at her, and I cast a look at Dane and Grey. Are these fae simple?
‘Humans aren't allowed here,’ one of them says at her, pointing at her. ‘Why would you bring one?’
We don’t answer, and they look at each other again.
‘You should come with us,’ the taller one says.
‘Where?’ Dane snarls.
‘To the council building,’ the other one answers as ifwe’rethe simple ones.
‘Come,’ the taller one orders. ‘You’re clearly our kin. You’re safe here.’
‘Where is here?’ I ask, beginning to follow them.
They glance at each other again. ‘The Underhill.’
Grey frowns and looks around again, seeming confused.
‘What is it?’ I ask him.
‘I don't know,’ he mutters, ‘but I have the strangest idea that I’ve been here before.’ He smells the air again. ‘I know this place.’
