Page 101 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
And I can’t help it.
I giggle. Loudly.
One little gnome has really sent my grumpy Guard into such a state? I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.
Drystan seizes me in the next instant, pressing my back to the earthen wall of the ravine as he cages me with his body.
“Something funny, huntress?” His voice has gone husky, deep with danger and something else that makes fire streak through my veins and moisture pool in my underwear.
I suck my cheeks in as I try my best to contain my smile, but it doesn’t work.
A second later, I give in altogether. “I was just wondering whether I should invite Otis to court to help me keep you in line.”
Lore’s cackle is bright enough to draw every nearby eye, and Drystan’s ears catch fire, but it doesn’t stop him leaning in until his lips are at my ear. His breath brushes against my neck a second before he says.
“When we get back from this ridiculous rescue mission, you’ll regret that.”
I shiver, the dark promise in his words not helping the goosebumps springing to life across my skin. Instead, finding a boldness I didn’t know I possessed, I look up and hiss out abreath as he catches the sensitive point of one ear between his teeth and bites down.
Goddess. I think I just came.
“Come.” Jaro interrupts. “The horses are waiting.”
“I can’t believe you’re going through with this.” Drystan steps away and rights his clothes with jerky hands. “The Fomorian?—”
“Was captured saving the lives of two shifters. One of whom was a child.” Jaro’s eyes glint with the presence of his wolf. “His actions were honourable, especially considering that his own kin rejected him so viciously just hours before.”
And now Jaro’s own honour won’t allow him to let Caed suffer for it. I smile softly at my shifter and move into his arms, tiptoeing to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw before moving back.
Then I pause, smile slightly, and flutter my wings just enough to send me airborne, eliminating the height difference between us so I can kiss his lips properly.
“I’m supposed to be practising,” I explain when he gives me a bemused look.
“Well, you can practise plenty on the way.” Bree’s fingers trace over his valravn tattoo, and his own wings slip free.
I almost expect Drystan to argue, but he only says, “Keep her safe up there.”
“Of course.”
Bree takes off with a flex of powerful muscles and a mighty gust of wind that makes me wonder if he isn’t quietly showing off, and I give the rest of my mates tiny kisses before following in a much less dramatic fashion.
I’m not as fast as my púca, and it shows as I struggle into the dusky sky behind him.
“I need to get better at this,” I mutter.
“You will.” Bree maintains an easy distance, just far enough that the movement of air from his huge wings won’t knock meoff course. “Don’t try to stay in the air for too long, either. When you get tired, ride with the others. Speed and stamina come with time.”
To be honest, I’m just grateful I’m finally in the air. The lack of functioning wings has been weighing on me ever since I came to Faerie, and now here I am,flying.
“I want to race you,” I admit, grinning. “But I’m afraid I’m not much of a challenge.”
Bree chuckles under his breath. “Dragonfly, if you ever beat me in a race, it’ll be because Lore has sabotaged the competition. Now if we play tag, I think you’ll find your wings make you unstoppable.”
He’s less burdened up here, I realise with a smile. Not carefree—I doubt he’ll ever reach that point, given his history—but a smidgen more relaxed. His ears aren’t twitching constantly at every little sound, and his body language is looser.
“Then I want to play tag as soon as possible,” I murmur, glancing down to find that the others have already started riding.
Bree and I glide alongside them, my púca flying easy circles around me until dark has well and truly fallen and I finally give in to the aching muscles in my back, drifting down to land beside Wraith.
