Page 26 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

That last part was probably a mistake to say aloud, because IfeltAev’s mood darken rapidly behind me.

“We’ll start discussing options for the first klynna attack,” Remmo said smoothly, trying to reduce the sudden tension.

Aev dipped his head in a nod. “Dakota needs to rest. Send someone for me if one of the beasts approaches.”

He started walking, his hand still on my back. I could’ve stepped away instead of moving with him, but I stayed by his side instead.

“I don’t know where your house is,” he admitted to me, as we walked.

It surprised me that he hadn’t brought up what I said earlier, but I wasn’t about to question that.

I pointed. “At the edge of the other houses, in that direction. It’s in the trees, so it’s easiest to fly there.”

“No flying while the klynnas are out.” He tugged one of my hands up over his shoulder and shifted quickly.

My chest sank against his neck like it was the most natural thing in the world, my fingers sinking into his fur. Despite his icy magic, he was always warm and comfortable.

“Do you need me to show you?” I called out to him, as he ran.

He shook his head smoothly, and I gripped his fur a bit tighter as he leapt to the nearest tree and scaled it with ease. His body righted as he landed on a branch, and then he was slipping through the trees like he belonged in them.

And of course, he found my treehouse without a problem.

He stopped just outside of it, giving me time to slip off his back before he shifted and studied it. “It’s missing a roof. And walls.”

“It’s not done,” I said quickly, face heating up. Soon enough, my whole damn body would be covered in the red blotches of my blush.

My “house” was just a smooth platform made of pure black wood, with a simple box full of pillows and blankets off to one side. I’d started on the walls a few weeks back, until I got distracted, so they were a few inches tall.

“The rainy season is about to start, Dakota.” His chest rumbled unhappily with the words. “This isn’t a safe place to live. Especially with the klynnas roaming the skies.”

“Okay.” I held up a finger. “I was put on spy duty, remember? I’ve been busy entertaining a moody sabertooth. Besides, I’m basically made of fire. I can survive rain. And potentially klynnas, too. So… it’s perfect.”

He lifted an eyebrow at me, and said nothing.

I huffed at him. “If I asked one of the men to help me, they might’ve expected something in return. And Summer told me that it will feel different if anyone else’s magic creates it except mine. So, I can’t accept help. I want it to bemine.”

He grimaced. “All I have is the tent someone set up. You can stay there, or you can sacrifice the feel of the magic to let a few others help with this place.”

I shook my head. “I’ll just stay with the female fae.”

They weren’t trustworthy, but they wouldn’t let anything happen to me. They were obsessed with protecting life-bringers, after all.

His body stiffened.

I stepped away from him, heading toward the edge of the platform. His fingers closed around my wrist to stop me, and I couldn’t help my body’s reaction.

I just… froze.

His grip was soft, unlike the memories of the ones flashing through my mind in that moment. If I’d tugged, he would’ve let go.

But that didn’t make the moment any less triggering.

“You’re trembling.” Aev’s voice was low, and slightly worried. He released me, stepping between me and the ledge of my house and lifting his hands up as if in surrender. “Dakota.”

“Don’t call me that.” My voice was sharp.

I took a step back, and another. My chest was rising and falling rapidly as memories assaulted me. Focusing my thoughts, I tried to drag myself out of the past and back into my current reality.

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