Page 27 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

I wasn’t on Earth anymore. I wasn’t in danger. No one was going to hurt me.

But… it didn’t feel that way.

It felt like the forest was closing in on me.

Like there was pressure in my chest, pain in my heart.

Concern knitted the king’s forehead. “What’s happening?”

I sank to my knees, pressing my palms to the smooth stone and tucking my chin to my chest. The trees rustled, and in the corner of my eye, I saw a gleam of familiar-looking scales. The basilisk shifted into her fae form, but I didn’t look at her, just silently repeating thoughts that I hoped would calm me.

I was fine.

Everything was fine.

The words were basically a plea.

“She’s having a panic attack,” Summer said calmly. “Don’t move.”

Aev remained where he was as my best friend—who was practically my sister—kneeled beside me and wrapped her arms around my middle, tugging me to her chest.

I resisted her grip at first, all thoughts silent as the panic enveloped me. But finally, the awful fear eased a little, and I grabbed her. Clung to her.

“You’re safe,” Summer told me, her voice gentle but firm. “No one’s going to hurt you here.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as the panic finally started to fade.

Pathetic, my dad would’ve called me.

Dramatic, my mother would’ve said.

Ridiculous, my boyfriend would’ve sneered.

They were wrong.

They were all wrong.

I had to believe that.

Especially because I could feel Aev staring at me.

Staring, and hopefully not thinking the same exact things they had always said.

“Sorry,” I whispered, to both him and Summer.

“Iknowyou didn’t just apologize for having feelings,” she shot back.

My lips curved upward a tiny bit.

“Sleep will help with the stress,” she told me. “I’d offer my place, but we both know you don’t want to crash in my sex den.”

My tiny smile grew a little. “I don’t.”

“Blue offered her house. She and Presley share it. I don’t think you know them any better than I do, but it’s closer to the action than the Stronghold is. And you know you can’t sleep here.”

“I know,” I admitted. “Their place would work, if you’re sure they don’t mind.”

“Girl, you just offered yourself as a damnhuman sacrifice. They can survive without their house for half the day. And by the way, if I didn’t trust your magic, I would already have kidnapped your ass and dragged you out of here for your own safety.”

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