Page 72 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

Aev shifted forms, steadying me when I wobbled at the sudden weight on my feet.

Damn, I was still exhausted.

He looked even more drained than me, though, so I murmured, “Sit down. I can grab food.”

The klynna landed a short distance away from us, breaking chunks out of a few trees in the process, but we didn’t comment on that. At least it hadn’t knocked any of the massive things over that time.

I expected Aev to protest my plan, but he gave a tired nod and plopped down on the dirt without a word. He did brush his lips to the back of my hand, though, before leaning his head against a tree and closing his eyes.

I gave in to an urge and dragged my fingers through his hair, earning a soft groan before I turned and strode toward the fruit trees. My legs were more wobbly than I would’ve liked, but that was to be expected after spending an entire day on Aev’s back.

He was already snoring softly when I made it to him with the fruit a few minutes later, so I woke him up gently. It took a minute, but he finally accepted the fruit and ate quickly.

“Sorry I’m so tired,” he mumbled, as he set the empty shell of his fruit on the ground off to the side of the tree.

“Don’t be. You’ve been awake a long, long time. Get some sleep.” I slid my fingers into his hair again, and he leaned his head toward me as his eyes shuttered. A heavy sigh escaped him, and he finally leaned away, plopping down on the ground on his back. He didn’t so much as move a toe before he was snoring again, and my lips curved upward at the soft vulnerability of the moment.

He trusted me, too. Just as much as I trusted him. And that felt really, really good.

I finished eating, and moved the fruit’s shells a little more before I walked over to the klynna. He was sprawled out on the ground on his belly, and only peeked one gigantic eye open as I approached him.

I didn’t reach a hand out to pet him or anything; he wasn’t just some animal. He was an intelligent being, one I was connected to, by some kind of miracle.

“Hello,” I said quietly, as I felt its emotions rolling through me.

Tired.

Yearning for his mate, for his home.

Hopeful at the prospect of peace and security.

“I’m ready to move on to the next chapter too, friend,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around my abdomen. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Long enough that change doesn’t feel like the enemy anymore.”

The klynna snorted at me.

My smile widened. “Maybe that’s just me.”

He blew a puff of smoke toward me and closed his eye. I could still feel his sleepy amusement, though.

“Goodnight, Redd,” I teased him lightly, as I turned on my heels. He needed a name; I might as well give him one.

His conscious brushed my mind, and I heard a single word in my head.“Rerrwyn.”

My heart warmed. “Goodnight, Rerrwyn.”

His gentle approval brushed through my mind, and I felt so much peace as I walked back to a snoring Aev that it was honestly unreal.

I lowered myself to the ground beside him, resting my head against the shoulder on the arm he still had sprawled out wide. As soon as I was settled against him, he made a grumbling noise, and tugged me closer. When he was satisfied that I was close enough, my body was draped almost entirely over his.

His arms wrapped around me, tightening until I was securely in place. “I want a nickname too, Thorns,” he mumbled as he tucked my head beneath his chin. My forehead pressed to his neck as my smile widened. I was almost entirely certain that he was still asleep, and wouldn’t remember saying that in the morning.

But despite him being asleep, I was also almost positive that the words he’d said were true.

He wanted a nickname too.

All of his friends called him Aev, and always had. It was his name. Naomi had called him Aeven, which was why I’d never used it.

It was only fair that I give him a nickname too.

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