Page 75 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

“It’s really not,” I said, though I sniffled a few times—and hoped he would disagree.

“It really is.” The man didn’t disappoint.

Myman.

And damn, I loved knowing that he was mine.

“You’re obnoxiously good at everything,” I mumbled, making him laugh.

He stroked my back while I struggled with my emotions. I wanted to tell him what I felt too, but I was still terrified. And I knew he understood that—that it didn’t bother him.

After my eyes stopped watering, we ate, and then took to the skies. And as I flew over Vevol’s forests, with Aev having the time of his life on my back, that same thought that had shaken me so hard occurred to me again.

My ex and my parents had always wanted me weak. But Aev?

He was head-over-heels in love with my strength.

Twenty

I flewfor most of the day, but when exhaustion began to set in during the afternoon, I landed on a thick branch and shifted back. “Would you mind running for a while? I need a break,” I admitted.

“Of course not.” He dragged me into his arms and hugged me tightly. I knew that if I’d given him the green light, he would’ve kissed me. “You’re so damn sexy, Thorns,” he said into my hair.

My face warmed. “Right back at you, Vines.”

Aev’s chuckle rumbled both of our chests, and I hugged him tighter, wishing we were alone in our house again. As much fun as flying with him had been, I was ready to be done with the trip and just collapse in bed.

He shifted, and I buried my face in his fur as he took off into the forest. Rerrwyn followed above the trees, his massive tail taking out a branch every now and then.

The sun was going down when the forest thinned, and I stared up at the largest cliffs I’d ever seen. They were the color of melted butter, but the edges were jagged and sharp-looking. And perched at different levels of them, I could see the gleam of colorful klynna feathers and scales.

Aev made his way down from the tree we were in, and from the ground, peered up at the cliffs that stretched so insanely far above our heads. The klynnas that had once seemed monstrous to me were nothing but beautiful, now, and the way they brightened the cliffs was a sight I didn’t think I’d ever forget.

“Wow,” I murmured to Aev, as he shifted back to his man form.

“I can’t believe they’re not attacking us,” he admitted. “Coming anywhere near here was a death sentence, before you.”

Before me.

It was strange to think that I’d changed things for these larger-than-life fae that had saved me only a few years earlier.

“I can fly us up there,” I said, noticing Rerrwyn still soaring over our heads. A smaller pink klynna had joined him, and my heart about melted when I realized that must’ve been his mate.

She was rubbing up against him, flying with him. “Look how adorable they are.” I pointed up toward them, and Aev peered upward. His lips curved, and he slid an arm around my waist.

“Adorable,” he agreed, and I had the distinct feeling that he’d never spoken that word before. That thought made me smile.

“Come on.” I tugged on his hand as I shifted, and he slid onto my back. I was big enough in my phoenix form that his weight wasn’t difficult to carry, even though the man was ridiculously muscular.

“Be careful, Thorns. If they act threatening at all, fly away. Toss me off your back; I’ll be fine,” he called out, as I took to the sky.

I nodded, even though I had absolutely no intention to do what he’d said.

If they were threatening, we’d deal with it together.

I flew in a wide circle, moving slowly and trying to look as friendly as possible. Though I didn’t quite understand why the immortal, airplane-sized klynnas feared the fae, I still respected that feeling, and didn’t want to scare them.

Though a few of the creatures watched warily from their nests, many others gathered near the edge of the tallest cliff. Rerrwyn and his mate landed beside that crowd, and the other klynnas made space for them.

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