Page 121 of Dare
“Doing what?” Aire galled through his teeth, exasperated.
From a harness at her hip, Aspen whipped out a short axe and pointed the blade at him. “I’ve had enough of you playing the holier-than-thou bodyguard. I can take care of myself. Go work off your hero complex on someone else.”
“You are not a trained fighter.”
“Oh, my mistake. I guess this axe is just for show.”
The stowaway shoved past Aire, leaving him to stare after her with a slack jaw. After a beat, the warrior veered his gaze to the jester and princess. With a lash of his arm, he gestured at the empty spot where Aspen had been standing, as if to say, Can you believe her?
So. Not a younger sister.
Her weapon struck my memory. The girl had made a brief appearance during the Reaper’s Fest riot. She’d thrown her axe across the town square and pinned King Rhys to the fire stake like a pig.
Pointed looks from Poet and Briar drew the girl near. While Aire stalked off to patrol the bridge, the trio murmured to one another, their measured voices indicating this girl was part of their clan and had earned the right to be treated as an equal player. Nevertheless, this didn’t change the fact that she’d inserted herself into something confidential and perilous. The stowaway looked sheepish, although that feisty lift to her shoulders persisted.
Flare and I exchanged a fleeting glance. The impact scorched my flesh, the private moment squeezing into the space between us. My fingers extended toward hers, eager to touch, to grab, to—
The huddle split. Our trance broke.
With one more glance beneath her lashes, Flare peeled herself from my gaze and padded toward Aspen. Gently. Slowly. With the hem of my shirt fluttering around her limbs, Flare scooped up the girl’s hands, the flesh engraved with a pattern of foliage.
Flare gave her a vivid smile and mouthed a declaration. To which, the stowaway blinked, not comprehending a word.
“Flare said you’re a daughter of the trees,” I explained.
The jester and princess vaulted their gazes my way. Against their will, I had impressed them. While I should not give a shit, my chest experienced a boost of pride.
Yes, I knew this woman well. Indeed, I understood her perfectly. Let them see this.
Aspen’s attention detoured over Flare’s shoulder and landed on me. Her eyes expanded, then sought refuge in Flare’s features, a timid grin sliding across her mouth and revealing a beauty mark hidden under the mantle.
Flare twisted to the jester and princess, her eyes glistening as she pronounced the next two words slowly. “You came.”
Because that had been easy to read, Her Highness snatched up Flare’s fingers. “You untied me from the bonfire. You saved my life,” she stressed. “Of course, we came.”
In the background, Aire gained Poet and Briar’s side. Where there had been two yesterday, tonight there were six.
My little beast spoke, the word easy to read and meant for everyone. “Welcome.”
39
Jeryn
In the dining hall, plants snaked through the gaping windows. Wedges of melon, plates of snapper filets, and pitchers of water occupied the table. Flames crackled from the seven-foot-tall fireplace because, despite the heat, we needed the light.
Poet and Briar sat across from us, their presence surreal. They’d set out for Summer under the cover of night, while the Autumn Court slept. Only Queen Avalea, that minstrel friend named Eliot, and Briar’s three ladies had known the reason, though they hadn’t been privy to the rainforest’s location. The jester, princess, and First Knight had kept that secret between them, intending to quest here first, to confirm Flare’s wellbeing and make certain I hadn’t chained her like an animal.
Witness accounts had spread across the Seasons. The Prince of Winter had chased a prisoner of the Fools Tower into a turbulent sea. As predicted, Winter and Summer had been searching ever since. Naturally after receiving Flare’s message, Poet and Briar had worried about what I’d do to her.
The group still regarded me with apprehension. They respected Flare’s choice, but that did not mean they agreed with it. In opposition to the merciful ethos of Autumn, I wouldn’t be surprised if they wished for me to remain exiled. This clan had no love for a ruler known to experiment on his captives.
In any event, the Autumn clan had protested the trio venturing here without backup, yet they’d remained behind for vital reasons. Her Majesty had a nation to lead, the others would tamp down any speculation about where the jester and princess had gone, and everyone needed to look after Poet and Briar’s son, Nicu. As a born soul, the child required a great deal of care. For that, his parents only trusted their allies, who’d become well-versed in the boy’s condition.
Aire had basic training in sea navigation. But the soldier’s connection to the elements had been the true advantage. Coupled with the butterfly who’d led them across the sea and Flare’s coded instructions, the group had managed to find us. While the butterfly had somehow known to fly to these ruins, Aire’s sensory perception—whatever the hell that meant—had done the rest.
A fanciful explanation. At least, to the latter. That I accepted Aire’s uncanny abilities rather than seek logical details suggested my intellect was lagging. Considering the explosion of heat that had blown the roof off my skull while fucking Flare, I wasn’t thinking straight.
Instead of joining us, Aire and Aspen stood guard near the floor-to-ceiling windows.