Emalynn POV

Leaping into the treetop, the brute slowly followed behind me. The brute was strong, pulling himself up onto each branch with ease. However, the big lug was unsteady as he attempted to reach for the next branch. Why did I need this lug’s help again? Oh, that’s right. Elf boy and the lug are trying to help me, I think. Elf boy is hard to understand sometimes. I bet Uncle Elias could get him to loosen up his upper-class pants. I wish Uncle Elias were here to help me save Ro. Stupid white dragon. Stupid me for shooting that arrow.

The big oaf finally caught up to me at the biggest branch I could find. I didn’t want him to break any branches with his giant orc size. We were about forty feet up from the ground and three trees over from where I left the wizards. I left in a hurry because I didn’t want to argue with that old man any longer. Being a good distance away, I was pretty sure the wizards couldn’t hear me if I spoke since none of them were beast folk. Suddenly, I was very appreciative of my classes at Myra’s academy. They were proving useful, finally…

“So, Emera,” the brute whispered to me. “I think we have some things to discuss.”

My skin felt irritated when he said my cover name. It bothered me until I noticed his demeanor had changed. He turned very serious with his expression. His whole persona changed from slob barbarian to smart and confident. It was impressive. “So the slob can be more than a brute? Well, this might be interesting after all.” My tail gave away my curiosity with how it bounced and curled about. I still don’t like this guy since he made me throw up though.

“Call me Braxton,” His voice was stern as if he disapproved of my tone. “What’s your plan, Emera?”

There he goes with his serious tone, but in my head, I can only see the clumsy drunk that swung me around like a doll. “To get my familiar back alive.”

“That sounds more like an end goal,” the brute answered. He slowly sat himself down on the branch next to me. Braxton as he wishes to be called nearly slipped four times trying to sit down. I couldn’t hold back a chuckle as he fell on his butt on the branch. All his tumbling about shook the branch alerting everyone to our location. I was able to stay steady thanks to my incredible balancing skills. Braxton was not as lucky. His hands had a deadlock grip on the branch.

“You’re not graceful at all.” Leaning back against the trunk of the tree, I gave him a small smile. “If I simply poke your back, you scramble to steady yourself. Do orcs not climb trees? With your forest green skin, I imagine that you would blend in easily.”

If it were possible, I think his grip had tightened on the branch. He gave me a confused look. “We are supposed to be making plans, and you want to know if orcs climb trees?”

“It’s a yes or no question. I already know you aren’t a climber, brute. You are clumsy, heavy, you like to drink, and you find fluffy things cute. Oh, and you can’t hold your liquor worth a damn.” I guess I am still angry from our previous encounter. Part of me was still seething that the elf guy mistook me for a man, and both of them caused Ro to rampage into the cave. She has been stuck in her wolf form since those guys followed me.

Braxton’s gray eyes looked hurt at my words. “Right. Sorry about all that the other day…”

“Sorry doesn’t make up for the mess you guys left me with,” I mutter. I was bitter over the last two days, which started with them stalking me. “You followed me from a pub, messed with my companion, and got me injured. Sorry doesn’t mean much.”

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His gray began to tear up. He was truly sorry. “I wish things had gone better.”

For some reason, his sad face was bothering me even though I was the one squished, swung, vomited on, and injured by those two boneheads. How could this guy look so sad? He’s an adult, and much older than me by the looks of it. Ugh. I should have picked the fancy elf. “Would you stop looking so sad? Aren’t you an adult?” I teased.

He looked surprised at my words. Braxton blinked away his sadness. “Um, yes. I am a twenty-five-year-old adult, but that doesn’t change how I acted the other day, Emera.”

“Would you stop saying my name like that? It feels like sandpaper on my skin.” I replied. The way he said my name felt weird. It wasn’t rude, but it felt personal, which is weird since I barely know him. Of course, it could be the fact it wasn’t my real name to begin with. Maybe that’s why it bothered me so much. Not to mention that the temperature around us was beginning to get warmer. The cool atmosphere from the giant ice block was fading quickly.

“Honestly, I am just saying your name normally.” He was beginning to look uncomfortable due to the heat as he readjusted his posture. The heat seemed to remind him why we were up in the tree in the first place. “Anyway, what are we going to do once the wizards break the ice open? You said we would attack. How? A dragon is hard to beat even with your familiar,” Braxton questioned.

I guess I need to tell him. “Your elf friend can use healing magic, right?”

“We both can. Why?” he looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“That works out even better.” I smiled. With his help, I could fix the problem I caused. “How long until they melt the ice?”

“Considering it just got a lot warmer around here, maybe an hour.” Braxton wiped the sweat from his brow.

I hadn’t realized the wizards had already started the heat spells. We would need to hurry and help that person the dragon put down on the forest floor. “Come on. We need to move quickly.”

“I think you’re forgetting how easily I fall over,” Braxton looked down, causing him to feel nervous.

Shaking my head at him, I popped up from my spot on the branch and helped the orc to his feet. Braxton took my hand reluctantly. “Isn’t there another way to travel besides treetops?”

“I am a simian beast. This is the only way I travel,” I smirk. His grip was tight on my hand as he steadied himself on the branch. Braxton didn’t seem to appreciate my humor as he gave me a look that was meant to intimidate me. I giggled. “Scaredy cat.”

His glare intensified. “I hate heights,” Braxton responded.

“Come on, Braxton. Let’s go.” He didn’t trust the branch holding us as he crept toward the edge of the branch, but we didn’t have time to go slow. “Okay, brute. Let’s try this another way. You like cute things right?”

His gray eyes smiled at my words. “Maybe.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. If I had time, I would mess with this guy. I can tell by his reactions that I could spend a long time getting a laugh out of the things he does. “I believe you called me cute multiple times. Think you can focus on my cute, fluffy self?”

“Hell yeah! I mean… yes, I can…” His green cheeks turned red.

Now this was entertaining. “Watch me. Focus. Move when I do. As long as you stay in sync with me, I can help you through the treetops.” He looked at me in disbelief as if my plan was impossible. “Braxton, trust me.” I took the brute’s large hand and pulled the giant forward as we leaped from branch to branch. It was easy to get in sync with him. His eyes were focused on me as I guided him through the trees. For a second, it was like we were in a trance and his trust in me was infinite. We were one. It bothered me how this stalker had become my ally so easily within a few days. The whole situation felt weird. Luckily, it didn’t take long to reach the guy on the forest floor.

Braxton jumped down to the ground with me. He was confused by the man laying on the ground in front of us. All he could see was an unconscious man that was bleeding. The hot air around us seemed to make his injury worse than when I last saw him as well. “This is our plan. The dragon carefully laid this man down on the ground before chasing after us last. It seems I accidentally shot the guy with an arrow.” I wasn’t going to lie about the gravity of the situation to Braxton. We both needed this guy to heal to avoid the dragon’s wrath.

“Seriously?” He looked at me in disbelief. “You caused all this?” He gestured to the melting ice block and the destruction of the forest around us. “With a misfired arrow?”

Wait. Was this scaredy cat of a brute about to lecture me? Oh heck no. Ro was going to scold me already. I was not about to listen to him drone on and on.“Story later. Heal now.” I reminded him.

“Fine, but I have to say you are less cute right now and more of a pain in the ass.” He teased as he knelt next to the man.

Braxton turned serious again as he examined his patient. Blood was seeping out of the wound, and the man’s breath was shallow. The man’s body was sweaty and pale in complexion. I hoped that there wasn’t an infection in the man’s wound. After assessing his patient, the brute didn’t look confident, which made me feel sick to my stomach with guilt. Braxton didn’t waste a minute as I saw soft glowing light envelop his hands.

“Your plan might work if the dragon actually cares for this guy,” Braxton gave me a small smile. “I just hope I can save him.”