I woke up as Arden was carefully setting me down on the ground. “Mm?” I rubbed my eyes, wincing as my side throbbed.

“Sorry, we’re just taking a rest.” he frowned.

“Right.” I yawned.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright.” I shrugged.

The fey soldier helped me prop myself up against a tree so I didn’t have to strain my injured core in order to stay sitting.

“Are you hungry? We ate a bite of breakfast as we walked, but it seemed best to let you sleep.” Rowan said.

“Food would be nice.” I nodded. “But I’m not starving or anything.”

“Here.” Arden rummaged in his magical bag, quickly drawing out the food and distributing it. “Let me go fill up the waterskins, I’m glad we found another stream.” He did so, then came back, handing them to us and keeping one for himself. “Do you want to put your tail in the water?” he asked me.

“Normally I would, but I’m fine.” I shook my head. “Maybe if we happen to find another stream. I don’t want you to get soaked carrying me.”

“I don’t mind. It’s just water.”

“It’s fine.” I waved away his concern, though it was endearing and much appreciated.

“I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable because your scales are dry.”

“It takes longer than this, I promise. I could go a couple more days before they started to get uncomfortable. But we should reach Winna’s cottage tomorrow, if all goes to plan, right?””

“Yes.” Arden nodded.

“Good. It won’t be a problem, then. I’ll make sure I get water on my scales at some point once we’re there.”

We ate our meal in a comfortable silence.

“I know it was an unfortunate occurrence, but I…really hope that our fight with that giant sabertooth cat will throw Bellows off our scent.” Arden said thoughtfully. “I changed our direction a little once we set out again to make sure we didn’t head the same way the cat had run off in, just in case. It’s not enough of a change in direction to put us behind at all, but maybe the fight and the slight change will somehow put our pursuers off the trail…although again, I guess it just depends on how they’re tracking us.”

“It’s gotta be through scent though, right? I can’t imagine anything else.” Rowan frowned.

“I mean…I just don’t know. There are other ways to do it, but there’s no way to know without me doubling back again and getting too close to them for comfort. I was far enough away when I went last time that I don’t think they’d have noticed me, depending on how sensitive they are to the presence of other people. But I’d have to get much closer to try and figure out what tracking means they’re using, and I don’t really want to risk that.”

“Me either. We’ll just push on.” Rowan shook his head. “I know we’ll be tired, but it’s better this way, anyways. The faster we get to our destination, the better. The closer we get, the more eager I am to get there and get these restraints off.”

“If we manage to travel through the night, we might even make it there sometime early in the morning.” Arden said, grimacing a little. “Although I don’t want to push anyone to do that, I know it’s been a tiring journey already.”

“I’m not opposed to trying to travel through the night again, given it’s proved not to be safe to be wandering out here. Although who’d be shocked to learn that wandering in the woods isn’t particularly safe?” Rowan gave a half-hearted chuckle.

“I’m happy to sing for you two again if you need me to.” I murmured. “But I do think you should take a minute and rest now. I won’t fall asleep this time, and nothing is gonna sneak up on us during the day, I think.”

“Well, that sabertooth cat bit off more than it could chew when it attacked us, and got as good as it gave.” Rowan snorted. “I know you were glad of the help, Arden, but you really did have it handled.”

“Barely. I was very glad for your help.” the fey soldier muttered, shaking his head annoyedly. “But yes, I don’t think it’ll be interested in attacking us again. I know we didn’t kill it, but what we did can’t have felt good.”

“Nope!” the centaur smiled, shaking his head.

“Arden, if you’ll give me your pocket watch again, you two can both lay down for an hour or two.”

“Alright.” Arden pulled out his pocket watch and handed it to me.

It was warm from being in his pocket. I traced the delicate engraving on the facing, and then turned it over to look at the back. I’d felt something written there last night, but it had been too dark to read.

The inscription read, I guess you’re alright, kid. I snorted, holding it up, “I guess this was a gift?”

“Lear gave it to me when I finished training for his squad.” Arden flashed a bright grin at me.

“Ah.” I smiled, “He seems nice.”

“He also has a thing for mermaids, and is an outrageous flirt, so be warned.” Arden told me dryly, then shook his head, “Just kidding. That was years ago. He’s stuck good and well on Winna, now. Hasn’t so much as batted an eye at anyone since they met.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

“They sound cute.”

“They are cute.” he shrugged. “I wonder why they never got magically married, given how devoted they are to one another.”

“It’s a complicated decision.” Rowan said thoughtfully. “It took me and my wife many years before we decided to actually go through with the magical side of things. I’m very glad we did, in the end, as I do love her very, very much, but also because I know she’s still alive because the mark is still on my skin. It also means that she knows I’m still alive, which I hope brings her some comfort, no matter where she is.”

“I’m sure it does.” I smiled at him.

We were quiet again.

After a little while, Arden got up, stretched, then came over to sit beside me. “I’ll stay close to you again while I sleep, just in case.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t going to complain. I preferred him close.

“Well, I’m going to go ahead and try to get some rest.” Rowan shifted so he was lying down comfortably.

“Alright. Have a nice nap.” I smiled at him.

“I will!” the centaur yawned, putting his head down on a blanket that he’d rolled up to use as a pillow. He closed his eyes and drifted almost immediately to sleep.

It was quiet for a few moments again.

Arden leaned back on his hands and tilted his face up to the sun.

I let my eyes linger over him. His human-y face was very handsome to me.

“You should sleep.” I told him softly.

“You’ll get attacked again by a giant cat if I do.” He murmured, opening his eyes a slit.

“I won’t.”

“I…don’t want to risk anything else happening.”

“Just for an hour or two, Arden, it’ll be okay.”

“Says the woman who nearly got eaten last night.” he replied a little dryly.

“You need to rest.” I protested.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.” the fey soldier sighed.

“Don’t…don’t say that.” I mumbled.

He tilted his head down, opening his eyes fully, “It was a joke. But I can see it upset you. I’m sorry.”

“S’ alright.” I muttered, looking down at my hands.

We were quiet for a few moments.

I let myself lean over into him, wanting to be closer but really not sure how to express that without being awkward. To my surprise, he shifted, bringing an arm up around me, being mindful of my injuries, and pulling me gently into him.

“You can sleep, if you want.” he told me after a little while.

I pulled away from him, shaking my head, “Not a chance!”

“Marri, it’s okay, I promise.” Arden smiled a little.

“Nope. No sleep for me. You need to stop being stubborn and sleep. I can be just as stubborn.” I turned to face him, studying his face. Reaching up, I pulled the necklace from beneath his shirt, “Can I take this off you?”

He leaned down so I could reach better, “Sure.”

Our faces were close, and I could feel his warmth. All I had to do was lean forward and kiss him. He probably wouldn't pull away, but…something held me back because I knew something held him back.

I pulled the necklace over his head and immediately, his features were feyishly attractive, hair was pristine white again, and his eyes, watching me curiously, a rich, lovely gold.

“I’m still not quite used to this face.” I muttered, frowning a little.

“You’ll have plenty of time to get used to it, I promise.” Arden said, face flushing slightly pink.

Reaching out, I trailed my fingers gently across his cheek. The half-elvish man immediately turned bright red, groaning a little and leaning into me, setting his forehead on my shoulder.

“I…when you’re free…alright?” he whispered. “The very moment we get that band off your tail. I just…it’s such a power imbalance while you’re still wearing it. I just…it wouldn't be right.” Ah, that’s what held him back.

“That only makes me like you even more!” I sighed, slipping my arms around his neck. I pushed my fingers gently through his hair.

His arms came up around me loosely, though he was still being careful of my injuries. “I’m glad. I just…I need to wait. It won’t be right, to me, otherwise. Just…wait a little while longer, okay?”

“What if they can’t get it off, though?” I mumbled. The worry had been hanging around in the back of my thoughts. I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it, but it was a possibility, a pretty upsetting one, actually.

The white-haired half-fey man leaned back a little, but didn’t let go of me. His hair was messy from where I’d been playing with it, which was altogether cute, especially paired with the fact that he was still very pink.

“We’ll reassess the situation then. Alright? But…I can’t. I was an employee at the circus, even if just for a little while. I worry it’d still hold me as some sort of power over you, and I hate that idea.”

I studied him for a minute, “Something about this is personal for you, isn’t it?”

He averted his pretty golden gaze, muttering, “Yeah.”

“I’m not asking you to tell me, but…if you ever could someday, that’d be nice.” I said, looking down and playing with the buttons on his shirt. “Although if you can’t, that’s okay too. I do respect your privacy.”

Arden took a deep breath, then sighed, “No, it’s alright. I’ll tell you. Just…someday. It’s still painful.”

“Alright.” I smiled.

“You’re easy to talk to, so I expect it’ll be easier than I think.”

“Good! But only when you’re ready, alright?”

“Of course.” he pulled one of my hands from around his neck and kissed my fingers very gently, which made my face heat. He grimaced, “I shouldn’t do that.”

“I don’t mind!” I giggled, my face still.

“Still…” he muttered.

“It’s alright, Arden, just relax. I don't think you’re taking advantage of me, or anything.” I told him firmly. “Now, will you sleep? I can sing you a lullaby so you’ll have a really good nap. I’ll make it encompass Rowan too, so that you both have the most efficient hour or so nap possible.”

Arden sighed, “I don’t want to sleep so deeply again that I can’t wake up.”

“I’ll use magic to wake you if I need to again. I won’t, but just so you don’t worry. I’d have done it last night but I was so surprised and scared at what was happening that I didn’t think about it. Now I know to be cautious and ready, in case I need to.”

“Alright, then.”

Pushing magic into my voice, I sang softly to him and Rowan. It was a song of deep, restful sleep that would invigorate them and give them the energy they needed to keep going for a long time. I also sang of sweet dreams of peace and happiness.

Arden’s golden eyes slowly shut, and he started to lean back, to lay over, but I pulled him forward, instead resting his head on my lap and running my fingers gently through his hair as I sang a few moments longer, just to make sure he was good and asleep.

Once I was certain he was fully out, I glanced at the pocket watch. An hour should be enough.