“By throwing himself off a mountain?” I said, faintly.
“Easiest way to check, I suppose.” She collapsed back on her heels, straightened, and went on. “And if he doesn’t plummet to his death, he’ll want to leave soon.”
I resisted the urge to throw something at her and set about finding my jacket, socks, and bra instead. As I moved around, collecting things, the tenderness in my core made me wince more than once. A reminder of last night.
As if I needed one.
Lost in daydreams, I didn’t bother to hide under anything when lifting my top to don my bra.
“That’s different,” Adrianna commented.
I waited until I’d wriggled back into my shirt to ask, “What is?”
Footsteps bounced off the cave walls as Adrianna came up next to me. “You used to hate people seeing you naked.”
I looked up and shrugged. “I guess waking up to all your bare asses every day has changed me.”
Adrianna responded with a lifted eyebrow. “Right.”
She turned her head as if to hide a smile. Heat flooded my cheeks. She must assume it had something to do with Wilder. Maybe it did.
My jacket and socks went on last. I jumped up and moved over to where Adrianna stood frowning down at the kaskan. “What is it?” I asked, forcing my feet into boots.
“I’ve never even seen one of these bows,” Adrianna noted.
I thought I detected a hungry glint in her eyes. Of course, she was a warrior. A bow that never missed would be like candy to her.
Adrianna continued. “The witch who gave it to Hunter might be a powerful ally.”
I tied my boot laces and uncurled to say, “Maybe we should go find Isabel in the Crescent. She might make bows for all of us.”
Adrianna frowned at the joke and folded her arms. Oh dear.
“I’m more interested in the charm she created. Hunter obviously thought she had enough power to hide him from Morgan. And a crafter on our side could be vital in the war to come.”
My head spun. I couldn’t bring myself to plan that far ahead. At least not this early in the day.
“One thing at a time, Adi,” Frazer croaked.
That support brought a smile to my lips, as did the sight of his ruffled hair and bleary eyes as he crawled out of his sleeping bag.
I searched for a less volatile topic. “So, how did the hunts for your items go?”
Adrianna’s expression turned sour. “Badly.”
Frazer stood, stretching. “Mine went a little better. I managed to find a few promising caves. I’m going to go back and scout out the locations tonight.”
My heart twanged at the thought of him fighting the monsters Wilder had described. “Why at night?”
Frazer stifled a yawn. “Navvi sleep during the day and given their speed, trying to slay one in a confined space is a bad idea. So I’ll wait for them to come out to me.”
Adrianna’s wings rustled, adjusting, as she leaned against the cave wall. “Then why didn’t you stay out all night?”
“I didn’t want Serena to worry,” he said coolly.
Adrianna pulled a face: one of annoying smugness. “Well, you needn’t have bothered. She didn’t even notice us come back.”
I flushed down to my boots. Adopting a demure attitude, I kept myself occupied by strapping my sword to my hip. My fingers stilled on the buckle as last night sang back into my memory. I’d told Wilder the truth, despite Frazer’s warnings. Would he hate me for it? Think I was an idiot for trusting? But keeping secrets from my kin wasn’t an option. I faced him and confessed. “Wilder knows everything now.”
He gave me a prim nod. My heart lightened immediately.
Adrianna surveyed me baldly. “Was he pleased about you becoming fae?”
“Yes,” I said softly.
“Good,” Adrianna snapped briskly.
Confused, I asked, “Why good?”
Adrianna moved away from the wall, taking a wider stance. “It says a lot.”
I gave her my best scowl. “You’re being uncharacteristically vague.”
A haughty brow. “I’m allowed to have layers.”
My laughter came out as a snort. I didn’t have time to think of a retort, because both fae froze, ears cocked. I whirled toward the cave opening. A telltale hum was my only warning. Wilder landed on the rock face and turned outward, tilting his head to the sky, and spreading his fir-green wings. He was basking, and looked even more striking as the summer sun struck his wings and lit up a thin tapestry of veins akin to the branches of a tree. My pulse quickened at the thoughts and images that stirred.
Wilder ducked into the cave, already kitted out in his armor and carrying his bag and blades. His eyes flitted to me, assessing, then sidled straight past, to Adrianna and Frazer.
Feeling deflated, I dipped my head so he wouldn’t read the disappointment marked on my face. An inner voice sniped, What were you expecting?
“Has your strength returned?” Adrianna asked Wilder.
“Yes.” A curt response.
Doing my best to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach, I spun around and shouldered my bag, kaskan, and quiver. An awkward silence pervaded until I turned back around to Adrianna and Frazer. “I’ll see you both soon.”
It was more of a plea than anything.
Adrianna produced a tiny smile and a sharp nod. “You will,” she confirmed.
Frazer’s next words weren’t for me. He rounded on Wilder, who was currently picking his cloak up off the cave floor. “Take care of her.” The shadows dancing in his eyes seemed to add, or else. A clear warning. As if he’d meant far more than the obvious.
Wilder went rigid as his eyes locked onto Frazer’s. Nothing friendly or kind in either face, they stared each other down. The lion and the panther. I’d no idea who’d win in an actual fight.
I kept waiting for Adrianna to step in. She could usually be relied upon to call bullshit when she saw it, but she remained silent.
I felt like rolling my eyes. How typically fae.
Auntie mused, And to think, you’ve got all that to look forward to.
Any thoughts of a witty retort vanished as Wilder’s wings twitched and spread. I recognized it for what it was—a display of dominance. I cursed in my mind and turned to Frazer. His face had locked in a painful grimace. That had something ancient and powerful roaring, coursing through my blood. I could almost taste it … I knew it was my magic.
For now, any real power remained tantalizingly out of reach. A good thing, perhaps; otherwise, I might’ve blasted Wilder out of the rutting cave for pulling that shit.
I didn’t bother with words, just strode out and broke their gaze by standing directly between them. My stare was for Wilder.
His eyes flared in surprise at the message written all over my face: stand down. But the stubborn bastard didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. His jaw hardened, and the lines of his scars tightened.
Fine.
I dropped into a prowling swagger, hips rolling with each slow measured step. His gaze darkened, turning positively carnivorous. Maybe he was pissed off. Maybe he thought I’d taken Frazer’s side—I guess I had.
When there was only a sliver of space separating us, my eyes snagged on the slight bob at his throat. My lips curved at the sight. Because it wasn’t fear emanating from him—no, never that. This male had refused to yield to a queen. He wouldn’t bow to me. It was hunger in that flat, glossy expression. A promise that hit me square in the gut. He must’ve seen his own desire reflected on my face, because he grinned, baring his teeth. Another predatory display. I huffed a dismissal and brushed past, our shoulders touching, his low growl coiling around my ear. I suppressed a shudder, and walked out into the open air, where a slight wind and some cloud cover waited.
Perfect flying conditions.
A shadow fell at my back. I knew what was coming. Quickly, sending love down our kin bond, I projected, Hurry back to me.
Frazer made no such promise. Stay safe. I don’t fancy flying to Alexandrina and slaughtering their entire court to find you.
A movement behind made me brace myself.
Wilder was there, sweeping me into his cloak, lifting me up and catapulting off the mountainside. His wings locked in tight, we dove for the gully below.