Fires of Ruin (War and Deceit #3) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,108

I can’t. I just feel guilty that I’m bringing trouble into their peaceful lives. Speaker Hawthorn’s eyes are heavy on my back, but I don’t turn around, I don’t look back. I can’t, because I know I’ll fall apart.

So, in silence, we leave the wood elves’ village and head deeper into the forest.

We travel for hours, only stopping a handful of times to relieve ourselves and let the horses drink and rest. Standing by my horse’s side, I stroke her neck as the others stretch their legs, talking to her softly in a low voice. I’m sure she can understand me from the intelligence in her eyes and the way she bobs her head as I speak, as if nodding in agreement. A soft noise catches my attention, followed by a flash of movement deeper in the forest. Frowning, I step around my horse and move to the edge of the trail we’re following, peering into the darkness of the thick forest. A small flash of light blinks, and I know it means me no harm. I don’t know how I know this, but deep down, there’s a feeling of rightness. I’m supposed to be here.

Hearing the sound again, I realise it’s a woman’s voice. She uses a language I don’t understand, but it’s achingly beautiful as she sings, her voice calling to me. Without saying anything to the others, I step off the trail and follow the voice, venturing deeper and deeper into the forest. She sings of loss, I’m sure of it. The raw pain in her voice is obvious, no matter the language she speaks. Tears roll down my cheeks as my heart breaks for the mysterious woman.

Reaching a small clearing, I stop by one of the outer trees and peer into the open space. Now that I’m closer, I can hear other, smaller voices joining the first, and a smile comes to my lips as their song brings joy to my heart.

“Clarissa?” Vaeril calls, but he sounds far away. I don’t want to speak in case I scare off whoever is singing, so I stay silent. Besides, I didn’t stray far from the path, they’ll find me soon if they look hard enough.

“Clarissa!” Tor’s voice joins in, loud and urgent. Frustration rises within me. If they keep going, they’re going to startle the fae. Closing my eyes, I reach for the bond between Vaeril and myself, sending a quick blast of my feelings towards him. I’m safe, I’m here, I think over and over, picturing the clearing. Vaeril mutters something to the others, but he’s too far away for me to hear what he’s saying, then I hear them slowly making their way towards me.

Happy that they’re being quiet, I open my eyes and step out from behind the tree and into the clearing. There’s a fae sitting by a pond, and I realise she’s the one who’s singing. Her legs dip into the pool, making gentle swirling patterns on the surface of the water with her feet. She’s leaning against a tree and has to be one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen. At first glance, she looks like an elf with her pointed ears and delicate features. Completely naked, her long curling brown hair tumbles over her body, covering her ample breasts. She shifts forward, and I realise she’s not leaning against the tree, she is part of the tree, the bark growing over her shoulders and curling around her stomach possessively. Is she like the wood elves who have become one with nature?

Dancing around the pond and joining in with the song are fae creatures of different races—pixies, imps, and creatures I’ve never seen before, their gossamer wings glinting in the glittering sunlight that reaches through the canopy.

“She’s through here,” Vaeril whispers, but the creature hears, and her eyes snap up to mine. A wave of magic unlike anything I’ve ever felt before washes over me, and I hear grunts of pain behind me from my companions.

Our eyes lock, and I realise this being isn’t an elf, she is something far more powerful than that. There’s a rage in her eyes that’s terrifying, and I know she could kill me with a snap of her long, willowy fingers. She’s still singing, but the song has changed now. It feels dangerous, like she’s a predator stalking her prey, and I happen to be that prey.

Glancing around the clearing, I realise things have changed. The expressions on the dancing fae aren’t the happy