Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,110
I actually know about fairies and our world, not these fanciful ideas full of ignorance that fill her airhead and will never work.”
All of the dozen fairies—both light and dark—who were standing there were completely horrified that he had spoken of me in that way. I felt… Not vindicated, but relieved that Neldor truly was an asshole and not of the normal fairy mindset or whatever.
Yeah, it was a relief for sure.
“Not today,” I cut in when Iolas looked like he had lots to say. I glanced at Neldor. “I was coming to invite you to join us. I think I found something. I wanted all the adults to discuss it and see if it could work.” I should have left it there, but I was a bit salty he was shitting on my awesome day. “Or, if it’s another of my fanciful ideas full of ignorance that would never work, like the one that fucking saved your ass.”
I felt better when several people snorted, turning on my heel and heading for the portal. Chief had hung back even though the pack had gone through and bumped my leg, so I turned on my telepathy.
I sighed and glanced at him when I heard what he wanted. “No, you can’t come to the meeting. You’re still grounded from coming into the house.” I stopped and faced him with my hands on my hips when his thoughts argued with me. “Do you remember why you’re grounded from coming in my house?” I nodded when he ducked his head. “That’s right, you burned an expensive and old rug.”
“Neldor jerk. Got mad.”
“I know Neldor was a jerk, but he might be again, and I need my house not set on fire, Chief. I can handle Neldor. Okay? Have some faith in me.”
“We do. Take shield.”
I couldn’t hide my horror as he sent me an image of Elasha’s face. I reached out and thumped him on the head. “No, I’m not taking one of the hobgoblin kids with me so Neldor behaves and doesn’t touch me. Don’t ever suggest that again. They’re not—you don’t risk kids like that, goof. If he’s bad, I’ll beat him up again, I promise.” I turned for the portal, clearly saying the conversation was over.
But Chief pushed on, not liking how Neldor never quit, and it upset all of us. He never took the punishments or lectures seriously, so I couldn’t even threaten another lecture from Irma.
I glanced over my shoulder at Iolas as I kept walking. “Can fae dogs give only a burn? Not just turn people to ash with their fae fire or whatever? I mean, I’ve seen that, but Chief is trying to—it’s like a mark.”
“Yes, and one that cannot be healed with any known magic except by the fairy the pack is sworn to. It’s a mark of dishonor given by fae dogs to those who shame their master.”
“That’s cool,” I muttered, glancing at Chief. “You guys are full of the neatest tricks and do all the best stuff.” I reached over and rubbed his head, glad when he soaked up the praise. “But no, you can’t fucking mark Neldor if he’s rude to me. He’s rude to me any time he talks to me. Let’s be realistic.”
“Lovely, even the princess’s fae dogs are at their limit with your behavior towards their master,” Taeral seethed.
“Enough with the judgment,” Neldor warned, his voice cold and dangerous. “You’re not my father, no matter how much you wish you’d been.”
Oh good, so Taeral truly was Iolas’s counterpart, down to loving the queen he served. Geez, this was fun.
“No, may the gods rest his soul. He was a great man who is probably trying to return from the afterlife to beat your ass all over the place for even speaking to the princess as you did, much less grabbing her.”
I snorted. “If only that’s all he’s done. Hang around more often, Taeral. You try and get him to behave. I give up.” I sighed when Chief practically knocked me over bumping into me again. “Fine, okay? Fine. You can give him that burn if he super upsets me again. If it comes to the point I would beat him up or he seriously demeans me, you can burn him instead.”
That seemed to make Chief happy.
“For the record, you’re not really doing much but taking my fun away since I enjoy beating him up when he’s a dick,” I reminded my dog as we reached the portal. “It’s funny when I