fighting. That’s their whole identity.” He made quotes with his fingers. “Guardians.” He dropped his hands. “But what are they guarding, way out here in no man’s land? They’re removed from the rest of their kind. You know, the useful fae. They are fighters…who only practice fighting. They sit here, ignoring the world, not doing what it is they’re supposed to be doing, and yet we’re the gross ones? We’re the dirty, brutish race that is a stain on their society?”
“You should tell them that,” Macy murmured.
“How could I? They pretend like I don’t exist, unless one of them is dared to bang me, and then she’s not interested in chatter, she just wants my dong.” That comment got a smile from Emery, his first in a while. Too bad Andy hadn’t been joking. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “I’m losing my mind here. How long do you think until we can go home?”
“When Devon realizes he’ll have to make a choice and stay here with Charity, or leave without her,” Yasmine said softly, staring out the window, “he’s going to stay. I know it.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“I hope you know how lucky you are that you were invited,” Hallen said to Devon. The fae stood just outside an arch made of vines and flowers, leading into the greatly anticipated cooking competition, as Devon and his pack approached.
Charity had been stressing about this for the last week. She’d sampled all of the local cuisine, learning what the people here liked. She tried all the drinks, too, breaking her rule and even trying alcoholic beverages. And she pored over the ingredients Kairi brought her, familiarizing herself with the unfamiliar. She was at a major disadvantage, not knowing what flavors appealed to people, and everyone knew it. Her family had made it clear they didn’t expect her to win, something Devon had to give them props for. They merely wanted to see if she had potential.
Charity wasn’t one to do things by halves, though. She intended to win the whole thing. Devon had never been prouder of her.
He’d also never been so terrified for the future. With each passing day, Devon watched as Charity fell a little more in love with the Flush. She belonged here. She was welcomed, and loved, and people smiled as she approached. Laughed at her jokes. She was blending into their community perfectly—her sweet nature, tempered with the bite of steel, matched that of her peers.
She was drifting away from Devon’s way of life.
Devon stopped beside Hallen. “Any time you want to challenge me, I’m right here.” His voice was low and rough, anger brimming just below the surface.
Hallen scoffed and looked away. Devon had proven his prowess on their battlefield. He’d worked his way up the competition, allowed to compete in his wolf form. He’d only been beaten by two people: Halvor and his wife. Hallen didn’t stand a chance, and they both knew it.
“Think Charity knows they’re trying to set her up with that joker?” Andy murmured as they walked into a grassy area surrounded by little glowing orbs. Shrubbery surrounded the enclosure, and tiny glowing creatures, like lightning bugs, fluttered along the tops, creating dancing light. Excellently crafted, highly polished round tables dotted the grass, adorned by elaborate flower centerpieces and surrounded by silk-draped chairs. It looked like a setup for a wedding, or some other swanky affair.
Devon glanced down at his robe, horribly plain compared with the artful embroidery and shimmering fabric worn by the other attendees. The costuming people were clearly identifying Devon’s pack as outsiders, as if that hadn’t already been sufficiently drilled into them.
“No,” Devon said, spotting a table at the very corner, somewhat removed from the others. That would be for his pack. At least the table was of the same quality as the rest. “She’s completely blind to it. She thinks he’s just like Kairi—an assistant. Someone to help her find her way and keep her magic level. She doesn’t realize they have an ulterior motive.”
His pack followed him through the fancy setup. This would be the first time Macy had seen Charity since they’d arrived. Macy hadn’t visited her at the bungalow for fear she’d be reduced to a puddle of tears. Being that everyone else had visited, had made excuses for Macy, and Charity was half-dead at day’s end, it had so far gone unnoticed.
They all knew that after this, that would no longer be the case. Charity had been distracted, but a girl like her