Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,61

he’s seeing me for the first time.

“The goddess was looking over us,” Saril agrees with a smile, making Taelir relax slightly, grinning down at his mate with obvious affection.

Movement catches my eye at the edge of the treeline, and as I glance up, a wide smile spreads across my face. I open my awareness slightly and laugh with delight. “The other fae came too.” The others hush as they turn their attention to me with bemused expressions on their faces. Pushing up from the bench, I walk towards the treeline, still amazed by how many creatures there are out in the forest. Pulling back my awareness, I reach the edge and kneel on the ground, aware I’m being watched, but I don’t care, I’m too excited to meet the fae.

Why are they acting so surprised? It’s like they’ve never seen another fae creature before, I think to myself as I sit with my hands palm up, waiting patiently. The fae are cautious, but also curious. I could feel their desire and excitement to meet me, so I know it won’t be long. I just need to be patient.

There are a few hushed whispers behind me, but otherwise, it’s mostly silent, and I can sense my mates nearby. Vaeril’s amusement hums down the bond, and Tor is confused but thinks I look ethereal, his arousal evident through our connection. From Grayson I feel…a wall. For some reason, Grayson doesn’t want me to know about whatever he’s doing. As if realising I’m reaching out to him, that wall disappears and he sends me a wave of affection, soothing my worries before withdrawing and that wall reappears.

That was strange, I think with a frown, but before I can overthink it too much, there’s a rustle in the foliage at the bottom of one of the trees. Two glowing orange eyes appear as a creature watches me through a bramble bush, which crackles as the creature moves. My smile widens as the creature stands and walks towards me, and I realise the creature is the brambles.

“Stix!” I call out, recognising the creature as the fae who helped me in the forest outside of Arhaven. When Vaeril had been poisoned and I didn’t know how to help him, Stix had been leaving me gifts of food and water. He then told me how to find the nos weed, which ultimately saved Vaeril’s life.

“Friend!” His voice is breathy as he ambles towards me, his pale stick-like limbs and bramble covered body hurrying across the open space. He’s got a sweet face with a button nose and wide, glowing amber eyes with large, bat-like ears. As soon as he reaches me, he climbs into my lap, and I can’t hold back my laughter. The clearing behind us is silent, and Stix suddenly stiffens as he realises we’re not alone. He makes himself small, and his already wide eyes seem to get impossibly wider as they dart over my shoulder. Turning my head, I see that everyone seems to have moved closer, watching with disbelief.

I can understand this behaviour from the tribes, because up in the mountains, they wouldn’t have seen other fae creatures. My aunt explained many of the deeper clans had never met an elf before until she had called them together for the ceremony. What doesn’t make sense is the reaction of the other elves. They are watching with reverence in their eyes like they’ve never seen another fae creature before.

Stix shifts in my lap, and I return my attention to him, smiling. “It’s okay. They’re my friends,” I reassure him. Stix appears dubious, but when no one attacks him, he relaxes in my lap, playing with strands of my hair. I laugh, not quite believing what’s happening. “How did you get here?” I ask, although I really want to ask why he’s here.

“The trees told me,” he says simply, turning those big, glowing eyes up to mine. “They’re dying, you can help us.” He says it like a statement, his faith in me absolute, but he seems to be waiting for confirmation from me.

Trust in the Mother, I tell myself. Taking a steadying breath, I nod. “I’ll do my best.” This seems to be enough for Stix, who makes an odd whooping noise before leaning back in my lap and continuing to play with my hair. Movement catches my eye once more, and I see several other sets of glowing eyes. Smiling, I extend my hand to them, welcoming them. The fae were never