the room one by one until it’s just the four of us alone in the stifling tent.
“I’m not using you, Fallon. None of us are using anyone. If you were to accept one of my men, accept my own son even, the gesture of a human loving a mystic would be enough to change the world. Do you understand that? With your help, we could change the world. All it takes is one person to lead as an example.” His gentle but deep voice fills the room. “You aren’t like other mortals, Fallon. You see us as your equal. With the attention your friends and camp have put on your disappearance, others would take notice of your choices. It would be slow, but change can happen.”
My lungs heave as I take in angry gulps of air. Slowly, I try to calm my shaking fists and twitching jaw as I stare at him.
He’s right. I know he is. A mortal sharing a lifetime of happiness with a mystic could be the first steps to ending the segregation… It’s just faking a lifetime of happiness that’s the problem.
If I were to accept any one of his men. I consider asking him if a hybrid like Declan would be acceptable in his plan—the race that not even the mystics accept fully—but I know the answer. Kaino is the number one choice. He’s the right choice. Yet, he can’t even look at me during this discussion. He has nothing to say in my defense.
More anger boils over the almost calm surface that I tried so hard to find. I clench my fists tightly closed, turn on my heels and exit the tent. The fury I’m holding on to is expelled from my body in a breath of surprise as I collide with someone else, my head banging harshly against their chest.
I run my fingers over my sore forehead as a familiar dog whines at my feet. He’s odd looking with matted fur and one little ear ends in jagged, scarred flesh. My heart drops and then leaps in my chest as I bend down to pick up the excited animal that was once my best friend. Ripper wiggles in my arms, I stand, hugging the restless dog and sorrow fills me as my fingers rub the damaged ear that’s almost entirely missing. Rapid and endless laps of his tongue meet my knuckles and arms and anything in his reach. My head dips toward his and I’m met with the most pungent smell that’s clinging to his fur.
What has he been rolling in over the last year? How did he get here?
My eyes finally drift to the person I bumped into and my heartbeat stammers, a gasp tearing from my lips as I meet his astonished gaze. I’m face to face with the one person I’ve thought about day and night for the past year.
Asher.
Seven
A Formal Introduction
From across the flames of the fire, Nerissa laughs loudly over the rhythmic drums, sending a jolt of annoyance through me from the sight of her charming smile. Her long waves of emerald hair brush against Asher’s shoulder. My heart violently pounds against my chest with every beat of the drum, with every smile she gives him. Anger thrums closer to the surface with every charming smile he gives her in return.
The only real happiness I’ve felt since seeing Asher is the wide-eyed look the children gave me when I introduced the little Wanderers to Ripper. Their little hands appreciated his dirty fur and excited kisses as if he was the most amazing, filthy animal that had ever crawled out of the forest.
And he is.
The children keep the happy dog busy, feeding him every scrap of food they can find, giving him a long bath and playing with him for hours. Now he naps in the arms of a pleased fae child, the curve of her smile is highlighted in the flames as she stares down at the tiny sleeping animal.
I can’t believe the dog trusted Asher for the last year. That he finally stopped growling at him long enough to follow the hybrid to safety.
The cute image holds my attention for a single minute before Nerissa’s laughter breaks into my thoughts again, my eyes darting toward them once more.
“I found the two of them walking the Red Hills. It’s him, isn’t it?” Luca asks in a quiet voice, pausing only a moment before realizing I won’t answer. “Can you believe that fae slut?” she asks, her eyes following