Chương 82: Feldan's Squirt

Pakos wasn't kidding. He had led the group to an earth tree for the night. They rarely entered the clearings themselves, choosing to remain on the outer edge of the earth tree roots while traveling. Once the rest of the camp was settled, Squirt then announced, "I'll be back," so they didn't think she was kidnapped again before following Pakos through the woods to a private little grove. It was a beautiful spot.

A small clearing bathed in moonlight, a small waterfall into a pool, loud enough to make it difficult for any words to be exchanged to be overheard without being so loud that she needed to shout. Pakos straightened smugly. Her lips tugged up into a rare, small, wry smile. He stretched. Take your time, mother dearest. She twitched at the address. I'll keep the beasties away. She glared at the sassy hound as he walked away, his tails as high as his ego as he melted into the surrounding forest.

For a few minutes, she simply took in the idyllic scenery, trying to calm the beating of her heart. Fuck. She was nervous. He was gonna take one look at her and… and… And what? Reject her? If anything… that might be a relief. A disappointing one, but a relief all the same. Taking a seat on a rock by the edge of the pool, she fidgeted with the stone. She'd had all day to think about what she wanted to ask only to come up blank. She had no idea what she wanted to even say to him. Hope you're well, see you in a month?

Her head dropped to her chest, and she sighed. This was stupid. She was overthinking it. This was the pest—she was sure he would fill the time with plenty of words. … was Zhadin watching her now? Honestly? She didn't want to know. She still hadn't acknowledged that she knew, and frankly, she really didn't want to for a whole host of reasons. They were a powerful fey who would do as powerful fey were wont to do whether she liked it or not. There was no point in her fretting over it.

She just had to be careful to never entrap herself to them. Never again. Her eyes lifted slightly to the stone she fidgeted with in her hand. Was this… the beginning of another fall? Maybe she should just break it off. Tell him she moved on. They were on opposite sides of a gods damned war. Fuck, he was a prince and she was… Green. Standing abruptly, she leaned over the pool, adjusting her hair a little as best as she could.

Scowling, she dipped her fingers in the water to fix the odd bits sticking up at weird angles, but it only made them worse. Now they were wet and stuck up at weird angles. Her movements slowed as her eyes found themselves in her reflection. Who was she kidding? What was she even doing? This was a mistake. She continued to argue with herself as the last of the sun faded from the horizon and true night began. The calls in the forest changed as the nocturnal animals came out of hiding.

Frogs began croaking, all different types with all different kinds of croaks coming together to make a symphony of sound. Fireflies buzzed, whizzing passed her ears and adding their ethereal glows to the summer night. Fuck it. Before she could lose her nerve, she sliced into her arm with a small dagger and let a few drops of blood fall onto the stone, hoping this was a viable trigger.

Technically, blood contained magic, after all, so it was easier than— The stone grew warm and bright, vibrating in her hand, and she dropped it, stepping back warily. It burst into thousands of little particles that expanded, swirling around each other until they coalesced first into shape, then color. And then she was simply staring, all words caught in her throat, as the pest turned with wide eyes to her. For one terrifying beat, he did nothing but stare with a look of awe in his eyes as he took her in.

Then suddenly he cried out and ran forward, wrapping himself around her and pulling her tightly into his chest, the embrace filled with longing and joy all at once. He pulled back to cup her cheeks, his eyes glittering with deep emotion before he smiled with tender affection, and he pulled her back in for another hold. She didn't melt against him, but she acquiesced to the hold that he clearly needed, her hands tentatively and stiffly reaching up to hold him back. He chuckled, the sound somehow melodic.

"Gods, I've missed you, my goddess." He felt warm. She could smell him.

"Are you… here?"

"No… it's a projection." He pulled back enough to cup her cheek again, running his thumb over the skin, a touch of melancholy to his eyes.

"You're being projected here, I'm being projected there." His lips tilted wryly.

"Unfortunate though. Kissing you isn't an option like this unless you desire a mouth full of dirt and sand." She grimaced.

"Pass." His expression softened and his fingers traced the mark on her forehead.

"… this is new…" She scowled.

"It's a long story." His arms wrapped more firmly around her waist, letting her gaze drop but not letting her escape his hold. It took her a moment to realize he was waiting. He shrugged.

"My adventures are rather tame right now, and I've already regaled you with them I'm sure." He waggled his eyebrows.

"I am a good storyteller, non?" She snorted.

"That you are." Then fell quiet, the smallest upwards tilt to the corner of her lips.

"… how long do we have?" He frowned.

"… I'm not sure. I've not tried this particular brand of magic before. I wasn't even sure it would work. Maybe an hour?" She nodded, letting her eyes fall to his chest as she took in his clothes. Tentatively, her hand reached out to fidget with the lacings of the loose but quality shirt.

"… the Hunt gave me the mark." He nodded attentively, making her scowl.

"It was… I almost…" she sighed, dropping her head. To his delight, her forehead ended up resting on his collarbone as she leaned into his hold just a fraction.

"… I hate titled fey." He wrapped his arms around her in a comfortable hold, quieting his voice to a soothing, even cadence.

"Why don't you start at the beginning? What happened after I left?"" That far back?"

"That far back. I want to hear it all." Her lips twitched. Then, to the surprise of them both, she started talking. Telling him about the arrival of the lord prince until the whole story was tumbling out. He reacted like the perfect audience, playfully gasping at all the key moments, but otherwise just remaining quiet as he listened. It was odd.

There wasn't the burst of rage or indignation from other fey she'd experienced, even as she breezed over being punished—though she didn't mention what that punishment was—only a deep melancholy that his smile couldn't seem to hide from her no matter how bright. She got to the end, saying to him with a touch of awe in her voice, "I saw Her. The Hunt. She spoke to me." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. His brow furrowed.

"Yes? And?" She scowled.

"Fucker. Greenlings aren't supposed to be able to commune with the gods."

"Says who?" She had no good answer for that. He chuckled, running his hand over her hair as her damnable blush came back.

"I knew you were special," he murmured, more to himself than her. She scowled down at the lapel of his shirt, but he noted just a touch of vulnerability hidden in the corners of the expression.

"So?" She asked flatly. He tilted his head, running his hand through her hair again as the other wrapped around her waist.

"So?" She scowled harder.

"What… what exactly… I mean… I've never… I mean, what exactly is your goal with me?"

"Goal?"

"What do you want with me?" He leaned in, touching his forehead to hers until he was all she could see as he smiled.

"Honestly? Nothing."

"… nothing?" He chuckled, the sound ever-so-slightly hollow.

"Don't get me wrong, I would happily ravish you if I could right now—" She muttered, "I bet."

"—but strangely enough… holding you is just as good." She raised a brow. He grinned, leaning in closer to nuzzle his nose against hers in an affectionate gesture that reinvigorated her blush.

"More than anything, I want to guarantee your freedom." Under her breath, trying not to let her voice tremble, she muttered, "You sure have a funny way of showing it." He pulled back with a frown, studying her. She scowled. Damnit, he totally didn't know, did he? The creases between his eyes darkened in silent demand. Grimacing, she sighed, slumping a little and muttering, "And here I was worried about your fights with your father." He blinked a few times.

"Fights?"

"Isn't that… haven't you…" He scrunched up his face.

"I admit I got a little annoyed with him when he wouldn't take the rejection of my suitors seriously."

"… you've… told him about me?" He snorted.

"No, of course not. He knows I'm in love, but I haven't said anything else." He thought for a moment.

"Well, I did tell him I would be leaving on the first day of autumn and be back the first day of spring." Squirt's expression flattened.

"Lemme guess. He didn't take it well." He chuckled.

"I confused him. I have not before told him when I'm leaving, and I have not before told him when I would return." She side-eyed him.

"… playboy partier…" she muttered. Unrepentant, he only shrugged and smiled.

"It was how he kept me in his halls. Gave me everything I could ever want so I would never want to leave." Studying him, she said quietly, "Except freedom." His veneer cracked a little with that darker, morose expression of his. He ran gentle fingers down the side of her face, tracing the curves of it before he murmured, "Everything has a price."

"And what's mine?" she asked, her tone wary but her eyes holding that touch of vulnerability. His smile turned accepting in its complexity.

"… non. It is mine to pay, my goddess." He gave a happy sigh as he pulled her in tightly to his chest.

"… I've waited my whole life to be compatible with someone like you. I'll gladly pay any price, even if that means my freedom, to guarantee yours." The statement, meant to be romantic, only dug a knife into her heart. Doubts creeped in. For the briefest moment, she had allowed herself to think… but no. He didn't actually love her. He was just deluded into thinking they were a heaven-sent match. What would he do when he found out that he would have been compatible with any greenling?

Could she trust him with a truth she couldn't even trust to her own people? It wasn't even that she thought he'd be malicious about it. He could, of course. Any fey could turn on a dime, after all, and she would be the one in danger, not him. He was too nice. The bounty on her head was evidence of it. A bounty that even now, he probably didn't even know about. Hurt and doubt were swiftly replaced with anger. She pulled back, holding him at arm's length as cutting words dripped from her lips.

"You've a funny way of showing it." She couldn't look at him. If she did… She gritted her teeth, wanting to make this tumultuous wave of emotion just stop as she bit out, "You're the reason there's a bounty on my head." He froze.

"… what?" Shoving her emotions back down, she fixed him with an accusing glare, too blinded by anger to wonder how or why or even what the consequences were. She'd been a fool. A fool to think he cared about anything more than his precious compatibility —"There's a bounty to bring Athereon to your king alive and unharmed. Just last week someone almost kidnapped me for it—" For the first time, true rage entered his eyes, and his form shivered as he grasped her shoulders in desperation.

"What?" She snapped, "You didn't have to fucking reject those damn suitors, you idiot—just because you're tight lipped doesn't mean that others are, and, and, and…" she trailed off, suddenly not sure why she was yelling at him. Then she growled, furious at herself, her fists clenched and shoulders hunched as she said, "And to think I worried about you, gods damn pest —" His anger dissipated abruptly.

"You worried about me?"

"Fuck off," she snapped.

"What was I supposed to think when the Skyian king put a gods damn bounty on my head and the spies said you two were fighting and… and… stop laughing!" she ended indignantly.

"I can't… you're just… gods, I love you, hytni." She blinked, put on the back foot by the new word.

"What?" He shrugged and grinned.

"My fire." She scowled. He grinned a little wider.

"Aw, you like it, don't you."

"Fuck off," she snapped. They fell to silence, standing apart now as he stared at her with that dumb dopey smile and she resisted the urge to deck him by reminding herself he wasn't really there and probably wouldn't feel it. Probably. His smile softened.

"… should I look into—""Don't you fucking dare," she snapped.

"The last thing I need is you throwing some kind of fit and making the whole thing worse—""But this bounty is my fault—""No, it fucking isn't—" Clear amusement danced in his violet eyes.

"But you just said—""Oh fuck you —" Fast as lightning, his arms wrapped themselves around her waist and he pulled her close, their noses touching even as she struggled.

"Gladly," he murmured with way too much sinful seductiveness. She froze, thoroughly tempted. His expression softened.

"… what actually angered you, my goddess?" Snapped out of her daze, she snarled and scrambled out of his hold. He let her go, studying her with a soft smile. Gods damnit, he was infuriating — He dropped to his knees, effectively stunning her out of her anger as he held out his hands, a tease in his face and voice that did things to her she didn't want to acknowledge when her hand worked just fucking fine and said, "I'm all yours, always and forever. If you command me, it will be done."

His eyes dropped, a flash of irritation crossing them with a pout, "Even if I want to strangle my father and get him to remove the bounty." She snapped, "That would make it worse, you idiot—" He shrugged.

"I know." He smiled softly, hands still held out in offer for her to tie them. Her anger eased somewhat before she said with a huff, "At least the rumors are good for one thing." He cocked his head in question. She shrugged, turned to the side and tugging on her bangs, pulling them over the mark on her forehead and muttering, "No one thinks the Great Athereon could possibly be a gods damned greenling. And apparently the Queen is working on something so your father can't claim we kidnapped you or whatever, so just…"

Just what? Trust them when she didn't? She didn't even know what the plan was. But Jezalin had sounded confident, and the way she had handled the teens had… given Squirt hope, strangely enough. That melancholy entered his smile again.

"Just be patient, I assume?" She dropped her eyes, idly kicking at the ground as she really, truly thought about it.

"… I won't tell you how to live in your world. I don't know what the right move is, I just know I don't want to be part of it." She shuffled as she scowled, shifting from foot to foot, remembering the discomfort of worrying about him.

"But… I don't want you hurt more." His smile dropped to give way to surprise, before it was followed by a familiar adoration in his glittering violet eyes. She scowled.

"Stop that."

"Stop what?" She muttered darkly, "Looking at me like that." He grinned.

"Like what?"

"Like you think I'm adorable, asshole—" He coughed to try and cover his laughter before giving up and letting the laughter go.

"But, my goddess, you are—" Just to see if she even could hurt the man, she stomped on his foot. Or tried too, anyway. Suddenly he was on her other side, leaning in to press his lips against her cheek in a chaste kiss with a teasing, "I learned, my goddess. Never let down my guard with you angered." Damnit. So not fucking fair. He could move leagues faster than she could even comprehend — A deliberate tug on her mind drew her attention to Pakos as he appeared at the edge of the forest.

Something is wrong south of here. We should investigate. The prince's laughter faded out as he saw her expression, swapped for concern instead.

"My goddess? Is everything alright?" Damnit, she hadn't told him about Pakos yet. Based on his focus on her, he likely couldn't see her environment. Instead of bothering to explain, she simply sighed.

"I need to go." There was no urgency to Pakos, so there was no urgency to her statement, just a resigned acceptance. Hesitating, she shifted from foot to foot.

"… I'll… see you in autumn?" He appeared in front of her, cupping her cheeks and pulling her face up to see the bright affection in his eyes.

"I would never miss it for even the world."

In her surprise, overwhelmed by the complex emotions rising in her, she lost her scowl. In its place was the delicate softness of hope mixed with anticipation, and the barest smile warmed her features. His breath caught in his throat. She muttered with a dash of tease in her voice, "Stupid pest. You better not." Feldan swooned. His goddess reached out with her hand just to touch his elbow before she turned and trotted away, fading into dust. Leaving him staring back at the opulent bedroom before him.

In years previous, the place would have been host to a constant, lively party. As he needed no rest, he had often not bothered. The bed was fit for ten, there was a sitting area with a firepit filled with cushions and pillows, large windows to capture the sunrise and sunset, and a full bar. And that was just this bedroom. Now? As the weeks had gone on with him alone and confined to his rooms, proving his conviction by not fighting his captivity, the space seemed… silly. Too large and empty.

And now it was empty again. He sighed. Even the tedium of switching between the palaces was now his only real excitement. But he had made a wager with his father he intended to see through to the bitter end.