"What?!" Islinda blinked up at him in surprise, her mouth hung open. She wanted to speak but her words failed her as she was still filled with surprise.
Had it been a human spouting such nonsense, Islinda would have thought that he was pulling her leg or running crazy, but this was Valerie, a Fae and he looked so serious with the concern on his face and that was when it hit her that he really was ignorant.
"Oh." Everything finally made sense to Islinda.
In the same way, she had thought that all Faeries were wicked and cruel until she met Valerie and he proved her wrong, it seems the Fae had limited knowledge and conceited views about the humans too. Of course, why wouldn't it be so when the humans stayed in the human realm and the Fae in theirs as well?
But then there were rumors of humans stolen by the Faeries or the foolish mortals who struck a deal with them and are unable to pay the cost in the end. It was more possible for a Fae to trick a human into crossing the wall than kidnapping them, unlike the humans who do the opposite and use blunt force.
Doing so would be going against the rules of the treaty and most Faeries captured by the humans are usually those who stepped into the human realms. Both sides would have to break the law first before either of them could use it against one another. She could capture Valerie right now and would not be faulted by the law.
At once, her features softened with a ghost of a smile at the thought that he was worried about her. So she explained to him as gently as she could, "I am not going to die, Valerie."
His brows twitched in response before they narrowed in suspicion as he studied her. Valerie believed that she was lying to him, so she reached out and clasped his face with her palm to his surprise, hoping to convince him.
She said to him, "Yes, humans are fragile and die when they are sick, but we don't succumb to all illnesses. In the same way, you didn't die from the wound you suffered and fought bravely, I did the same as well and wouldn't have to die anymore. At least not now."
She saw the moment the tension left his body and it might have to do with the fact she caressed his face. And like a contented cat, Valerie let out a small sigh and leaned back against the wall, with his eyes shut instinctively. Islinda would have stopped if it wasn't the fact that he leaned into her touch and she was thankful that his eyes were closed because she was blushing hard.
She wondered if Valerie knew that her action was considered intimate and such an act should be enjoyed between couples in a relationship. She was close to hiding her face in embarrassment already and her stupid heart wouldn't stop pounding in her heart.
Were Fae creatures touchy-feely with each other? Do they have no sense of propriety? Do they have loose standards when it comes to intimacy? We're they immoral? Or does he simply enjoy her treatment? Islinda had a lot of questions in her head.
However, it was at that moment that she discovered that this was the same spot that she had left him days again. Had he been sitting like this all this while? She was sure that he has had nothing to eat ever since then. Not to mention, has he… err felt the urge to have a leak? Or was his own thing, a-hem! built differently?
By the gods! Islinda was so red in the face at her ridiculous thought that she wanted to fan her heated cheek with her palm, but that was the moment Valerie opened his eyes, and something lodged in her throat. Ba-dum, Ba-dum, her heart pounded in her chest and her jaw slacked.
They stared at each other for about a second before Islinda parted from him, clearing her throat awkwardly. She must be losing her mind if she thought of Valerie as handsome again. Fae and humans weren't meant to be together, it just doesn't happen.
Moreover, Valerie didn't seem like an ordinary Fae, perhaps a Lord over his estate or something. She could sense the power exuding from him and it was a bit overwhelming when it called to her, teasing her all over. That alone was not a good sign.
Islinda needed to do something to keep herself distracted which was why she reached inside her shirt and began to pull out the leavy wraps where she had hidden the medicines. She said to him,
"I'm so sorry that I didn't bring you something to eat. I was so invested in keeping you alive that I forgot that you needed food to live too." She added, "But don't worry, there's still a lot of time and I would hurry to the market to get you food."
"Don't bother about that."
"Huh?" She lifted her head, tilting it to the side unsure, "You don't need food? Figures, you're not human anyway."
"Of course, I need food. But unlike humans, I can go far, far longer without it. Moreover, I doubt your human food would be substantial enough for me." He said so hauntingly, feigning the superior race that it brought a smile to her lips
"Don't be so sure, Valerie," Islinda smiled at him, "If you don't leave for your realm immediately, perhaps you can take time to visit our marketplaces and test that opinion of yours."
"What is a date?" Islinda asked, having no idea what he meant. It was said that the Faeries were far more advanced than the humans and that seems to be the case in vocabulary as well.
This time, a lot of emotions played out on Valerie's face and she had a feeling that he just said something inappropriate
"I urm… it's urm… a kind of pre-arrangement to meet… how would I say this?" He was already going red in the face.
Islinda must have caught onto the point because the color on her face was becoming closely similar to his.
"You mean like courtship?" Islinda said, her heart missing a beat.
He shook his head, "Not exactly like courtship, assuming that two people who love each other will eventually get married. We aren't getting married, just two friends exploring their cultural differences."
"Oh." Islinda nodded her head yet what was that cloud of disappointment hovering over her head? Something must be seriously wrong with her.
"What is that?" Valerie tactically changed the topic having sensed the awkward tension in the room.
She looked at her hands, "Oh, this is your medicine…"
"I mean, why are you taking it out of your clothes as if you have stolen them," He had been paying attention all this while.
"Oh, this," Islinda was amused, "I didn't steal them, they are all mine, but I had to make sure no one caught me in the act. You see, not every human is as kind as me and if my stepmother finds out what I'm up to, you're as good as dead."
"Oh." Valerie nodded his head, curiosity in his eyes, "You have a stepmother?"
"Kind of." He answered curtly, almost dismissively.
It was weird how she could read Valerie so well considering he wasn't even human, hence she didn't push at the conversation anymore.
"Now, you should take off…" Islinda rephrased her words, "I mean, lift your clothe…."
But the words died from her lips when he grabbed the bottom of his tunic and hoisted it over his head. Islinda was not the one for hysterics but this was too much for her virgin eyes.
She should have looked away but there was no hiding her interest in his beautiful body. Islinda almost suffered a nosebleed, how could someone look this beautiful, so perfect, so surreal? He had beautiful bronze skin. Lithe, but muscular. A solid six packs flowed down his abdomen, disappearing under the trouser he wore. Whoever assigned her to this fate wanted her dead! Her heart wouldn't stop beating.
Islinda would have been drooling at the sight if it wasn't for the gashes on his side that drew her attention. Oh right, she had a life to save. Islinda was relieved to see that the wounds did not look as bad as they had the first time. The blackish blood was gone and now she could see clearly, the gashes were deep but missed all the major arteries and organs. Thus, if his anatomy were arranged the same as humans.
However, it was amazing to see that his wounds were beginning to heal and that was another great reminder that the both of them were worlds apart. Islinda drew strength in that reminder and focused on treating him.
"I'm done…" The words trailed off when she found him fast asleep. Her brows at once furrowed, was he simply tired, or had he not been sleeping?
Nonetheless, Islinda carefully got rid of her working tools and sat beside him. She then carefully lifted his head and placed it on her shoulder, he would be more comfortable that way.
However, even while asleep, Valerie must trust her because he leaned closer and pulled her to his side till their bodies were pressed flush and his hand rested on her thigh.
Islinda swallowed, this was quite a precarious position but the Fae was innocent and needed his sleep. So she let him be and watched over him while he slept.
In no time, Islinda was asleep too.
Isaac knew that his life was over even before the royal decree was announced. He could tell from the way his fellow soldiers passed him sympathetic looks and some even shook their heads in pity. If he wasn't so positive, he would have thought that he had been given a death sentence. He tried to remain positive until the captain had called him and told him the "good" news, he was no longer required to serve the king because he has been granted in service to another, the cruel prince, Aldric. Isaac didn't know how to feel about the news. Perhaps, he shouldn't have asked for trouble in the first place by making himself known to the cruel prince if he couldn't handle the consequences. But then, he had thought it polite showing the cruel prince the way when others wouldn't. Sure, the prince had a horrible reputation, well, who was he kidding? He was dangerous, but the cruel prince was still a Fae. And a prince at that. It was right to be kind. Well, look where the kindness got him. Now
Islinda smelt him before she opened her eyes. It was amazing how she didn't take notice until now but Valerie smelt like smoke from a bonfire and some other spices that caused a low tug in her belly. Islinda did not know whether his scent had to do with the nature of his power, but she was very much tempted to dart her tongue out for a tiny lick of his flame. By the gods! Islinda jostled back from him as if she had been burned, which was kind of ironic since she had been thinking of tasting his flames. She must have lost her mind! Islinda wanted to slap her cheeks if that would bring her senses back. "Are you okay?" His honeyed voice asked and God knew she began to have inappropriate thoughts and it wasn't ladylike. Yes, she was a virgin but that didn't mean she was ignorant of what happens between a man and a woman in a relationship. "Are you okay?" Valerie asked once again, his eyes flickering down with concern and Islinda didn't realize until now that she was gnawing on her bott
"Your Highness, are you sure the prince is here?" Isaac asked as he stared at the abandoned wooden cottage ahead. "If my magic led us here, then he is there or don't you…." Prince Aldric turned to stare at him, "Trust my ability?" Issac swallowed as he was pinned by the prince's unwavering gaze. If this was a test, he was as good as dead if he failed. "Of course, I trust your ability, my prince." He said, making sure to imbue some amount of truth into his words else the prince sees through his flattery. "Good." The grin was back on his face now and his suffocating aura subsided so Isaac was able to let out a breath of relief. He almost thought he would die. Prince Aldric was back to staring at the cottage without making a move and Issac wondered what was going on in that mind of his. "What of the human?" The question slipped from his mouth. "What about the human?" Prince Adric arched a questioning brow at him and that gave him the confidence to continue. "If the prince is in t
Islinda's mind was a mess as she walked through the woods. She was still reeling from the kiss and it was safe to say she lost her mind just a bit. Of course, it was understandable considering that was her first kiss and it had left her shaken to the core. The kiss scene played in a loop in her mind and her cheeks heated up in embarrassment as she remembered the way she had grasped Valerie and returned the kiss with such fervent passion. "No!" Islinda clasped her cheeks and shut her eyes with a whimper. She shouldn't have done that! What had come over her?! Islinda wished the ground would open up and swallow her at this point. How was she going to face Valerie tomorrow? Also, what they just did, wasn't it illegal? A Fae couldn't be with a human, at least she hadn't heard of one. Was it possible for the both of them to be together? Would they be able to bear children? If they did bear children, what kind of creature would they be? A half-fae, half-human?Oh wait, wasn't she thinkin
"Your Highness!" Isaac raised his hands in surrender as an intense ball of flame was hurled at him. And just like that, Prince Valerie came close to murdering someone else again, thankfully, the figure leaped away in a timely fashion. Only stopping short when the figure addressed him by his title. After Islinda left, Valerie had never felt such peace since he arrived in the human realm. That kiss had done something to him and he could not wait to see her the next day. Although it was getting frustrating that he could only see for a few hours; he wanted to spend more time with her. Strangely sleep overtook him again, but even with his eyes closed, his other senses were alert and when he heard movements, he knew then that he wasn't alone. Nor was it Islinda this time. It was getting late and the human would not risk coming back here for the fear of her life. Valerie's breathing was ragged and there was tension in his body until he recognized the figure was a Fae, not a human and he
The gods have got to be kidding him! Issac cursed out as soon as he returned to the spot where he had left Maximus and he was nowhere to be seen. "Oh, no, no, no," Issac began to panic, pacing up and down while occasionally running his hand through his blonde hair that touched down to his nape. This cannot be happening, where was Maximus? He knew he should not have left that horse alone! Issac could swear Maximus hated him and was doing this to torment him. Wait a minute, what if this was the test? Was he supposed to find the horse? What happens if he isn't able to find him? How would he be able to find Prince Aldric and give him the crown prince's response then? Would the cruel prince kill him if the message comes late? Issac did not need a god to tell him the answer to that question. That crazy prince would probably play around with him for a while before ending his pathetic life. After all, he took delight in tormenting people. "Maximus," He called out gently at first, hoping
It was myopic to think that the Fae were the only supernatural creatures around, but to think that Maximus was a horse shifter never crossed his mind. No, it was shocking, and it was at this point that everything began to connect and make sense to him.The reason why the horse Maximus was not able to coexist in a herd and would attack the others without reasoning, she was just not like them. She was far more rare, superior, and powerful. It was no wonder she formed a telepathic link with Prince Adric and was able to take on his magic, she was no ordinary horse. Maximus was made from the same mold as the cruel prince, she had dark Fae blood. Issac was so gripped with shock that he stood still like a statue and one would have thought she had broken him. And that brought him to the question of Maximus' gender, was 'he' a she, or she is a 'he'? It was all confusing. There wasn't much information on horse shifters because they were very, very rare and a myth now. No, if the king finds
Islinda tightened her grip around Eli's small hand, as if afraid that it would slip and she would abandon him like his mother did. Yes, she has bought the idea of him being abandoned by his mother and trusted the boy now. There was no way a Fae trickster would follow her to the village without fear of being found out and overpowered by the humans. Moreover, no Fae could be as adorable as this kid, especially with his chubby cheeks that she was almost tempted to pinch - well, maybe Valerie. Islinda's cheeks heated up, why would she think about the Fae that kissed her at this point? Clearing her throat, Islinda focused on her journey and cleared her improper thoughts. She was a lady for crying out loud. Islinda walked on for a while when she turned back and realized that Eli was struggling to match her pace. Ahh, she must walk quickly and his small legs couldn't keep up with her. So she suddenly stopped and the boy stopped too, glancing up at her with questioning eyes. "What is it