Page 114 of Dark Fey Captive

ARENA

Nav spotted Belak and several other fey waiting for us before Lynn could even see the dock.

“Are you sure they’re going to be okay with this?” Gwen asked as she cut the engine and switched to the trolling motor.

I didn’t lift my head from Nav’s chest to look around. I knew we were still on the water and didn’t want to risk passing out. It scared him when I did that, which is why he’d promised when we started out that he would distract me from my fear. He was too good at keeping his word, and I didn’t want to give Gwen any more reason to smirk at me.

Since going to the island three days ago, Nav and I hadn’t had any “alone time,” and it was getting to us both. His kisses definitely hadn’t been G-rated on this trip.

“Yes,” Nav said, answering Gwen. “We trade supplies between the communities too. Not for sex, only supplies.” It was a message he’d repeated over a hundred times since proposing the trade.

While with us, he’d eaten fish for every meal. A lot of it, and with a gusto that anyone watching could see. So no one had questioned him when he’d asked if we would be willing to trade fish for supplies. Rita had been ecstatic since she loved fishing. The rest of the islanders had been excited, too, since everyone else was tired of eating it.

The trade deal was simple. The islanders would come once a week with whatever they managed to catch and exchange it for supplies. Dry fish. Fresh fish. It didn’t matter to the fey. Nav promised they liked it all. And he’d also promised there would always be a fey presence in Ashland to keep the dock safe so that we could trade here without fear. However, I knew the fey presence wasn’t simply for protection.

In the short time he’d been on the island, Nav had watched everything. Studied everyone. Especially the kids. He knew exactly what our conditions were and how badly we needed supplies. He was making the deal so the islanders would accept what the fey would give regardless of any return. And by making this deal, he was also giving his friends what they desperately wanted: a chance to have a female of their own.

And Devils Island was full of them.

Any fey who made their way to Ashland for “dock duty” would be eagerly trying to woo one of my friends away from the Breakwater settlement. Or, if they were like Nav, maybe they’d join it. Who knew?

Would sparks fly?

Undoubtedly.

Gwen and Rita were fascinated with Nav’s equipment and talked about it often, which he heard, no matter how quiet their whispers were. His ears had been dark almost the entire time he was with us.

As for the rest, it was a mixed basket of hesitant acceptance. A little less from Lettie and some others due to fear, but none of the hate or prejudice Nav had mentioned in the other communities. He’d given us no reason to hate him.

“Emily is there too,” Nav said.

“Who’s Emily?” I asked against his neck. His hand smoothed over my back.

“She is a female from Tolerance. She helps coordinate activities and might want to know if you have a skill you’re good at that you can teach others.”

The sound of Gwen’s suppressed snort had me jerking my head off of Nav’s shoulder to glare at her.

“Hey,” she said with a smirk. “We can’t all be gifted to take three fingers the first day. That’s a skill that needs to be taught.”

“Are you sure you can’t push her into the water?” I asked Nav.

He kissed the tip of my nose. “It is still too cold for swimming.”

“I was hoping she’d sink like me, not swim.”

His arms tightened around me. Rita had explained to him I’d been drowning when he’d recounted the story of our meeting with her. He hadn’t liked knowing how close he’d been to losing me.

“Every life is precious, Arena.”

Even his mild scolding had no bite to it.

Gwen stuck her tongue out at me from behind Nav’s back, and I rolled my eyes at her.

“They’re nice like you, right, Nav?” Lettie asked, her fingers toying with my hair.

I knew it wasn’t to soothe me, but herself.

“Yes. They are nice. But if you are afraid, I can tell them to leave.”