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Chapter 19
Bree
They weresilent during the rest of the trek to the village. Bree had nothing to say, her mind too wrapped up in their almost close encounter. She couldn’t decide whether or not she she was the one being crazy. Had she imagined the tension between them? Was her desire for him one-sided? For a moment, it seemed as if he was just as drawn to her as she was to him, but then he had pulled away. Hell, he’d acted as though he didn’t even see her in thatway.
They’d been naked. They’d been alone. And they’d practically been sitting on top of each other. If he didn’t want to take her then, then she didn’t see how or why he ever would. It had been the perfect moment, and now it was gone. Unfortunately, it just made Bree want him evenmore.
Soon, the trees began to thin before them. Eurig had filled Bree in on what to expect from the village. It was a small little town, one that could barely be called that. It had been erected in the center of a small clearing in the forest centuries and centuries ago, surrounded by a magical barrier that protected each inhabitant from the creatures that roamed through the night. While the fae could come and go whenever they pleased, no monsters could creep into theirmidst.
But their location in the forest meant that they rarely left the safety of their walls. They were hermits, loners, and they were not fond of visitors, even ones who would come from the King. They would not be happy to see Bree and Eurig, nor would they be likely to provide them with a warm bed for the coming night. The two of them would need to assess the situation and leave as quickly as possible, aiming to get out of the forest as soon as theycould.
Of course, that would only be the case if the villagers were actually free of the curse. And Bree wasn’t feeling particularlyoptimistic.
Leaves and limbs crackled underfoot as they made slow steps toward the village. Buildings began to blur in before her, built from the wood of the trees all around them instead of the stone that had built the castle beyond. The village turned out to be nothing more than a small cluster of buildings. Maybe eight in total. In the dim lighting, Bree could make out what appeared to be a pub, a blacksmith, and a mill, while the other buildings look like small homes, quaint little cottages with only a room ortwo.
Bree dropped her voice into a whisper, just in case the residents of this village were somewhere nearby, even if they could not be seen. “How many fae livehere?”
“About twenty in total.” Eurig gave a nod toward the cluster of small homes. “All families. Mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. They rarely get any new villagers moving here, and the ones who grow up here rarely leave. Much like theoutposts.”
Bree raised an eyebrow. She still knew very little about Eurig’s life back on the sea, but she also knew that he didn’t want to be pressed too hard about it. “How many fae live in theoutposts?”
“Oh, far more than live here.” Eurig pressed his lips into a thin line. “There are thousands outposters. So, in that regard, my world is nothing like this one here. But it is still the same in a way. No one ever leaves, and no one evercomes.”
Bree jerked her head toward Eurig and raised her eyebrows. “Thousands? I had no idea there were that many outposters. I thought there would be maybe fifty. One-hundred, tops. But thousands? How do you all live on thesea?”
Eurig pursed his lips, and then shot her a wink. “You do realize that the sea is a very large expanse of water, yes? It is much larger than this continent on which you stand. Over the centuries, the outposters have built thousands of platforms that dot the waters, a maze of homes and paths that rise up above the sea. It is…impressive.”
“It sounds impressive. I wish I could see it.” It sounded unlike anything Bree had ever laid eyes on. It was certainly nothing like any city found in the human realm, and as far she knew, there was nothing like it in the Light Fae realmeither.
“If I could take you, I would,” Eurig said, the smile dropping off of his face. It was replaced with that sad expression he wore so well. “But I am no longer welcome there. Not in my own home. The Queen let me go free, but doing so meant that I was banished from the outposts. Taveon may have gotten me my freedom, but there was nothing he could do to keep my home in myhands.”
Bree’s heart hurt. She knew how he felt. She’d been ripped from her home, too, though time had begun to heal that wound. Her human home no longer felt like the safety of a warm blanket, a large mug of tea, and a roaring fireplace. She glanced down at her fighting leathers, a reminder of the Light Fae realm that she carried with her wherever she went. That realm had felt more like her home than New York City ever had. And she’d been ripped away from it,too.
But unlike Eurig, Bree could go back. She had not been banished, and she would not be turned away if she walked up to the castle and asked to rejoin thecourt.
One day. She would return, but just notyet.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Bree finally said. “That Queen may rule the outposts now, but one day, she willfall.”
Eurig shook his head. “Even if she does, I doubt the outposts will ever again be my home. I have changed. The realm has changed. Returning would be like stepping back in time, and I only want to move forward now. Fate has decided to bring me here. So beit.”
Bree and Eurig fell silent as they came to a stop in the middle of the village square, the dirt-packed ground hard underneath their feet. They both gazed around them, drinking in the quiet buildings, the empty mill, and the lack of any vibrant displays of villagelife.
“This is not a good sign,” Bree said quietly, her heart skipping a beat. Even though it was a small village, there should be at least some sign of life. The sound of voices. The clink of dishes. Or the soft padding of footsteps against the ground. There was none of that. The tiny little village felt like a ghosttown.
Eurig’s body went tense, and he rested his hand on the bow strapped to his back. “We will check out the buildings together. Let’s start with the pub. If there are any fae still awake this night, at least one would bethere.”
Bree gave a nod, swallowing back the desire to suggest they split up. She knew just as much as he did that it was a terrible idea. They had been attacked twice. And even though this village was protected by magic, it did nothing to stop a fae from entering. A fae that might have cursed everyone in his or herpath.
Slowly, they eased up the rickety stairs of the pub. Eurig stepped just in front of Bree, his bow and arrow drawn. When they reached the door, he kicked it open. The wood splintered with a loud crack, and shards rained down on the ground. Bree braced herself for cries of alarm or some kind of retaliation from the fae hidden within, but nothingcame.
Eurig stepped into the pub, and Bree followed just behind. Inside, they found three bodies sprawled across the floor. Two males and a female, all with half-full tankards on the tables just beside them. Their eyes were open, and they gazed un-seeing at theceiling.
Bree had seen this before inside of the Great Hall. They lookedcursed.
Eurig lowered his bow and crossed the room in two massive steps. He dropped to the ground beside the female and pressed his fingers against her neck. His breath shuddered from his lungs as he gave a nod. “She isalive.”
A relief, but one filled with dread all the same. She might be alive, but that meant the curse had extended far past the gates of the castle. It extended all the way out here into the Forest of the Fireflies. There was no telling how much further it went. If this village had fallen, had the next? And the next? Were there any non-cursed fae left inside this realm other than Eurig andBree?
