Chapter Eighteen

A few minutes later we arrived in a neighborhood of colorful cottages along with two much larger buildings painted in earthy tones. There were seelie fae going about their daily business, gardening, cleaning weapons, cooking meat in an outside fire pit—proof they weren’t all vegetarians. A quartet was sparring in the nearby field. No one paid us any attention.

I surveyed the size of the buildings. My tiny military guard couldn’t possibly live here in these oversized cottages, could they? Sinlae lived in a tree. As if in response to my unspoken question, Rianne sent the entire fae company, probably a dozen, through an open window into one of the larger buildings. A seelie citizen emerged from the closest house, shirtless, dagger in hand. My hand warmed as it made contact with the hilt of my own blade.

Rianne introduced us. “Tash, this is Bowen, a leader in this village. Bowen, this is the traveler who arrived through the vortex. Lady Sinlae is also accompanying the traveler, as is his cu sith, Samson.”

Bowen glanced down to where my hand rested on the blade’s hilt and we nodded in the usual way, dangerous male to dangerous male. “Tash, Lady Sinlae.” He smiled when he glanced in her direction.”

“Bowen. How is your sweet Serra?”

“She is well and talks often of her time spent with you at Cascade.”

Sinlae sent, “His mate, Serra, was very ill, but Liam was able to help her recover and I tended her for a short time. We became fast friends.”

Bowen shifted his gaze to me. “Rianne informs me you are exploring the area and would like shelter for the night. I trust Lady Sinlae’s judgment, but I would know your full name, your true guise and your purpose.”

Wow. I was surprised he didn’t ask for a cup of my blood too. I tested his aura. No doubt about it, Bowen was powerful, more so than the other fae who had passed me in the village. And he looked familiar. Perhaps I’d seen him at court the day Fionna was taken down by her dad, Fin. His aura was as bright as Aedus’, which meant I had to keep my statements honest, even if he didn’t like what he heard.

I met his gaze, mentally crossing my fingers. “I can’t reveal what you ask of me, but I do not mean harm to King Finvarra, the realm of Faerie or any of its people. You can see the truth of my words.”

“You will swear an oath?” Ah, now that was a difficult matter, because he might have enough magic to feel the demon in me if we shared blood.

“He has sworn out loud in front of all here. Is this not enough?” Sinlae buzzed around his face, going all pixie on him. A group of ten or so seelie had gathered near Bowen’s cottage, curious as to what was going on.

“I apologize, but no. Many here rely on me for their safety and as you travel through Faerie you’ll encounter others.”

I was tired. Tired from battling the vortex with a hundred and twenty pound dog in my arms, tired from lack of sleep, tired of feeling the wrenching in my gut when I thought about Jay and Brina. I didn’t have the energy to fight with this guy. There was nothing for it but to be frank. “If I give you my blood, my purpose will be undone.”

He arched an eyebrow and moved his gaze to Samson, to Sinlae and back to me. His eyes widened. Three heartbeats passed. “You and your companions may eat at my table, drink my wine and sleep under my roof.”

Crap. He knew who I was. If I didn’t accept, he’d lose face, which would piss him off. He might contact Fin or call me out for a duel or… Samson sneezed and licked my hand and I scratched him behind the ears. He glanced at me with his big browns and grinned his goofy grin, a sign he thought we were safe with Bowen.

I mustered up some energy and nodded in the fae way. “I thank you, Bowen, on behalf of my small party.”

His smile was crooked, but genuine. “Please, come in.”