To Trust or Not to Trust

“I don’t fucking like it, A” Kel hisses, barely lowering his register. “Trusting a bunch of *fae* to help win this war? And a bunch of *Gloom riders* at that?! How do you know they won’t slit our throats in our sleep and let the mantis feast on our corpses? Or better yet, they’d use their fae mind games to make us slit our own throats-”

Ayris raises a dark brow at his comment.

“They’re the best chance we have to win this war. We need the extra manpower and more importantly, we need the extra *magical* power, Kel. Or did you forget once we get past all the soldiers, we have to take down an entire coven of witches?”

“Nell and Shortround have magic, don’t they? They’re powerful when they work together, A, you didn’t see what they did at Canbridge”

I blush at his words. It’s true that when combined with Brunella’s stabilising influence I felt a much more powerful focus when toppling the rocks to help Ayris escape from beyond the wall. But I have no idea how we’d fare against a group of witches powerful enough to conjure and manipulate an entire legion of mantis creatures from another dimension.

And the thought of facing Zora again after she drugged an imprisoned me, fills me with dread and anger in equal measure.

“I’m sure a coven is no match for Shortround, isn’t that right?” Kel gently nudges me in the arm, and I just shrug in answer.

“I mean… I’ve never seen a coven before, let alone tried to defeat one with magic”.

Kel huffs in exasperation.

“Don’t you think if Prince Renys had nefarious intentions, he would have simply informed the king of our whereabouts? We’d be hemmed in. His coven could create a cave in and be done with it”.

Ayris has a point.

“Or he could wait for us to come right to his doorstep and have the fae cast some spell to force us to kneel before him so he can slaughter us all by his own hand, A. Maiden above knows he’s unhinged enough at this point. Zora’s made him blood thirsty. Look at the way he allowed her to carve up the hillsides and villages with those beasts of hers. He’s completely lost it; you can’t predict what he’s capable of. He’s not the king we both swore an oath to protect-

Not to mention what he did to Laurel”.

“*Enough*”. Ayris growls and I can feel the anger prickling his consciousness. I run a hand over his forearm in soothing. The subject of my imprisonment is still a delicate subject and not one to be thrown around lightly.

“You make a fair point, Kel” I reply, and I feel Ayris’ chest rumble in disapproval.

“But to put it bluntly, what other option do we have?”

Kel grumps before stomping off.

“Do you think he has a point?” I ask, watching several emotions briefly skitter across Ayris’ face at once.

“Most definitely” He replies, which makes my stomach knot, but equally I appreciate him being honest and not attempting to sugar coat anything for my benefit.

“But I do wonder how much of his concern is based upon common sense and how much is based on his heart”

Ayris’ head tilts to the left and he nudges in the direction his eyes have cast. I watch as I see Brunella stood by the fire, talking to Renys. She’s glowing, the dancing embers highlighting the long blonde hair framing her face. Her tall, willowy frame is hugged tightly by the navy dress she’s wearing, her arms hugging herself to keep warm. Renys removes his jacket and places it on her shoulders, despite her protests. I can see the appreciation in her face as she thanks him and they continue their conversation, her eyes twinkling as she laughs at something the Prince has said.

I turn to Ayris. “You think Kel is *jealous*?” I ask. My mind racing at the possibility.

“Undoubtedly”. Ayris chuckles. “A handsome fae prince paying quite obvious interest to the only woman he has ever cared about? And not only that, but she appears to be indulging him? I’d be seething”.

I smirk at the thought and Ayris raises an eyebrow.

“You’d do a damn sight more than *seethe*, Ayris, and you and I both know it”.

Ayris feigns indifference and folds his arms. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, little mate of mine”.

I scoff. “You’ve maimed at least two men when protecting me. Are you seriously telling me that you would be completely alright with a handsome fae warrior flirting with me?”

Ayris growls loudly enough to make his chest vibrate; forcing a chuckle to fall from my lips whilst shrugging incredibly unconvincingly.

“Pfff. Perhaps I should go over have a chat with one of the fae warriors right now then-”.

Ayris’ eyes narrow and he gently grasps my chin in his hand, forcing me to hold his gaze, chest rumbling beneath the dark leather of his armour.

“I am a far more patient man than I once was, my little velatha, but do not *test* me”.

I try not to smirk at the way I’ve so obviously riled him. *Way too easy*.

“Do you really think that I’d have my head turned so easily?”

Ayris huffs, whether in annoyance or acceptance I’m not sure, so I raise onto my toes and place a kiss along his jaw.

I guide his hand to my throat, the pads of Ayris’ fingers grazing the mark I’d begged him to give me when we’d mated. The action has my skin tingling in the most delicious way; my lips clamping shut to stifle the moan that almost escapes. I know seeing the effect he has on me will soothe my big, possessive beast. I swear I almost see his chest puffing in pride.

“I’m all yours, love. Always”

“Damned right” He hisses, before kissing me once more, his lips dominating my mouth; my own body yielding in submission.

We continue to watch how the fae interact with the others. Several other warriors join the ranks; men Renys had posted outside Fencliff, awaiting further instructions. I’m still not entirely sure how he’d managed to signal to them to enter; but I assume the aforementioned ‘fae magic’ that everyone appears so focused on must have something to do with it.

Ayris has placed me on his knee and has insisted on feeding me by his hand. I know his possessive streak is partly my fault, so I accept the gesture willingly, doing my best to soothe his thoughts.

“What’s a gloom rider?” I ask, as he tears some bread and places it to my lips. “Isn’t that what Kel said? The way he worded it made it sound like a bad thing”

Ayris sighs. “Renys and his men are from beyond the gloom. Their kingdom is *far* from here; in fact there are many mortals who doubted the fae’s existence as they are rarely seen this side of the mist”

“The mist?”

“The fae kingdom is many weeks ride from here; and is shrouded in a mist known as the gloom. They are *very* opposed to outsiders trying to enter their realm; therefor the gloom is designed to keep people… *out*”.

“So it’s a big, bad, magical fog?”

Ayris chuckles, but nods in agreement. “that is one way to put it”

“What…*how* does it keep people out? Are they not able to cross it?”

“Nobody is completely certain… There are not many who have made it back alive; and the ones who have… Well, they were no longer reliable witnesses”.

The thought is sobering, sending a shiver down my spine. Whilst Renys displayed a fleeting show of his power when he pushed back his men during the meeting; we still have very little idea what he and his people are capable of. *And now we’re trusting them to ride alongside us into war and hope they are true to their word*.

“What else do you people know of Renys people?”

Ayris shrugs, pulling me in close.

“The fae are born with magical potential that is fully unlocked when they complete their trial. Each fae is different in their magical abilities and strength. Some have gifts of swiftness and agility; making them powerful warriors, whereas others may have gifts of moving things with their mind, or communing with nature. I have heard of many different types of gifts”

“So we have no idea what sort of magical man power Renys and his men could use to help us?”

Ayris shakes his head.

“Maybe we could ask them. It would be good information to know; from a tactical perspective”

Ayris squeezes my thigh, popping what appears to be a fruit similar to a strawberry into my mouth.

“You are curious if Renys can help you with your powers?”

I nod, knowing that Ayris can read me like a book.

“I do still think knowing what they’re capable of would help us in the fight… But. It would be nice to know if they could shed some more light on what I’m capable of”

Ayris appears deep in thought as he watches me.

“I can feel it growing, my magic. And whatever magic Renys has seems to call to my own. It’s like my magic knows there’s magic nearby. *Powerful* magic”

Ayris grunts. I know he’s not too thrilled at the idea of me cosying up to the fae; but equally I can feel him sympathising with my position as his emotions trickle through to me.

“They say the crown Prince possesses some of the strongest magical abilities for a generation. His people have been declining in their magical potentials for years. He gives them hope that their magic is not dwindling”

“It’s no wonder they want to keep away outsiders if they’re worried their power is fading”.

Ayris nods. “Indeed”.

I rest my head on his shoulder, watching Brunella sit beside the Prince as they continue to converse with one another.

“If the fae are worried about their powers fading; it must have taken something really important to have drawn the prince away from his kingdom. If he’s as powerful as you say he is, then he’s one of the best defences they have, right?”

Ayris chuckles.

“Indeed. We shall make a strategist of you yet, my little velatha”

I huff a laugh.

“Perhaps your tactitian can try and gain some insight into your new allies. They might be a little more receptive to me. And no doubt to Brunella too, if she agrees”

Ayris smirks, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Perhaps”.