My lips twitched with amusement. “It’s also not nice to point.” I stated dryly.
No one heard me as the growling and shouting continued. This was a dysfunctional unit. The previous shifter king would have never tolerated such behavior.
“This isn’t the way Penina!” Hissed the handsome blue eyed fae.
“Oh shut up, Quinn! You’re only taking Eshe’s side because you want in her pants. I’m the only one who is making sure we don’t all die today from your foolishness! She is exactly who we have been looking for!” Her pointing continued amid the shouting.
“Again with the pointing.” I stated exasperatedly. They were looking for me? Did they know Emon? Did he somehow make it here before I did?
Eshe crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her midnight skin darkened with rage and her yellow-green eyes flashed like daggers.
“Enough!” She snarled and knocked Penina’s hand down. “Fall back in line before I make you.Both of you!”
Penina’s eyes flashed with defiance but stepped back with her comrade who had already cast his eyes downward in submission.
“Nice to see that you are able to keep some sense of order around here.” I drawled out in the silence.
Their leader turned her scowl on me. “Since my companion is so adamant that she knows who you are, I’ll give you the chance to identify yourself, sea scum.”
I gave her a wide grin that was more threatening than welcoming in nature. “My name is Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark.”
The winds shifted, the grasses rustled, and a chickadee tweeted in the distance at the sound of my name.
The one named Penina grinned with self satisfaction while their leader inhaled sharply, and Quinn’s eyes widened, suddenly too big for the handsome sharp angles of his face.
Then Riella screamed an ear splitting cry that stopped my heart in my chest. I spun. Not caring about my exposed back to a dangerous enemy. The pain in her cries was visceral and I responded, smoothing away the beads of sweat that pooled on her delicate bronze brow. Beneath my hands, her body began to shake, and I wrapped the thin veiled shadows tighter around her. My poor attempt to calm the tremors wracking her body.
Her cries drew in the three shifters and I greedily snatched their casted shadows that lengthened towards me on their approach. Using them, I shielded Riella and myself from them, spikes growing threateningly from the shadow barrier. At full power, they were capable of impaling any enemy, but with the sun high they were more an illusionary threat than a real one.
“If you value your lives you will not come a step closer.” Isnarled over my shoulder.
“Goddess bless us—is that a child? A fae child?” The leader, Eshe, gasped, ignoring my warning.
Turning I narrowed my eyes on the male shifter who was staring openly at my naked form hovering over Riella. “Your name is Quinn? You are a healer. That makes you honor bound to protect all fae children. Heal her and I will gladly hand myself over to your crown as long as the faeling stays healthy and safe while in these lands.”
Quinn’s eyes grew wide and he glanced over to his leader.
Eshe hissed. “Do it.”
Quinn nodded. “I have no idea how you knew I was a healer but I feel obligated to warn you I am novice at best. Do you still agree to hand yourself over knowing this?”
The small shifter named Penina stepped forward. “This is foolishness! She istheGeneral Dark for goddess sake! He will not take kindly to you imprisoning her even if it is agreed upon.”
I hid my shock. Mercy among the shifters?
Eshe snarled. “You will do as ordered, Penina.” She turned to the healer barking, “Get the faeling stable as soon as you're able. Then we move.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Call off your shadows or I will rescind our deal.”
Nodding, I waved off the shadows allowing them to flutter gently down to the faeling, covering her in soft darkness.
Withdrawing them from her face, I wiped her brow scrunched up in pain. “Hold on, little one. I’m here with you and I will make sure you feel better soon.”
Chapter 31
“You’llbeneedingthis.”
I blinked up at the small shifter, Penina, holding a white garment with a small smile on her pierced lips.
It widened at my questioning look. “Not that it bothers me. You’re like goddess hot but I do believe it will help Quinn focus on the faeling rather than your tits. It’s putting Eshe on edge.” She shrugged non-committedly, further explaining. “Shifters are complicated.”
