“Not on your life,” I answered smoothly. He made some more hand gestures. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re saying to me. Just let the bastards come, and we will figure it out from there.”
“Put the knife down,” he ordered.
“You’ve got a lot to learn about me, Prince.”
“Thirty seconds max,” Kai said from behind us.
I hadn’t even heard him move, but I realized quickly the group had formed a circle around us. “gods-damn it, I’m not a child.”
The prince snorted, and I’d never wanted to use my sword on someone so badly.
“Careful, Fenlas,” Wren warned. She’d seen me use a weapon.
“Quiet,” Lichen’s deep voice boomed.
I’d nearly forgotten about him. He had watched me intently as we walked through the forest, but I couldn’t recall him ever saying a word. I readied my feet, and though I was attached to the prince, my dominant hand was still free.
“Stubborn brat,” the prince mumbled.
“And pretty,” I added.
Wren laughed, but it was interrupted by two tall hunters stepping out from behind the distant trees like a form created from shadow. They wore those familiar black outfits. A flash of the sea fae I’d killed in the cave came to me.
Fen moved forward. “Who are you?”
“None of your business, Prince. We’ve come for her.” One pointed a sword at me.
“Come and get me then,” I taunted.
“No, I definitely would not recommend that. Who do you work for?” He may have been the prince, but he was not very bright. Kai was fuming beside me, and I could tell he was barely holding himself back. “It’s two against six here, boys, are you sure you want to start this fight?”
“Two girls and an old male don’t count,” one of them said.
Without another word, I threw a knife, and it landed so hard into the other sea fae’s skull, it threw him backward.
“You were saying?” I asked the one still standing.
“Holy fuck,” Kai whispered.
The sea fae took a step backward. I pulled another dagger and flipped it in my hand while I gave him a moment to reconsider.
He retracted another step and another until he backed right into Greeve, who had used his magic to cleave behind him. He shrieked in surprise, and Greeve snapped his neck, tossing him to the ground.
“No fair,” Kai whined. “It was my turn.”
“I forgot.” Greeve shrugged.
“Nice shot,” Lichen said from beside me as he sheathed his sword.
“It would have been nicer if we learned who they were first,” Fen argued.
“They were sea fae,” I answered.
“How can you be so sure?” Wren asked.
“Black coats, subtle shimmer to their skin, evada pearl in that one’s ear. And for your information, Prince, I’d bet you a fae horse those weapons were poisoned, so next time, kill first and ask questions later.”
“They’re still hunting you?” He moved in front of me with a mix of anger and confusion on his face. He’d probably thought Morwena had only sent the one that poisoned me outside of Aibell’s cottage.
