His Little Fae

Homecoming (I)

"Sometimes people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are."
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Alexandria's pov:

I had killed him.

Livius had pressed the towel to my cheek and whispered sweet nothings as if it hadn't happened.

But even now, as I sat in one of the lush seats of my mate's private jet, I could still feel the warmth of his blood on my hands —could still catch the phantom scent of his genuine fear every time I inhaled.  

I had killed him.

But Gabriel had been guilty beyond doubt. He'd deserved to die.

He deserved to die.

But I didn't want to be the one who dealt that final blow.

I stiffened as bile rose in my throat, my closed fist coming up to my lips, and Livius immediately shifted towards me. I leaned my head against the glass window, my eyes slipping shut only for a pair of fearful golden eyes to flash in my vision, along with a blur of crimson blood. My fingers flexed, that sticky feeling never subsided.

I couldn't escape it.

I pulled away from Livius and curled into myself, my arms wrapping around my legs. The knife had sunken in too easily. I hadn't been aiming for his heart. I hadn't.

I hadn't.

"Alexandria," my mate murmured beside me. I could feel his grief, his guilt, his sadness. He had nothing to apologize for and yet...

"I'm here," he whispered. "You can talk to me or not talk to me, but I'm here."

I turned to him and something in my gaze made his brows crease. Livius slowly brought a hand to my cheek, his eyes soft as he held mine. I didn't flinch this time.

There shouldn't have been anything to feel sad about. This was good. Gabriel was dead. It was over. But at what cost?

I'd lost a part of me when I sunk that dagger into his chest, when his blood had splattered over my face, when his dying gaze met my own.

I could've done anything else. I could've set him ablaze or stabbed his shoulder or sunk my knee into his gut. But no, I'd chosen to kill him. My fear and rage had boiled over. That was what unsettled me. And Livius knew that.

His hand came to my back, gently consoling in a way that made my eyes turn glassy. Everyone else kept their distance, respectful of my withdrawal. I hadn't seen Alexius since the battle. Livius had walked me through the forest line, then guided me into a car that took us to the private airport strip.

He'd stepped away while I showered, offered me a fresh change of clothes, and held my hair when the nausea kicked in. It would be a few hours before take off, I'd realized, since the remainder of our party had yet to arrive.

"How did you find us?" I asked, finally breaking the silence, and Livius' hand stilled on my back before continuing its soothing circles.

"Your brother," he admitted. "He deciphered Gabriel's circle and found the coordinates."

I leaned my head against his shoulder, an action that seemed to make him relax with relief. As if he feared I could no longer trust or rely on him.

I almost scoffed at the thought.