A Feytal Encounter

Chapter 12

The night had been spent with Adanma and Cahira taking turns watching Bronwyn while the other slept. Though the wolf wasn't really a prisoner anymore, it still couldn't be trusted. It slept through the night, clearly as exhausted as the other two were. Adanma stared at it under the light of a waning moon. Of course they'd attack around the full moon. She should have seen that coming somehow.

Bronwyn shifted in their sleep and Adanma felt the weight of her knife in her palm. She could just slit their throat. It would be easy and she probably wouldn't feel too bad about it. Bronwyn's pale lips were parted slightly and their curls fell across their forehead in a ginger pile. They looked so...non-threatening. Soft. Adanma dug her nails into her thigh and reminded herself what a monster lay in front of her. The wolfsbane potion the Fey had been poisoning the wolves with was administered daily and tomorrow would be the first day without it. How long would it take to wear off? Was Bronwyn just waiting to shift so they could tear Adanma apart starting with her legs? Adanma groaned and nudged Cahira to switch places.

*******

Bronwyn awoke to glowing green eyes hovering above their face.

"Cahira, you can let them get up." Adanma was perched on a neighboring tree's branch, just above the hollow they'd been sleeping in. Her hair was done in two plaits over her shoulders, shimmering a pale silver. A few wisps had already escaped above her pointed ears.

"Are you going to tell me why you're here, or should I kill you now?"

Bronwyn hesitated to answer, distracted by how hot it would be if Adanma killed them. They hoped she would do it with her hands around their neck.

"No, I uh..." why were they there? "I don't know."

"You don't know why you stalked me away from a massacre when you could have gone home." It wasn't a question, it was an accusation.

"Um...yes?"

Cahira and Adanma both blanky blinked at Bronwyn.

"That might be the worst excuse ever. For anything."

Bronwyn shrugged and climbed out of the tree. Adanma squinted in frustration. "Fine. If you try any funny business, I'll kill you."

Bronwyn watched the Fey nimbly jump out of the tree in front of them. The sudden closeness took their breath away. The wolf in their chest panted, feeling strength return to it. It was ready to stretch.