The Aftermath ✔

22 THE VUCKING FAIRIES

Every ally to come their way was a creature of flight. The griffins were the last to arrive, right after the manticores.

As impressed as Eli was, Lomos, at first with jaw dropped, leaned in to complain under his breath, "How fucking old are these races?"

Slade turned with her back to the mass of creatures, echoing the same sentiment as she muttered, "I half expected to see a fucking wyvern at this point—that's how ridiculously old these runes are. Are they from the dawn of fucking time?" she screamed in a whisper. "How are we supposed to fight Manny with spears and whips...?"

She picked her head up, but Eli turned to meet her. "Spears? How about rocks?"

Marrow zipped by them. His shoulder clipped Slade's and she allowed herself to fall into Eli so the bastard fairy would feel some satisfaction. Davenport was who the fairy answered to when he said, "The wyverns aren't coming."

"Really?" Davenport didn't mask his disappointment well. He muttered under his breath, "Mistake one for a dragon and they never forgive it! Curse them. Fine." He extended his arms to Slade. "Your army. Please do yourself a favor and do not step on any pixies. They are very hard to clean up after and the odor...well, that never really does go away."

Slade tried to pick up her foot to look but caught herself.

"Best if you amble," Davenport advised.

One thing was very interesting about these so-called volunteers—none of them looked like Davenport. Slade had held out hope that seeing a female of his kind, or perhaps another male, would narrow down his race for her. Nothing.

They set off into the forest, Lomos too embarrassed to walk all that closely, so he went ahead.

Slade wished she could disappear in there with him.

"He'll go in as a wolf probably," Eli told her.

Throughout the day, he'd tried to hold her hand but with little success. Lately, he'd been acting differently but now he was back to his old self because he didn't try more than a few times before giving up all together. Typical Eli.

Despite their embarrassing army at their back, Eli's focus was elsewhere.

"Have you changed your mind about us?"

Slade didn't think this was the time for this discussion. She didn't want to argue but his stance surprised her. "You heard them."

Eli, still bare save for the kilt, dodged low tree branches as they went further in. As expected, most of their 'army' took to flying over them instead of venturing in on foot. All but the fairies who zipped here and there, and...Davenport. He had wings, of that Slade was certain, but they were...short. Even those she wanted to see.

"Ma'am?"

Slade groaned. This wasn't the time. "I don't want to argue."

"I'm not looking to argue. I'm looking for a reason to fight."

His words dragged her to a halt. If not for the others stopping as well, she wouldn't have walked on.

As soon as she started to move, everyone else followed. Slade felt helpless. "You'd abandon this endeavor?"

Eli didn't answer for some time. Finally, he said, "Your brother's methods be forgiven, I don't know that he's wrong. He wishes to free you all. I...if he could use a wolf instead—"

Slade shoved him. "Say that again," she challenged. "Open your mouth and say something equally as stupid."

But whatever aggression Eli showed others, he never turned it toward her. Today was no different.