Two hours – that's how long it took us to find the Lord of Latherket. After two hours of asking for directions, I struggled to resist the urge to reach for the hilt of my blades and instead clenched and unclenched my fists to keep from killing everyone in this town for Spirit. Now we find ourselves on the front lawn of a stone estate. The front door was a beautiful wooden double door with frost-blasted windows intricately worked into the wood, complemented by matching arched windows along the wall. The porch was made of white and gold marble that descended down the steps to the stone pathway lined with bushes filled with white and red roses all the way to the metal gates behind us. The garden was well-kept, and the grass had been recently cut if the smell was any indication. Every part of my body was threatening to start shaking with anger as we waited at the bottom of the steps. A servant came a few minutes ago to take the horses while we waited for the butler to greet us.

"Damn, Lord Adler did well for himself." Felix muttered beside me, his hood still on to hide his ears like the rest of us.

"He's a Baron like Jasper, human or not." Reece answered, his eyes trailing over me as I flexed and clenched my hands repeatedly. "Let me talk, Syl. We'll find Spirit, but I need you to keep yourself calm." I met his gaze slowly, taking deep, long breaths.

He's here. The voice sent shivers down my spine, but a part of me found solace in the words. Spirit is here. I nodded, and Reece's shoulders seemed to relax at that. He rested a heavy hand on my lower back just as the front doors opened to a tall, gray-haired human. He wore a perfectly tailored grey suit that accentuated his lean body, and his beard was neatly trimmed. It exuded a fresh scent of lavender and musk. The Butler?

"Good day. Lord Adler is ready to see you." The man's voice was soft and innocent as he bowed in greeting and took a step out of the doorway. Reece started up the stairs, one hand guiding me by my lower back as we all followed him through the front door. The foyer was clean enough that you could see your own reflection in the marble floor. Vases filled with various flowers lined the walls, and a red carpet ran along the hallway and up the double staircase on both sides, leading to the second floor. In another life, I would have liked to have a home like this—safe and clean, but it belonged to a man who stole from me.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" A drawling, deep voice drew my attention away from the decor. The man was of average height with pale black hair and deep brown eyes. He wore a silk robe over a button-up shirt and blue jeans, but he looked older than he seemed. By the steady beat of his heart, I doubt he'd be older than 43.

"I believe you have something of ours." Reece answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ah, yes." Adler mused with a lazy smile as he took a step down the stairs and only spoke again once he reached the bottom. "The black stallion. I wondered who it might have belonged to." I bit back the growl threatening to break from my wolf, and another hand gripped my clenched fist. I glanced over my shoulder to where Jasmine was now brushing my side, watching the human. "I do apologize for that. Walk with me?" Adler added, extending a hand down the hallway that led to a glass door opening up to a sprawling yard. Reece met my gaze for a second before falling into step with the lord as he continued, "You see. I've been trying to buy that tavern for the last 10 years, but the owner is a greedy man with little regard for change. That tavern has been a blight on my town since the day I became the baron. I've worked so hard to make life better here for my people, and that place is the sole reminder of how ruined and hateful this town used to be." Jasmine's fingers tightened around mine as we passed a few more doors down the hallway. Some doors led to bathrooms, while others opened to dining rooms or offices with paintings of horses and fields hanging in between.

"What do you mean by hateful?" Reece asked, eyeing a painting of a beautiful white stallion rearing back on a mountain peak.

"I'm sure you're aware of the human rebellion against the Fae?" The lord asked, stopping for a second to admire the painting himself.

"All too aware, Lord Adler."

"Well, this town used to be filled with those fanatics. It took me years to get rid of them, but I grew up with a father who thought it would be a good idea to teach his son everything about war, the military, and how to use all kinds of weapons. Not to mention, I had quite a few people in my life who were more than willing to follow me and help restore this town to its former glory. This town used to be a pleasant place with cheerful residents until those extremists seized control." The lord added as we continued down the hall. "But that's beside the point. The only way for me to get that damned owner to sell the place is if he broke a law, as he had an ironclad hold on the property. When I saw the horses outside, I knew they didn't belong to him or the rabble that tends to rent the rooms there. It was a long shot, but I made him an offer for the black stallion that he couldn't refuse, and by selling it to me, he broke an important law in town. He committed fraud." The lord finished with a bright smile before he opened the door to the backyard and gestured for us to follow. He then descended the steps onto the lawn. The backyard was much like the front yard, lined with bushes, blooming flowers, and a stable built against the far stone fence. And there. In the middle of the lawn, Spirit was grazing happily. His coat was clean and freshly brushed, his tail unbraided. Did they take care of him? Every lingering ember of anger washed away in that moment. "We never intended to hurt any of you. Especially not High Fae such as yourself." This time, we all shifted our gazes to the lord, who now had a smile from ear to ear.

"How did you know?" Felix mumbled, taking a step closer to Reece's side, and we finally pulled back our hoods.

"I've been around for a few years, and my late wife was a High Fae. Our daughter is a lesser, so I've learned what to look out for." His smile turned sad for a second, and Jasmine's hand finally dropped from mine. "Your horse is safe, fed, and cleaned. My daughter has taken quite a liking to him; she groomed him herself."

"Thank you, Lord Adler." Reece added with a smile of his own.

"I assume the horse belongs to her." The lord added, his gaze meeting mine.

"How did you know?" I whispered, tearing my gaze away to watch Spirit whinny when he noticed me.

"You've been staring daggers at me ever since you arrived." The lord chuckled and gestured to Spirit. "You're welcome to take him. I never meant to upset you. If I had known he belonged to the High Fae, I never would have done it."

"In all honesty, Lord Adler. You won't have any more issues with that owner." I mused, a smirk tugging at my lips as I made my way onto the lawn.

"Does she mean," the lord started, and Reece chuckled.

"Collateral. My sister doesn't take kindly to people stealing from her. I had to pull rank just to prevent her from killing you upon arrival, Lord Adler." Reece mused.

"I am grateful for my life, Lord." Adler sighed as I brushed my hand down Spirit's neck, purring with delight at the familiar feeling. His saddle was also cleaned by the smell of it. I mounted with ease, settling into the saddle like a favorite shoe when a blonde girl on the second floor caught my gaze. She was young, no older than 16. Her hair was braided over one shoulder, revealing her partially pointed ears. So she is a lesser fae then.

"Hey, Syl!" I tore my gaze from the girl to Reece, who was now standing alone by the glass door. "Meet us out front." I nodded in reply before urging Spirit into motion and followed the stone pathway that encircled the estate, leading to the front where everyone was now mounting their horses.

"Apologies again, Lady Sylvia." Adler smiled, bowing low at the waist.

"Commander Sylvia." Jasmine corrected from Dolly's back, and the lord's eyes shifted between us.

"Commander? The commander Sylvia? The one who protected Brackenridge?" The Lord's eyes seemed to dance with amusement.

"The one and only." I drawled, shooting the man a grin.

"Then I'm truly grateful for my life." The lord took a step back and gave me a half smile. "It was an honor to have you all. I wish you safe travels and thank you for taking care of Sam for me. Even if it was a bit ruthless." Sam. The owner of the tavern, I assume. The lord bowed again, and we all followed suit by bowing our heads in response before turning back to the gates. I glanced over my shoulder in time to see the young girl waving from the front door, and even Spirit seemed to glance back at her.

"Do you like her, boy?" I mumbled, brushing a hand against his mane, and he responded with a whinny before stopping. "Hey, Lord Adler." I sighed and shifted to look at the man over my shoulder. "What is your daughter's name?"

"It's Minnie, Commander." The lord said with a bright smile. The smile of a man who truly loved his daughter.

"Tell Minnie I'll send her one of Spirit's foals, a gift for taking care of him." I couldn't help but smile at the way the girl's eyes lit up with excitement before following the others through the gate again.

"Well, that's new. Did that little girl actually thaw the ice in your heart? I've never seen this Sylvia before." Reece teased as I caught up with them, and I rolled my eyes at his mocking tone.

"Shut up, Reece."

"Ah, there's the Sylvia we know and love."

                    ╭──╯ . . . . . . . . . . ╰──╮

The rest of the day was rather quiet. The blood staining my clothes had dried long ago and was now barely noticeable against the brown leather. Once we left Latherket, it was nearing noon, and the sun was beating down on the wet earth from the previous day's rain. We stopped twice throughout the afternoon to water and feed our horses. It was Felix's turn to supply us with lunch, so we enjoyed a decent helping of fried chicken and turmeric-spiced rice, one of his specialties. Over the years, we've had dinner at his house every few weeks, where he always prepared this exact meal. It was always the same, but we cherished those memories. Felix is a good cook, for a male anyway. Once we finished, we fell back onto the road, passing riders and messengers on their way from Riverhoff. Mostly human, but a few lesser fae stopped along the road to greet us as we passed, except for one. A white-haired lesser fae with a grey hood. His brown eyes were so deep that I could swear they were black; he just sneered at us. It's as if we stole his bloody dog in the night. By the scars covering his exposed forearms, I assume he has seen his fair share of the world. Lesser fae can be hurt by normal blades, unlike High Fae, but it was more than just the thin lines of a blade that covered his skin. There were a few round blotches scattered in between. Burn marks. Either from hot pokers or cigarettes, it's hard to tell, but I assume the High Fae did it to him. Which is why I can smell the anger wafting from him atop that grey mare. Reece gave him a reassuring smile, but the male just spat in the dirt as Reece passed. In response, I gave him a grin of my own, flashing my fang in the process. My eyes trailed his attire: the tattered grey shirt, the long brown leather pants, and there, at his hip, was a blade. Hidden almost perfectly by the cloak, but not an emblem of the rebellion. Maybe just an unfortunate male. Not worth killing.

By the time we reached Riverhoff, it was past sunset, which meant the museum would already be closed, and we would have to find a place to rest for the night. In a major city like this, we had our pick of taverns and brothels, but most were fully booked, except for the Mermaid's Inn. One of the more famous brothels in Riverhoff, if the locals were to be trusted, the only brothel that employed Lesser Fae. The building was fairly new and well-maintained. The wood was stained red to signify the true nature of the place, with red rose bushes growing along the front wall. The wooden door featured a carving of a naked mermaid on the front, perched on a rock with bodies drifting in the water around her. One of the old children's stories about the siren that lures men to their death in the middle of the ocean, or even naughty children for that matter.

"Well, this place is a whole lot better than that tavern back in Latherket." Felix mused as he dismounted from his horse and tied him to the hitching rail in front of the brothel.

"I can imagine a worse place to spend my time." I cooed, flashing him a playful grin, and he matched it.

"We're not here to drink and fuck." Reece chuckled before patting Maxim's side. "I need all of you to have a clear mind for tomorrow." His gaze met mine, and he raised his eyebrows.

"Sure thing, dad." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a sugar cube for Spirit.

"I'm serious, Syl. We can't draw attention to ourselves. Riverhoff has been known to harbor members of the human rebellion." Reece added.

"I know, Reece. Don't worry. I'll keep it in my pants." I sighed before brushing a hand down Spirit's neck and wrapping an arm around Jasmine's shoulder as she joined us in step towards the front door.

"I make no such promise." Felix whispered, and I suppressed a grin. I never promised either.

The inside of the brothel was teeming with life, with almost every table occupied by drunken humans and lesser fae. Some patrons had beautiful waitresses positioned in their laps. No one even looked up in our direction as we found our way to one of the open tables in the far corner of the room, beside the stairs leading to the bedrooms on the second and third floors. A lush red carpet trailed along the steps of the stairs, and red ribbons were woven between the balusters. The floor was made of mahogany wood, a deep red that rivaled the color of dried blood. The bar in the far corner was also crafted from the same wood, with a painting of a mermaid displayed directly above the array of liquors. All the waiters wore the same attire, the woman and females wore short white dresses that barely reached the height of their thighs, featuring low cuts along their chests, and red aprons. The men and males wore tight black jeans, white sleeveless tank tops, red aprons tied around their waists, and black bow ties. All of them looked exceptionally beautiful with devilish smiles and welcoming soft eyes. Even Jasmine had a grin of her own when a blond-haired lesser fae male caught her attention at the bar. Her blue eyes trailed each step he took as he made his way to our table with a teasing smirk plastered on his face.

"Welcome to the Mermaid's Inn. Is there anything I can get you?" His voice was sultry and deep, another lure.

"I can think of something you can get me." Jasmine mused, leaning on the table with her elbows and giving the male a flirty grin of her own.

"Just a few beers, please." Reece added before nudging Jasmine in the side.

"What, I made no promises." She shrugged and watched the male stride away again, her eyes lingering on his muscular thighs, visible even through the fabric.

We spent the next three hours or so downing beer after beer, with Jasmine becoming increasingly flirtatious with the male each time. Reece gave up after she patted her lap, and the male sat down without question. He ran a gentle hand through her chestnut hair, with a glint of lust in his light brown eyes. Before long, they disappeared up the stairs, leaving the rest of us at the table.

"So, Reece." Felix started, one arm draped across the backrest of his chair as he eyed the remaining humans and waiters. "Are you going to find yourself a nice bed warmer tonight?" I bit back the chuckle that threatened to break out at the glare my brother was giving him.

"Of course not. Are you?" Reece countered, and Felix grinned with delight before meeting my gaze.

"Only if Syl wants to." The grin quickly turned lupine and my core heated as I held his gaze.

"No," my answer was flat, but that grin didn't falter.

"Then it's a no," Felix shrugged, brushing his knee against my thigh.

"I'll go check on the horses before we head to bed." I sighed and pushed myself up from the chair. As I strode for the door into the cool night, they didn't respond. The city was clean compared to most, but the streets were now almost deserted so close to midnight. I brushed my hand along the wooden wall all the way to the hitching post where Spirit and the others were now nibbling on the hay in the hanging feeders. His hair felt cool to the touch, and his nose brushed against my torso in greeting.

"Are you guys still alright?" I mused, leaning my forehead against his, and Dolly whinnied in reply. "Good, if someone messes with you, kick the shit out of them." I purred with a grin, and Spirit pounded his hoof into the cobblestone street. I slowly brushed a hand down his neck before patting it once and turning back to the door of the brothel when a couple across the street caught my attention. A young human couple, identified by their scent, are barely adults. I quietly watched as the man wrapped his arm around the woman's slender shoulders, both of them laughing, before they disappeared around a corner into an alley. I sometimes marvel at human happiness. I wonder if having a finite lifespan makes you appreciate life more and enjoy everything more. I wonder if you love more deeply and cherish moments like this more. I wonder if I had been born human, would I have been able to understand the feeling of love and being loved by another. I wonder - Help her. The voice whispered, and the hairs on my arms stood on end, interrupting my train of thought.

"They seem alright." I whispered. I don't know why; it's not like it can hear me.

Help her! This time, my legs moved on their own as I crossed the street and rounded the corner into the alley. The man was pinning the woman against the wall, kissing and stroking her.

"No, Jason. Not here." Her voice was shaking, and the alley was filled with the smell of fear, mingled with lust.

"Come on, Sam. We've been dating for three weeks, just a quick one." The man drawled, still trying to tug at the woman's shirt as he pinned her hips with his own.

"I believe the girl said no," I said, my tone flat and annoyed as their heads snapped to me.

"I believe you should mind your own business." Jason bit out, still pinning the woman.

"Do you want this to happen, dear?" I drawled, eyeing the woman, and she slowly shook her head. "Well, there you have it. Now I suggest you listen." My gaze slid back to the man, his lip pulled into a sneer.

"She's my girlfriend, and I just paid for a very expensive dinner. I'm entitled to something more." Jason added, and I could feel the annoyance bubbling in my veins.

"Entitled? Is that what you humans call it?" I mused, taking another step into the alley. The moonlight is now peeking over the far wall and illuminating my face. The man's eyes widened as he took a step back from the girl.

"You're a high fae." His voice cracked at the end, and my gaze slid back to the woman.

"Get out of here." She wasted no time as she ran past me and disappeared around the corner. My strides ate up the pavement until I was towering over the man. "So you say you're entitled? To what? Sexually abuse your girlfriend in this piss-stained alley?" I seethed, flexing my hands to keep them busy.

"No! Of course not!" The man's skin paled as he took a step back.

"That's what it looked like to me."

"I'm sorry." The man lifted his hands in defense, and my annoyance flared.

"Sorry? Is that what you would have said to her when you're done? Oh, how Reece will be so disappointed to know I killed another human today." I cocked my head to the side, the smell of fear now overwhelming the dirt and grime of the alley. Then the stain appeared, growing rapidly along the man's pant leg. "Let me make myself very clear." I lunged forward, taking another step and grabbing the front of the man's shirt faster than he could react. "You're going to stay away from that girl. If I ever find out that you so much as touched a woman without her consent, I will find you, and I will make your death slow. Do you understand?" For a second, I could have sworn the man would pass out, but then he nodded. "Now get out of here before I change my mind about sparing your life." I shot, shoving the man back before he sprinted from the alley. Entitled my fucking ass.

"You're all the same." A new voice mused from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder at a man standing at the entrance to the alley. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and he was dressed in black.

"That statement goes both ways." I paused for a moment, then turned to the man and shoved my hands into my pockets.

"The number of times I've seen you, a high fae, bully and threaten our kind is remarkable." The man took a few steps into the darkened alley. The moon was now drifting higher, shortening the shadows inch by inch until it illuminated the man's pale skin. He was no older than 40, well-built for a human that age, and the moonlight glinted off the blade strapped to his side. Too short for a sword, but slightly longer than a dagger.

"The number of times I've witnessed you humans mistreat each other and give in to greed and entitlement is exasperating." I countered, rolling my shoulders.

"We don't have the luxury of being immortal; we only have a limited number of years to live, and we can die at any moment. It's better to take what we want rather than regret it later." The man crooned, tilting his head to the side as his eyes trailed over me.

"Even at the expense of others?" I challenged, my blood heating with each word spilling from his mouth, where a scar sat idly along his jaw. His lips curled into a devilish grin. "And you call us bullies."

"Enough of the chit-chat. I've been looking for you." The man drawled as he slowly made his way deeper into the alley. "You know, you're bigger than the last red wolf I killed." Every thought in my mind ebbed out at that moment. "Granted, that was 15 years ago, and it was but a child for your kind. The wolf still young, barely two years old and just waking up to it's true power. Your kind get your wolf at 40 right? Poor thing never saw it coming." I crossed my arms over my chest, digging my fingers into my biceps, anything to keep them from the hilts of my blades.

"I assume you believe the old stories, then?" I seethed, trying to calm the rage burning below the surface.

"Stories? Aren't stories just legends of old?" The man cooed as his fingers brushed the hilt of his blade.

"Stories are stories. Red wolves are no different from the others."

"True, not all red wolves are the ones from the legends, but people still pay hefty sums of money for them. Sadly, the last one was just a regular High Fae, but my buyer was unaware of that fact. I was long gone with my gold when he realized." Another shit-eating grin. "Just like my new buyer won't know the difference when I hand him your corpse." This time I smiled.

"You bounty hunters are all the same. When I kill you tonight, you'll be the 132nd person who claimed to be the best of the best, but you all die the same." I mused as I unsheathed the dagger from my ribs. My broadsword was back at the brothel.

"I think you'll find me harder to kill than most." He added, unsheathing the blade at his side.

"That's exactly what the others said." With that, I moved faster than most humans can detect. My strides devoured the pavement between us until my blade collided with his. Did he block me?

"Like I said, you're not my first kill. I've fought against enough High Fae to know the speed and power you all possess." The man hissed mere inches from me before he moved. Faster than most humans, but slow enough for me to dodge the slash of his blade aimed at my face. A slow smile crept over my lips, and amusement filled my mind.

"Interesting." I drawled before unsheathing another dagger at my side. I took a step back before lunging again, slashing at the man's leg, but he parried it before I swung my other dagger at his side. The blade clanged off a metal plate strapped to his torso beneath his black shirt. "That's new." I added, taking a step back again.

"Like I said, I've learned enough over the years." This time, his grin matched mine before we both moved again. Each blow was dodged or parried, one after the other. My rage simmered low now, giving way to delight and amusement as this human matched each step and each blow. His torso was protected, so I avoided dulling my blade against it and aimed for his legs or arms. After another parry, we slowly began to circle each other, sizing each other up. "I'm impressed; you're different from the others."

"Likewise." I mused before we lunged again; this time, his blade met my thigh. The cut was shallow, but a surge of burning pain shot through my thigh, causing me to stumble back. Blood oozed from the wound and quickly stained the torn leather, but it wasn't healing. "Palladium." I whispered, meeting the man's delighted smile.

"So, it does work. You know, this blade cost me every last gold mark I had. I was sure the bitch was lying." He eyed the blood oozing from my thigh.

"Where did you get that?" I bit out, ignoring the new wave of pain shooting through my thigh. It hurt enough to be annoying, but not enough to stop me.

"This hooded woman came to me, but I couldn't really see her. She seemed to be made of shadows. She sold me this blade, promising it could wound a High Fae. I didn't believe her, but she was right." He lunged again, but I sidestepped his attack, slamming my fist into his back in the process. This sent him sprawling on the ground, but he quickly found his feet. "How does it feel? To bleed like the rest of us?" The man drawled, his smile becoming more vicious.

"Exhilarating, but lets end this shall we." I mused through a grin before he lunged again. This time, I didn't deflect his attack, and the blade bit into my side, sinking down to the hilt and sending shivers of pain along my ribs. Sweet, brutal pain. He was mere inches from me, grinning from ear to ear as blood soaked my leathers and oozed over his hand.

"You're all the same. You never believe you can die, and I can't wait to see the life leave those green pearls of yours." His voice was laced with hatred, and my lips curled into a lupine smirk.

"You caught me off guard with that metal plate, but there's something you should know about me." My smirk grew as his eyes narrowed on me, and I let go of the blade in my hand to lock his grip on the blade digging into my side. "I enjoy pain and from this distance; you can't escape." I whispered before plunging the other dagger into the side of his neck. His eyes widened, and his grin faltered as blood rushed from the wound, soaking my hand and his shoulder. I leaned closer, brushing my lips against his ear before whispering, "Say hi to Cernunnos for me." I yanked the blade from his neck, the sound of flesh tearing causing my ears to twitch as his body slumped to the floor. 132. My gaze slid to the blade in my side, and I hissed air through my teeth before pulling the blade out. Blood gushed from the wound, and a copper taste filled my mouth, coating my tongue. "Fucking Palladium." I sighed before sheathing my daggers and tucking the palladium blade into my boot, pressing the palm of my hand against the wound, trying to slow the bleeding. Afterward, I left the alley and crossed the road back to the brothel. Each step caused more blood to gush from the wound, not enough to be dangerous, but enough to make me grit my teeth as I shouldered the door open. Felix and Reece were on me as soon as I entered the building.

"We could smell the blood from all the way across the room. What the fuck happened?" Reece seethed, his eyes finding the wound on my leg and then my side.

"Bounty hunter." I sighed, eyeing the wound on my side. The blood has slowed, but now it was dripping onto the floor from my palm.

"Felix, go get Jas. She's better at stitching up wounds than I am." Reece ordered, and Felix immediately rushed for the stairs, taking two steps at a time. "Come on, let's get you to your room." He added, reaching for my arm.

"I can walk on my own, Reece." I groaned, and his eyes narrowed in on me as if he could see through the lie. I let out a long sigh before finally hooking my arm around his neck and leaning my weight into him. He slowly led me up the stairs, careful not to touch the wound at my side, and down a hallway to room 7, one of the few rooms with a large enough bed to accommodate my height. The room was quite spacious with a large double canopy bed adorned with red bedding and matching curtains. The floor was made of mahogany wood, adorned with a luxurious black rug placed between two identical brown armchairs in the center of the room. The windows were frost-blasted, with sun-blocking black curtains, and a door leading to an adjoining bathing room stood beside the bed. Reece lowered me onto one of the armchairs just as Felix and Jasmine rushed into the room. Her chestnut hair was disheveled, and she wore nothing but a bra and leather pants. She was clearly still in the middle of enjoying her evening with the blond one.

"Cernu's balls, Syl. What the hell happened?" Jasmine breathed, her eyes darting from my thigh to my side.

"Bounty hunter." Felix answered for me as he sat down in the armchair across from mine. His eyes held the promise of violence, and his leg bounced with annoyance. If I hadn't killed that hunter, Felix would have.

"He's number 132." I mused, licking the blood still coating my lips, but the overwhelming copper taste had faded.

"When will those idiots stop hounding you?" Jasmine sighed as she lowered herself onto her knees beside me, and with a flick of her wrist, a set of medical supplies appeared at my feet.

"When she's dead, probably." Reece added as he sat down on the rolling armrest of Felix's chair.

"Never should have let you go outside alone." Felix muttered, rubbing a hand against his chiseled jaw.

"I'm fine, Felix." I winced as Jasmine began tugging on my shirt before pulling it over my head, being careful not to let it brush against the wound.

"How did he do this anyway?" Reece asked, eyeing the blood-soaked shirt now discarded on the floor.

"With this." I mused, reaching for the palladium blade tucked in my boot and tossing it onto the rug in front of Felix's chair.

"Palladium?" Felix asked as he grabbed the blade and surveyed the blood-stained metal.

"Yes. The hunter said he bought it from a woman. One that had no face, but seemed as if she was made of shadows." I winced and hissed through my teeth as a cold liquid soaked the wound.

"Don't be a baby, it's just alcohol." Jasmine teased, and I rested my hand on her shoulder to give her better access to the wound.

"Like the ones we saw in the Westpond forest?" Felix sighed, leaned back in his chair, and twirled the blade around.

"Exactly."

"So they're selling the blades now." Reece mumbled as he watched Jasmine thread twine through a needle. "We should bring this up at the meeting with the High Lords." I observed my brother for a moment, noticing how his brow furrowed and the corner of his lip twitched.

"What are you thinking?" I asked as Jasmine began closing up the wound, stitch by stitch. I barely felt the needle.

"They're selling the weapons to the humans. Does that mean they approve of the rebellion or are they collecting money for something bigger?" Reece mused, his eyes surveying the room as if those shadow figures could appear in every dark corner.

"They have to be High Fae; lessers and humans can't wield magic like that. I doubt they're helping the humans intentionally." Jasmine mumbled beside me, eyeing the sewn-up wound for a second before checking the one on my thigh. "This wound isn't deep, it doesn't require stitches, but I'll clean it. It will leave a scar, but not like the one on your side, though."

"Just when I thought I couldn't get any hotter. Now I have a scar too. How will people keep their hands off me?" I teased, smirking.

"You seem upbeat after all of this." Felix added, biting back his own smile.

"The hunter was a decent opponent, certainly stronger than the ones before." I sighed through a smile. "I rather enjoyed the fight."

"You should get some rest. The healing process will take longer than usual, but sleep should help." Jasmine said as she stood up again before waving her hand, and the supplies disappeared once more.

"I'll sleep on the chair." Felix added, and I leveled a stare at him.

"I don't need a babysitter, Felix."

"Maybe, but extra protection won't hurt." Reece countered, resting a heavy hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll be in the room next door. Shout if you need anything." With that, my brother slipped from the armrest and made for the door with Jasmine in tow.

"Don't need me, I have a busy night with Len." She purred, wiggling her eyebrows at me before closing the bedroom door behind her.

"If you'd like to change, I'll wait outside." Felix mumbled, eyeing the stitched-up wound on my side.

"You really don't have to stay with me, Felix." I sighed before waving my hand, and a duffle bag appeared on the bed with a change of clothes.

"You could have been seriously injured tonight, Syl. We're in human territory; there's no telling how many hunters could be around or how many have palladium blades." He countered, stretching his legs out in front of him before flinging the dagger at the wall where it embedded in the wood. The metal is singing from the vibrations. There was little space to argue with him; once Felix set his mind on something, there was no changing it. So I guess he's sleeping here. I grabbed a set of pajamas and slipped into the bathroom to shower and change. The bathroom was surprisingly clean, with white tiles covering the floor. A large tub sat in the far corner of the room, adorned with various candles resting on the rim. The toilet looked brand new, matching the white marble sink next to it, and the adjacent wall was covered in floor-to-ceiling mirrors. I studied the wound in the mirror, smiling at the small, thin scar that would be left behind before stepping into the shower next to the tub. The scorching water left my skin red and itchy. I took my time washing the blood from my skin before stepping out to dry off and get dressed in a matching black velvet set. The shorts were shorter than the last time I wore them, indicating how much I've grown. The thin-strapped top brushed just past my navel, leaving a small patch of skin exposed between the hem and the waistband of the shorts.

By the time I emerged from the steaming bathroom, Felix was dressed in sweatpants, his chest bare. He was busy reading a book that he possibly summoned from home. The cover was blue with an image of an old fantasy story depicted on the front, showing a vampire kissing the neck of a female who had a lupine smile on her face. No Escape was written in bold, cursive letters. A fantasy romance.

"I see you still enjoy your smut." I teased as I rounded the bed and his eyes immediately snapped to me, then trailed to the exposed skin on my stomach and down to my legs.

"Smut isn't something you outgrow." Felix mused through a teasing grin.

"Are you sure you'll be alright on the chair?" I asked as I sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning back on my elbows and holding his stare. He slowly pushed himself up from his seat, and his long strides closed the distance between us until his knee brushed against mine.

"Is that an invitation, Syl?" He teased, his voice breathy and deep.

"No, I just don't want you to cramp up by morning." I added, trying to ignore the fire burning at the apex of my thighs. His nostrils flared, and his brown eyes seemed to darken at the scent. The muscles on his chest and abdomen also appeared to tighten.

"Date me." He whispered, resting one hand against the canopy of the bed.

"You know my answer." I sighed, trying to resist the urge to brush my hand against his chiseled torso, or worse, my tongue.

"Then the chair will be just fine." He mused with a lupine smile before turning back to the armchair and dropping down onto it. "Sleep well, Syl." He mumbled, stretched his legs out in front of him, and cupped his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow. The velvet set felt far too cold against the heat burning my skin, but I settled back onto the bed, sighing heavily as the ache gradually began to fade between my thighs. I flicked my hand towards the door, and the lock slid into place. Another flick had the light snuffed out. Tomorrow, we will need to figure out how to get the horn. Hopefully, the wound will be healed by then, or at least enough so that the stitches won't tear open completely if a fight breaks out. I worked my way under the blanket, running a hand through my red hair before finally closing my eyes, but sleep was far from reach.