Hunted By Firelight by Krista Street

Chapter 8

~ AVERY ~

The fae countryside flew by as we zoomed over the land. Small villages, sprawling crops, and occasional estates dotted the hillsides. There were roads, too, but most were either single-lane cobblestone or simple dirt tracks that didn’t hold any early-morning travelers.

Bavar had informed me that most fae flew on carpets, rode domals—fae-like horses—or transported to their destinations using magic.

Somewhere in my foggy mind, I knew that since there were no electric or engine-powered vehicles here that this realm was much quieter and more tranquil than earth. The picturesque landscape reminded me of an English manor that I assumed I’d seen on a TV show or perhaps once visited, but the manors here were more vibrant. The colors were brighter and more vivid, and an underlying scent of magic filled the air.

Unlike yesterday afternoon, the wind didn’t slap my cheeks or sting my eyes as the carpets hummed over the lands. Heidi’s protective cloaking spell warded off the elements, leaving us to travel comfortably.

We’d already been traveling for several hours when the sun began to rise. A few stars still shone above, but they were quickly disappearing.

I blinked, my eyes feeling gritty. Bone-deep fatigue pulled at me, but I couldn’t sleep. Too much had happened, and every time I closed my eyes I saw the robed men and felt their clawing hands digging into me.

Despite my whirring mind, I would have enjoyed the carpet ride, especially the dips and sways over the hills, if Charlotte’s complexion wasn’t so pale. Even though she’d received blood, she still looked weak.

“How are you feeling?” I asked her when she finally roused from the heavy slumber she’d fallen into shortly after starting our journey.

Her lips curved up, but her smile was brittle. “Like a million bucks.”

“You’re not fooling me. I can see that you’re in pain. Should I see if Lex has any opiates?”

Her smile turned wry. “You know what opiates are?”

My lips parted with a smart reply, but then I cocked my head. “Strangely, yeah, I do.”

“No. I’m good. Human drugs just cloud my thoughts, although if he has a witch potion I’d be game.”

I signaled Lex over, a tall man with shaggy blond hair. He hopped from his carpet to ours and handed Charlotte a potion.

“Thanks, bro,” she said, then downed it in one swallow.

“Let me take a peek at that shoulder.”

She angled her neck, and he peered under the bandage. “No fresh bleeding. That’s good. We’ll clean it again when we reach the safe house, and apply a fae salve so it’ll heal faster, but you should be okay for now. Just avoid any jarring movements.”

Once he was back on his carpet, Charlotte pushed up on her elbows to face me better. “This is kind of backwards, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

She waved at her injury, then me. “I’m the one injured, yet it wasn’t from protecting you. It was from getting hit by one of those motherfuckers while Major Jamison was protecting you. I can’t help but feel that I didn’t do my job well.”

My eyes bugged out. “You’re kidding, right?”

A flash of guilt overtook her face. “No, I’m not. This is just my really lame way of saying I’m sorry for not protecting you better.”

I faced her squarely as I worked to control the buzzing energy growing inside me. “Charlotte, you were hurt because we left you in the inn with a group of crazy supernaturals that were there for me. The one who should be apologizing is me or Major Jamison. We shouldn’t have left you on your own.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, Jamison already apologized.”

“He did?”

“Yep, and he said he owes me.” She grinned. “That’ll come in handy one day, but still, I fucked up on my first week on the job. That’s not cool, and I feel really shitty about it, so I wanted to say sorry.”

I balled my hands into fists. I hated seeing her look this way. Even though I didn’t really know her yet, I’d come to learn in the short hours we’d been acquainted that she took her job very seriously. And like she said, she was new to the job. It seemed like a lot had been asked of her in a very short amount of time, and that was hardly fair.

A shiver raced up my spine when I remembered the standoff Wyatt and I had after he’d left Charlotte in the inn. My insistence that he retrieve her had left me alone when that robed man—or whatever he was—had slithered toward me.

My gut tightened. “Well, I appreciate your apology even though it’s entirely unnecessary, and I’m glad to hear that Wyatt apologized to you.” Strangely, a warm feeling filled me that he’d done that. I imagined someone in his position may see others as simply being there to serve him, but he’d apparently done the right thing and had taken ownership of the blame for leaving her. The fact that he’d even apologized said a lot about the kind of person he was.

And realizing that made that damned fluttering motion begin in my stomach again.

“Wyatt, is it?” Charlotte’s eyes, now wide open, danced with amusement. I could tell the potion was kicking in. “You’re on a first-name basis now? Girl, now that I know what I know, you totally held out on me during training. You did hook up with him, didn’t you?”

My cheeks flushed just as we dipped down a hill. I gave a little squeal from the unexpected free-fall sensation, but Charlotte was right. At some point this morning, I’d stopped thinking of him as Major Jamison and had started thinking of him as Wyatt.

But that didn’t mean I’d hooked up with him. Truth be told, I had no idea if I ever had.

“I don’t know,” I replied once we reached the bottom of the hill and were gliding over fragrant wildflowers. A sea of petals that resembled crimson roses, blue bonnets, and vibrant marigolds brushed along the bottom of the carpet. Tall swaying stalks of fae-sage and long grasses were intermixed with the flowers. The scents were so heady that it made my head swim, but their potent fragrance was better than acknowledging what Charlotte was implying.

Because the curling motion in my stomach was now flipping with a vengeance. Had I hooked up with him?

Charlotte quirked an eyebrow, looking strangely smug. “It’s all making sense now.”

“Anyway!” I said loudly, desperately hoping we’d change the subject, but my loud exclamation only got a curious look from Bavar as Wyatt slumbered beside him.

I cleared my throat and hoped the fairy commander couldn’t see my cheeks burning.

But instead of taking the hint—or maybe she was purposefully ignoring it—Charlotte laughed and said, “The next time you hook up with him, I want the details. Like, all the details.”

“Charlotte,” I hissed under my breath. “Stop!”

My hiss, of course, got another assessing glance from Bavar, but thank the Gods that Wyatt was still asleep. Having him hear this exchange would have been mortifying.

Charlotte at last sobered, and we carried on for another thirty minutes in relative silence—thankfully.

As the carpets began climbing another hill, Charlotte angled her chin to peer around me at the commanders. “Looks like someone just woke up.”

My entire body instantly tensed, and I slid a glance their way. Wyatt was sitting up and yawning. He’d probably gotten a good four hours in, and even though I knew he needed more sleep, he looked better.

Bavar handed him some food and drink, which he quickly consumed, and then the two men hunched together in conversation.

My heart skipped, and my stomach made that somersaulting sensation again when I studied him. With his back to me, Wyatt’s sinewy shoulder muscles created ridges visible through his shirt, and he sat cross-legged, awarding me an ample view of his strong thighs.

“Those two are definitely a sight for sore eyes.” Charlotte nudged me.

I elbowed her since she still wasn’t keeping her voice down, but then immediately apologized when she grimaced. “Sorry. I forgot about your injury. Is it bleeding again?”

She studied the bandage as we crested the hill. At the bottom of the hill lay another field, and after that, a huge forest.

“Nah, it’s okay. I’ll be right as rain in a few days.”

“Good. I prefer that you stay living.”

She chuckled. “I may be easier to kill than those two”—she nodded toward Wyatt and Bavar—“but I won’t go down without a fight.”

As we skimmed along the field, the forest grew closer. Early morning sun bathed the field in golden light. Above, the light-green sky grew brighter with every second.

A few minutes later we reached the woods’ edge. The second we entered the trees a wall of magic washed over me.

“What was that?” Goosebumps sprouted on my skin, and a tingle raced down my spine when we dipped into the trees’ shadows.

“That was the enchanting magic of the Shroud Forest,” Bavar replied from his carpet. He and Wyatt glided closer to us, the fringe of their carpet brushing ours.

The carpets had slowed to maneuver carefully around the trees’ thick trunks.

Since Wyatt was awake now, I kept my attention ahead as we flew deeper into the trees even though I felt him watching me now that he and Bavar were done discussing whatever they’d been talking about.

“Is this the forest we’re staying in?” I asked no one in particular.

“Indeed it is. There’s a safe house deep in these trees.” Bavar withdrew his dagger. “My family has owned it for centuries. However, we allow the SF to use it when needed. It’s heavily warded with ancient magic, and that, along with this forest’s natural debilitating enchantments, makes for a very secure home.”

The more the trees surrounded us, the more I understood what Bavar meant about the enchantments. Things felt different here—like up could be down, and left could be right. And the forest was so thick that it cut out most natural light. If the bizarre sensations of these woods weren’t enough to put one off, I imagined the darkness would.

The forest grew thicker as we traveled farther into it. The carpets had to separate at times to move around trees before coming back together.

Squad Three, which consisted of five individuals apart from Bavar and Charlotte, all tensed, and their gazes constantly assessed our surroundings. Weapons were firmly gripped in their hands.

Heidi, the witch who’d been controlling the cloaking spell, waved her hand and whispered a spell. The dome around us disappeared. “The forest will hide us now.”

Cool wind caressed my cheeks as I took in the pulsing energy growing in the group.

“Why’s everybody so tense?” I asked Charlotte.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Honestly, I haven’t spent much time in this realm outside of the capital so I’m as unfamiliar with it as you are.”

“It’s because it’s not only the enchantments that keep most fairies out of this forest.” Wyatt’s deep voice jolted through me. “This forest is also filled with creatures that will happily eat you for breakfast, and flora that will choke the life out of you.” He stood on the carpet next to Bavar. Both of them had their feet planted steadily, as if the shifting and swaying vessel beneath their soles was motionless.

Someone’s nap had done him good.

“This is a deadly forest?” I eyed the thick canopy with unease. “So why are we staying here?”

“We’re hoping it will deter the men that are after you, or at the very least, hide you for a few days until we can learn more.” Wyatt abruptly raised his weapon and fired. A vine—that I hadn’t even realized had been following us—had begun slithering across Wyatt’s carpet toward his feet. His shot blew it into a dozen pieces, and a shrill squeal immediately followed.

So the plants can scream. I shivered as the high-pitch sound died.

But that vine wasn’t the only thing pursuing us. The other squad members began firing. Vines and tangled weeds were creeping toward us at an alarming speed as if excited by the fresh meat that had arrived in their midst.

The carpets sped up, under Bavar’s command, and we were soon whizzing through the woods, dodging trees so quickly that at times I feared I’d fall off.

“Keep steady!” Bavar yelled. “And don’t let your guard down. She’s angry with us, that’s for sure.”

“She?” I asked Charlotte in confusion.

Before she could reply, a great rumble rose all around us. It sounded as if it came from everywhere and nowhere all at once, like the realm had muttered her displeasure.

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly glad that Charlotte and I were in the center of the group, despite the heady power thrumming through my veins. I knew I had immense magic, but that didn’t mean I knew how to use it. I was more likely to blow up my friends than hit any creatures or nefarious plant life.

A shriek came from my right, and I darted a look there just as a tiny creature yelped and scurried up a tree trunk. A male SF member shot at it.

Another deep rumble came from the soil and trees.

“What is that?” I asked. “It almost sounds like growling.”

“That was the forest.” Bavar scanned the trees. “She wasn’t expecting us, and she’s a bit put out that we’re firing at her children. We’ll have to tread carefully.” He stood straighter, turning on the carpet to face everybody as we continued moving at a dizzying pace. “Squad Three, only fire if directly threatened. The last thing we need is the Shroud Forest as an enemy.”

The other members all dipped their heads just as a steady pounding of what sounded like stampeding animals came from behind us.

“Be ready!” Bavar yelled. “We have incoming.”

My eyes widened when I took in the rustle and movement on the forest floor. Charlotte and I both gaped at one another. Something was moving beneath the fallen leaves and tangled roots.

A head popped up, then another. My jaw dropped when hundreds of monkey-like creatures emerged from the soil and began running behind us. They stood no more than two feet tall and ran on spindly hind legs, but their razor-sharp teeth, impressive speed, and wicked-looking claws told me they weren’t to be written off.

“What are those?” I gaped.

“Forest sprites. Damn. I’ve only read about them but have never seen one. Shit. They’re going to need my help with this.” Despite her injuries, she reached for her weapon and pushed to a stand. A dot of blood appeared through her bandage when she raised her bow and nocked an arrow.

All around us, the sprites began jumping and trying to land on the carpets. They came from everywhere. The vicious little creatures clawed out of tree trunks, emerged from the forest floor, and fell from the canopy above.

One managed to leap onto the carpet beside us, but a swift kick from one of the women had the sprite sailing through the air. Its enraged scream made my ears hurt.

“How much farther?” one of the men standing on the carpet ahead of us called. Another sprite landed by his side and he fired a shot. It flew off the carpet.

“At least a half a mile!” Bavar shouted. “We’ll need to keep them off the carpets. We won’t be protected from them until we reach the wards!”

The sprites continued to grow in numbers and despite trying to keep on the defense, Squad Three was quickly outnumbered and had no choice but to engage in all-out war.

Shots rang out. Arrows flew. Screams and high-pitched shrills echoed through the trees. I got caught up in the chaos, kicking at least half a dozen sprites back to the forest floor.

The carpets moved even faster, their tumbling, dipping movements making it hard to stay upright. Most of Squad Three was kneeling, although Bavar and Wyatt stayed standing.

“Behind you!” I yelled to Charlotte.

She spun and let her arrow fly in the same maneuver. It struck a sprite straight through the chest, its eyes rolling back in its head before it landed with a thud behind us.

Another one managed to jump onto our carpet, but I swiped out my arm when it leaped for Charlotte. It squealed in fury at my unexpected attack.

“Keep fighting but only when necessary!” Bavar commanded.

“There’s so many!” Lex yelled as he shot two sprites at once, casting spells from both hands.

“We’re almost th—”

A swell of magic rose from the forest floor, cutting Bavar off. The carpets buckled beneath us, sending most of us to our bellies or rolling toward the edge.

“Dammit, she’s really fucking angry,” Bavar seethed.

“We’re losing one!” Wyatt yelled.

Before I could blink, Wyatt catapulted off his carpet, somersaulting through the air over me and Charlotte, to land on the carpet to our right. He grabbed a hold of one of the women just as she was about to fly off.

Hauling her back up, Wyatt pushed the dazed squad member behind him and punched a sprite square in the face when it tried to latch on to his arm.

“Are you hurt, Marnee?” Wyatt asked the woman.

Blood trailed down Marnee’s leg, seeping through her pants. With wide eyes, I realized she’d been bitten.

“I’ll live.” Her cobalt-blue eyes flashed. She pushed back to kneeling, her weapon ready.

Wyatt nodded curtly then leaped off the carpet, in between two branches, before landing next to Bavar.

Bavar smirked. “Show-off.”

Wyatt grinned and swung when another sprite flew from the trees. His punch shot it to the ground behind us, its indignant hiss following.

Someone’s nap had definitely done him good. My heart pounded from the sheer power that Wyatt channeled as screams from the descending sprites rose higher and higher.

“How are there so many?” The energy strumming in me vibrated and swelled, as if sensing my fear of the erupting chaos. If only I knew how to wield it, then I could shoot the sprites as they came for us.

“They come from tunnels underground,” Bavar called out as he kicked two off his carpet at once. “They live in intricate channels beneath the forest floor, but also have pathways up through the trees’ trunks. They can literally come from anywhere, which is why they’re so dangerous.”

“Charlotte!” I yelled just as another sprite leaped off a tree branch toward her.

But she didn’t turn in time. It landed on her shoulder, its ragged claws digging into her injury. She screamed in pain, and fire burned inside me.

“Get off my friend!” I yelled and then power burst from my chest, completely out of my control.

The wave of magic shot out of me in a circular blast and everyone ducked. The crackling electric power zapped through the forest, obliterating everything in its path. Trees fell. Sprites screamed.

My eyes widened in horror even though Squad Three had reacted fast enough to avoid it.

But the sprites hadn’t been so lucky.

Hundreds of cries rose from the creatures. Those it hit were dead, their legs twitching and their bodies convulsing as their eyes rolled back in their heads.

“Well, that’s pretty wicked,” the woman with red hair said on the carpet beside us. “Why didn’t you do that sooner?”

The others all grinned as my power gave everyone a moment’s reprieve.

But before I could congratulate myself for not killing anyone in the squad and only harming the nasty creatures, the sprites that had managed to avoid my fury-laden blast, all turned their eyes on me. They hissed and bared their teeth as they raced through the trees, keeping up with the flying carpets.

“Oh, shit,” I whispered, realizing I’d just made myself a direct target.