35. Arius

"I am a fae of the Summer Court," Arius said.
I was inspecting the skin on Kane's chest. No matter what angle I studied it from or touched it, there was no denying it. It was completely smooth. The only indication that there'd been any injury was the blood on his ruined suit. His breathing was normal again and his complexion improving too. He was all healed up and as good as new, and since I was feeling immensely grateful to Arius for that but didn't know what the hell he was talking about, I opted for a neutral response.
"Cool."
Arius rolled his eyes. Or seemed to, it looked more like a strange, robotic jerking of the irises instead. Like a doll that was trying very hard to act human but falling just short. It was like the jokes he'd made while healing Kane, all humorous but lacking any genuine humor from the joker himself. As if he were reading a script he knew was supposed to be funny but couldn't find anything funny about it himself.
Maybe I was being too hard on him, he might be doing it to make me feel safer in unknown company, but I still felt an aching pang for Aster. I wished she were here instead.
Arius moved away from Kane, casting a disdainful glance at the spot of blood on the cuff of his sleeve. "I detest stains. Perhaps it shouldn't have assisted after all."
"Summer Court?" I prompted merrily, standing up and inching a step so I was between them.
That's when I saw it. The silver coated wolf that was currently glaring at me.
You're not allowed to use your body as a shield for us, he growled. Move.
I blinked. The eerily familiar growl sounded like it was speaking right in my head.
I gave Arius an expectant look, but he didn't appear to notice the fact that although Kane's human body was right behind me and asleep, his wolf was standing between us and snarling orders at me.
The wolf turned his head towards Arius, amber eyes swirling dangerously. When we wake up, not even the dogs will want his remains.
"The faeries are divided into courts, like humans and their little countries," Arius said, apparently completely unaware of the mass of murderous intent three steps from him. "There are several of them, but the major two are the Night and Day courts. The smaller but still significant are the Spring, Winter, Summer and Autumn courts. Each faerie swears fealty to the service of a court and the Lord or Lady in charge of it. Aster and my father were faeries of the Winter Court, where the cold reigns year round and the knights are trained to be as deadly and unyielding as the winter. The Summer Court, where I am from, has far fewer fae skilled in the art of swordsmanship. We prefer more...peaceful activities."
I was trying hard to listen to Arius and not stare at Kane's wolf, who was watching Arius through narrowed lids. "Don't get me wrong, Arius, I think this is all very fascinating information, but isn't you telling me all of this supposed to be illegal?" I asked, rubbing at my arms. Now that the near-death situation was over, my body was starting to remember that it was cold again.
"Normally, yes." He folded his arms behind his back, his curly hair bouncing slightly as he tilted his head. "But now you work for me so you're an exception."
"What?"
He's a dead man walking, said the wolf.
"You are cold," Arius observed.
"That doesn't matter-"
"If you die of frostbite, I'll have no use for you."
I frowned at the hand he offered.
"I'll answer your questions, once I get you warm," he said calmly. "Close your eyes and come here, dove."
I gave the wolf a wary glance, but he had his eyes on Arius. I sighed. "Why do I have to close my eyes?"
"I'm going to use magic and I'd rather not have you watch me while I do so. You're eyes are stronger than a mortal's, but it could still suffer some damage."
"I just watched you heal Kane," I pointed out.
"Healing is simple magic for fae of my court. It does not harm."
"I have a wizard friend and I watch him use magic all the time."
His smile was patient, an adult explaining a simple concept to a stubborn child. "Fae magic differs greatly from human magic."
I hesitated. He waited.
I glanced at the wolf. He ducked his head in what I assumed was a nod. If he tries anything, you know where to kick.
Thanks, I thought back sourly. I took Arius' hand.
"Close your eyes," he said gently.
I closed them.
I waited, expecting to maybe hear the rumbling of thunder, or the soft glittering sounds pixie dust makes in the Tinker Bell movies. There was nothing of the sort, only a short pause in which there only seemed to be the feel of Arius' hand- surprisingly soft and warm- under mine.
Then, just as I was beginning to get scared this was all a trick to distract me while he quietly killed Kane with some mojo-
"You may open your eyes now."
They popped open- along with my jaw when I took in the sight around me. We were in a wooden cabin, relatively small but very luxurious. The floor was polished wood, but covered in a lush green carpet near a roaring fireplace (that was blessedly already chasing away the cold) and in front of that was a dark couch with fluffy cushions and a thick blanket. Kane was under that blanket, sound asleep. Simple but lovely paintings of flowers and gardens lined the walls save for where there were two windows with red velvet curtains pulled back a bit to reveal the still woods outside. The other half of the cabin was home to a gray table with tall candles and a light breakfast on its surface.
I could smell the food from where I stood- fresh bread with chocolate spread, buttered scrambled eggs, grapes and a pot of steaming tea.
"Wow," I breathed. This really was on a different level from Ian's spells. What else could he do? I thought, eyeing him with open suspicion.
He took my other hand, sandwiching them both in his and rubbed at them. The blood on them disappeared. "I will not harm you," he said simply.
Before I could argue, he was pulling me to the table (a growl following close behind us) and helping me get seated before taking the seat across from me himself.
He gestured towards the food. "You may eat."
My stomach rumbled with the invitation, but I didn't move. "As- I was told not to accept any food from faeries."
"Wise. But I am not just some other faerie. I've already sworn not to harm you and besides, I can demand anything from you already. Eat or do not eat, that is your choice," he said. He proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea, sipping slowly as he watched me.
He won't hurt you. You should eat.
I didn't have to turn to know he was right next to me, I could make out the hulk of silver fur from the edge of my vision. Funny, I could almost feel the heat from his body, as if he were made of real flesh and bone. Although I was certain by now that he wasn't a figment of my imagination. My guess was that the mate bond was allowing me see and hear him. I wondered if that meant Kane and I were on better terms, if perhaps he was opening up to me more. For some reason that both thrilled and annoyed me. Mostly annoyed though.
I didn't glance at the wolf as I replied. He won't hurt me, huh? Remember what happened the last time a guy promised not to do that?
Did I mention how beautiful you are?
I had to press my lips together to keep from smiling. That was the best he could come up with?
After a small mental shrug, I picked up a spoon. I really was famished. Considering all the healing I did yesterday, eating those three granola bars from last night was the equivalent of throwing a glass of water into a dried up lake. I dug in, slowly at first, then faster. In the end I polished off ten pieces of bread, three helpings of eggs and a plateful of grapes.
Arius nodded, appearing satisfied rather than horrified- like I'd expected- at my appetite. "Drink some tea."
I took the cup he offered, but only stared at the caramel colored liquid. This time without suspicion. "Aster always used to make me tea... It doesn't feel like she's actually gone, you know?" I looked at him. He was skinny beneath the cotton cloths and his expression wasn't stoic or annoyed- but his curly hair and the color of his eyes, they were the same as Aster's. "You look like her," I said.
"She would not be pleased to know you were crying over her every time you looked at me."
I blinked, only then noticing the wetness on my cheeks. Great, crying in front of someone I don't even know. I set the cup down and wiped at them quickly. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect her."
There was a soft nudge at my side. Not your fault, ours.
Arius smiled absently. "Aster never did want to be protected, the role of protector was always hers."
Maybe, but I'd promised to lessen her burden and then went on and made a bargain with her life that ended up getting her killed. It'd be naive to think things could've turned out differently if I'd been smarter, stronger than Alpha- look what happened to Kane- but that fact didn't take the weight of loss and guilt off my shoulders.
"I don't understand you don't want to kill me," I said, "she died protecting me. Don't you want vengeance?"
He folded his arms over his chest, but he seemed amused. "I believe in my sister's honor and the strong bonds that led her to do what she did. And seeing as you weren't the one who killed her, I harbor no grudge towards you," he replied. "You should drink the tea while its warm."
I obliged, thinking that despite the assurance in his words, the weight only felt more crushing.
I finished my tea and told him the meal was delicious as opposed to a thank you. "So what did you mean when you said I worked for you now? Did you mean housecleaning?"
"I'll explain that to you later. Your friends have been waiting for quite a while now," Arius said, setting down a small silver ring besides my empty dish. "When I felt Aster's passing I went to investigate. I met your friends and when they informed me of your plight, I promised to activate this when I found you."
He tapped the ring three times.
"Ember!" Ian exclaimed.
I turned to my left and he was just there, seemingly appearing out of thin air, his eyes wild with worry. I had time to notice that his arm was in a sling and his hair was longer before I was getting up and rushing over to him. I threw my arms around him. He smelled the way I remembered- of good, lazy afternoons and mischievous nights. Like home.
He laughed as I squeezed him. "Don't break me, Em, I'm still fragile." But he still wrapped his good arm around me and kissed my forehead.
I smiled, leaning back to look at him. "I missed you, you big goof."
He grinned. "How could you not? Jett and Darius are on their way over here, I gave them your location when Arius turned the signal on."
"They're on their way?" I asked. At this point even Darius' stupid face was welcome. "Jett's alive?"
"Alive and kicking," Ian agreed. "Taking a plane to where you are- where we are. Which is Colorado by the way."
I raised a brow. "Couldn't they come through the ring?" I asked.
He ruffled my hair, the braids had apparently come undone from the French braid at some point. "They're not wizards, even if they managed to, they might lose body parts in the process. You're stuck with me until then."
I hugged him again. "I guess I'll just have to cope."
He returned the hug. "You're blessed to have me, now fill me in on all the fine details."