But she was planning something; she was always planning, scheming – there was never an end, and everything she did was always carefully thought through. If she was on the ‘down-low’, there was a reason, and it probably had something to do with how power-hungry she was.
“I am uncertain, Derek… it has been so long… I am worried that Bareiijnr will attempt to overwhelm me with sheer numbers.” Mumbling softly, I kneaded and tugged at Derek’s mane, and he nuzzled my torso with his forehead soothingly. “I cannot find true happiness until he is defeated…I do not like living in this way.”
Derek couldn’t talk in this form, and I took the opportunity to once again express my fears over Bareiijnr. Across the Veil, weeks would’ve passed by now, but the shimmering aura in the sky above the city was still closed.
Muss could go through to the Unseelie realm, but his reports were startlingly quiet. Bareiijnr was not the tyrant, the bringer of chaos, that I had expected him to be.
He was much like Kaslni, though; there was more to the peace in my old home than simply his desire to be a giving and beloved ruler.
“There are others in my realm that we cannot defeat if they attack us in a group. If Bareiijnr is smart, he will send a group. I do not understand why he would wait so long otherwise.”
Despite the alcohol I’d consumed, my thoughts blared with crystal clarity in my inner eye, and I frowned at the ceiling. “What if all this is part of his plan – to loom over us – to force us into a constant state of unease and fear? He would do that, as well, and would consider the most opportune time to catch us off guard when we finally settle. There are so many ways in which he can inflict damage. I would not be surprised if he sends someone who is as adept at stealth as I am, and with the mission to attack those weakest and closest to me.”
‘Even now, you worry about things you cannot control or predict, Linne.’ Muss’ deep voice flooded my brain, and Derek grumbled at his interruption even as he scraped his tongue along my outer thigh.
‘Enjoy this moment. It is not often that you have a reason to celebrate. You have been in this realm for two years. It is your mating anniversary. Do not ruin your current happiness for fear that it will disappear at a later time.’
“I cannot help it. This is all my fault to begin with. If I had been better – if I hadn’t gotten caught, I – ”
‘If you hadn’t gotten caught, you would never know the joy that you are experiencing now. You would never know friends – true friends – or the enrichment of others in your life. You would still be Kaslni’s tool, useful and invaluable, but still just a tool all the same. Remind yourself why you worry, Linne, not what you worry about.’
A Little Bit About Rylee
Rylee Winters is a lover of fantasy and magic. She loves to write romance stories about strong, kick-ass heroines and hot, bad-ass but sweet guys.
Oftentimes, she can be found walking dazedly about, distracted by her imagination and daydreams of faeries, elves, shape-shifters and all sorts of magical possibilities.
She loves to read, and one of her favorite pastimes is sitting down to a good book with a steaming, hot cup of tea.
Send her a message to say ‘Hi’ or let her know what you think of her books – she loves to connect with her readers! =)
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