mo

shutters had blown open on one of the windows, letting in the silvery moonlight and a drift of white fl

e fire had died down to embers, and ba

rs, but she knew that she h

?” She

wsill, and she could smell t

d pulled free and floated, gossamer fine, as he poured water into the washbowl from the jug. Th

matured at the same rate as she, a half-Fae, did, and he se

oving with care so as not to spil

you?” She exclaimed in

dge of the bed, placin

ed that his shirt was in ruins, torn and f

h, don’t scold,” she told him, lifting the edges of his shirt to see the damage below. His back was crisscrossed with m

ressed by what he had endured

he said softly. “

her. He was filthy, his fingernails rimmed with black, and rope burn ringed his wrists. His arm

jury as she closed her eyes and drew upon her power. She heard his sharp breath and opened her eyes to find that he ha

grief pulled the corners of her mouth down as she fought to smother it. She laid her palm onto his healed back, the terrible punishm

good,” he

she cried. He saved the bowl from spilling, leaning forward to set it to

He murmured as he stroked h

e sobbed the wo

leaned back from him, wiping her face onto her sleeves. “Let’s get you cleaned up,”

ing that he, too, could use magic. She wet the cloths and used them to clean his face and neck, before risi

ng comfort from his solid presence. He dipped his head, pressing his lips against the

outlawed by the Fae for humans and by the humans for Fae to wield it, so I am doubly cursed, being half of each. Each side makes rules

hem, holding each other until she sighed in a breath. “I should find you new clothes, Sylvin. You

ill

here was space upon the floor before the fire. Optimistic dogs and cats took advantage of the sleepers and curle

nd a maid f-ked beneath a table an

ited by the Fae to go to war and spent this last night farewelling his lover, hoping, perha

table was set with produce ready for preparation i

child?” Arithen whisp

ry to wake you,” she wh

e silver haired boy’s coming and going. “There is s

ena took it. “He

en pushed to her feet. “I’ll go unlock

nk y

k a cloth bag from where it h

ndle of cloth. “Bring down anythin

you, Ar

d as she laid back and arran

ure to stay,” Yele

” Arithen sighed. “

o the room. She set the bag and clothing onto the bed. “Hopefully some of

is legs without any modesty. She rolled her eyes and looked away, shaking her head. “One day, S

hewed on it whilst they looked through the clothes. He put a second shirt into th

was my father’s, but now he has new,” she observed. “The colour is good on you

against lips, sweet and soft, and she smiled as

you,”

lk some more in the morning.” Using her magic and the night-time adventure had tired her, and she wa

and held it against her chest as she closed her eyes, the warmth of him ag

ike a dog, and wonder why it b

m. “Stay here, where you can be the wolf, without anyone to whip y

, lulled by the beat of his heart and the r

oke a