“I'm not even certain it'll work,” came the First's response after a long while. “And if it does, I still can't guarantee your safety. We will have to discuss this with the Elders, but...”
Minx felt moved to dissuade him—better still, to demand that he recant his offer—but couldn't do it. Her love for Kaleb was great, but so was her love for her people. Having to choose between the two of them left her shaken to her core. Or perhaps that wasn't the whole of it; perhaps she'd already made her choice—had long ago chosen Kaleb—and was now gutted to have her decision reversed.
The First, needing to speak to the Elders about the particulars of the warding spell, took his leave. “For the time being, please get some rest. If the hordes threaten Pan, it may become necessary for all of us to fight.” He turned to Minx. “Have the dragon stay with you, and I'll send a messenger along the moment the Elders have given me an answer. All of this hinges on their willingness.”
“Understood...” muttered Minx, bowing slightly.
The four of them were led out. Valdar and Mau strode down the steps first, while Kaleb and Minx followed behind. Though her father's strength had made a reprise, her own legs now failed her as she tried to leave the First's quarters. She watched Kaleb walking just ahead of her, eyes misting over with tears. This wasn't supposed to be the plan. Not now that I care about him... If I had taken his hide that day when I first met him, we could have avoided all of this. But I just had to get to know him. He had to wait to do this until... It was all she could do to bury her feelings. Very shortly, she'd have time to speak to him alone. In private, she'd be able to tell him everything that was on her mind.
Returning to the forest floor, Valdar offered the dragon shifter a brief word of thanks—and it was understood by all present that Minx and Kaleb needed some time alone to discuss this momentous development. “I need some rest,” he said, wrapping his daughter in an embrace. “I don't suppose Mau here could help me get to my quarters, could she?”
The Faelyr purred, striding up to Valdar's side. I'll see to it that your father gets home safely, and when I'm done I'll see what's happening throughout Pandling Grounds. In the meantime... try to stay calm, Minx.
This advice felt cold and hollow to her, but the Fae huntress nodded all the same as they wandered from the First's property.
When the two of them were alone, Minx seized Kaleb's arm without warning and began dragging him from the main footpaths. She kept it together as they passed beneath homes and walked in the shadow of old Winterlimb. Arriving in a secluded cluster of forest, Minx finally let go of him and felt all the strength flee her body. She slumped against a gnarled tree and set her teary gaze on him. “Why?” she asked.
“Why?” he echoed.
She would have elaborated, furthered the conversation, but her lips were quivering too hard to speak.
Kaleb offered a soft smile. “Why have I volunteered for this, you mean? It's simple, Minx. There's no other way. If I want to protect your people—if I want to protect you—then this is my only shot, isn't it?”
It felt terrible to hate him for this decision, to hold it against him. He was putting his life on the line for her good. Even so, she wished he'd change his mind. “But you'll... you'll die,” she spat out.
Kaleb, though, shook his head. “That's no guarantee. It's risky, of course, but I'm not too interested in dying. Maybe the Elders will be able to shine more light on the matter, but if I'm offering myself up as a living being—remaining in one piece—then who knows? Who's to say I won't live through it? I've been put through the wringer before, haven't I? This is no different. It's just the newest gamble in a long line of bets, right? I like these odds.”
She laughed in spite of herself, wiping tears from her cheeks. “If you die because of this, I'll never forgive you. I hope you understand that.”
Kaleb approached her forcefully, taking her trembling shoulders in his strong hands. His burning yellow eyes met hers as he leaned down towards her, continuing softly. “You're worth the risk, Minx.”
A shiver ran down her spine as she felt his hot breath streaming across her teary face. As if drawn by magnetism, she raised herself up on her toes and kissed him, her lips locking to his with an almost desperate force. With the merest taste of his lips, her heart grew calm once again and she was reminded of the peace she'd enjoyed the whole night prior at his side.
When she finally drew away, Kaleb spared her a grin and dried a few stray tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “You're sure getting worked up about this, huh? But you're forgetting something.”
“What's that?” she asked, sniffling.
He struck his chest and winked. “I'm built different!” Kaleb chuckled, running a hand through his dark locks. “This has never been done before, right? So there's no reason for us to go into it expecting the worst outcome. Have a little faith in me, Minx. There's every chance that this could work out for the best.”
I wish I had his optimism, she thought, shaking her head. “If you're really sure about this...”
“Of course I'm sure,” he shot back. “Have you ever known me to be the compulsive type?”
Finally, this won him a genuine laugh. Minx dried her eyes. She was still terrified at the prospect of something happening to him, but his hope for a happy resolution to this grim errand was all she had to lean on in the moment.
The Fae huntress
