Fae Guardians Series

Chapter 8: Not Quite Fae

Simeon

I brought Helga up the stairs with me and Darrius passed us in the hallway. His mood sour and wafted off him in waves. Plus blood darkened his shirt and pant leg.

"What happened?" I asked.

He waved a handful of knives at me. "Watch that 'ellion in there. She 'ad these 'idden in 'er dress."

Helga clicked her tongue. "Don't blame the poor lass for defending herself."

"Defen - I didnae do anything ta 'er. She attacked me," Darrius grumbled. "We've taken on a bloody Fae assassin. She's dangerous. I say we kill 'er afore she kills us."

"Then why did you call me?" Helga placed her hands on her hips. "Let the leminax's poison do its thing and she'll be out of your hair."

I gave Darrius a pleading look. We couldn't announce our suspicion to anyone, especially since she and Darrius had tangled.

How had she fared if she'd put that many of her blades into him? And with leminax venom rushing through her system too.

We needed all three of us supporting and protecting her if she was the missing queen.

"Come on," I opened the bedroom door for Helga. "Malcolm and I want her healed, even if Darrius doesn't."

My cousin muttered under his breath, then grasped my arm after Helga went inside. "Donnae let yer guard down with this female. She's not ta be trusted. Look what she did ta me at less than full capacity an' strength."

"Not everyone is evil." I squared my shoulders. The unspoken name of Amber between us. She had f****d us all over, Darrius more than me. And he blamed himself since he'd been so sure she had been the missing heir. Malcolm hadn't been convinced and I as the youngest had hoped. She'd nearly killed us all.

I stared at the door to the bedroom, doubt spread through my chest. She'd be joyous we had found her and reunited her with her true kind, not attacking us.

"You going to stand out there all night or are you going to come and help me?" Helga called.

I strode into the bedroom, braced for whatever I needed to do to protect my cousins and myself from letting my heart run away with hopeful fantasies again.

The woman laid on the floor, shards of glass scattered across the floor near her, and a broken picture frame beside her.

"Pick her up and set her on the bed." Helga frowned. "Hurry up unless you've changed your mind and want her to die here and now."

My throat suddenly dry, I swallowed and crept forward. I expected the woman to jump up and attack me. She remained motionless except for ragged breathing. I scooped her up in my arms. Her skin was hot to my touch. The fever was the next step in the poison. Helga was right. Avery didn't have much time left before even our healer's skills couldn't save her.

I carried Avery to the bed, setting her down gently.

"All right, move aside now, let me work." Helga pushed me back. She held her hands over Avery. Her palms glowed a yellow light. Then she stopped, stepping away from the bed and wringing her hands.

"What?" I grabbed Helga's arm.

"Sh-she's got iron on her. I can't heal her with that so close to me." Helga started to choke.

"How?" Where could Avery have more weapons?

Though I didn't know how she had come to have the ones she attacked Darrius with. I walked up to the bed, then ran my hand down the side of her dress. Sure enough, something hard was underneath.

"In her dress, I imagine," I said.

At Helga's nod, I gently took off the garment. Was nothing but material. At closer inspection though, I found pockets and sheaths sewn into the material.

Lust filled me. I stared down at her half-naked body. She wore a black, lacy bra, and matching underwear cut high. Helga bumped me out of the way and started her healing process again. Her hands now a brighter shade than before.

"Take that out of here." Helga pointed to the dress in my hands with her chin. "Even from here, that much iron is giving me a headache."

I nodded, taking the garment with me as I left. It held Avery's scent. Unable to stop myself, I brought the dress up to my nose and inhaled despite the growing unease in my gut. She smelled of chocolate and spice and something uniquely female.

And something more.

Something not quite Fae or human.

I cleared my throat, pulling the material away from my face. The iron and silver knives she had lining this dress had thrown off her scent. I ran my hands along the fabric. How many weapons did she have in this thing?

Eight.

My stomach clenched.

Perhaps Darrius was right, and she was a Fae assassin come here to kill us.