Chapter 206: Laughing Cats (1)
Evanna didn’t mention every aspect of what had happened to her, especially moments between her and Arawn, which was private though she did explain how he helped her with the elven gifts. Her story took them well into the night, and near the end, she was yawning, her head falling to the side of Ger’s shoulder, whispering the last words. Ronan passed out once she’d escaped the palace and ran into Conrad, but Axel remained awake with them, being the closest.
The icy elven prince had continued facing the other way though Evanna suspected he’d fallen asleep as Garrett returned and switched places with him. She awoke in the early hours of the morning, before first light, when Ger was rocked away to take a shift. With the group expanded in size, minus the night fae, they could all get more sleep than previously.
By the time Evanna woke up, the last remnants of the fire were left in tendrils of smoke, the blue flames now extinguished. The chill made her clutch the cloak around her tighter while blinking away the sleep from her eyes. Arawn was awake, already talking in hushed whispers with Garrett away from the camp. Ger was returning from his shift while Ronan and Axel continued to sleep; Fiza, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.
Evanna stood, a frown forming between her perfectly shaped brows.
"Where is Fiza?" She asked nobody in particular.
Ger scowled in the direction where the night fae had been sleeping; his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. "Scouting ahead," Garrett replied, amusement dripping in his voice as he watched Ger.
Not liking the way he watched Ger mockingly, Evanna snapped, "I am surprised you trust her enough to leave the camp, scout and report back."
"Good morning to you too, princess. Was your rough night sleeping against a rock, not to your liking?" Garrett smirked, enjoying the irritation flaring in her eyes. But one fist bump to his chest from Arawn quietened his teasing.
"Fiza may not return. She might die or leave intentionally. That is up to her," Arawn spoke, holding her gaze, then added. "We are not responsible for the woman."