“We didn’t invite you along,” I said irritably.
“That’s a weird thing to say to your moon friend, moon friend,” Seth said, a teasing smirk on his face.
Darcy leaned sideways to look past me, but I didn’t move even when she pressed a hand to my chest to try and make me.
“We’re not moon friends,” I gritted out.
“Well, that seems like an awfully moon friend thing to say, Lance,” Seth said lightly. I was sure he was trying to wind me up and by the stars was it working.
“Stop saying moon friends,” I snarled.
“What’s a moon friend?” Darcy asked curiously.
“It’s not a thing,” I growled.
“Er, it absolutely is a thing. And I’d know, as I’ve been to the moon,” Seth said cockily.
“Really?” I deadpanned, rounding on him. “I hadn’t heard.”
“Yeah, I went last summer. Cal got me a ticket. And while I was there, there was this really good-looking crater which whispered my name and-”
“I know,” I snapped, not wanting to hear this fucking story for the thousandth time.
“But you said-” he started.
“I was being sarcastic,” I hissed and he barked a laugh.
“Oh Lance, you are so jealous of me going to the moon. Shit, they wouldn’t let a Power Shamed Fae on the moon, would they? Or maybe they would but then they’d leave you there so you wouldn’t make people uncomfortable here on earth anymore…” he said thoughtfully and my scowl deepened. “Nah, they wouldn’t disrespect the moon like that actually.”
Darcy caught my hand, tugging me through the door before I decided to break the mutt’s neck.
As he followed us, I tried to figure out if it was worth turning back and waiting another whole month for the full moon to rise again so that we could do this without Seth. But dammit, I couldn’t come up with a good enough reason to do that.
The feel of the magical protection spells trickled over me as we stepped out of the clock that concealed the entrance to The Burrows then we headed to the door of the farmhouse.
I tried to pointedly ignore Seth as he rehashed more of his stories from the moon, but it was impossible. The only thing stopping me from shutting him up for good was Darcy’s hand squeezing mine and the looks she kept throwing me that said killing the Wolf would not go down well.
As we made it outside and the guards appeared ahead of us, I tugged my hand from Darcy’s and dropped back a few steps behind the two of them while she threw me a frown over her shoulder. Get used to it, beautiful. I’m not bringing you down with me.
“Princess Darcy. My name is Barney Von Bonderville, and I am at your service. Please, let me walk you away from that Power Shamed vermin.” The nearest guard bowed his head before throwing me a sickened look.
Anger poisoned my blood but I fell back a little more, hugging the shadows in front of the farmhouse as Seth and Darcy moved into the glow of the guards’ Faelights. I despised having to keep myself in check every time someone threw insults my way, but if I went around breaking the bones of everyone who spoke about me like that, the whole rebellion would be in peril.
“He’s not vermin,” Darcy snarled at him and he bowed lower. I fucking adored her for standing up for me like that, but I really had to get her to stop. They were going to start questioning her sanity if she kept it up.
“Forgive me. How can I assist you?” Barney asked.
“Just make sure we’re not disturbed,” she said sharply and the guards all moved back as she swept past them, glancing over her shoulder when she realised I wasn’t right behind her.
Her eyes found mine immediately even though I was sure I could barely be seen here in the dark, but Blue always had a way of seeking me out.
“Lance, walk beside me,” she commanded, her chin high and far be it from me to ignore an order from my queen. I shot to her side, walking with her across the thick snow, though my heightened hearing didn’t miss the muttered words between the guards, and I suddenly questioned my choice to move so close to her while we were still in sight. If they told the rest of the rebels and people got wind of us being a couple, Darcy could lose their support, and I couldn’t bear to be responsible for that.
“Why does she keep that washout felon around?” Barney Von fucking Dickweed said.
“He must be of some use to her, but let’s hope that doesn’t last much longer.”
“Yeah, she’ll discard him soon enough. Then he’ll melt into the background of society where he belongs.”