The Sentinel's Forbidden Fae

CHAPTER 03

KAELION ♠

I silently moved through the snow in my sentinel form. The beast inside me was wide awake, my muscles tight, ears forward. Hunting was never easy in the Wastelands. Starving monsters had wiped out most of the prey long ago.

Finding one was rare, but alas, I did it.

The deer stood twenty paces ahead, its head down as it nibbled the thin frozen grass. I kept my breathing slow. My paws made almost no sound on the fresh snow. One good leap and I would finally eat something decent.

I brazed myself to pounce when the sharp, metallic scent of fresh blood hit my nose. Her blood.

My jaw clenched tight. Damn it. She stepped outside.

If I could smell her from here, every other creature in these wastes could smell her too. The open cuts on her ankles were like a beacon.

The deer lifted its head, ears twitching. In the next second it bolted, white tail flashing as it disappeared between the rocks.

Fuck. ‘There goes breakfast.’

A low growl rumbled deep in my chest. I wanted to chase the deer, but I couldn’t. Not if she was out there bleeding, walking around like bait.

I knew this was a stupid idea. I knew bringing a fae into my cabin would only bring trouble. Look at her already causing problems. One morning and she’s already out wandering, drawing every monster straight to us.

I turned fast and started running back toward the cottage. My paws dug into the snow, the cold air rushing past my face, but the only thing I could think about was her scent.

She had no idea how dangerous this place was. This land was filled with all kinds of monstrous beasts.

I ran down the slope. Then I saw her.

She was limping slowly through the snow, her shoulders hunched against the wind. Her blood soaked through the cloth on her ankles. And right behind her, was one of the twisted scavengers.

The beast inside me took over as a deep, uncontrollable growl tore out of my throat before I could stop it. My lips pulled back from my fangs.

Nothing could happen to her. At least not before I knew why she looked like Elyra.

The ugly creature heard me, freezing as it caught sight of my size. It ran off like a coward, knowing it was outmatched.

She was still on the ground where she had fallen. She looked small. Scared. But… determined.

I stayed where I was for a second, breathing hard. My growl slowly died down.

What the hell am I doing? Why does my chest feel like this when I look at her?

I took one slow step forward, then another. The snow crunched under my heavy paws. She was watching me now, her eyes wide.

‘Easy’, I calmed myself. Don’t scare her more than she already is.

I couldn’t shift right now. Not unless I wanted to stand naked in front of her. Instead, I turned my head toward the cottage and gave a short, clear nod in that direction.

She stared at me for a moment, then spoke in a soft, shaky voice. “I… I should go back to the cottage?”

I nodded and started moving forward slowly. Every few steps I turned my head to check if she was following.

When we reached the door, she stepped inside first. I followed and went straight to the far side of the room, behind a wooden screen where I kept my clothes.

The moment I stood on two legs again, I grabbed my pants and shirt and pulled them on quickly before stepping out.

She let out a startled gasp, staring at me with wide eyes. Her gaze dropped to the mark on the side of my neck — the mark of the Sentinel.

Horror flashed across her face. She spun around and tried to run for the door.

I moved fast and caught her arm before she could reach it. “Relax,” I murmured by her ear.

She shivered at my closeness. I could feel her pulse racing under my fingers.

The warmth of her body and the soft lavender scent still clinging to her hair made the situation feel… intimate. I let her go and stepped back.

“I may be a Sentinel,” I said quietly, “but I won’t hurt you.”

She shook her head. Tears started flowing down her cheeks. “You’re lying. You Sentinels are all liars.”

Her eyes grew brighter, glowing with silver light. Her palm started to glow too. Her gentle face changed completely — morphing to an expression full of rage.

As if reacting to her, the wind outside picked up, and the clouds darkened. Thunder rumbled in the distance. She threw a bright ray of light at me.

I jumped back just in time. The spot where I had been standing turned black on the wooden floor.

She kept throwing more rays, one after another. I moved back step by step until my back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to go.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the next hit.

But after what felt like a minute, nothing came.

I slowly opened my eyes.

She wasn’t looking at me anymore. Her gaze was fixed on the small framed picture hanging on the wall — the only thing I had left of Elyra.

She was panting softly. Her eyes slowly returned to normal.

In a very soft voice, almost a whisper, she asked, “W-why do you have Elyra's picture?”

My heart started pounding. She knows Elyra.

“You know Elyra?” I asked, my voice rough.

She nodded slowly.

“How do you know her?”

Before she could answer, her eyes fluttered and her body swayed.

I moved quickly and caught her before she hit the floor. For someone with such powerful powers, her body was annoyingly frail.

I sighed heavily. “Just great.”