She felt his wariness intensify, so she stopped trudging closer. “I was right. Youarea Fae.”
The Fae tilted his head, assessing her. She assessed him back, noting how pain crossed his features every time he tried to move. Everything about him radiated agony locked tight, but also that energy that had been so present in the fog.
“My name is Anne. You followed me a few times and talked to me once.”
“Mino.”
Just one word, and his mouth clamped shut. She took one step forward and paused. “Mino, you are in pain. Your legs were normal before, weren’t they? You could walk before.”
There was the tiniest nod. It encouraged her.
“I need to know why you are spreading your fog around the city and killing animals. Please help me understand.”
The Fae didn’t reply. But red flowed from the non-lit fog wisps, thin lines that went directly down his lower limbs and seeped into his skin. Some of the black spots lightened enough to give her clarity, and the relief his face made cemented it.
“So, the blood helps you heal? And it takes away some of the pain?”
“Sometimes.”
Another step, then another. He didn’t protest and she reached him in no time. Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that some of the bigger wounds had festered and were eating at his skin. A sick feeling bloomed when it registered that some of the wounds were perfect circular marks, almost as if he had been branded.
Before she could contemplate it, she was slashing a claw into her skin until a large slit appeared. The pain came and went while blood trickled out. The Fae hissed, nostrils flaring, and frantically shook his head.
“No human blood.”
“Is it poisonous to you?” she asked.
“I can’t hurt them. Forbidden.”
Her heart swelled. Without a word, she snapped her arm forward so the droplets of blood could land on the festering spot. Mino hissed once more, but the sheer relief on his face as his skin absorbed the blood was something she would remember for a long time. The wariness disappeared as he looked on in desperation, golden eyes dull and weary. She took another risk and leaned even closer, her other hand resting on his arm. His gaze flew to the movement, then locked on hers.
“I need to know who did this to you. I need to know about this evil you talked about.”
Out of the corner of her eye, the fog picked up its pace.
“The Western Cub.”
“What?”
“The Western Cub.”
North Bear was the first to come to mind, and the connection left her reeling. Then Nico’s words came back, as clear as when he had said them.
You see my people, and you have become friends with them. What do you think will happen if they hear this?
Words not backed with evidence.
I promise to check it out. Please believe me.
She owed him her faith and to see this through.
“Mino, can you defend yourself from a direct assault if it comes?”
The Fae eyed her like she was a strange creature, and she couldn’t blame him. Finally, he nodded.
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She inhaled hard just to gather her bearings. “Okay.”