RUIN

I am an absolute idiot.

That's all I can think as I sit on my bed, head in my hands. Of course Miguel has been raping the staff. Of course His Resplendence has been turning a blind eye and, of course, fucking Tobiah, a stranger to all of us, noticed and said something because my fucking guard didn't.

I don't blame him for leaving. Hell, I want to leave. I want to set something on fire. But Shatterjaw and I just had one of the longest, worst arguments I've ever had with anyone and now I'm alone and miserable in my fucking yurt while everyone gives me a wide berth.

I suppose… I really thought that if I indulged Miguel and let him touch me however he pleased, then he'd leave everyone else alone. But of course, he's just a power-hungry dipshit. He's breaking the staff and court before he even takes the throne, and he is going to be an absolute terror. Tobiah is right. We can't tell His Resplendence shit. Who knows how he'll twist things to his liking. The Oscillan-Ordeshian border is a point of contention and has been for the past four hundred years. He needs an excuse to attack Oscilla, who hasn't done shit to him, because then he might control the whole continent. He's always treated me with respect—sort of—but now I'm fairly certain it's a fucking farce. I thought it was because he liked me, but, more likely, it's because he wants to use me as a war machine. I have suspected King Oathblade keeps me around for that very reason, but so far I've been able to bullshit him about what I can and can't do. I think he thinks I mostly do wards, which is semi-accurate, but I have a healthy respect of magic and don't like using it to fry unsuspecting soldiers. So… like Tobiah, I've kind of been lying, but… it's for the good of everyone, right?

Ah, shit.

Ultimately, the king doesn't do shit to keep Miguel in check, to keep himself in check.

We'd be idiots to stop there. Tobiah is right. But… we'd also be idiots not to. If we don't report back and it is reported that we're in the area, gods know what will happen. He'll probably send his top mages—who are laughable—after us, and while I know Sparks and I could take them out, I don't feel like killing my fellow countryman.

I exhale and sit back, wishing for Tobiah and his strong embrace. I look at the tray of food they brought me who knows how long ago and see that it's cold. I wonder what time it is and how long I can afford to mope before it's dangerous. I probably should patch things up with Shatterjaw and the rest of the guard since I'm sure my spike of magic terrorized them.

I ignore the food and exit. It's late afternoon now and I suddenly worry about Tobiah. Why isn't he back yet?

There's movement to my side and I glance over at the guards. Huffington and Greentree are there, looking pensive and worried. Probably what I'm going to say won't make them feel better.

"I'm going for a walk," I say. "Don't follow me."

Huffington, ever the paragon, scowls.

"These woods are dangerous," he insists. "You need protection."

I scowl at him.

"I need space. I'll scream if it's bad," I say dryly, and they twitch nervously. Greentree, by nature, is shy and withdrawn so it surprises me when she speaks instead of Huffington.

"My lord," she swallows. "I… we all are very sorry that we didn't—"

" Please leave me alone," I say with a sigh. "Or I'll use magic to sneak away, and you'll never fucking find me. "

It's a bit harsh, I know, but… I'm pretty sure Tobiah is doing some fairy shit, and I still feel an impulse to cover for him and I don't know why. But I do know that if anyone here knew he was one of the fae, they would…not react well.

Greentree flushes and looks away and nods. I huff, feeling a bit like a monster.

"I'll be back soon," I promise and step forward.

"Did you eat?" Greentree blurts and, fuck my life, they actually care about me. I shrug.

"No. Not really."

Then I'm following Tobiah's faint magical string that should take me to him. I should've known sooner he was Fae. His magic feels so different from what I'm used to—demonic magic that warlocks use, the only kind of magic that humans can use, feels like a promise, a whisper of a contract. Tobiah's magic is light and strong, like piercing sunlight and an unforgiving wind. I assumed it was because he was an elf, but fuck me, that was a miscalculation and a half.

I follow the string deep into the forest and a few times, I almost lose it, but… somehow, I find it again. I can't just feel his magic, but his presence as well and it's as large as the air itself. It pulls me closer, and I know he needs me. I know it deep in my bones. I don't understand these feelings and I probably should fight them, but… I can't.

Because I need him too.

I find him on the bank of a nearby river, staring at the water absently, his eyes vacant and so lifeless that it feels overwhelmingly wrong. He obviously hasn't heard me and his eyes are puffy, like he's been crying. He is beautiful in this form, but I long for tawny skin and auburn curls and the horns—oh gods, what I want to do with those horns.

I step forward quietly and suddenly notice that he's petting a fluffy red fox laying in his lap and a brown bunny is close, watching him as if waiting for their turn. I've seen animal warlocks before, but this is something else entirely. It makes him look like a regal forest prince, the wild submitting to him. It is extremely hot and my lust flares even more.

I clear my throat to stop that thought before it gets to my crotch and he startles and turns around, blue eyes guileless. The fox and bunny startle, leaving in a hurry and I watch them go curiously. I stay back even though my very soul screams to be held and touched by him. He scrambles to his feet and I swallow as he is taken to his full height. He towers over me and is broad and wonderfully beautiful. But I only have eyes for his face. His lovely, torn face.

I am pissed at him for lying to me, but… not as much anymore. I've lied to protect myself and others before and I don't know if he's a noble or a peasant, but I do know fae react poorly to anyone leaving their fold.

How long has he been running?

"Ruin—" he shifts anxiously. "I… I wanted to…"

He clears his throat and I look around, setting up a privacy bubble again. I turn and look him over critically.

"I want to see it," I say after a moment and he blinks, confused.

"What?"

"Your real form. I want to see it again."

He inhales sharply and looks stunned.

"What?"

He steps away and I fear I'm losing him so I give him a slow, happy smile.

"Tobiah, you're the hottest thing I've ever seen," I confide, as if it's a great secret when it really isn't. "And I want you to be honest with me while wearing your real skin."

"Uh," he swallows and nods. "O-okay."

He lets out a shuddering sigh and a moment later, his glamour melts away with such ease that I know he is much more skilled than he lets on. In the place of a pale, broad, black-haired, blue-eyed elf is a tall, cedar skinned, auburn-haired, pink-eyed fae with black horns and silver edges and runes etched into them. He's still taller than me by at least half a foot, but he's lithe and more graceful in this form. He shifts anxiously as I take him in, eyes wide and something in me is soothed.

Something in me knows he's mine and always will be.

"Tobiah—you're…" I swallow. "Fuck. You're so beautiful. And… the animals. What was that?"

A blush works its way into his cheeks, and he tugs on one of his lengthy curls like an uncertain schoolboy.

It's endlessly adorable and I feel an urge to kiss him.

"You think I'm beautiful?" He asks, utterly unsure. "The fox was… Fae can… we communicate with them and sometimes they want our attention."

"You are stunning," I breathe. "And that's the hottest thing I've ever heard. You're like a prince of the forest."

His laugh is strained and sounds odd. Before he can tangle himself up in anxiety, I kiss him passionately, pushing all my desire towards him with abandon. Since the scrying, something has been not quite right within me, but the second our lips touch and I melt into him, everything seems right again. I moan and want to consume every flavorful bit of his lust and make it my own. I press into him and have so many questions, but the only important one is "Do you care for me?"

Phish. That's ridiculous and I push that question far away. It doesn't belong here. Not now when we're both so raw.

Somehow, I end up with my back against a nearby tree, Tobiah holding me tightly as I wrap my legs around his waist and find him just as hard as I.

"Tobiah," I gasp and moan, running my hands shamelessly all over him. "Oh, fuck, sweetheart."

He's desperate for me, grinding against me and leaving delicious bites on my neck. But as I breathe his name again, he pauses, panting.

"I… fuck, Ruin, that is not my name," he gasps out, eyes wild with lust and I pause, trying to process past the haze of lust that's overtaken us both.

"Wh-what?" I manage, gasping for air. "What… what is your name? "

"Yaris," he breathes, the sound a pure melody on his lips and I shiver. "It is Yaris. I want you to moan that."

"Oh, fuck," I nod. "Yaris. Oh, gods. It's so perfect for you. My Yaris."

‘My Yaris'? Fuck, what am I smoking?

And do I really care?

I cling to him as he continues his lovemaking and I'm not too proud to say that when he finally got our cocks out of our trousers and he wrapped his big, flexible fingers around them and pumped with precision, I come four strokes in. He follows me a few strokes later and I've never felt such a satisfying orgasm in my life. I can't see all of his cock, but it feels… different than mine. I mean, all cocks do, but his feels… ridged?

I frown at him and try to decide how to approach it. It's not unpleasant. I'm just not used to it and I stare, trying to work it out in my addled mind.

"Yaris, your cock—"

He laughs a real, full laugh and that's more startling than his cock.

"Yes. It is different. It has ridges."

"Fascinating," I murmur and think about that as I relax against the tree. He buries his head in my shoulder and starts to unwind as well. We stay like that for a few long minutes and then he shifts and cleans us with some spell. I have more questions for him, but, for the moment, I want everything to stay exactly as it is.

I'm still in a haze of the orgasm as I'm set down and fix my trousers.

"I'm still mad at you," I say teasingly and then regret it as all color drains from his face.

"Wh-what?" He gapes at me, frozen in the motion of pulling up his trousers.

"Hey, hey," I reach up and pull his face closer to mine. "I was joking. I'm sorry. I'm not really mad. I've concluded that we all lie to survive, yes? And that's all you've been doing, surviving."

He relaxes and nods, swallowing.

"Ye-yes, of course," he says, looking relieved.

"I was going to demand at least a dozen more orgasms as payment for your sins, but—"

Yaris has just pulled up his trousers and laced them when I feel a bolt headed our way. Yaris must feel it too and tenses before putting on his glamour so fast that it's dizzying. I draw up a shield skillfully and spin around just as the arrow bounces off it. There, about ten yards away, are Shatterjaw and Kato, bows and bodies taut with tension. Shatterjaw is trembling and pale as a ghost, but determined as she inches forward. Yaris stiffens and starts to move away, and I can tell he is panicking.

"No!" I snap and grab his arm. "Stay here."

He stops and shakes his head.

"I cannot, Ruin. I am sorry," his voice shakes with grief, and I want to murder the two other humans.

"Trust me, Yaris," I say firmly, gripping him tightly. "Trust me."

I still hold onto him as Shatterjaw and Kato come forward, crouching in the way warriors do when they're ready to kill something.

"Nylana," I say firmly. "Back off."

"Drop the shield, Your Grace," she says coldly. "The fae has fucked with your head."

I huff.

"He hasn't," I insist. "Have you heard of a dragon rider falling victim to fae compulsion?"

It's a gamble and a question I don't really know the answer to, but surely that's part of what makes us dangerous.

Shit, I hope I'm right.

She pauses, unsure, and she and Kato speak rapidly in low tones for a few moments. I let them sort it out and I look at Yaris. He still looks ready to flee, practically vibrating with a desire to leave .

"Trust me, Yaris," I soothe. "You have to trust me."

He shakes his head.

"It is not you I do not trust. It is them."

I don't have much to say to that, but Shatterjaw and Kato seem to be backing off. Kato puts away his bow and hurries back the way he came. I still don't drop the shield as Shatterjaw eyes me.

She clears her throat.

"He's going to get Sovereign Lainoloda. We don't want… that near camp."

Yaris scoffs and I feel anger on his behalf.

"Don't do that," I snap at her. "Don't dehumanize him. You have no idea what he's been through or what it's like to be him. I'm disappointed. I thought you were more empathetic than that."

"He's not even human to begin with," she snaps. "I can't believe I didn't even see it."

She's obviously very angry, but… I suspect she's angry more at herself than Yaris.

"If he meant ill, Nylana, he would've wiped out your people upon waking," I counter harshly and cross my arms. "He would've wiped us all out. He's been nothing but helpful and treating him like some heinous criminal doesn't help anyone."

Yaris sighs and puts a hand on my shoulder, and I look up at him.

"It is alright, Ruin," he says softly. "They are right to be cautious. I always overstay my welcome anyway." He smiles sadly. "It is the nature of leaving the fold."

Somehow, that just makes it worse. I know Fae are assholes, but maybe everyone else is too.

The minutes pass in silence after that, Shatterjaw walking back and forth like a caged beast ready to strike. Yaris is taut with tension, and I grit my teeth, trying to move past the unmistakable strain in the air. This is horrible and I wish we could go back to ten minutes ago when I was fucking and none of this was a concern.

Sovereign Lainoloda shows up quickly, her two person guard now a six person one. They all look grim, and I can't help but step back. I don't want to hurt anyone. Not even a little bit. I can't choose between Yaris and my companions. I can't.

But will I have to?

Sovereign Lainoloda is dressed in blood red and regards us coolly. She may not look too scary, but I can feel her magic and she is restless.

I swallow, feeling entirely unprepared for all of this.

She looks directly at Yaris and smiles humorlessly.

"Well, Fae," she says, crossing her arms. "Why don't you tell me why you're really here?"