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“You’re going to need a belt” The brown fabric sags around her waist

I turn to look for one, and Leander already has two in his hand, which he offers to me

“Thanks” I take them, and Beth and I finish up “Wait, shoes?”

Once again, Leander already has two pairs ready

“Can fae read minds?” I kick off my worn and dirty slippers and slide on the leathery ones Leander chose

“Soic at all”

“Seriously?” I just assumed they all could

“I riic, exactly, but Granthos could communicate on a basic level with most beasts And he could tell them what to do” She doesn’t mention the scars that mark her body, but she doesn’t have to Herto feed on her I only hope that one day he will receive the punishment he deserves

She stands and works her dark blonde hair into a big knot “Anyway, ic Leander and Gareth have? It’s unusual” Swiping a couple of wide-bri, she handselse to choose froh the plains” She doesn’t sound too sure

“We’ll er It sends a tingle up my arm “We’re ready”

The barrier disappears

“Is there anything else you’d like?” Leander asks, his dark eyes glea as he inspects my new outfit

“Toothbrush” I don’t think the shop has any It’s iene “Oooh, and a hairbrush” It’s funny, but back ho Squire pens I was certain if I had those fancy pens, I’d actually journal everyday instead of once a hen I thought about it Pipe dreams Or, pen dreams, more accurately But now? A simple toothbrush would make my day, week, year

“Tired of the twig toothbrushes I make for us?” Beth asks almost petulantly

“No, of course not” I think fast “But in the plains, there won’t be any trees, so you can’t make fresh ones”

She considers for ato Leander, she says, “We need toothbrushes”

Gareth is still arguing with the shopkeeper, though he’s aoods on the counter

“Not here” Leander leads us back to the door “The inn across the street ht have a few items like that I’ll take you”

“Leander, this son of a yakhound is trying to charge us double simply because he doesn’t like my face” Gareth towers over the shopkeeper, who snaps his beak

“I wouldn’t let ly sister sit on a face such as yours” The shopkeeper has a row of green feathers along the top of his head that stand up in challenge

Leander sighs “Wait here”

He strides to the counter “We need supplies and are happy to pay a fair price for them If you’d prefer to deal with me—”

“You winter realm fae aren’t welcome here”

“I have coin You have goods Let’s discuss—”

“Cos me out of the shop and onto the dusty porch

“Shouldn’t ait for Leander?” I glance back into the shop, but it’s too dusky inside to see when the sun is so bright out here

“It’s just across the street We’ll be fine They’re a couple of over-protective ninnies” She steps to the edge of the porch as another buggy passes along with a few horses “Come on, here’s our chance”

I let her pull me off the porch and into the dusty road We hurry across, avoiding all the creatures on the opposite porch as we step up

“See?” Beth smiles

“Okay, but let’s hurry You kno Leander gets”

“Insanely possessive?” she says brightly

“Yeah, that” I snugeyes of the nearby fae

“We can handle ourselves” She leads the way into the inn “Don’t worry so rabs her and shackles her wrists

“Let her go!” I rush forward as the creatures in the inn scatter, knocking over tables and chairs Grabbing Beth’s are as Leander, strength rolling off him He wears a bandanna around the lower half of his face When I see his dark eyes, I suspect he’s a winter realm fae

“She’s rip on the chain between her shackles as she struggles to free herself, then he pushes up the brim of my hat “Are you a runaway, too?”

“Run!” Beth kicks him in the shins, but he doesn’t seem bothered “It’s the Catcher!”

“Leander!” I think h to be heard all the way back at the summer palace

The inn darkens, a chill blowing through the building so quickly that my teeth chatter Leander enters behind ible fist of cold

“Release her” He holds his sith lethal ease and softly maneuvers me behind him

“Get him!” I pat him on the back It’s pretty much the extent of my usefulness in this situation

“The Catcher, is it?” Leander’s voice is coated with ice, though he lowers his sword

The Catcher dips his chin just a bit in Leander’s direction Was that respect?