Free Fairy Flavor by Anna Keraleigh Page A

she
    fell backwards, screamed her fairy’s name as she tumbled. Over and over she
    rolled. Her back hitting the roots that once helped her. Pain burst through her
    skull, dizziness threatened to tear her apart and then she skidded to a violent
    stop. Rough dirt scraped exposed skin as she managed to shift to her back.
    Staring up at the darkening sky did not lend her hope.
    They were there. Ugly bastards had surrounded her. The skin around
    their cat eyes was thick and clumped. Teeth filled with fangs, no hair to speak
    of and one leaned down to her with a demonic grin. They had bodies like men
    with shoulders, chests, arms, legs but they were smaller and out of proportion.
    “We’ve caught you, Queen.”
    Feeling brave or maybe it was the hit to the head, Brook spit in its face.
    “Kiss my ass.” Carrick would save her. Her fairy man would come to her
    rescue and kill these things. Why was it suddenly darker? The sun was setting
    too fast. Her eyelids drooped and consciousness faded away.

    ****
Carrick held his breath, watched as Thame took off into the sky. He
    was the fastest flyer and the best tracker. He aimed for Brook’s home, and his
    head screamed with worry.
    “You cannot follow…” Keyn spoke quietly from his side.
    “I have too…” It was his love, his queen. The other fairies hand lay on
    his shoulder to hinder his movements but also to render some comfort.
    “And…if it’s a trap or worse, they could be attacking our land right
    now. Flance and Bray could be in danger. If there’s a large party then the other
    will not be able to defeat them all.”
    Keyn was right. Focus left him; common sense was buried under his
    heart-breaking worry. “…If it is a trap…Thame is in trouble…” Everyone
    needed his help, and he was but one fairy. He wanted to send them to Brook
    but then what of his kingdom? Carrick could not choose between his home and
    his heart.
    “We should return home, check the border and Thame will contact you
    quickly. He’s the quickest of us all.”
    With a glance at the sky, his wings lifted him off the ground and Keyn
    was by his side the entire time. He fought panic and hurtled toward home.

    ****
    Thame left the King and never looked back. Not only was the queen
    missing, but his friends. If the trolls or some disgusting humans tried to harm
    them, he’d give no mercy.
    The sun warmed his skin as he travel past their home, which lay quiet
    and at first glance, untouched. He flew further East toward Brook’s dwelling.
    The closer he came to her residence, the more prominent the smell of blood
    became. He flapped faster; his eyes scanned the area as the roof of the house
    appeared. It seemed undisturbed and then he heard the wail, the scream that
    left his emotions exposed.
    He raced forward, landed on the front lawn and found the remnants of
    battle. Four trolls dead, fairy blood splattered the walls, and trailed inside. It
    was inside the front door he heard another frantic cry and Mord’s bloody face
    jerked toward him.
    Thame was motionless those first few moments unable to face the truth
    that the bloody heap in his arms was Wick. His wings were torn, his chest a
    mass of blood and ravaged skin. “What…” He cleared his throat and knelt
    beside them. “Can you fly?” Mord quietly nodded his head. “I’ll carry
    Wick…where’s Brook?”
    “Gone, they took her. The trolls grabbed her.” He looked lost and
    Thame quickly gathered the fallen fairy in his arms. “Make sure Brielle is
    awaiting us.” It would take longer for him to arrive home because of the extra
    weight. He would gladly make that trip a hundred times, if it ensured Wick’s
    survival. Mord took off into the sky, and after a quick prayer to the Goddess,
    Thame joined him.

    ****

    Brook knew Carrick had not arrived the moment she became aware.
    Her eyes had yet to open, but she did not feel his touch. She didn’t feel content
    or safe, and she knew her screams had gone unanswered.
    The