A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.



Stepping back from her and getting to his feet, he examined the blade in his hands and didn't toss it back to her. "I'll just hold onto this for good measure. Despite you not wanting to kill me, you might still want to get a few good revenge stabs." Will placed the dagger presumably in an inner pocket of his cloak before he crossed his arms over his chest. "Lead the way, Bluebell."



His eyes scanned over her form slowly, and heat swarmed her cheeks. Looking down, she quickly bundled up the dress and covered her front. Without its thin layer of protection, she might as well have been nude due to how soaked she was. (F/n) picked herself up to her feet and retrieved the wet blanket as well.



Pretending that Will wasn't present, she ripped off the dress skirt, tossed the thin fabric aside and replaced it with the thicker blanket. She kept on the corset piece of the dress and held it shut with her hands. (F/n) held her head up high; she wouldn't let the a**hole humiliate her anymore. As her body began to shiver again, she marched past him and headed out of the secluded area.



A chuckle rang behind her, and she almost turned around to slap him. That was until she caught sight of the pale flying creatures in front of her. As they hovered in the air in front of her, they gracefully dodged the larger raindrops that filled the air. It would be a spectacle to see if she didn't grow enraged at their presence. So, they had been watching that entire exchange.



She bottled up her anger, however, and put it into her walking. (F/n) went right past them and was tempted to hit them to the ground. Resisting the urge to do so, she watched them fly ahead a bit to guide her back to their home. Will's footsteps could be heard behind her, but her attention fell on the soft voice in her head. Tarhuinn was calling her again.



Even though her body was recovering from absolute terror and increasing anger, a small smile graced her lips. She was finally going to see him again. It hadn't even been a week, but the past few days were a nightmare, and she was ready to leave it. (F/n) suspected, though, that she wouldn't see a smile upon his lips. No, Tarhuinn would have his gaze focused on Will.



Frankly, she wouldn't mind seeing her husband tear Will to pieces. At the moment, she couldn't allow that. She wouldn't let Tarhuinn's rage ruin all the effort that she put into getting Will to follow her. In the future, though, Tarhuinn could do whatever he pleased. Will would get his bottle of serum if it really did exist, and he would receive the welcoming hand of death as well.



Their walk continued through the night, and Will stayed behind her the entire time. Occasionally, he would be closer to her, but he never stepped beside or in front of her. She could feel his eyes scanning over her form, however. The pervert was probably picturing her in only her soaked undergarments or less.



Thankfully, she had some spare undergarments still in her pack back at the pixie home. If she were lucky, some spare clothes would be in there as well. There was also her cloak. She could be decently covered again. Her eyes traveled to the mark on her right shoulder, however. Will had defiled the mark but made it seem like he hadn't ruined it.



Touching the spot with her left fingers, she wished it to just be gone. No longer could she picture Tarhuinn's lips there. Instead, she imagined Will hovering over her in the night. The thought caused a chill to run up her spine. Perhaps, she could ask her husband to kiss the area again. When the idea came to her, her cheeks warmed up. No, she couldn't outright ask that of him. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. That would be far too embarrassing. It didn't help that he was calling her name.



It seemed like he could read her thoughts in that moment. More heat traveled to her cheeks until a chuckle sounded close by. Glancing to her right, Will had now stepped up beside her. His hands were in his pants' pockets while a grin spread over his lips. "Are you thinking about our future time together? I know that I am."



Disgust rushed over her countenance. "Hardly." She looked forward again and ignored the smirk on his lips. It was unnerving to have him so close to her again, but she didn't wish to tell him to give her some distance. He had agreed to the deal, but she wouldn't put it past him to break it. It would be foolish to think that he was no longer dangerous. So, she refrained from possibly provoking him.



Concern did wash over her a little when Tarhuinn's voice stopped. Did something happen? Usually, his voice wouldn't be cut off in the middle of saying her name. Looking to the pixies, she wondered if they knew something about his condition. She kept herself from asking due to Will's presence, though. He didn't need to learn of the entire state of things. So when asking the pixies for directions, she wouldn't mention the authors' names.



Hopefully, the pixies would understand and keep to secrecy themselves. They owed her that much after what they had tasked her with. She still wished to damage the wings of the pixies in front of her. The cruel creatures would've watched her innocence be stolen if she hadn't come up with a way to persuade Will. Luckily, she wouldn't have to encounter these creatures again until she made her way back to Tarhuinn's and her home.



~~~~~~~~~~



As dawn washed over the mountain side, she could see the two streams that surrounded the pixie home. Excitement bubbled up inside of her. Several hours ago, she thought that she would never see Tarhuinn again, yet he was a now a few moments away from her. Getting ever closer to the region, she felt her pace increase. Her body's exhaustion from the night's event and the constant cold seemed to be forgotten. All that mattered was that she could continue her journey with Tarhuinn again.



Traveling down the thin stream and into the home of the pixies, she inhaled deeply before she exhaled. Her (e/c) eyes turned to her left, and she stopped. Tarhuinn was unconscious. That would explain his sudden halt in calling her. It was probably a smart decision. If he was awake, trouble would ensue shortly. She forced her gaze away from him and to the pixie royals. Will came into the home and peered around her to the fallen male.



"Don't tell me that's your husband, Bluebell? You're married to a kelremm?" he asked as amusement was clearly written across his face. He couldn't contain his laughter anymore. "No wonder you want that serum. You'd be dead in a few years anyway, and here I thought that I was shortening your life by a lot." Will continued to laugh while everyone else stayed rather silent. Personally, she wished to punch him in the gut and steal her dagger back. "Maybe, I should let your husband take you back home after your journey. Then, I can sample some kelremm females. I still doubt that they would taste as good as you, though."



Clenching her fists, she kept her gaze locked on the royals and ignored him. "I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. My husband and I should be given passage." Will's laughter continued as the snow pixie queen rose from her chair and flew over.



Dipping her head slightly, she lifted it back up. "You have indeed. We'll have some of our scouts help you escort your husband out of here. We'll leave you with him once he's a safe distance away. You'll see several cuts on him, and that's because he tried to escape on multiple accounts."



The news didn't surprise her. Personally, she was amazed that there had been no pixie casualties while she was away. "I understand. And after your scouts have left us, which streams do you recommend us to take?"



"Both streams around our home intertwine together before heading more into the thick trees. You'll follow that path. Once you're close to the lake, you'll take a right and head upwards on a nearby stream. From there, you'll reach two streams. The one to your left will lead to a pool but don't go there. There are dangerous creatures in that area. Head up the one to your right, and you'll reach a large lake at the top of the mountains. You'll find your destination there."



"Thank you," she responded, though; her tone was somewhat harsh. The idea of being entirely pleasant to them had long past. She looked over to Will, who was eyeing a couple of female pixies. Rolling her eyes in revulsion, she asked, "Can I have my dagger back before I leave?"



Focusing back on her, he smirked. "Oh, and why would I do that?" He placed his right hand on his hip. "I think that I'll hold onto it until I see you again. It'll make undressing you easier, and I'll be quite hungry for you when we meet again. Though," he took a few steps forward, "I'll be willing to give it back for another taste of you now."



Scowling at him, she turned on her heel and headed over to Tarhuinn. He chuckled in response but kept his eyes on her. As the pixies helped her to lift Tarhuinn, he mentioned, "By the way, I'll want my blanket back at least. You may keep the rest in memory of me until we see each other again. So, hand it over, or I'll neglect our deal entirely."



Embarrassment flashed on her cheeks before she glared at him menacingly. She handed Tarhuinn over to the pixies and wrapped her old cloak around her shoulders. (F/n) proceeded to untie the blanket and toss it his way. He caught it with ease as she hugged her wet cloak to her body. There was no way that she would let him catch another glance at her. Her focus went to Tarhuinn, and she left the area.