Ben stared at the stars overhead, his face warm from the large amounts of wine he, Spidena, and Paulav had consumed with dinner.

  Even Filif had partook in a small cup; though the result was the sprite snoring alarmingly loudly off in the bushes. It sounded like a hog with a bad head cold. Which was odd given that Filif didn’t speak.

  Letting out a long breath of contentment, Ben closed his eyes, thinking that he could get a decent night’s rest with a belly full of stew and drink, and that they could get a good day of traveling done without any problems.

  Then his mind drifted back to the strange feelings he had been experiencing earlier while he had combed Spidena’s hair.

  A jolt rushed through him at the memory.

  Ben swallowed with difficulty.

  He could recall the faint musk and the lingering citrus scent around her…

  Then he remembered the urge to keep running his hands through her hair as he had combed the oil through the ebony tresses until they shone.

  He didn’t need to do that part, so why had he?

  The way Spidena’s breath had shuddered as he released her hair and let it fall against her neck and back… Ben’s eyes blinked open and he rolled onto his side as he began to experience the same strong discomfort from before.

  What the hell was this feeling?

  The sound of heeled boots descending the steps of the caravan had Ben’s heart leaping to his throat.

  She’s probably just going to relieve herself in the woods.

  Ben grunted and chewed on the side of his tongue.

  Why did he want to move away from the fire to go talk to her?

  She’d probably make some sort of bratty comment and give him a headache.

  I wonder if she had some weird herbs in her hair oil… That would certainly explain it.

  “Ben?”

  Hearing her voice, Ben’s heart pounded so readily that his vision momentarily spun.

  “What?” he answered, his voice hoarse and tone terse.

  “I want to talk to you.”

  Ben made a noise at the back of his throat, trying to sound irritable like he usually was, when he was actually struggling not to smile.

  Knock it off. He ordered himself while sitting up to find Spidena pulling over a chair by his spot on the ground where he was stretched out.

  Paulav was set a bit farther from the fire in a tent he had set up in order to give Spidena the comfort of the caravan.

  Ben could see in the light of the fire her cheeks were still pink, and her eyes a little glassy from the wine.

  His stomach flipped.

  Ugh. Gods, no, no. NO!

  “Earlier today, when you were doing my hair,” she started to say slowly. “It was weird. Wasn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” Ben agreed bluntly.

  “Well, I’ve thought about it, and I think I know what it is.”

  Ben’s soul soared.

  There was a reason! A perfectly logical explanation!

  His shoulders sagged in relief.

  “I think we are starting to feel lust.”

  Ben’s stomach dropped and he recoiled in disgust.

  “Like you’re some fine prize yourself,” Spidena said bitingly with a frown at his reaction. “Look. We are close in age, we’re both healthy, and we’re spending a lot of time together. Things happen. We aren’t really seeing other people that we can aim these kinds of feelings at.”

  “What feelings? I’m not having feelings,” Ben snapped indignantly.

  Spidena dropped her chin and raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “I may not know a lot about men, but I do know that you had quite the funny walk when you finished oiling my hair—which you did not have to do, by the way.”

  “I want you to be eaten alive by mosquitos. Is that a crime?” Ben defended passionately.

  Spidena sat up and glared down disapprovingly at him. “Are you done being a child?”

  Ben flipped his middle finger at her.

  Spidena rolled her eyes and stood up to leave.

  “Fine. Say it’s lust,” Ben relented and fought against the urge to fidget with his pant leg. “So what?”

  “I don’t know. I just think it’s good to clear the air. It’ll probably go away once we part ways.”

  “Miss Know-It-All doesn’t have a plan?” Ben scoffed.

  Anger filled Spidena’s eyes. “You know, instead of being an absolute ass, maybe you have a solution of your own. I was just trying to not be like those idiots in love stories who pretend nothing is between them and are annoying.”

  “Sure, I have a solution. I have a hand.”

  “Gross.” Spidena cringed with disgust. “Enjoy your hand. I know any possible urges I was feeling are now deader than doornail.”

  “See? At least I’m helpful!” Ben called to Spidena’s back that retreated to the caravan.

  She didn’t turn around to retort to his jibe and instead slammed shut the caravan door.

  Ben dropped his head.

  Okay.

  He’d been just a little bit of a twat just then. But it wasn’t like there was any point to talking about the stupid lust sensation!

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  A rustling of bushes behind Ben alerted him to Filif’s presence as the sprite strode forward, yawning and rubbing one of his eyes. Filif then proceeded to plop himself down beside Ben in front of the fire.

  “Lust isn’t a big deal. Everyone feels it at some point. I know a lot of my old comrades would see pretty village girls and talk about wanting to do all kinds of stuff to them.”

  Filif let out a loud belch in response, then slowly turned to look at Ben.

  “Anyway. It was probably a fluke. Maybe I will take Paulav up on his offer to go to the wedding. I’m sure there are lots of pretty girls there.” Ben stared at the ground.

  He couldn’t quite shake the unpleasant emotion of guilt in his stomach.

  While he of course loved tormenting Spidena, he hadn’t just tormented her in the name of fun just then. He’d done it to hide from his uncomfortable feelings, and while Ben knew he was far from being the best person in the world (that spot belonged exclusively to Paulav), being a jerk for selfish reasons when Spidena wasn’t being annoying or condescending wasn’t something he could shrug off.

  Laying down again, Ben admitted to himself that he might have to apologize this time.

  Then he realized he’d never really needed to sincerely apologize for something.

  Not since he was a kid.

  Sighing, Ben tried not to think about how awful it’d feel.

  Filif stretched out by the fire as well, the sprite’s eyes already closing.

  “You’re lucky, Filif. You don’t talk, so you can’t accidentally say something bad.”

  The sprite giggled quietly, and then didn’t make another sound… Until his abhorrent snores resumed.

  Right. We are never giving Filif wine again. Ever.

  *

  “OY! YOU! WAKE UP!”

  Ben startled awake and leapt to his feet from his back, his fists already up prepared to strike and defend.

  He found himself looking at Obbie who was perfectly alarmed at this reaction standing with his arms folded a few feet from Ben’s palette.

  “Gods, Man Chop, I’m starting to be a little more sincerely attracted to you.”

  “Obbie?” Ben slowly straightened, his head swimming from the sudden movement. That or it was the remaining effects of the wine. “What’re you doing here? You didn’t bring Pesch did you?” Ben craned his neck to peer around the fairy, then checked around the caravan in case they were already descending on Spidena, but found nothing.

  “Wait. It’s breakfast time. Shouldn’t you be in the kitchen?”

  “Is that all I am to you? A cook?” Obbie pressed a hand into his chest.

  “You’re also a cocky prick,” Ben informed him helpfully.

  “After all I’ve done for you! This is how you repay the good will of The Fey Way staff?” Obbie moved his hands on his slim hips, his gaze sharpening.

  Ben dropped his chin to his chest with a sigh. “Sorry. You just startled me and it was a rough night.”

  At least this was great practice for when he had to apologize to Spidena.

  Obbie raised his eyebrows, surprised at Ben’s apology. “Well, I’ll let it go just this once because I need a favor.”

  “What’s the fav—wait. You still didn’t answer. How did you get here? Is the inn nearby?” Ben squinted while turning toward the trees.

  “No. I got here because of the handy little button you gifted me,” Obbie held up the bobble with a sly grin.

  Ben openly grimaced. “What do you need…?” he asked without masking his dread.

  Obbie lifted his chin haughtily. “I need the witch to create an incantation of confusion, then I need you to set it up around the inn.”

  “Why, exactly?”

  “We’re holding the duck hostage until we can make it confused.”

  The short burst of laughter that escaped Ben’s mouth made Obbie give him a look of disapproval.

  “Oh come on. It isn’t everyday you hear a fairy saying he’s holding a duck hostage!” Even saying the words Ben kept struggling against breaking out in hysterics.

  “That duck jeopardizes The Fey Way.”

  Ben knew that while this news wasn’t really surprising given how afraid of Callex Earhav magic folk seemed to be, but it was just too funny.

  “Your entire business is in danger because of a duck.” Ben succumbed to laughter at the summary, then held up a finger as Obbie stared at him flatly as he struggled to speak again. “It just sounds ridiculous.”

  “When you are quite finished. We also want the spell as two more groups of seebs have checked into The Fey Way, and they’re asking questions about a black haired witch and her short man-friend with dark skin.”

  That certainly succeeded in extinguishing Ben’s amusement.

  “Damn. Where did the inn appear this morning?”

  “A day and a half away from here. They are on foot so if you continue traveling with the human sausage with legs you’ll be fine. Now. Go get your witch. This incantation will help both The Fey Way and you lot.”

  “Paulav is a nice guy. If you don’t want to date him, that's fair, but don’t be an asshole about it.”

  Obbie’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll do as I please. The seeb is old enough to manage his own emotions, and he should know better than to be interested in a fairy.”

  Ben shot a disapproving look at Obbie then stalked over toward the caravan.

  “You didn’t tell the witch about that stolen magic item in your wrist, did you?” Obbie called out suddenly.

  Ben froze. His stomach churning and his nerves crackling.

  He didn’t turn around when he responded. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Obbie sauntered over to stand in front of Ben, and looked down his elegant nose at him; his expression a little too serious.

  “You have about one or two uses out of that thing before you face serious consequences.”

  Ben’s right hand gripped into a fist. “That’s fine.”

  “Don’t be an idiot. Get that thing removed. Your witch probably can help with that or knows someone who can—”

  “Mind your own business, Obbie.” Ben locked eyes with the fairy, his unwavering stare making Obbie lean back.

  When no other words of warning came from the fairy, Ben stormed the rest of the way to the caravan and pounded on the door to wake Spidean.

  Though behind him he easily heard Obbie mutter: “Supid human.”