The Battle Sylph by L. J. McDonald

the baking.
    She looked at Solie, hugging her back when the girl ran into her embrace, and sighed. “I really hoped you’d be smart enough not to come here,” she said, and Solie drew back in surprise.
    “Your father and your fiancé are here,” her aunt went on regretfully. “They’ve come to take you home.”

Chapter Five
    Heyou looked up as he felt Solie’s sudden fear. He’d been talking with the two other girls, enjoying their happiness and pleasure at meeting him, but at her sudden gasp he forgot them, his attention shifting to her and his aura flexing. He almost changed to his real form, ready to attack or defend, but the only new development was the appearance of a woman with a face similar to his queen, and Solie didn’t seem to be afraid of her, only of what she was saying.
    “They’re upstairs,” the woman explained. “I told them you weren’t here, but my brother isn’t a stupid man. He figured you’d come this way.” She glanced at Heyou. “He’s not going to be happy.”
    “But I don’t want to get married!” Solie wailed. “He can’t make me.”
    “I’m inclined to agree,” her aunt said, “but the law is on his side. Your grandfather let me choose to stay single, but your father isn’t quite so…noble. He’s entitled to marry you to any man of his choosing.” She practically spat. “He thinks Falthers is a good choice.”
    “He’s old,” Solie complained. “And fat. Father just likes him because he owns the grocery.”
    “And Falthers likes you because you’re a young redhead.”
    Heyou didn’t know what marriage was, but he was starting to think that he didn’t like the idea.
    “Can’t you do anything?” Solie begged.
    Her aunt looked at her and sighed. “Go out the back. Run to the old widower’s house on the edge of town. I bring him fresh bread every day. Tell him I sent you. I’ll try andconvince your father you’re not coming, and once he goes, I’ll see about sending you somewhere he can’t find you. You do realize you’re giving up your family, don’t you?”
    “I don’t care,” Solie whispered, looking down.
    “On your head it is, then.” Masha appraised Heyou. “Who’s your friend?”
    He smiled. “I’m Heyou.”
    “He helped me,” Solie added, looking at the battler with tears in her eyes.
    He ached to hold her, but she’d told him not to. Only, she hadn’t really ordered it. She’d just said not to. Was that enough? He wasn’t sure.
    “He’s my friend.”
    “Just don’t let your father see him, or the wedding really will be off—in ways you won’t like.” Masha sighed and pushed her back. “Go now. And make sure you have a bath when you get there. You’re filthy. And your hair! I’ll send decent clothes for you when I can.”
    Solie nodded, thanking her aunt and hugging her tightly. Turning, she hurried past Heyou, and he followed without being ordered, shadowing her to the door. They slipped outside and she returned to the back path, heading down it in the same direction they’d come.
    The boys he’d threatened with his hate were back, yelling insults, and Heyou snarled, letting his hate flare briefly. They shrieked and ran.
    A window opened. “Hey!” a man’s voice shouted. “Stop!”
    Solie gasped and Heyou looked upward, ready to obliterate the entire second floor of the building. A man with Solie’s red hair leaned out through a window, shaking his fist. Heyou hissed angrily, but his queen grabbed his hand, dragging him with her as she ran down the path. Heyou allowed it, happy to be touching her. She’d told him not to kill anyone, he reminded himself. He’d have to ask her if that appliedto direct threats. The red-haired man disappeared back through the window.
    Noticing Solie wincing as her bare feet came down on pebbles in the dirt, Heyou scooped her up into his arms, his own feet impervious as he ran. “Where do I go?” he asked, ready to take her anywhere. The hot springs would be nice.
    “To the