“They were going to kill me,” I said to myself. It was the only thought in my head as I stepped back into Itán. It was te afternoon, the day after the promised rendezvous with my harem. I wanted to avoid the upcoming confrontation, but with that many lovers in a town that small—it would only be a matter of minutes.

  “Jethro!” Lavendu called, perfectly on cue, her voice a mix of anger and worry. She attacked me with a firm hug before shoving me away. “Where the hell were you? I was so—ugh! You said we’d—”

  “Lavendu, I know. I’m sorry,” I said, reaching out to her. “But something wonderful has happened. Look, it’s Meliss?. She’s awake.”

  Meliss? gave her a cautious wave.

  The purple fairy looked back at me, squinting her eyes.

  “I’ve enthralled her,” I continued. “Isn’t that great! She led me on an epic chase, but I got her. That’s why I was out yesterday.”

  “So you missed our special day because you were off chasing Meliss??” Lavendu murmured.

  “Well, yes. I didn’t think it would take all day.”

  Lavendu held her balled up hand to her mouth, looking away. This wasn’t good. I’d never seen her so disappointed.

  “Wait, I’m sorry. I thought I’d be back with her by breakfast. She just kept leading me on, farther and farther.”

  “So you’re saying it’s Meliss?’s fault then?”

  “Er… Sort of, yes.”

  Lavendu scoffed. “You didn’t even try to get a word to me. Not a bird, not a whisper,” she said, eyes shining. “You just vanished.” She turned to Meliss?. “I’m gd you’re well.” And at that she took off into the sky.

  “Well said,” Meliss? stated, head tilted and arms crossed, her voice not in the least bit pyful.

  “Lawks! Am I supposed to spend the day chasing her now?” I compined.

  “I don’t know, Jethro? What do you think?” Meliss? turned on her heel and walked away.

  “Wait. Meliss?, I’m sorry.”

  It was no use, she just kept on walking.

  “Alright,” I said to myself as I made for the pancake stand, “just four more to go.”

  My stomach growled at the scent of fried batter and coffee, but I didn’t get my hopes up.

  “Oh no,” Era said, gring at me as she gripped a rge wooden spoon. “You’ve got batter for brains if you think I’m making you pancakes today.”

  “I’m not here for food,” I said. “I came to apologize. I was distracted by something important.”

  “Important?” Era spat, brandishing her spoon. “More important than all of us?”

  “Well, no. I just didn’t think I’d be gone all day.”

  “And just what was it you were up to? What was so distracting?”

  Brinna’s stricken eyes darted back and forth between Era and I.

  I struggled to think of a response. There really was no good way to put it. “I was chasing Meliss?,” I admitted, not bothering to hide my guilt.

  Era didn’t say anything, she simply smiled and danced around the counter to stand right next to me.

  “I caught her though. Another thrall for us to py with,” I offered cautiously.

  “Oh how lovely, because you’re doing such a wonderful job tending to the desires of six lovers, why not just go ahead and add another!” She held the spoon up to my face.

  “Era, wait. I’ll make it up to—” I looked at Brinna. “You understand, right?”

  Brinna murmured a little, but shut her mouth at a sharp look from Era.

  Thwack!

  Era hit me with the spoon.

  Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

  “Ow!”

  I stumbled off, still stinging—not from the spoon, but from the shame.

  I hoped she wouldn’t be mad for too long. As I wiped sweat from my brow, I wondered how Li and Vio would react.

  I figured I better fill my stomach before continuing with these stressful conversations. I found a waffle booth at the other side of the market. A couple of fairy men were pressing batter in irons and serving drinks. álfhild sat at the counter with her boyfriends, nky Egil and Oisin, the short, dark green sidhe.

  “Hallo Jethro,” álfhild called as she punched me in the arm. “You look glum.”

  “It’s true,” I said as I sat down.

  “What’s troubling you?” Oisin asked.

  “I think I’m a bit in over my head. Having a little trouble adjusting to the customs of your lovely vilge.”

  “Customs? Ha!” álfhild said. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

  I couldn’t help but ugh.

  “Let me give you a little advice, my friend,” she continued as she put a muscly arm over my shoulder. “Focus on quality over quantity. Itán has got a real submissive streak. People like you and me, we’re eating good. The trick is knowing when to stop.”

  The fairy men behind the counter snickered. álfhild gave them a sharp look.

  “I think you have a good point,” I said, but my gut told me this was far from over. After all, wasn’t it my magical inclination to make love? I may have been in over my head, but I couldn’t stop. Not now—I was just getting started.

  I decided to keep the details to myself—better not to let anyone else get involved.

  “Have you been out on a hunt recently?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Just this morning,” álfhild said after smming her coffee mug on the table. “We crossed the Lonrach. It’s looking bad. Something's stirred up a sinister wind, shadows lurk around every corner.”

  I had grown used to álfhild’s cryptic nguage. She probably just meant they were in a bad mood or something. But then I remembered my connection to the forests when I was chasing Meliss?. Maybe there was something to her poetic nguage.

  I steered the conversation toward lighter topics and enjoyed a delicious meal as best I could. The waffles were spectacur, but nothing compared to Era’s pancakes.

  ***

  Enjoying Itán? Consider leaving a review!

  New chapters release early on Patreon—always one chapter ahead!