Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales Paperback(32)

“What? No!” he said. “Oh, no. Don’t look at me. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

But she did look at him, a mingling of eagerness and challenge.

“Don’t you get it?” Russell said, his anger rising. “I’m done with that. Heroes get killed. If they’re lucky.”

He should know. He was a bona fide hero, with the medals to prove it. And the wounds that nobody saw, that nobody wanted to see.

“You’ve proven that you can wield iron—can kill with it, if you have to. You’ve experienced magic, so you know what we stand to lose. You are unique in the world, Russell G. MacNeely.”

“Yeah, well, you try and be unique for a while, and see how it works out for you,” Russell growled.

“I am unique,” Laurel said, “in these lakes, at least. My entire family—my mate, my birth family, and my children have been killed.

I’m the only one left.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Russell blurted, as regret sluiced over him.

“I know what it’s like to lose a child.”

“Son or daughter?” Laurel asked.

“Daughter,” Russell said, wishing he hadn’t brought her up.

“How did she die?” Laurel asked.

“Oh, she’s not dead,” Russell said. “I stay away from her. It’s better that way. Safer.”

Know your weapon.

I am the weapon.

Laurel cocked her head. “But if—if she’s still alive, then—?”

“Look, back to business,” Russell said. “Even if you found a champion, how would he hope to go after this hag? Wouldn’t she just swim away? And if he swam after her, even if he caught her, he’d be too exhausted to fight.”

“We have a plan,” Laurel said, as if she’d just invented the wheel.

“We’ll set a trap.”

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? Cinda Williams Chima ?

“You have this all worked out, don’t you?” Russell laughed bitterly.

“Now all you have to do is find somebody to do it. Somebody else.

You can’t expect me to fight your magical battles for you.”

“You don’t understand, Russell,” Laurel said. “I’m not asking you to fight for me. I’m a warrior, too. We’ll fight together.”

Russell looked her up and down. “Right. Now, I’m going to bed.

With any luck, I’ll get some sleep.”

Turning his back on Laurel, Russell ducked under the bridge, took another hit of the Four Roses, and crawled into his sleeping bag.

“Whether you help me or not, your fate is sealed,” she called after him.

He didn’t sleep well. All night long, the nixies sang of battles and valor, invading his dreams. The soft tinkling of bells from the river told him the flow of refugees was continuing.

He dreamt he galloped through the waves astride a white horse, bursting through spray, his sword held high over his head. Just ahead, Jenny Greenteeth rose out of the waves, rose and rose and rose until she blotted out the sky. He swung his blade with a two-handed stroke and— A faint noise woke him. Gripping his weapon, heart thumping, that metallic taste of fear on his tongue, he searched the darkness.

“It’s me, Russell,” Laurel said, sounding amused. “Put away the iron. I won’t hurt you.”

He heard a soft rustle of fabric. Then she sat down next to him, unzipped his sleeping bag, and slipped in beside him. She was very clearly naked.

“What are you doing?” Russell said, rolling on his side to face her.

“Isn’t it obvious?” she said. “Please say yes.” And then she kissed him, which awakened sensations he thought he’d forgotten.

With every ounce of resolve that was in him, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her to arm’s length. “Why?” he demanded.

She regarded him, perplexed. “Because I want to?” She poked him playfully. “It seems you do, too.”

“Why?” Russell repeated, bringing up his knees in defense.

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Laurel let go an exasperated sigh. “Well, it’s kind of a tradition for warriors on the eve of battle to—you know—in case it’s the last time.”

“I told you,” Russell said. “I’m not going to fight. No matter what you—”