Fun and Games

“It's all fun and games until—”

“Will you just stop with that nonsense, Cordelia?” Cordelia's brow furrowed, cutting off Theodora’s sentence with a sharp tone. “We’ve been trekking for hours, and all I hear from you is this game talk.”

“If you’d let me finish—” Theodora began, hands on her hips, challenging Cordelia’s glare. Her father’s warning echoed in her mind: never trust a shapeshifting fae. But Cordelia was her lead, and she had to keep her distracted from realizing her true nature—a discovery that could be dangerous.

“You're an absolute fool,” Cordelia retorted. “We’ve been going in this direction for hours. Are you certain your father is this way?”

Theodora’s instincts told her yes, she could sense her father’s presence. The scent was familiar, comforting even. But there was something else: she found herself wanting to prolong her time with Cordelia, despite the risks. She noticed Cordelia’s resilience, how she didn’t shiver in the biting cold or seem affected by the frost in the air. Cordelia's muscular physique, especially her powerful thighs, was unlike anything Theodora had seen among fairies or humans.

Suddenly, Theodora bumped into Cordelia, whose eyes widened in disbelief. “You look pale. Tired? Is that why you're spouting nonsense? Let me check this cave for safety. I can handle myself, but with you, I'm not so sure.” Cordelia winked, leaving Theodora flustered.

“I'll keep watch,” Theodora stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She took position outside the cave, relying on her supernatural surveillance skills.

“All clear, Theodora. Come in,” Cordelia's thick accent softened, the intimacy making Theodora's heart race. “Here’s a blanket, you look like you need it more.”

Nestled in the blanket they'd found earlier, Theodora watched as Cordelia conjured a fire from a magical bag, filling the cave with warmth. Cordelia pulled out an apple and sliced it with a rock before sharing it with Theodora. She couldn't help but marvel at the hybrid nature of Cordelia’s form—a mix of human and wolf-like features.

“What are you thinking?” Cordelia’s voice broke Theodora’s reverie.

“Just about the Games,” Theodora joked, blushing when she noticed Cordelia's cheeks turn a shade redder.

“The Games are important here. I know you're fae—”

“How do you know that?” Cordelia interrupted, her eyes narrowing.

“Your yellow eyes, hairy legs, and those massive canines,” Theodora listed.

“You're a fairy? And you've been traveling with me knowing I’m fae?”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Theodora asserted, “You haven’t harmed me.”

“Yet! Fairies and humans hunt fae!”

“We don’t deserve to rot in hell, Cordelia.”

“Alright, perhaps I exaggerated,” Cordelia admitted, waving off the tension with a grin.

“You can't just say that!” Theodora protested.

“Can’t I?”

As Theodora tried to rise, Cordelia pulled her back down, wrapping an arm around her. “Oh come on, you’ve been wanting this,” Cordelia teased.

Theodora’s resolve weakened. She stayed, feeling Cordelia’s warmth through the night. By morning, they continued their journey, rescuing Theodora’s father from his captor.

Hand in hand, they faced the challenge together. Despite the dangers and their differences, their bond had grown stronger, proving that sometimes, the most unlikely companions make the best allies.

Theodora stood but was dragged back down. Blushing, she glanced over to see the wolfish fae put her arm around the fairy- the audacity of this woman! “Cordelia-!”

“Oh come on, if you’re a true fairy ya’d die in the trek down or up. My body eats’ been the only thing keeping’ you alive,” she grinned, “Besides, don’t act like ya haven’t been wantin’ to snuggle up ta me this entire time,” she winked.

Theodora swore on the Fairy Goddess she’d get up.

Except she didn’t.

She stayed there until the morning sun came up, to which they both rose and continued their trek to find her father. When they did, they fought off the kidnapper and were holding hands while doing it.