He selected a bandage and gauze from the first aid box, before kneeling back down on the floor in front of my chair. I sat down and extended my leg so that he could wrap it up. "Where were you when this happened?" Broch asked, breaking the silence.

"Wepre Woods," I replied and then by way of explanation said, "I go there sometimes to blow off steam."

He raised an eyebrow and moved back onto his chair. "Is you blowing off steam a regular thing?"

"Sometimes."

A flicker of a smile danced along his lips. "Where in the woods were you?"

"Erm, I'm not completely sure. I found a new trail that seemed pretty unused, so I kind of just followed it, and ended up in a clearing."

"So, even after last night, you went into the woods today, found a trail you'd never seen before and followed it, not knowing where it led?" he inquired a little incredulously.

I bristled. "I was fine."

"Clearly."

"I was," I said, my voice like a lash. "You know I can look after myself Broch. I just didn't know what was happening last night. But I know more now, so I was able to get the upper hand today."

"What do you mean?" Broch immediately asked, "What happened?"

"Well, the guy, fairy, whatever, was being all weird, saying he could smell 'Seelie' on me and mentioned Zeph and I tried to reason with him, but he made it very clear that he didn't exactly want to 'talk it out'. And I thought he was going to try and grab me, and I was already training with my tonfa, so I just kind of hit him with one." I breathed deeply. " He fought back a little, which is when I got clawed, but I knocked him out and managed to get away so I was fine."

Broch stared at me open mouthed, "You fought him?"

"I did try to talk to him first, but I wasn't just going to let him hurt me," I retorted. "How do you think I got this?" I said, waving my leg a little.

"I assumed it had happened and you'd run away," he answered in a quiet voice and I snorted. I could see thoughts ticking over in his head but wasn't sure how to reply so switched tact.

"Thanks for getting me home though; I know I'm not the easiest person to be around when I'm hurt." My words appeared to pull his thoughts back to the room so I went out on a limb. "Do you want a drink? We've got tea, coffee, lemonade, juice..."

After a moment's pause he asked for a tea with two sugars. "That's how I have mine too, I like it really sweet," I said by way of conversation but it just seemed to make him thoughtful again. Regretting the offer, I moved around the kitchen making our drinks and placed them on the table when I was done.

"So, have you ever been clawed?" I wondered aloud with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

He took a sip of tea. "Yes," he replied, "Although, mine was on my arm."

"Your arm?" I asked in surprise, examining them closely and seeing nothing. He caught my gaze and rolled up the edge of his t-shirt sleeve until it was by his shoulder. As his upper arm muscles caught the light I noticed four, pale scars. Automatically, I reached out and touched the slightly raised bumps that marred his otherwise silky skin. Moving my hand back to my cup, I took a large gulp of sweet tea, because his eyes on my face had made me painfully aware of his bare skin under my fingertips. Broch rolled his sleeve back down.

"It was done by an Unseelie, something called a Phooka," he explained. I thought about it for a moment.

"Are you Seelie then?" I asked, feeling bold.

"Yes," he answered me carefully.

"Can I ask you some questions about it all? I just still feel so confused," I admitted quietly.

"You can, but there are some things I might not answer."

"That's fair," I shrugged and deliberated my first question. "Do you always have to tell the truth?"

He surprised me with an open smile. "No, yes, well, not exactly. We can't directly lie, but that doesn't mean we always have to tell the truth."

Noting my confused expression, he tried to explain, "For example, if someone cooked me a meal and it was disgusting, but they asked me if I liked the food, I could say that 'it was definitely something I'd never experienced before,' in a positive tone, but I couldn't say 'I enjoyed it'."

"So, like a lie of omission?"

"Yes, exactly," he said smiling. I thought about it for a moment.

"Is that the same with the Unseelie?"

"It's the same for all Fae."

"Fae?"

"Yes, it's like you saying dogs and then the different breeds. Generally, we're called Fae, but you have different classifications based on types, like pixies, phooka, satyrs, et cetera." he said, trying to explain.

"Why not fairies, why Fae?"

"Fairies is an idea made up by humans, think tinkerbell, but Fae are something a little darker, the reality that fairy tales came from."

"So, what type of Fae are you?"

"That's quite a personal question," he responded quietly.

"Oh, sorry, I hadn't realised."

"It's okay, I know you didn't," he said gently, smiling at me to make me feel more at ease. I looked around the kitchen to break our eye contact but noted that he hadn't answered my question.

"I think this is the most we've ever talked by the way," I lightly said, changing the topic. Broch leaned back in his chair and tilted his head.

"Do you mind if I reply to that statement with an honest observation?" he asked.

"I'm still not 100% sure on the rules of Fae honesty," I said with a dry laugh, "But go ahead, tell me you observation."

He didn't reply straight away, almost as if he'd regretted saying anything. "You're always with Kalen, talking to him," Broch paused, "I never felt like there was a right time to talk with you."

I was surprised by his bluntness, but couldn't argue with him.

"I've just been friends with Kalen for so long... he's my best friend," I started lamely and then changed tact, "I think things are already different to be honest."

"Because of last night?" he asked after thinking through my answer.

"Yes... no... I think it was definitely sparked last night," I paused, trying to find the right words to explain, "Last night terrified me, but I don't really care that Kalen is 'Fae'. I care that he's lied to me for nine years." I could see Broch thinking over my words and trying to form a response.

"Maybe you just need to talk to him about it?"

"We tried that this morning. It didn't go well," I said coldly, "He made it clear that he was never going to tell me the truth and I don't quite know what to do with that."

There was a stretch of awkward silence after I'd spoke. I got the feeling that Broch regretted setting our conversation down this path, but he'd already let the cat out of the bag and it wasn't going back in now.

"I still think talking to him would be the best course of action," he reasoned but I wasn't really in the head-space to listen.

I drained my mug, "Are you done with your tea?" Broch nodded and I took both of our cups to the sink, washed them up and then set them upside down on the drainer. After staring out of the window, I turned to him, "Have you got somewhere you need to be this afternoon or do you want me to put on a film or something?"

"I've actually got a few things I need to get done this afternoon."

"Of course you have, sorry," I responded quickly.

"But," he continued, "If you're not busy later I could come back over? You'll probably need that recleaning this evening anyway," he smiled and nodded at my leg.

"Uh, yeah, that'd be good thank you." A shy smile pulled on my lips.

"Okay then. I'm not sure how long I'll be though, so let me give you my number; I find texting more reliable than messenger." Even though I already had Broch on social media, I set up a new contact on my phone. Broch put his number in it and then raised an eyebrow at me, "Is a fairy emoji really necessary?"

"I'm trying to keep tabs on you guys," I grinned and he rolled his eyes. After sending him a quick text, so he had my number, he headed towards the door.

"Look, this might sound a little crazy, but do you have any salt and bells?"

I looked at him in confusion, "Salt yes, bells... erm, we've got some Christmas bell decorations."

"Do they ring?" he asked and I nodded. "Okay, well put the salt over the thresholds and the bells either side of the doors and windows."

"Why?" I wondered with faint amusement.

"They're Fae deterrents. Won't keep Unseelie out for long, but should hold them off for a while."

"Are you serious?" Broch nodded. "Right, okay then. Do you really think they'll come here?"

"I doubt it to be honest, but it can't hurt to be careful," he paused and a gleam flashed in his eyes, "Even if careful isn't your normal go-to."

"Har, har," I said sarcastically. He smiled and then left, giving a quick wave as I shut the door behind him.

As my phone was still in my hand, I figured it would finally be a good time to check my messages. Miranda had sent me three texts; two from last night and one this morning, asking me if I was okay and letting me know she was there if I needed to talk. Kalen had sent me about five last night, two this morning and one timed an hour after he'd left the house earlier. The first ones from Kalen mainly asked if I was okay and if he could come over to talk, the last one just read, 'I'm always here if you need me. I'm sorry I've screwed things up so badly x'.

I wasn't ready to talk to Kalen just yet, no matter what Broch had suggested, but knew Miranda deserved a response. I quickly wrote a text explaining that I was fine, just a little confused and saying thank you for everything she'd done last night. As I hit the send button, a text arrived from Broch; 'Don't forget the salt and bells x'. I snorted at the absurdity of the message but went to hunt down our Christmas decorations.

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Bonus Feature

Here's a drawing of Broch (done by me so please be kind!). 

For anyone who is wondering, Broch is said like the Scottish word 'loch' but with a 'br' at the front! And his full name, Brochfael, is said 'Broch-vial' as it's based on welsh and Celtic names.

That white training top though! :D