Page 47 of Fated to the Alien King

"Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. Soon you’ll be able to run your hands through my shiny red locks again in no time."

"That’s not why I—never mind." I stole a glance at Maagda in hopes she did not hear this little exchange of ours outside. "What are you doing with your new temporary ‘do?"

"I’m paying a visit to another old friend. He used to be my general before Isath scattered my army."

"You’re going to get him to help."

"If I can find him. Lerun says he runs a shop in the cliffs settlement. I don’t want to be recognized by enemy soldiers."

I became hopeful. "Merch is good. I need to pick up medical supplies."

Varus gave me a look. "You need to go right back in that safe infirmary."

"Let me take this coat off and go with you."

"You remember what I said about keeping you out of danger."

"I remember." I held my ground. "People might mistake me for a juvenile here because I don’t have wings but let me remind you, I'm grown."

He raised his eyebrow. I then noticed he dyed those brown, too.

I removed my coat. "If you can change your hair to go to the big city, I can change out of this coat to come with you. We need supplies. I need to find the last ingredient for the serum."

Even my last sentence didn’t appear to persuade him. "Your safety is my priority."

"Saving your life is mine." I draped my coat over my arm. "You can’t do one without the other, right?"

He started to say something, then switched. "Your clever, twisty logic, I....You will never have a seat in my council."

I shrugged. "I prefer to work on small teams or independently, anyway."

He gave me a long, labored stare. "Go ask Maagda to let you borrow something plain to wear. It needs to have a hood."

"How cloak and dagger. Be right back." I turned on my heel to go get the items. "Don’t leave without me."

Chapter Twelve