People of Fae
Page 21
Chapter Thirteen
Eli
“They’re having a meeting right now?” Zoey asked looking at Eli.
“Yes, with the Banshee Queen. We seek their alliance since they have strong ties with Avalon—you know, with their status there,” Eli said looking out the window. “They are just head figures, but the mindless Fae regard them as celebrities. It has been hundreds of years since they ruled Avalon.” Eli turned shaking his head. “I don’t understand that.”
“Royalty is important to our history,” Zoey said with a smile as she put on a long, mesh tunic.
Eli let his eyes catch the last glimpse of her delicate white skin scared from past battles as the protective glamour suit covered her up. Zoey’s eyes met his. She smiled and he knew she’d caught him looking at her. He turned and cleared his throat.
“I really don’t think you should go to meet the Drakes.” Eli stepped closer to Zoey.
She smiled with a tilt of her head. “Worried about me? You know you shouldn’t. I have fought many a beast darling.”
“Don’t call me that.” Eli stated.
“What? Darling?” Zoey’s face fell slightly. “I thought…”
“You didn’t think. I am not yours. Times have changed and if you’re looking for something to rekindle, there isn’t anything. All I want is to get the Everspell out of reach of the Muses’ and take it to the Isle of Stars, not the museum or your little knick knack collection underground.” Eli felt fire in him and pointed his finger at Zoey like a child.
Her eyes narrowed as she nodded her head. “I understand.” Her voice was calm and diplomatic.
Zoey stood in front of him and started to say something when a frantic knock came to the door. Zoey looked at Eli as she reluctantly opened the door.
“Zoey, you need to come quick to Merlin’s chambers. Evidently the princess already had dibs on the Etherling,” Wes said as his eyes glanced between Zoey and Eli who stood in the background. “It isn’t pretty.”
Zoey, without a word, followed Wes down the hallway with Eli right behind them.
The Banshee Queen stood with folded arms as the princess leaned against the wall examining her fingers unbothered by the conversation between Merlin and the Queen. Merlin’s voice echoed in the glassed roofed room.
The two Etherlings stood in the shadows watching like two oblivious pets waiting for an outcome. Wes leaned against the wall crossed his arms amused by the whole spectacle as Zoey went up to Merlin who rattled on about how scandal destroys reputations. The Banshee Queen seemed to let his words fall off her neatly pressed suit like rain.
“I don’t have time for this, and to be honest, I don’t like dark dealings with outlaws. My impression was that this was to be a charitable event,” the Queen said with an angered and oblivious expression on her face.
Wes let out a snicker, and the Queen’s eyes along with everyone else’s, fell on him. The Queen tightened her lip throwing her already rigid shoulders back and grabbed her daughter’s arm.
“You’re insolence behavior has cost us Casperinia.” The Queen’s gazed bore down on the young girl who showed no backing down.
“My name is Megan now!” The girl protested. “I am tired mother of everything you want me to be or don’t!” The girl stood as tall as her mother, and looked her in the eyes. “I liked our place in the Etherworld!”
“This is neither the time nor the place.” The Queen took her daughter by the hand, and with a brisk stance, headed towards the door as Merlin tried to save their conversation.
Wes smiled at the Queen and her daughter as he opened the door for them and bowed as they left. The Queen’s daughter looked back and smiled at Wes. Eli shook his head. Wes had probably dated her as well.