High Fae Academy - Year Three: Paranormal Fae Romance

by Kaylin Peyerk

  The simple, yet revealing, white dress Rai wrestled me into this morning feels itchy against my skin now as the nobles look me up and down. It’s as if they know I’m a halfling who doesn’t deserve to wear their sacred colors. I do not possess the traditional ethereal beauty of the fae, nor do I have the pointed telltale ears. To them I’m a human girl playing dress up.

  Stop that.

  But it’s true, Rowan.

  It is not.

  I don’t answer him but hold my head up all the same. Maybe some of his status will rub off onto me. Unless all of it was used up the first time he was traditionally alive. Do these people even know who he is? It doesn’t seem like it. Their eyes hold distrust, curiosity, and something else that almost looks like malice. I’m beginning to think that they don’t get a lot of unexpected visitors. Rai stops at another gated wall, this one surrounding the very large castle at the city center. A stout man with a rounded belly steps up before swinging his arm out toward our party.

  “Behold,” the man announces in a surprisingly booming voice, “the firstborn son of the air king, Raiamon Gladius Bellforth and his guests.”

  Rai nods at him in thanks before turning to the crowd that had gathered behind us. “These are not just any guests, no. Before you is the legendary fae king, Rowan, reincarnated to rule this land once again, and his beautiful mate, Tiana, the queen of the fae.”

  Rai snaps his fingers and trumpets blare while polite clapping comes from the crowd. People look shocked, and even fearful now that they know who we are, or at least the story we want them to believe. Which isn’t really the meaning of truth, is it?

  ***

  The inside of the castle is similar to the architecture we already encountered, but grander somehow. Rai walks with confidence, and servants bow benevolently as he passes. Everyone here seems to have a strong love for their prince, and it makes me smile. He truly is the funny, compassionate male I thought him to be. Rai stops at a set of towering marble doors veined with gold and silver.

  He glances back, winking. “We’re here. Look regal.”

  The doors groan open as the marble slides across the floor, catching the attention of everyone in the throne room. There is one long semicircle table facing the dais filled with the true nobility of the air fae court. My power responds to their seemingly ancient existence with probing curiosity. These are the first fae that I’ve ever seen actually appearing older than middle aged. Most of them have gray-streaked hair, and fine delicate wrinkle lines. But the oldest of them all is the king of air himself.

  His hair is bright white from age and braided away from his face. The wisdom held in his eyes as they meet mine conveys centuries of information and experiences within them. His robes are made of pure spun gold and hang off his thin frame. Is he malnourished? Sick? There’s no way to tell without asking.

  Which would be a horrible first impression.

  Ah hell, would you get out of my head already?

  No way, your thoughts are a constant source of entertainment.

  Rai bows low to his father once we reach the foot of the dais. His father nods his head at him in acknowledgement, smiling warmly. Are all air fae this serene in nature? If so, maybe I made a mistake in overlooking Rai for my mate.

  I heard that.

  Then stop listening.

  “Welcome to my castle. It is a pleasure seeing you again, Rowan,” the air king states while pausing to look me over. “And I’ve heard many things about you as well, Tiana. Do not worry, all good things.” He chuckles, and the nobility mirror him, sounding like broken records.

  “Thank you for your hospitality. We are grateful for the

  time you’ve given us,” Rowan responds, sounding dry.

  Convincing, I snark.

  I owe this man nothing.

  Try having a little more humility.

  I’m not concerned with showing fake emotion.

  I’m not sure that’s what I meant.

  The king watches us closely as our silent exchange commenced, and I swear that he picked up on it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did; he looks experienced enough in his craft to never miss a thing.

  “Let us have dinner together to discuss what you have come here to propose,” the king says. “My son has given me very little detail.” He claps his hands.

  The tables spread out across the floor, taking the nobility with them to their seats. None of them seem surprised by the sudden use of magic on their bodies, as if it happens all the time. Food appears along each table as well, and instruments across the room begin to play, even with no musicians present. No seats are left for us, and I’m about to ask if we will be dining separately when a table appears just below the dais, holding a far grander feast than the others. It has only four seats, and we sit with Rai and his father at the heads.

  I focus on all of the constant magic blending around the room to continue this facade. Awe makes me take a deep breath just to make sure I’m still breathing. Rowan flicks his wrist in my peripheral vision, and my plate fills with all the foods he knows I’ll eat, and nothing else. The king smiles at the obvious show of love and deep connection that we have. The thought makes my cheeks stain a light pink, and Rai grins.

  “Have you been together long?” the king inquires, directing the question at me while taking a casual sip from his goblet.

  “Ah, well, that’s a complicated question. You could say that we’ve been together for over twenty-two years, but physically? Less than a month. We were soul bonded until unforeseen events allowed him to reincarnate as a true living fae again.”

  The king sits back in his chair, seemingly shocked. “Well then, this just keeps getting more and more interesting. No wonder I had heard no whispers of your newfound life as a fae.”

  Rowan only shrugs. “Word travels slowly in the fae realm.”

  The king laughs. “Not if you have the power of the wind on your side.”

  The nobility chuckle from their tables several yards away, even though it’s impossible for them to have heard the joke. My stomach drops at the lonely, empty sound. Laughter is supposed to be infectious and full of joy. The fae in this room, besides the king and his son, are lifeless. What happened to make them that way? The king watches the flurry of expressions across my face with rapt attention, and I direct my features to something more acceptable. He may seem welcoming and warm, but this a cunning fae king we’re talking about. Letting him in may be a mistake.

  Good girl.

  Don’t act like I’m some dog that deserves a treat.

  I apologize. Yeesh, take it easy.

  The king leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers together, and I focus on the various rings along each knuckle. They are all molded in gold and sparkling, yellow gems, and it fills me with desperation to know what they mean. Battles won? Family members lost? This man in front of me is thousands of years old if he’s met Rowan before. I can’t even fathom the amount of wisdom and knowledge he possesses.

  “You appear to be a smart girl despite your youth. My son told me of your quest to end the war through peaceful resolution rather than conflict. I agree with that, I do, but it’s not that simple. Especially for a king who has been responsible for starting it. Rowan will need to prove he is capable of becoming a benevolent king, and you too, as our queen.”

  I lean forward. “That’s understandable, Your Majesty.”

  He cuts in with, “Call me Gerald.”

  “Ah, okay, Gerald. I appreciate that you’re so willing to hear us out, and I solemnly swear that we will do everything in our power to prove ourselves as worthy leaders. All you have to do is pledge your allegiance to me, his queen.”

  He smiles, and it appears less than accommodating. “That’s wonderful news, but you will get no pledge from me with a simple promise like that.”

  Rowan rolls his eyes. “You’ve always been one for grand theatrics, Gerald. What do you want us to do?”

  The king chuckles, holding up his hands. “You caught me. As u
sual, Rowan, nothing gets by you. You see, it’s only right that my people know the true royalty are capable of defeating any threat that could arise in our kingdom. Even the greatest of them.”

  I glance between Gerald and Rai, noticing that Rai’s face had gone white. Has he realized what his father may ask of us? And if so, is it truly so bad to show so much fear plainly on his face? It makes fear brew within my own stomach, sloshing the food around threateningly.

  “What is it, Gerald?” Rowan probes. “Just say it.”

  “You must slay the oldest and most formidable predator in the Great Wood, the Nemean lion. Bring me its largest tooth, and I will pledge my allegiance to you.”

  Chapter Seven

  After agreeing to slay the lion and eating our meal, Rai had been gracious enough to show us to our room. Singular. Again, I think as I lie back on the bed next to the roaring fire Rowan started while the two men pace. Rai looks stricken at the prospect of us fighting the Nemean lion. I don’t see an issue with it. It may be a lion, but it’s no match for Rowan and I. Magic will melt it instantly, right?

  After several more tense minutes, I sit up on my elbows. “All right, spill it. I’m not understanding why this is such a big deal. We had to have known the kings wouldn’t just roll over. We do one task and then we can be on our way, right?”

  The men look at each other before Rowan comes to sit on the edge of the bed. “I’m not sure you know what you agreed to, Tiana. The Nemean lion is the oldest predator in the Great Wood for a reason. It is two times larger than any lion you may know of, has double the strength, and an impenetrable hide.”

  My head spins. “Okay. Well, how do we kill it then?”

  Rowan rubs his forehead. “I don’t know yet.”

  “This is exactly the kind of thing I thought my father would come up with to keep his power. I apologize,” Rai says, looking ashamed.

  “It’s not your fault, Rai,” I reply. “Plus, if I had been a king for as long as him, I wouldn’t be so quick to give it up either. Especially for a race of fae I have no interest in saving.”

  He shrugs, looking unconvinced, before throwing himself down onto the sofa. Rowan leans back against the pillows next to me, forcing our arms to touch. The contact reminds me of last night and I blush before moving away. Now isn’t the time to be thinking about sex. We’re about to slay an unkillable monster for God’s sake.

  “So many people have tried to kill the Nemean for glory, gold, or anything else they come up with. Each one of them has died, adding to its power. They’ve tried swords, magic, and bombs to no avail.” He pauses, turning his head toward the fireplace. “Nothing injures it.”

  I sit up. “What about from the inside?”

  Rai gives me an incredulous look. “The only way you’re getting into that thing's stomach is in little, chewed-up pieces.”

  “He’s right, Tiana,” Rowan adds.

  “Wait, listen! Everyone has used battle magic against it, only making it stronger. What if we used spirit control magic on it to subdue it long enough for me to slip down its throat. And before you say anything, Rowan, I know using it is wrong. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.”

  Rai sits forward, forearms against his knees. “You’re really willing to go down a lion's throat, and what? Slice through from the inside? What happened to the scared, unsure human girl I knew a month ago?”

  I look him in the eye, my expression serious. “She doesn’t exist anymore, not when other people’s lives are on the line. If I’m the only one that can reunite the fae realm to what it should have been thousands of years ago, you damn well know I’m going to do anything I can. And yes, that includes jumping down a lion's throat.”

  Rowan stands, throwing his hands in the air. “No! This is a terrible plan! Doing something illegal, and dangerous? Just to satisfy a pissy king acting like he has all the power? Screw this! I’ll march down there and duel him myself to settle this, as I should’ve done when we arrived.”

  Rai shakes his head. “That won’t gain you willful allegiance, and you know it.”

  “Who said it has to be willful?” Rowan glowers.

  I get up and shove him backward. “Me! We’re doing it my way this time because, as you pointed out, you failed before. Making everyone bow to you is no way to rule. They should respect your power, not fear the repercussions of it.”

  He traps my hands against his chest. “But this is too dangerous. You and I together can only hold it for a minute or less, and then it will be upon us. That’s not enough time for you to swing onto it and into its mouth, let alone kill it from the inside.”

  “Will you just trust someone else for once?”

  “Not if it means putting you in danger.”

  We stare at one another then, me practically swooning into his chest. Rai watches the fire rather than our exchange. Rowan doesn’t look away from our heated standoff until a single tear rolls down the side of my face. His eyes watch it fall, filled with sadness.

  “I am scared, and I know that I’m in danger. But that’s never been a reason for the hero of the story to give up, is it?” I plead.

  “You’re right. I concede. We will do it your way, on one condition.”

  “What is it?” I groan.

  “You have to promise me that you’ll live.” He breathes, pulling me in for a kiss. “Because I can’t lose you.”

  “I promise.”

  ***

  The next morning Rowan shakes me awake as pre-dawn light floods the windows. Our quest to slay the Nemean lion is not only impossible according to Rowan, but also on a time limit set by Gerald. We have twenty-four hours to prove ourselves as capable royalty, which as he put it, should be all we need to slay the Nemean. The more he talked yesterday, the less I enjoyed his company. Perhaps Rowan’s pessimism is rubbing off on me.

  “Get up, Tiana, we can’t be late,” Rowan whispers while caressing my cheek. “We’re on the clock.”

  “Ugh. I didn’t know being a queen meant getting up every morning at the ass crack of dawn,” I grumble, tossing the covers aside.

  “You’re not a morning person, are you?” He chuckles.

  “Usually I am, but not when the rooster crows as I’m tumbling out of bed. That’s a sin.”

  We move around the room, dressing in our respective corners. I pretend not to watch him do so, but it’s almost impossible not to. His tattoos are mesmerizing, and let’s not even talk about the rippling muscle along his back. It’s become easier to live in the same room as him, to sleep in the same bed. I’m afraid that I’ll get a little too used to this, but at the same time, would it really be so bad if I did? I have to choose a mate, and soon. But Lucien, it’s always Lucien hovering at the corner of my mind, leaving me drowning in a lake of guilt.

  I’m not sure if I’m being fair to either of us at this point. He was the one I latched onto at the start of all this. Was it only due to the level of comfort he provided during that confusing time in my life? Were my feelings real, and if they were, would I be questioning myself right now? Ugh. This is a round and round thought process lately. I just don’t want to make the wrong choice. Not that either of them would be wrong for me. Maybe that’s the problem.

  Rowan hands me a heavy, iron broadsword in its sheath. The strap around the front indicates that it’s supposed to wrap around my chest, securing it in place. Before doing so, I draw out the pristine, shining blade and swing it around with one arm, feeling the weight of it. I’m not sure it’s a weapon I’d choose for myself, but I understand that it’s a backup plan to defeat the Nemean lion if my fire swords and magic fail.

  We stayed up late into the night devising a plan, along with several backup plans due to Rowan’s insistence. Our main plan begins with Rai luring the Nemean into a nearby clearing using a fresh, bloody kill, and fighting off any other creature that dares come close. That’s where he’ll be right now, and where Rowan’s leading me through the dark castle barracks. Tired air soldiers on watch duty usher us to move pa
st, but don’t comment. Everyone knows what the king tasked us with, and by the looks on their faces, they don’t expect us to come out of it alive.

  Don’t worry about them.

  I know. I know.

  We finally move out of the castle, and down the back slope which borders the forest. Nothing can be heard once inside which is either a good or very bad thing. Rai said he’s battled most of the creatures in this forest before and not to worry about him, but I still will, nonetheless. It takes us several minutes of running before we spot the clearing up ahead. A grisly, mangled deer lies in the middle, and blood covers the grass around it, as if a horrible murder occurred. My stomach heaves at the brutality of it, but I force myself to calm down. This won’t be the worst sight I encounter today.

  “Hey, guys,” Rai whispers from our left, making me jump. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

  I place a hand on my heart. “That’s all right. I guess I’m jumpy this morning. Will this really work? If the Nemean lion lives and prowls in the Great Wood, why would it come here?”

  “That’s not just any dead animal, Tiana,” Rowan says. “It’s a magical creature that’s extremely rare and difficult to kill. Plus, its blood is intoxicating to any fairy monster that smells it. All we have to do is kill anything else that tries to take the meat before the Nemean arrives.”

  “If you say so.”

  Rai points back the way he came. “I’m going to scout around to the north side of the clearing. You guys split up, taking the east and west. I’ll continue to circle around to protect the south. Got it?”

  We nod, and Rowan brushes my hair away from my face tenderly before pushing me forward toward the east. My section of the clearing is full of tall oak trees, one of which I scale to the first large, low-hanging branch. It will be best to sneak attack anything that dares prowl beneath me. I settle in, crouching low while spinning a single fire dagger in my palm. The forest is quiet once we take position, and I’m sure it’s because there are predators waiting to see what we’ll do or why we’re here.

  My eyes swivel from left to right, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. The others are well hidden, and the kill is in plain view from all angles. All we can do now is watch and wait for something to happen, and hopefully soon. My mental clock is ticking down the minutes we have left to kill an unkillable beast. The thought makes me hold in laugh. What in the hell do we think we’re doing?