by Dyan Chick
"I know, but we let you sleep in. The party started an hour ago. People are starting to talk," he said.
"They shouldn't be talking about me at all," I said reluctantly moving toward him.
"You can't expect me to hide away a gem like you." He winked.
I wanted to be mad, but I couldn't hold on to the anger. Reluctantly, I set my hand in his. "Except you're forgetting, Your Grace, I don't belong to you."
"I would never forget that. You don't belong to anyone. That's one of the few things you and I agree on," he said, pulling me closer to him. "As I told you when we met, I fully anticipate that one day you'll come to me. Until then, you're my guest, only here until your favor is fulfilled."
"I don't recall anything about my favor involving showing me off to people I've never met," I said.
"Oh, I promise you, it directly relates," Tristan said as led me down the hall and down the stairs.
I took a deep breath as the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and music grew louder with each step. There really was a party going on. I wasn't in the mood for a party. Curiosity seemed to guide me, though. How had Tristan connected a party to his desire to learn about human customs?
"You could at least pretend you're enjoying my company," Tristan said.
"Is that part of the bargain?" I asked.
"No," he admitted. "But if you let your guard down, you might accidentally have some fun."
A slight smile found its way across my lips. I was stuck here, after all. And I had fun at the Fae wedding I'd stumbled across even after all my doubts. "Alright. I'll try."
We paused outside of a pair of double doors that were open wide, revealing a ballroom packed to the brim. Most of the guests were wearing the colors of the Winter Court. I wondered if that was the trend of the Winter Court of if they were all part of Tristan's family. I squeezed Tristan's hand tight, suddenly feeling nervous.
I glanced around the room, looking for a place I could go to be out of the way. Several figures were standing off to the side, avoiding most of the other guests, engaged in conversation.
They were different than the rest of the guests, smaller in stature, their skin had none of the iridescent quality that I’d come to know as a Fae quality. The group of humans stood out more than I thought they would. How had I never noticed how small and frail humans looked before?
Tristan leaned down next to me, his lips brushed against my ears. "I see you found the humans. Now you see why I need your assistance."
I looked up at Tristan. "I thought humans weren't allowed in this realm."
"They aren't allowed in Faerie. But we're not in Faerie." Tristan slid his arm under mine so we were linking elbows. "Come, let me introduce you."
Following Tristan's lead, we cut through the crowd easily. Heads lowered in reverence as we passed and partygoers backed out of our way with whispers of, “Your Grace.”
I felt like thousands of eyes were on me and I was suddenly self-conscious of every move I made. Knots twisted in my gut and I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears over the din of the crowd. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the Winter Prince, which meant all eyes were also on me.
I moved in closer to Tristan, using my free hand to wrap my fingers around his firm bicep to make sure I didn't lose him. Knowing the strength and power of the Fae and being in a room of this many made me incredibly uncomfortable, even if I was one of them. I still didn't feel totally safe but having Tristan by my side helped.
There was something different about this crowd from the crowd that had gathered for the wedding I attended. Everyone here was clearly of noble birth, or somehow had risen to the highest classes in this society.
The wedding had been simple. Everyone there had turned out in their best, but it was to celebrate the love between the couple who was getting married. This was a peacock parade. The guests here were showing off their finery, and vying for power and position. It was exactly the same as the parties I'd attended with my father. Tristan said he wanted my help with the humans, but from what I was seeing, there was nothing different between the way the Fae acted and the way humans acted when it came to things like this.
We stopped in front of the small group of humans, all men, all dressed in the highest quality fabrics. They ranged in age. The youngest looking to be in his early twenties while the eldest, a completely white haired man, was probably closer to sixty. Every one of them bowed at Tristan and greeted him with a chorus of, “Your Grace,” then then turned to me and bowed, bestowing the same title on me. I felt my cheeks heat at the group of men calling me, “Your Grace.”
I glanced at Tristan, looking for guidance as to how I should react. Tristan didn't even flinch at their use of the title on me. I still had no idea what he wanted from me, but he didn't seem to care if they had my station correct.
"How are you adjusting to life in the Fae Court after all your time in the human realm?" the youngest member of the group asked.
I blinked in surprise, staring at him with unease. I'd been told to keep my history as a changeling secret and there was no way I'd pass as human anymore. I knew my skin and my ears would give me away to these men.
"It's fine," I said, choosing what I hoped was a vague and diplomatic answer.
"You were likely just as surprised to find out you were Fae as we were to get an invitation to the Winter Court," a dark haired man said.
"I'm sure," I said.
"I would love to hear your thoughts on the human-Fae alliance. You must have the most balanced understanding of both cultures," the youngest man said.
"I'm not sure yet," I said. "I haven't had time to fully process it all." What was Tristan's purpose in bringing these men here and what did he want from me? Obviously, his human question was more important than I realized. I never guessed he was interacting with humans. But it still didn't make any sense. The room seemed to spin around me. I wasn't prepared for any of this.
Needing a moment to collect myself, I inclined my head and bobbed into a tiny curtsey. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some air."
"Of course, Your Grace," the youngest man said, bowing.
The others bowed as I turned away from them to take my leave. To my surprise, Tristan didn't follow. I wondered how much time he'd give me before he came to collect me again.
Chapter Eleven
Mumbled conversation and whispers followed in my wake as I made my way through the crowd back to the double doors. Unable to focus, the figures around me blurred together into a sea of gray and black satin and silk.
I hadn't expected to be part of the social calendar of the Winter Court when I had followed Tristan here. Not that he'd given me a choice, but he could've given me fair warning.
I started to wonder if it would be worth breaking the favor and giving up all of my magic. I hadn't even wanted it in the first place. So far, it had caused me nothing but trouble. It attracted monsters, and it put a target on my back. If I went back to the Autumn Court, Tristan could just have my magic. I could explain that I wasn't eligible or interested in participating in Queen's Trial and maybe I could just learn a trade and live in a small village somewhere.
My stomach clenched. Even as I thought about it, I knew it wasn't possible. The magic was part of me whether or not I knew how to use it. I had a feeling if I eliminated it, I would have to pay too high a price. I wandered down the hallways not really thinking about where I was going, turning down one hall into another, letting myself get lost.
Tristan hadn't forbidden me from going anywhere, he probably thought I wouldn't even bother to try, so I just kept wandering while I let my breathing return to normal. I wasn't good around crowds, I never had been. How was I going to make it in Queen's Trial if I was going to be expected to do things like this? Mingling with nobles and diplomats and smiling and nodding were not things that sounded fun. I'd avoided it whenever possible in the human realm and until the Sodalis attack, nobody had been trying to kill me there.
I heard voices behind me a
nd panic welled up inside me. I wasn't ready to go back yet. I would in a few minutes, I needed a little more time. Without thinking, I opened the nearest door and ducked inside whatever the room was, closing the door quietly behind me. I leaned against the wood and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths while I listened for any sound outside the door.
Satisfied that no one had seen me, I open my eyes and stared into a dimly lit room. It looked to be a small parlor of some sort, with a few places to sit and a few small tables for games or other diversions. A light appeared in the corner and I turned toward it letting out a startled gasp when I realized I wasn't alone. In an overstuffed armchair sat a thin, frail looking female. She had stringy, long golden hair and her dress hung from her thin frame, showing her visible collar bones and the upper bones of her ribs. Her eyes were sunken and she had a hollow, sad expression.
"I'm so sorry to have disturbed you," I said. "I'll be on my way."
"Wait," the female said. "I recognize that dress."
My hand was already on the doorknob, but I let go of it and turned back to her. There was something about her voice that seemed familiar. But I couldn't place it. "Tristan lent it to me."
"So you're the one they've been talking about," she said. "I wondered if my brother was ever going to introduce us."
Tristan's memory flashed into my head, a young boy in the protective embrace of his older sister. "Sasha?" I asked.
She smirked, making her look even more like Tristan. "So he has shared his magic with you, that's very interesting."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said quickly. Tristan had trusted me with his ability to share memories and while I might not be happy with him right now, I had made a promise never to share that information. In the list of people who knew what he could do, Sasha had not been among them.
"And you're protective of him too," she said. "I can see why he likes you. You know," Sasha said. "I had my doubts when I heard the rumblings about you. But now I'm starting to think my brother knows what he's doing."
"I don't even know what your brother's doing," I said.
"Maybe it's time for you to have a little bit of faith in others. Even if someone let you down in the past, sometimes there are very good reasons people do the things they do." Sasha picked up a little bell and gave it a shake. It jingled with a sharp chime.
The door opened almost immediately and Bella walked in. "Yes, my Lady?"
"Bella?" I asked. "Is this your position here?"
She turned to me. "Lady Cassia." She looked at Sasha.
"Yes, Bella has helped care for me for a long time. She's the only servant in the house who knows how to help care for a female. When my brother let me know you'd be staying with us, I demanded he send her to you until Tristan could find you proper help. I can't imagine anyone else trying to prepare you for a party."
"I didn't mean to take her from you," I said. "I can manage fine on my own."
"I don't mind sharing," Sasha said. "But I do need to rest. Bella, can you please fetch a guard to escort Lady Cassia back to the party?"
"Of course, my Lady," Bella said with a curtsy. She ducked out the door.
Before I could ask any more questions, a guard appeared at the door. He lowered his head in a reverent bow. "My Lady."
"Please escort our guest back to the party," Sasha said with a tiny wave of her hand.
He bowed again. "Of course."
"It was lovely to meet you," I said.
Sasha nodded, then waved her hand at me, dismissing me.
I was curious about Sasha's history and wondered why she was sitting in here alone while the party was going on down the hall. Nothing turned out to be as it seemed in the Winter Court. With one final glance at Sasha, I decided she wasn't going to give me any information. I walked toward the guard at the door, and waited while he shut the door behind us.
"This way, my Lady," the guard said. He was formal and stiff as we walked down hall, taking his order from Sasha very seriously without any additional comment. His body language made it clear that he wasn't interested in having a conversation with me. All too soon, I found myself facing the doors that lead to the celebration.
I’d left so abruptly, I was dreading Tristan's reaction to my return. With a deep breath, I imagined myself marching right up to him demanding answers. Keeping that in mind, I lifted my chin high and crossed the threshold.
When I walked into the party, no one was mingling anymore. Instead, music filled the space and the room was a swirl of fabric and movement as the elegant attendees made their way across the dance floor.
Hugging the wall, I worked my way into the room, searching for Tristan. It didn't take me long to find him, wrapped up with a female I didn't know, laughing, cheeks pink from exertion. Tristan and his guest moved with ease and grace around the dance floor. The female in his arms wore a deep blue dress that swirled around her with every turn and spin. Gems woven into her midnight black hair winked and sparkled, creating the illusion of a crown on top of her head. She threw her head back as she laughed, batting long dark lashes. If there was a female in this room that was my opposite in appearance, she was it. She was stunning and I felt the uncomfortable stab of jealousy in my gut. My cheeks heated despite the fact that I told myself that I had no interest in Tristan.
I had three princes waiting for me, each of whom had pledged themselves to me. Why should I care what or whom the Winter Prince did in his own time?
Clearly, he didn't care about me. I was here to fulfill some strange part of his master plan that had nothing to do with the rest of Faerie. I leaned against the wall, fuming as I watched Tristan continue to flit around the dance floor with the stranger.
My fingernails bit into my palms as I clenched my hands into fists. It was possible he didn't even miss me while I was gone. I stared at him, willing him to look my way. I wanted him to see how angry I was after more half-truths from the sister he kept hidden from me. But he was fixated on his partner, his gaze never wavered.
The longer I stood there, the more heat seemed to ride through me sending a surge of jealousy that I couldn't subdue. I glanced back toward the door and wondered if I should just take off again. I could probably find my way back to the room where they dressed me up for this spectacle.
"Glad to see you came back," a male voice said. I turned to see the youngest of the group of humans leaning against the wall next to me. He was a couple of inches taller than me with dark hair and dark stubble. Circles under his eyes told me he hadn't been sleeping well lately. I suddenly felt sorry for him. Faerie was very different from the human world and while I'd had time to adjust and I knew this was where I belonged, he was even more out of place than I was.
"How long have you been here?" I asked.
"In the Winter Court?" he asked.
I nodded. "Significant change from the human realm."
"That is very true." He smiled and seemed to relax a little as we spoke. "We've been coming back and forth for short visits for a few months now. This will be the first time we stay overnight."
"And you've just been working with Tristan?" I asked.
"Yes, the prince reached out to us, looking for an opportunity to open up trade routes and diplomatic discussions between our realm and yours."
I thought about his words, and the fact that he came from the place I used to think of as home. Now, I supposed this realm was home. As much as I felt like I belonged here, I still had moments where it seemed surreal and impossible. "Are you a prince?"
"No." He laughed. "I do represent one, though." He extended his hand. "I'm Jonathan Rivers, Ambassador for the Kingdom of Marta. I've been helping to work on negotiating a treaty on his behalf."
I shook the man's hand, surprised that he offered me the gesture. I was used to women being ignored in terms of formal introduction. "And this is something you all want? Diplomatic relations and trade between the Fae and the humans?"
"I'm sure it would make things easier for you," he said. "I can't imagine
being in your position, trapped between two worlds."
His comment surprised me and I wondered how much of my story he knew. I realized I had two options. One, I could pretend that I knew what Tristan's plans were. Two, I could ask questions and possibly get answers since this man didn't seem to think there was any reason to hide anything from me.
I knew I needed to be smart about it. Letting him know that Tristan was keeping me in the dark might make him stop discussing things with me. "How much of my past have you already been told?" I figured sticking to things that were about me might be the safest route to feel him out.
"Oh don't worry," he said. "His Grace explained the situation to us. How you were left behind when your family was visiting the human realm, sole survivor of a gruesome attack. It's tragic that anyone could be so unaccepting of those who were different. We’re grateful that he was able to rescue you."
I bit down inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Apparently, Tristan had painted himself the hero in my tragic story. I wondered what purpose this was serving for him.
The music faded as the song ended and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the crowd disperse from the dance floor. I turned away from Jonathan instinctively searching for Tristan.
"You know," Jonathan said as I continued to scour the crowd. "I don't think I've ever heard a more epic love story between two people."
I glanced over at Jonathan, confused for a moment before remembering that Tristan was telling everyone we were a couple. I smiled slightly and turned my attention back to the crowd. This time, I wasn't going to allow Tristan to get away with not having a discussion with me. This had gone far enough.
Finally, among the crowd, I found Tristan bowing to his dance partner. He still hadn't seemed to notice I was waiting for him. I scowled, knowing that it was all probably part of some part of his plan. Tristan always seemed to know where I was and what I was doing. How often had he shown up when I didn't want him to? How often had he interrupted me with others for his own entertainment? Tristan had to know I was here, which meant he was ignoring me.