by K.N. Lee
“Why don’t you?”
“I prefer being a man. While there are social constraints that come with it, there are also perks. You know, pretty women, football,” he said, and lifted his glass. “Whiskey.”
“You’re a simple man,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“It would appear that way,” he said, taking a drink of his whiskey. “Tell me when you knew you were a witch. What was that like?”
“It wasn’t pleasant,” she told him, closing her eyes against the memory.
“And why is that?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Do I have to remind you of who is in charge? Answer the question, Allyn.
Allyn shot him a glare. “Because my mother died that day. Are you pleased? Are you satisfied?”
That made him look up from his phone. He stared at her, his brows furrowing in what she would have anticipated being horror or judgment. Instead, he looked saddened, his face paling as he watched her scowl at him, her cheeks reddened.
She looked down at her hands. “My power used to be controlled by my emotions. The day she died was the day I lost all control of whatever is inside of me,” she said, her voice lowered to barely above a whisper.
The silence that followed her story left her feeling exposed.
“I had no idea.”
She glanced at Lennox as he put his phone away and met her eyes.
“All I remember of my mother was how she couldn’t even look at me.” He stopped talking and looked away.
“That must have been awful. Why couldn’t she look at you?” Allyn asked, a part of her heart hurting for him.
She couldn’t imagine such a thing. Her mother’s love was half of what shaped her into the woman she was. If Allyn didn’t have a loving mother and father, she was certain that she would have grown into a cold woman, bitter and too weak to fight whatever evil awaited within. Perhaps if Lennox had been shown more love, he’d be a different person.
“How should I know?” Lennox looked at her with an agitated look on his face. “She didn’t like me. Simple as that.” He waved a flippant hand at her and went back to his phone. “Nevermind. Forget I said anything.”
Allyn looked out the window at the clouds. That was clearly a sensitive area for Lennox, and the first glimpse of humanity she’d seen. Maybe there was a tiny crack in his hardened façade, but bringing up their mothers did nothing to improve her mood either.
She hadn’t spoken about her mother in ages. She’d been twelve when she died, and it was an event that changed her life forever. Everything and everyone Allyn had ever loved had either died or left her, and now, all she had left was her father. She had to find out where he was, and get away from Prince Lennox.
First, she needed to survive whatever he had planned for her in the War Zone.
CHAPTER 15
THE WAR ZONE wasn’t what Allyn imagined. The media made it seem as though it was a desolate place where nothing stood but ruins and old decrepit buildings.
Instead, she looked down in awe at domed buildings that housed buildings that looked much like those within the city limits. To think that this thriving city was only a half day south from Elastria was perplexing.
“What is this place?”
“Faustinia. Where the fairies live.”
Allyn shot him a look. “Really?”
Lennox nodded. “You aren’t afraid?”
“Why should I be? I have more in common with fairies than I do with humans.”
“Good.”
“Why is that good?” Allyn asked as the jet landed on a black strip outside of the massive dome.
Lennox stood and reached for her hand. “Because you’re my date.”
“For what?”
“For the Faustinian Winter Ball. I never miss it. And I’m known to have the most beautiful arm candy.”
“Good Lord. I have to be seen with you?”
He laughed—a laugh that was exactly like Conall’s—and nodded. “That you do.”
She scrunched up her nose, hating that he shared Conall’s charming laugh. She accepted his hand as he led her from her seat and to the door.
Outside, the storm raged just as hard as in Elastria, with winds that threatened to lift her from the ground and throw her into the flat wilderness that surrounded them. Prince Lennox held tight to her, seeing her having trouble staying balanced. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist as they waited for a black car to come from the dome and park in front of them.
Allyn only had a few moments to appreciate the warmth of Lennox’s body as his chest was pressed to her back, as he stood behind her. They hurried into the car and closed the door against the tirade of fluffy white snow.
Allyn covered her face with her hands, trying to warm her nose which had gone numb from the cold. Without delay, the car turned and drove them toward the dome, and in through the metallic gates which stood several hundred feet high. It didn’t look as though the fairies were trying to invade human territory. You’d think that they were trying to protect themselves from the humans.
“Wow,” Allyn said.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Lennox asked.
“The fairies have found a way to survive the winter without essentially hibernating and hiding within their homes.”
Their domes were amazing, with everything they needed within their glass walls, and completely absent of the snow and heavy winds outside.
“Right. Not everyone is as backward thinking as my father,” Lennox said, and for the first time, Allyn saw that he could actually be a reasonable person. When would the Elastrians be able to leave their homes in winter again? It had been far too many years.
She sat back in her seat and looked to Lennox. As much as she hated him, she was secretly grateful that she got to see this magical place where fairies flew through the air. While there were roads, there weren’t many cars to be seen. Everyone flew, or walked, happy looks on their shimmering faces.
Allyn couldn’t wait to get out of that car and get a closer look at a real fairy.
The car pulled into a building, and a metal gate slid down behind them. They parked in an underground parking garage and got out.
Allyn looked around. “This reminds me of the Digital Underground,” she said, rubbing her hands together. It was much more temperate inside the dome than she’d expected. It was warm, actually. Warm enough for a sundress and sandals.
She imagined life here. They’d accept her, right? Open their arms to a sorceress that had no idea where her power came from, or the extent of that power.
She tensed when she noticed two men step out of a door that slid up along the wall right beside them.
One had evergreen hair, the other had red. They were the same height, much taller than she imagined a fairy to be. At nearly a foot taller than her, they towered over her, their smooth, shimmering dark brown faces making them look like young men just out of their teen years. You could never be sure of the age of a fairy.
At least, that’s what Allyn had read.
They didn’t smile at Prince Lennox. Instead, they glared at him, as if he wasn’t welcome.
“Ivan. Igor. Aren’t you going to say hello to me and my lovely date?” Lennox said, motioning toward Allyn.
Ivan and Igor looked down at her, their blue eyes blinking with two sets of eyelids. Allyn shivered. They’d pretty much resembled dark-skinned humans covered in silver glitter until they did that with their eyes.
“We told you never to come back here after what you did last winter?” Ivan—the one with the green hair—said. He straightened his tie and cleared his throat. “My parents still haven’t forgiven me for letting you come.”
Lennox clasped a hand over their shoulders. “Listen, we’re practically brothers. Let me talk to Svetlana and Anton. I’ll apologize. We’ll all be a family again.”
Igor shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“We will talk inside,” Ivan said, glancing at Allyn. “Such matters shouldn’t
be discussed in front of women.”
Igor and Allyn caught glances and he smiled. “I like your hair,” he said with a wink.
Allyn’s smile came easily as she eyes his. They had the same shade. “Thank you,” she said. “Sure we aren’t related?”
He chuckled and looked to Lennox. “I like this one. You did well this time.”
With that, Allyn and Lennox followed behind, Lennox whispering something to Ivan as they stepped inside the sliding door and into a small room with mirrors for walls.
Allyn lost her balance when the floor shot them upward at a speed that she hadn’t expected.
“Whoa. Whoa,” Lennox said, grabbing hold of her. He held her steady as the room went higher and higher.
It was over in seconds, and Allyn was dizzy once the strange elevator stopped.
“Okay, there?” Lennox asked, not letting go until Allyn nodded.
She pushed his hand off of her waist and put her hand to her forehead as she waited for the room to stop spinning.
“I’m fine,” she said, catching her breath.
The door opened and they stepped into a hallway much like those in the Digital Underground. Ancient fairy dialect stretched along the dark walls, illuminated by neon lights.
“The ball starts soon,” Ivan said. “Why don’t you take the girl to one of the guest rooms, Igor. I’ll take Lennox to ma and pa and see if he can sweet talk his way out of all of the trouble he’s in.”
Igor nodded. “Sure.” He looked to Allyn. “This way.”
For the first time, Allyn wasn’t sure if she wanted to separate from Prince Lennox. They were in a strange place, with people that she didn’t know, customs that she was unaware of. She hesitated and Lennox noticed. He grinned, amused.
“Hey,” Lennox said to her, leaning close to her ear. “I won’t be far.”
She frowned, hating that he read her hesitation so accurately. He gave her a smack on the bottom and she jumped, glaring at him from over her shoulder.
Without a word, she followed Igor down the hallway to a bedroom. He opened the door for her and waited for her to go inside. “You can get ready here. I’m sure Lennox will smooth things over with my parents and you two will be able to celebrate the end of autumn with us.”
Allyn looked around at the simple room. There was a bed on the floor, with black covers designed with beautiful white flowers folded halfway down. A clear washbasin was on the vanity, and there was one black chair beside a burning flower with red petals.
Intrigued by the flower, she walked directly to it. Instinct told her that the flames wouldn’t harm her, so she stuck her hand in the flames and smiled as they turned from orange to blue.
“What did Lennox do?” she asked. When she looked over her shoulder at Igor he stared at her with his mouth open, his eyes wide.
Instead of answering her question, his eyes lifted to hers. “What are you?”
Allyn looked down at her hand, seeing that the blue flames clung to her like lint. She shook her hand and the flames vanished. She tucked her hands into her jacket pocket.
“I’m sorry,” was all she could think to say. She was sure her cheeks were blood red as she stood there.
Igor didn’t say anything else to her. He simply backed out of the room and closed the door.
Allyn squeezed her eyes closed and groaned. “Good job fitting in.”
CHAPTER 16
MY FATHER IS missing, and I am about to go to a party.
Great.
Allyn looked at herself in the full-length mirror with a sigh. She didn’t even care that her maroon ball gown was the most stunning thing she’d ever worn.
She looked like a princess. With fake, silver fairy wings attached to her back, she could have passed for one of the girls in the fairy tales she loved to read as a little girl. A stylist had styled her hair so that it wouldn’t get in the way of her shiny new wings.
“What am I doing?” she asked herself.
A knock on her door broke her from her thoughts. She sighed. This was the most beautiful she’d ever been, and she couldn’t enjoy it for the worry in her belly.
All she could think of was her father perishing in a dungeon somewhere.
She squeezed her eyes shut and inhaled. “You can do this. Play the part. Get the information. Save your father.”
With that, she opened her eyes, resolute.
She opened the door and rolled her eyes at Prince Lennox.
Sure, he looked amazing, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but her mission.
He wore a black suit that was a contrast to his perfect silvery-white hair. Why did he have to look so good? It made it hard to truly hate him. Especially since he looked just like Conall. He even had the same smile, and when he grinned at her, her heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
“Well, look at you,” Lennox said, leaning against the doorframe. “You fill that dress out better than I’d imagined.”
She ignored his comment, and how his gaze lingered on her full bosom. She put her hands on her slim waist and rolled her eyes.
“Did you resolve whatever issue you had with Ivan and Igor’s parents?”
“Who?” He lifted a brow. “Oh, right. The king and queen of Faustinia. Yeah. We’re good.”
Allyn gulped. Of course, they were in the fairy palace. Why did she expect any less?
“Well, come on. Let’s make our appearance. Dinner, dancing, a little debauchery. I hope you’re ready.”
Allyn put a hand on his arm, stopping him.
“What do they know about me?”
Lennox checked his silver watch. “That you’re a witch. Enough with the questions. Let’s go.”
Without another word, he turned his back on her and led the way down the hall.
“You could have told them that I’m your prisoner,” she said under her breath. Could a fairy be an ally? Could anyone help her?
The thought of pulling Igor aside crossed her mind and faded. She was in a foreign country. She didn’t stand a chance. Best to keep quiet and calm until she and Prince Lennox returned to Elastria.
As if by invisible chains, Lennox pulled her along through the fairy palace where the staff and other guests stared at the two humans like they were flying fish.
They made their way to the banquet room where everyone gathered with their drinks and socialized while the long table set with the colorful centerpieces of flowers Allyn had never seen.
Prince Lennox put his hand on the small of her back. “Try not to catch any fairy dude’s eye while I get us a drink. Deal?”
Allyn didn’t have a chance to reply as he left her to go to the bar in the center of the large room with chandeliers that resembled blue icicles.
Self-conscious, Allyn’s face started to flush as she noticed that the majority of fairies in the room were staring at her. They were the ones hovering above the ground, with their winds flapping like hummingbirds, but she was the most interesting person in the room.
A witch in a maroon dress, with an arrogant prince that could shift into a Wolf.
The whispers didn’t take long to start, itching her ears as she caught some of what was said.
At least they weren’t speaking ill of her. Apparently, magic wasn’t frowned upon here the way it was in Elastria.
Hope that they’d accept her dared to rise within her belly.
A woman flew over to her, her crystal shoes barely touching the flood. With bright lavender hair that was pinned up in a style that resembled a pineapple, she had the most intriguing coffee-colored skin that shimmered like tiny diamonds had been crushed and dusted onto her.
Two other women were close behind, their white hair flowing long behind them and their elaborate gowns.
“Hello there,” the one with the lavender hair said, a smile on her full lips. She tilted her head as she looked Allyn up and down with large gray eyes.
Allyn swallowed. Don’t be awkward. She forced a smile. “Hello.
“I’m Laxmi. These are my s
isters, Sonali and Richa.”
“Nice to meet you,” Allyn said, nodding to Laxmi’s sisters that stood so close that she could smell their floral perfume, and the way the cool wind whenever they flapped their smaller translucent wings.
Allyn noticed how Laxmi’s were much bigger and fuller. She wondered what that was about.
“So,” Laxmi said, leaning close to Allyn. “Tell us. Are you really a witch? Prince Lennox can be a bit of a—“
“Liar,” Sonali and Richa said in unison.
“Storyteller,” Laxmi corrected.
Allyn didn’t know how to answer that question. Witch was such an odd term for her. She’d never cast a spell in her life. She’d never read a spell book, or conjured hexes. Her power was innate, and...different.
“I guess you can say that,” Allyn said. “Yeah, I’m the witch.”
“Well, that is refreshing,” Laxmi said. “You know that witches come here often for sanctuary, right?”
Allyn’s interest spiked. Her brows lifted. “Really?”
“Yes, but they can’t stay here. They use Faustinia as a half-way point, and pass on through to the Americas. Since we face the sea, they hop on a ship and continue their journey.”
Allyn stared at Laxmi, desperate to ask her how she could do the same. But, she couldn’t leave her father behind. So, she kept her pleas to herself and tensed as Lennox returned.
His perfect white teeth gleamed as he smiled at the three fairy women. “Ladies,” he said, and handed Allyn a glass of wine.
Drinking it down, Allyn watched the expressions on Richa and Sonali’s faces darken.
Laxmi stood before Lennox, as if shielding the others. “Don’t speak to us,” she said and motioned to the other two. “Until you apologize to my sisters for what you did last year.”
Lennox feigned ignorance and drank from a short glass filled half-way with what looked like whiskey.
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” Lennox said, his brows lifted. “Why don’t you refresh my memory?”
Richa slapped him, the sound reverberating through the entire room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the scene. When Sonali did the same, Allyn almost burst out laughing, but covered her mouth instead.