Revelry

by Chani Feener

  “It won’t affect us even if he does,” he said. “The Erlking was his spy for centuries, and it didn’t change anything for me or my people. The only thing the Crown Prince cares about is the workings of the Underground. He most likely kept ties with Herla in case he’d one day need someone to help him overthrow the king. If he can convince Titania to aid him, then he’ll use her and her people for this task.”

  “As in, he’ll have them return to the Underground to help stage a coup?” Seemed unlikely, considering the lengths Titania’s fae went through every seven years in order to remain here among humans.

  “We should hope she chooses to go with him,” Cato drawled. “Take care of two of our problems at once.” He’d never cared much for the Faerie Queen.

  “For now, we should focus on keeping you safe from further attack,” Mavek suggested, eyes narrowing at Cato momentarily before setting his attention back on Arden. “You weren’t able to properly defend yourself against Twila because you were too concerned with keeping the human boy safe. In the future, I advise you to worry solely about yourself.”

  “So if we were in that situation, that’s what you’d do?” She realized her mistake a second too late.

  His grip tightened on her hands, almost pinching, and she actually had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from making a sound of alarm. “Do not compare what I feel for you to your murky emotions for that mortal.”

  Eskel chuckled, rocking back on his heels casually when Mavek glared his way. It was a bold move. A stupid move.

  “What, can’t handle that she has feelings for someone else?”

  It took Arden a moment to process his words, since it’d been a while since she’d heard that side of Eskel. He’d been so good to her recently––so careful with his words and keeping a light and positive attitude, she’d almost forgotten that he was also the bold idiot who’d trekked across the country in search of ghosts. Knowing what Mavek was capable of should have made him more cautious. Instead, he was doing nothing to mask his hatred. She wondered if it was really because of her, or because of his brother. She’d been the one to take out the Erlking; Eskel had never really gotten closure.

  “Don’t.” Predicting his next move, Arden grabbed Mavek’s arm before he could get up. His body was rigid, a sign that he was about to lose his patience. “I’m injured, remember? That’s why we’re here. I don’t have the energy to deal with the two of you going at each other, so can we just stop it already?”

  Eskel looked a bit hurt, but he quickly smoothed his features into a neutral expression. She wanted to explain that she was on his side, but she’d meant what she’d said. Already, she felt like she could pass out at any moment, her head spinning slightly.

  “You don’t need to stay overnight.” Collecting himself, Mavek looked at her. “I’ve already handled the paperwork, so we can leave as soon as you’re done with this IV.”

  Arden blinked down at her arm. She hadn’t even noticed it.

  “Which will it be? The Manor or your childhood home?”

  “She’s coming with me,” Eskel stated, jaw clenching when the Midnight King laughed scornfully.

  “I don’t believe you’re allowed to have persons of the opposite sex spend the night in your—” he chuckled, “—dorm room.”

  Eskel’s cheeks tinted red, but his voice was firm when he replied. “I’ll sneak her in. It’ll still be better than going anywhere with you.”

  “I can keep her safe.”

  “Sure, from everything else. But who’s going to keep her safe from you?”

  “I would never harm her.”

  “You already have.” Eskel shook his head, refusing to back down. “That’s the problem with you fae. You can’t think from a human perspective, can’t see that the things you do are damaging and wrong.”

  “Have you forgotten that Arden will soon be one of us?” Mavek asked, trying to break through Eskel’s sudden steely resolve.

  “That doesn’t matter,” he said. “She won’t be like the rest of you. Arden was born a human and lived as a human. She’ll always have a human mind and a human heart. You can change other things about her––make her faster and stronger––but you’ll never be able to change who she is. I bet that eats you up inside, doesn’t it? Because, despite all your bluster, deep down you know she’s never going to forgive you.”

  Mavek moved faster than they could blink. One second he was next to Arden, his arm held tightly in her grip, the next he was across the room with his hand wrapped around Eskel’s throat. He had him pinned to the wall, expression dark and serious, and though he was squeezing, he was still exercising restraint. If he hadn’t, Eskel would already be dead.

  Cato was there a second later, trying desperately to tug his king away, risking himself in the process. He managed to slide Mavek half a step back before he was shaken off, landing on the floor with a resounding thud.

  “Stop!” Arden haphazardly struggled out of bed, tripping over the side and tumbling. The IV tugged at her arm painfully and she cried out, catching herself before she could do any real damage. She had her fingers pressed over where the needle was inserted into her arm when strong arms banded around her from behind.

  Mavek held her close, dropping his cheek to the top of her head. “I’m sorry, Arden. I’m sorry.” He sounded oddly sincere, pressing his chest against her back almost desperately. “I didn’t mean to hurt your mortal. I lost my temper.”

  She opened her mouth, almost repeating what she’d said to him earlier––only this time in reverse. Almost said that Eskel had instigated the confrontation—as if that would somehow excuse choking him. Like that would make what he’d just done okay.

  When would the instinct to excuse Mavek’s actions go away? And more importantly, how many other horrible things had he done in the past that she’d so easily excused or even dismissed? Even now, part of her wanted to hug him back, comfort him. It was rare to see him disgruntled.

  The only real thing that kept her from doing it––from just giving into her urges––was Eskel. His feelings were more important to her than comforting the Unseelie king over his monstrous misdeeds. Maybe that was progress. Maybe she really was crazy.

  She licked her lips and swallowed to wet her dry throat before calling, “Eskel?”

  “He’s alright,” Cato was the one to answer, “just some bruising.”

  She wanted to turn to see for herself, but Mavek kept her from doing so. “Are you afraid of how I’ll react when I see?” she asked him, keeping her voice low in some semblance of privacy.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt your mortal,” he repeated in that same tone as before. Guiltily, almost.

  “You know,” she sounded deadpan even to her own ears, “this is more remorse than you showed for Tabby. You almost killed her, and gave no reaction whatsoever when I confronted you about it.”

  “She wouldn’t have died,” he disagreed. “She would have lived a while longer in the Underground, at court. We don’t butcher children, Arden.”

  “Gotta draw the line somewhere, huh?”

  His arms tightened. “I apologized for Tabitha.”

  “You didn’t mean it.” He meant it now though, she could tell. He was legitimately sorry for hurting Eskel. “What’s different this time?”

  He sighed against her hair. “I am aware that sins pile up, and that there is a certain point of no return. I don’t want to harm the people you care about, Arden, that’s never been my intention, even when it was necessary. You know as well as I that Tabitha was not my doing.”

  She wanted to argue that fact but… he was right. Tabby had been there because Cole had been an idiot and gotten himself trapped by the Unseelie and involved with the Erlking.

  “You could have done something,” she stubbornly insisted. “Tried to stop it.”

  “Logically, you know that isn’t true. You’re thinking with your heart.” He grew quiet a moment, then added, “With your human heart.”

  She couldn’t tell
if it was a jab at what Eskel had said, or a reference to their argument before Krit had interrupted. She’d tried—and failed—since then to get his words out of her head. She didn’t need new ones added to the already torturous number.

  In the past, she’d never cared what others thought––had stopped at a young age when the kids on the playground made fun of her for being crazy and talking about the Unseen. She was known as the girl who saw things others couldn’t and was ostracized for it. And that had been fine.

  But hearing things like that spoken from the people she cared about…

  “There’s nothing wrong with being human,” she said.

  “Humans are weak,” he disagreed. “They’re fragile, break easily, and live short lives. I’ve always been fascinated by how brightly they burn and burn out, and that’s not what I want for you, Arden. It’s not what I want for us. I can give you more than a speck of time and rapidly fading beauty.”

  “I’ve told you that I don’t want—”

  He grabbed her chin, tilting her head back and sealing his mouth against hers, effectively cutting her off. The kiss was rough, the angle somewhat awkward with him standing behind her, but it still managed to blindside her.

  She let it go on far longer than she should have, only coming to her senses after she felt the tip of his tongue dance across the roof of her mouth. She was still too weak to really do much but she shoved at him anyway, glad that he got the point and ended the kiss.

  “Come to the manor, Arden,” he whispered, fingers dancing down her jawline, his touch light enough that she began tipping her head against him without realizing. His eyes sparkled, flashing shots of gold and emerald, entrancing her momentarily.

  She felt the sway, like velvet licking against her skin, and was so tempted to just give in. Really, she didn’t want to go back to her house alone. Didn’t want to try sleeping in that room with the broken window. Twila was gone, but the whole ordeal had shaken her and she knew she needed sleep in order to heal. She couldn’t let fear prevent her from that.

  With a start, she realized she wanted to give in. Accepting the sway would just be an excuse, a reason to not feel guilty about it.

  “Arden.”

  “No.” She forced herself to grab onto his wrist, and inhaled deeply. “No, I’m not going to do that.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You can’t sneak into a college dorm room.”

  “She can stay with me.”

  The new voice jarred them both, their heads whipping toward the doorway, eyes widening on Tabby.

  She and Cole were both there, watching from the hall. For a moment, Arden was sure she’d misheard, but then Tabby crossed her arms and mustered up a glare, which she set on the Midnight King.

  “Arden is staying with me tonight,” she announced, unable to keep the note of fear from her voice. Tabby didn’t like being so close to Mavek, yet she stood her ground.

  “Aren’t the two of you arguing?” he asked, tipping his head, hand dropping to the small of Arden’s back possessively.

  “Best friends fight,” she shrugged. “Then they get over it.”

  Arden almost cried, but Mavek effectively ruined the moment by grunting.

  “That’s what I keep trying to explain to my heart,” he said, then finally took a step back, dropping his arm. He smiled softly at Arden. “Cato will accompany you to Tabitha’s. I trust this means all is forgiven in regards to the boy.”

  She almost laughed in disbelief. He wanted her to give him a pass for hurting Eskel because he was letting her go to Tabby’s?

  “It’s my life,” she told him firmly. “I can do what I want with it, and go where I want. I don’t need your permission, Mavek.”

  “Mistaken again. You’re one of my fae now, Arden Archer. The freedom you have is the freedom I’ve given you.”

  “Super romantic, asshole,” Eskel stated from where he was propped against the wall, still rubbing at his neck. Cato was standing next to him, body slightly turned so as to block his king should he attack a second time. As soon as Eskel spoke, he hissed at him, scolding.

  “I’ve offered to accept you,” Mavek reminded Eskel.

  “He what?” Cole asked in surprise, while Tabby immediately made a face of disgust.

  “That is not romantic at all,” she said.

  “It isn’t?” Cole frowned, and she blinked at him like he’d grown a second head.

  Arden felt the tips of her ears start to burn.

  Something caught Cole’s eye down the hall, and he told them, “A nurse is coming.”

  “I’ll leave you then,” Mavek said, brushing his fingers against Arden’s arm. “Keep Cato close for the time being. I’ll look in to the Crown Prince.”

  “Who now?” Cole’s gaze sharpened, but Mavek paid him no mind, turning to Cato instead.

  “Make sure she goes to Tabitha’s,” he ordered. As soon as he got a nod in response, he glanced one last time in Eskel’s direction. It seemed like there was something else he wanted to say, but after a moment he ended up leaving without addressing him.

  Arden dropped back down on the bed as he turned down the hallway, out of sight. When she finally gathered the courage to glance back at Eskel, it was impossible to miss the finger shaped bruises forming on his neck.

  In all their years of friendship, Arden couldn’t recall a more awkward moment passing between them.

  Tabitha was already lying in bed, comforter tossed over her body, eyes staring unblinkingly up at the ceiling. Arden had taken the spot on the floor, a pile of blankets cushioning her from the otherwise solid ground.

  Both Cole and Eskel were asleep in the living room downstairs, refusing to leave after they’d arrived from the hospital. Since this was Tabby’s parents’ house, it wouldn’t be right for them to stay together, but Arden regretted the distance between her and her other friends right now. At least with Cole in here making his jokes, she wouldn’t be trapped in this dead silence.

  The entire car ride, Tabby had barely said two words to her. Even when she’d pulled out the blankets from the closet and began setting them up, she’d remained quiet.

  “I’m starting to think staying at my house was the smarter plan after all,” Arden whispered, too nervous to speak louder. Why was she more afraid of her best friend than she was of being attacked by Unseelie? With a huff, she tossed the comforter off and sat up, twisting around so that she faced the bed.

  Tabby remained unmoving.

  “Are we just never going to speak again?” If that was the case, she was definitely leaving. Already she felt so frustrated she could cry, and after the night she’d had, she wasn’t willing to let her emotions get the best of her again.

  “I…” Tabby paused, cleared her throat. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Literally anything.” Communication had never been a problem between them.

  “I’m embarrassed,” Tabby blurted suddenly, grunting as she sat up, her hands pounding down into the plush covers in aggravation. “I never meant for you to hear my conversation with Cole, and it sucks that you did! If I’d known you were there—”

  “You would have lied?” Arden didn’t like that possibility either.

  “No.” Tabby sighed. “I would have chosen my words more carefully.”

  “You called me a monster.”

  “I didn’t mean it!” Something akin to anger and annoyance flashed across her face. “The fae scare me, Arden. They might be the scariest things on the entire planet, in fact, so the thought of you turning into one of them—that really terrified me, okay? It’s hard for me to even comprehend what’s going on with you. I mean, think about it, you’re physically changing into something else. How is that even possible? It makes no rational sense, even knowing all that I do about the supernatural.”

  Arden could understand that; she was just as afraid, could only think about what was happening to her in bits and pieces of time before she needed to distract herself and pretend none of it was real.

  But it wa
s real. This was her reality, and pretending it away had done nothing but form a crevice between them. She’d been so focused on finding a solution––on helping herself––she hadn’t paid attention to the people around her and what this change meant for them.

  “You turned old after eating the goblin fruit,” Arden pointed out, trying to find any sort of connection. Sure, it seemed out of the realm of possibility, but they both knew it wasn’t. “You ate a piece of fruit and began rapidly aging. Cole ate some and became addicted. All the women in my family see things that regular people can’t. Our lives are all about strange shit happening, Tabby. This isn’t anything new.”

  “You’re right,” she stated firmly, “I underwent a weird event that altered me physically, and that’s why I’m so scared for you. I know what it’s like to not feel like myself or recognize my own body. I only had to deal with that for a night. You… you’re going to have to put up with that forever, Arden.”

  “I saved you.” She lifted a shoulder, but failed to put enough energy into the move to make the confidence she was feigning believable. “You’ll return the favor.”

  Tabby stared at her for a long moment. Her hair was a tangled mess around her face, the baggy T-shirt she’d put on for bed riddled with holes at the collar. She looked like a college student. Vaguely, Arden wondered how much longer she’d look like one herself. Would her outer appearance change? “You don’t really believe that,” Tabby said finally, voice low and breathy in the darkness of the room.

  Her breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t really sure when she’d stopped, when she’d given up hope at finding a cure, but hearing the words spoken out loud made it impossible for her to ignore the truth anymore. “I don’t think there’s a way of reversing it,” she admitted.

  “What if…” Tabby bit down on her bottom lip and glanced away, clearly unsure if she wanted to continue or not. “What if there is?”

  “If there was, we would have found something by now and—”

  “No, I mean…” Tabby inhaled deeply, then readjusted on the bed so that she was completely turned toward Arden. “Cole might have found something earlier, but we got the call about you being in the hospital before we could fully look into it. We weren’t going to say anything until we were sure, but I think there might be a way, Arden.”