“Have you bitten him?” the king asked, still staring outside.
“Yes.”
“And you fed him your blood?”
“I did, mixed in the contents of the drink as I was instructed to do.”
Something was off here. Things that had seemed amazing were being spoken of in callous flat tones. I’d expected some sort of celebration, or welcoming of the princess after her marriage. Yet, other than this elaborate room, not much else appeared to be going on.
The king looked at me before turning to Eirian again. “You’ve chosen well. I can tell he’s a strong young man. The child he will give you should be strong as well.”
Eirian nodded, keeping her eyes cast down. “I concur.”
He walked over and lifted her chin until she looked at him. “Listen to me. I know you fancy yourself in love with him, and I can understand why he was your choice. He’s a fine specimen, but you must remember what you are doing is a great service to your people. He’s not for you though.”
It was all I could do to remain still and unaffected. Something was terribly wrong. I struggled to appear calm.
Eirian’s eyes glistened with tears. “I know, Father. You needn’t speak of it any further.”
I wasn’t sure what was going on, but suddenly things seemed to be very unstable.
“It’s hard when we have to sacrifice our hearts for the betterment of our society,” the king said as he continued toward the open door. “I provided the best suite I have so you could enjoy your time with him to the fullest. Live your dream as completely as possible. His strength will make him a formidable Blood Wraith later.”
Eirian stood still, like a statue, and I could see her tears hit the stone floor in front of her, leaving small, wet drops on the surface.
“Carry on, daughter,” the king said, leaving the room. The guards closed the doors swiftly behind him, and the resonating sound made me feel as though I’d just been sealed into a tomb.
I held my tongue for several moments, clenching my teeth as I stared at the forlorn figure in front of me. I willed her to turn and look at me, but she would not. I slid from the bed and strode to her.
“Tell me what is going on, right now!” I ground out.
Chapter Eight
She lifted her red-rimmed eyes, and I could see they were filled with sorrow.
“I . . . I . . . ,” she stuttered.
“Speak to me now, Eirian.” I watched her shudder over the use of her name. “I demand you tell me what is going on. You told me Fae cannot lie, yet I seem to find myself buried in the depths of deception.” My jaw twitched as I clenched my teeth.
She shook her head. “I have not lied to you,” she whispered. “I just haven’t shared the whole truth yet.”
My heart fell with sinking dread. “Then tell me why the king speaks of me as if I am nothing but a stud to service you, instead of your husband? And what are these Blood Wraiths you speak of? Why will I be numbered with them?” I resisted the urge to grab her and shake the answers from her.
Eirian suddenly looked very tired—all her sparkle had been drawn from her. “I never expected him to speak to me of such matters. I wanted to reveal things to you myself, in my own way.” She crossed the room to sit on the bed.
“Reveal what? We are bonded, yes?”
She sighed heavily. “Yes, we are, but only for these seven days. When they are over, I’ll send you back to live with your people.”
“What?” the word exploded out of my mouth in a ball of frustration.
“Shhh. Please, Bran, the guards will hear you.”
Once again, her voice caused an erotic tremble to course through me, and I gritted my teeth against it. “Don’t speak my name. I don’t want any more traps. I want the truth.” I held my breath, staring at her while I waited to see if she would come clean.
She sat there, silent for a few moments. “My people are at war against an enemy we can’t defeat on our own. In all our existence, the Fae have always had dalliances with humans. Sadly, what you said before was true, the Fae enjoyed manipulating them with their words. Humans were like playthings to my people . . . a sport of fun so-to-speak.”
I went to the window, grasping one of the stone pillars so hard that my fingers turned white. “So, is that what I am to you? A plaything?”
“No!” she blurted out, wisely remaining where she was. “I’ve always loved you, Br . . . I’ve always loved you. That’s the truth. My people are in trouble though, and it’s my duty to help them.”
“How does being with me help them?” I asked, my mind was a muddied mess as I tried to understand what she was saying.
She clenched and unclenched her hands in a nervous gesture. “Those creatures you dreamt of—the ones attacking the Fae they are called Blood Wraiths. They were made during those centuries of human dalliances. The biting and exchanging of blood is very sensual for us, but it alters humans.”
“What do you mean?” I was sure I didn’t want to hear her answer, but I needed to know.
“It makes their blood run cold, something about us changes them. They begin to crave our blood, any blood really, but especially faery blood. It’s something you already noticed when I gave you the drink which contained my blood. It was sweeter than anything you’d ever imagined, correct?”
“Go on,” I said without acknowledging her comment.
“Midsummer’s eve is the only time humans can penetrate our realm. They cannot stay any longer.”
“That’s not true. I’m human, and I’ve been here well-past Midsummer’s eve,” I contradicted.
She shook her head. “Time moves differently here in Faery than it does for you. We have seven days to your one. It is still Midsummer’s eve in your realm—only a small amount of time has passed since you’ve been here. Your people still celebrate, and no one even knows you’re gone.”
My teeth clenched harder as I tried to maintain control. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I need the child you will give me. We’ve discovered the mixed race children hold the powers of the Fae and the strength of the Blood Wraiths. They are stronger than we are.”
“And why do you need such strong children?”
“The Blood Wraiths have found ways to penetrate Faery during Midsummer, and they are attacking us and killing off my people. We need the children to fight them.”
I was so confused. “So you’re creating more Blood Wraiths by mating with them so you can have their children to destroy them? How does this even make sense?”
“I told you. Time passes differently in Faery. In three of your years we can raise a soldier of twenty-one summers.”
“Three years? How many of these Blood Wraiths are there?”
“Many. It appears there is another side effect of the changing. The humans become immortal after the exchange.”
I laughed wryly. “So each child you have creates another enemy for you. I can’t see how this is very wise reasoning.”
She remained silent.
Horror lanced through me. “You kill them, don’t you? No one brought into this place walks out alive, do they?” I whispered.
She stood, coming quickly toward me. I stepped back in repulsion as she laid her hands on my shoulders. “Yes, they do kill them, but don’t worry. I won’t let them do that to you. I’ll help you escape and teach you how to survive. No one will even be aware you escaped. I wasn’t lying when I said I love you. I love you with everything inside of me. I wanted to be with you so badly—wanted to be the one you held in your arms—wanted to have you love me, too. This was the only way we could be together.”
She spoke rapidly—her words spilled out as she attempted to express her feelings—but I couldn’t absorb them. “How do you think I could possibly love you after this? You just told me that you lured me here under deception, you’ve taken away my humanity, you’ve turned me into a blood thirsty creature, and you want to steal my child. That doesn’t put you very high on the list of people I admire right
now, Eirian.”
Her skin flushed as I spoke her name, and I pushed her away in frustration, walking across the spacious suite as her words began to sink in. I grew angrier with every step, and when I turned I found she’d followed me, tears streaming from her eyes. “Stay away from me,” I blurted out. “You can forget having the child too, because I will not be lying with you ever again.”
A sob left her throat and she reached for me, fisting her hands into the front of my shirt. “Have you ever loved or wanted something so much you would do anything—risk everything to have it?” she cried, desperately.
I was breathing heavily when I nodded. “Yes, I have. And her name is Ceridwen,” I spat.
Eirian paled at my blow and wrenched away from me as if I’d struck her.
I took a step back, wanting to distance myself from her. I felt sick, disgusted by what she’d done. “You tricked me! I’ve lost everything because of you. I was willing to give up my life to make an honest try with you.”
Eirian sank to the floor in a puddle—weeping into her hands, but I didn’t care how pathetic she looked. All I could feel was my own anger.
“You want to know what I’ve been doing today? Figuring out how I was going to move on, planning to embrace my future with you, and how I would provide for you and our children.”
She sobbed harder, yet I still carried on.
“Why? Because that’s who I am, Eirian! I was raised to be an honorable person. You have no honor that I can see. Not only have you destroyed my life, but you’ve destroyed your own!” I accused.
“But I haven’t destroyed your life!” she cried. “I’ve done everything I can to ensure your safety. You will return to your love, your life, and family. I just wanted you for a moment that was all my own.”
I marched over, knelt, and grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her. “Returned how? As a blood-drinking fiend that stalks the night? I know what the creatures are that you speak of—only we call them Vampires where I come from. I never believed them to be real either. You’re sending me back to my loved ones so I can slaughter them! Is that what you wanted?”
“No! Never! I told you I would teach you how to survive. There are ways to keep those you love safe. I love you—I would never want you to hurt those you love.”
“Really? Then please explain to me how I’m supposed to go back to Ceridwen, and tell her I’ve been with another woman—that I’m a creature who will hunt her in the night, and not hurt her. She’ll not want anything to do with me!”
She searched my eyes frantically. “Then don’t tell her. She can’t be hurt by what she doesn’t know. She doesn’t even know you’re missing. The tale would be outrageous to her. No one has to know!”
I flung her away, standing to go back to the window. “That may be the way you do things, but not me. All I have in this world is my honor.” I pounded the sill with my fist. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as selfish as you, Eirian! You were willing to risk my happiness and sacrifice your own heart for one moment of pleasure. Who does that? I can’t even stand to look at you right now.”
She let out a wailing sound and threw herself across the floor, grabbing my boot. “Please, Bran, forgive me,” she hiccupped out. “I never saw it that way, truly. I only sought what my heart wanted. I was consumed. I beg you for mercy, please. Speak no more to me. I cannot bear to hear your words of anger!”
I stared down, watching as she shuddered, her body wracked with obvious grief. I’d been heartless to her. The result of her actions was killing me inside. I wanted to tear my own heart out—and hers as well—but I couldn’t be a complete brute. My father taught me better honor than that.
I reached down and grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. She didn’t look at me, burying her face into her palms as I walked her to the bed, and sat her down. She looked up through her tear-stained eyes, and her expression was hopeful.
“Let’s not speak any further tonight until the situation has calmed some. Stop your crying and get some rest.” I walked away, going to the other side of the circular tower so that the center stairwell was between us—allowing me some privacy, so I didn’t have to look at her. I could still hear her though as I sat down on one the heavily padded lounging benches.
I leaned on my elbows and thrust my hands into my hair. I couldn’t even fathom how to make things better. I’d been seduced by her, and I would be the one left paying the consequences, while her people raised up an army of stolen children to kill me and others of my kind. The thought was so foreign and overwhelming I couldn’t even begin to comprehend it. No wonder the Blood Wraiths were coming after them. They’d been created under enchantment then left to fend for themselves once they were discarded. And now their children were being stolen, too.
I was going to be one of them. It made me ill. I could totally understand why they were trying to fight back. They were angry immortals who’d been robbed of their lives and forced to live off the blood of others to survive.
My thoughts drifted to Ceridwen. I thought I would never see her again. My heart blossomed over the idea of doing so but was quickly extinguished. There was no way I was ever going back to her. I wouldn’t dream of bringing her into this hell. It would be much better for both my family and her to think I was dead. I wouldn’t risk them getting hurt anymore.
I wasn’t sure where I would go, but there had to be somewhere I could find work or discover some way to support myself. I had a little money I’d saved up for my life with Ceridwen, but it was at home, and I was leery to go there to get it.
Leaning back into the seat, I placed an arm over my eyes and sighed deeply. I cursed the day I’d ever become aware of the Fae, cursed myself for listening to father’s stories, and cursed myself for not taking seriously the warning Fergus had given.
But in the end, it didn’t matter how much I berated myself. I was already cursed in the worst way possible—destined to spend the rest of my long existence alone.
I wasn’t aware I’d fallen asleep until I awoke to find the room filled with sunshine. I sat up and could see the surrounding canyon walls across the river from the castle. There were people going about their daily routines. I got up and went to the window so I could see them better. Glancing down, I could see the many boats shuffling people to and fro on the water.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. At one point and time, I would’ve been fascinated to see such a civilization at work. Now all I saw was a race that used other people for whatever means suited them. No wonder there was no magic left for me here—only sorrow. I wanted to go home, but I couldn’t.
I left the window and silently made my way around to where I’d abandoned Eirian. She was lying face-down, covered by the blanket with her hair spreading wildly about her. I could barely make out the shape of her body beneath the covers. Judging from the state of the bed, it looked as if she’d spent the night tossing and turning.
Regardless of how things were, I did feel sorry for her plight. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to love someone who didn’t know you existed, literally. She’d seen the opportunity to live a piece of her dream and had taken it with no thought of how badly it might affect anyone else. Her choice was one that sent ripples out to contaminate everything it touched.
Now I had a choice to make. I could either hear her plan and get out of this alive, or I could let them kill me. It was a harder decision than it seemed. While I had no expressed desire to die, my decision to stay alive could affect the existence of those around me. I didn’t want responsibility for harming other people or uprooting their lives.
I only knew myths of Vampires, and I wasn’t sure how much of that was true. If what I knew was accurate, Vampires had found a way to multiply their own mutated kind as well, in very similar fashion to the blood exchange the Fae were using now. If this were the case then, yes, the Fae did certainly have a crisis on their hands.
Eirian stirred in the bed, rolling over onto her back. She brushed her hair away from her
face and sat up to look at me.
I couldn’t help my sharp intake of breath.
She was beautiful … and she was faintly glowing.
Chapter Nine
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Look at your skin.”
She glanced down at her hands. “Oh.” Her gaze flickered back to me and a smile slid across her face. “We did it,” she whispered breathlessly. “I’m with child, and so quickly too.”
She ran her hands across her abdomen, and I couldn’t help but struggle with my warring emotions. I closed my eyes and turned away from the sight of her touching herself in such joy.
“Bran?” The word coursed through me in waves, making me long for her.
“I know this is probably a happy time for you, and under normal circumstances I would be thrilled to find out my wife was carrying my child. However, I’m in mourning for the child—my child—who will never know me and will be raised with the knowledge that I’m evil and he, or she, should kill me.” I clenched my hands at the pain in my chest, turning to face her again. “Do you have any idea what that feels like? My child will never call me father. Who will raise him? Another man? Another lover you’ve seduced?”
Tears fell from Eirian’s eyes, and she shook her head. “For me, there will only ever be you, Bran. You hold all the places in my heart. Only you.”
We stared at each other without speaking, and in that moment I could see all she thought she was giving up just to be with me for this moment in time.
“Please, try to find a way to forgive me, if you can,” she spoke. “I know what I’ve done to you was wrong, but it wasn’t done out of malice. Yes, I was greedy and unthinking—I just wanted to be with you. This is the custom of my people. It’s how I was raised, how I was told to protect our civilization.”
Midsummer Night's Fling: Belinda Boring, Kamery Solomon, Lacey Weatherford Page 23