Endali saw something that made him drag Hallie closer to the front of the hall. Then she noticed it too, to the same man who’d announced them had made his way to the front of the room. “Good Fae Folk, give welcome to King Oberon and Queen Titania.” Hallie bowed with everyone else in the room waiting for permission to rise.
Hallie could hear footsteps and then the hem of a silver dress. The king and queen stood before her. “You may rise my children” A loud but gentle voice urged. Hallie’s heart jumped she thought she knew that voice. She rose slowly as her Endali began her introduction. “Sire may I present my guest, Hadleigh.” Hallie looked up into the eyes of King Oberon. They were the same as Uncle Ron. Aunt Anya stood beside him. Liam stood slightly behind them with his arms folded lazily across his chest.
“Hello Hallie,” he said in that familiar lilt. Hallie walked over and smacked him while half the court gasped and the other half laughed. Endali was laughing too. “How bout a dance then to cool you off.”
Hallie wanted to protest, but she wanted answers more. She let him lead her onto the dance floor and waited for the music to start before speaking. “What the hell Liam? Is this some sort of game?”
He stopped turning for a moment “Never, I still want to marry you. I’ll go tell the court now if you want.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were Fae?”
“It was against the rules until you knew Underhill and met my Aunt and Uncle officially.”
It almost hurt to look at Liam. He was so handsome in his tuxedo. Liam ’s eyes sparkled like topazes. His blonde hair hung past his shoulders and was gathered in a neat ponytail at the base of his neck. Nothing made any sense. “Why me Liam? Look at the women here. I’m nothing compared to them.”
He took her hand and led her outside. He sat down on a bench and waited for her to follow. “I saw you that first night you stumbled on Underhill. You weren’t supposed to be able to do that. I came to the meadow that day ready to kill an intruder and found you instead. A beautiful mortal bathed in sunlight lost in the wonder of Underhill. I had to have you. I hadn’t felt like that in centuries. I asked my King for the duty of tracking down the intruder and finding out how it was done.
“It took little effort to find you again. When I saw you though it was like the fog lifted. Suddenly I had a purpose again. I didn’t know it Hallie, but I was falling in love with you. I haven’t been in love in a very long time As much as I loved spending time with you Hallie, I fought it. A mortal caused my pain. I didn’t want to go through it again. I couldn’t stay away though and found excuses to stay. It annoyed my uncle to no end.
At my uncle’s retreat, I fought with him. He was going to forbid me from pursuing marriage with you. It’s you I want Hallie. In the end, he saw that and gave me leave to stay in the mortal realm. Everything since then has been for you.” He took her hand, and Hallie relented. The only thing I had to hide from you was my magic and true name, everything else was me. No one has ever let me be so free.”
“True name?” Hallie was confused.
“We’ll get to that.” Liam smiled.
“And you really are King Oberon’s nephew?” Hallie was still trying to grasp the concept.
“Here I only belong to Titania.” He saw the question in my eyes “History Hallie, too much history.”
“They both came to the mortal realm for you.” Hallie pointed out.
“He cares, but it doesn’t stop his stubbornness. I will remain in his bad graces and therefore only my aunt’s kin until I do something to please him.”
“Then why don’t you?”
“Now why would I want to do that?” he grinned and Hallie knew there was something she was missing. “Am I forgiven?”
“I’m still mad. You have a lot of making up to do.”
He took her hand and marched back inside to Endali stood chatting with the king and queen. “May I have the honor of a private dinner with Hadleigh tonight Endali?”
“Faolin this ball is in Hadleigh’s honor tonight,” Oberon warned.
“I asked her chaperone, Endali.” Liam told the king. Hallie noticed Titania trying not to laugh.
“Hadleigh do you want to have dinner with Liam and miss meeting the people of Underhill?” Endali asked.
“There will be other opportunities for that.” Hallie waved it off.
Endali looked at Oberon and nodded. “Go boy, but obey the rules.” The king warned.
“Of course your highness.” Liam snapped his fingers, and they appeared in a small dining room. A seating area was through a screen and closed doors most likely led to a bedroom. “My quarters.” He smiled.
“I hope you’re not expecting anything because I really am mad at you.”
“I expected it.” He waved a hand and a dinner as fine as any they ate in those fancy restaurants appeared. “Please have a seat.”
Hallie sat down and ate a few bites of her chicken “What rules do you have to play by?”
“There’s a whole list.” Liam sighed. “They are tedious and make life very boring.”
Hallie shook her head. “What sort of rules and why do you have to follow them?”
Liam set down his fork. “Rules meant to protect you.” Hallie looked shocked. “I want to marry you, Hallie. But I can only stay in the mortal realm so long. Eventually, you’re going to have to choose.”
“What do you mean I have to choose?”
“You cannot constantly go back and forth. For one it risks exposure, but also as you age you will begin to lose your magic. So you must choose the mortal realm or Underhill.”
“And what would you do if I chose to stay in the mortal realm?”
“I would have to leave you, Hallie.” He saw the hurt in her eyes. “It wouldn’t be fair to you. I wouldn’t age, and I would have to cross back and forth regularly to maintain my magic.”
“But it can be done.”
“Oberon would not allow it.”
“If I choose you I lose my mother. But how could I bear to lose you? Why would you ask me to marry you before you brought me here?””
“I had to. You had to be committed before we revealed our secrets.” Hallie looked like she was going to cry. “I’m sorry Hallie if there was another way I would have taken it.
They finished dinner saying little else. Hallie had a thousand questions but was beginning to fear the answers. She also wasn’t sure what to think of Liam. She still loved him no matter what he was, but he’d lied. The fact that he had good reason didn’t change the facts. She went home after dinner only letting Liam kiss her cheek. She probably should have gone back to the ball, but she didn’t want to speak to anyone.
Faolin
Faolin cursed as soon as Hallie left his presence. He was going to lose her if he wasn’t vigilant. Liam had been so careful to follow the rules. Now it may cost him everything. Hallie wasn’t Fae, she wasn’t like some of the other mortal women he’d encountered either. She had a sense of honor that she lived by. Hallie thought everyone else should live by that some code. Liam lied to her, and it went against everything she believed. Liam tried to explain it to her, but he’d blundered it.
There had to be a way to make Hallie see he did everything for her. That the only reason he lied was to allow their marriage in the first place. She didn’t understand Fae life or its rules. Faolin let out a frustrated grunt. Taise pushed his head under Faolin’s hand then his back. Faolin let his fingers run through the thick white fur. Taise’s presence always calmed him. The wolf looked up at him a moment before trotting off.
Faolin tried to sleep that night. There was little use. Not only was he worried about what lay ahead, but he’d also grown accustomed to Hallie next to him. Faolin got out of bed and paced. Usually, he was a patient hunter when it came to Hallie though Faolin couldn’t stand the uncertainty. There was only one way to fix this. Faolin formed a portal and stepped through to Hallie’s room.
Taise was already there sleeping at the foot of her bed. The wolf looked up at
Faolin’s entrance. His tail wagged slightly before he laid his head back down on his paws. Faolin sat on the edge of Hallie’s bed. She slept soundly, and Faolin longed to crawl into bed beside her. Instead, he woke her gently.
Hallie sat up disoriented. Her eyes scanned the room. When she saw Taise, she backed up as far as she could until she hit the headboard. It wasn’t until she heard Faolin’s voice that she calmed down. “Taise is my guardian, he came to watch you. He would never hurt you.” Faolin told her.
“He’s huge Liam,” Hallie said unsurely.”
Taise raised his head to study her then lowered it again looking bored. “Taise, leave us for now.” The wolf got up stretching as he went. He walked through the closed door leaving them alone. Hallie was white. Faolin threw his arms around her. “I’m so sorry, Hallie. I forgot you aren’t used to all this.”
“I’m fine Liam,”
“I never wanted to lie to you. If it weren’t for my vow, I never would have. I wanted to tell you everything so many times.” Faolin told her as he held her close.
Hallie kissed him gently then snuggle into his arms. “I understand Liam,”
“Does this mean I’m forgiven?”
“I was more hurt than anything. I still am a little, but I love you, Liam.” He kissed her neck as she spoke making it hard to concentrate.
“Faolin,” He corrected.
She looked up at him confused. “What?”
“All Fae have true names. It holds power over them and are closely guarded. My true name is Faolin. You are one of three people other than me to know it.” He explained.
“Why would you tell me Li… Faolin?”
“I love you, I want you beside me for the rest of my life. I trust you with everything Hallie.”
“You really mean it don’t you?” Hallie smiled and kissed him.
He stopped kissing her and looked downright serious. It worried Hallie. “There is something else Hallie. Something about my past that you should know before you decide to put me in your good graces.” Hallie stared unable to say anything. “Underhill used to be part of the mortal realm. We lived in peace with the mortals, some thought of us as demigods even and left tokens so we would bless their homes and families. But soon the old beliefs began to die, and Underhill lost its footing in that realm as the mortals lost belief. Oberon found a new way to anchor Underhill j truly making him the Forest Lord. We lived in peace until the mortals saw us as heathen gods and rebelled cutting down our forests.
“It started a war. Oberon would not allow mortals to banish him from this realm. My father was married to Titania’s sister and fought beside both Oberon and Titania.” Faolin saw her flinch. “Her hands are not clean. She killed many men in her day. When I was six, my father was killed. It is a hard thing to do, to kill a Fairy but he was surrounded and butchered. When my mother heard the news, she took her own life, and I was left an orphan.
“Oberon raised me as his own son teaching me the ways of war as well as the duty of leadership. When I was 16, I rode into battle beside him exactly where my father once stood. Many mortals lost their lives at my hands. I was so proficient Oberon gave me my own men. We used to hunt from the woods killing at all hours of the night. Then we would strike again in the morning. Anything to set them off balance. It was the mortals that named me Faolin.
“After 15 years of slaughter, they figured out our weakness and began attacking the trees again. Without our foothold here we could not attack so easily. Eventually, only a few trees survived. The war was over. My services were rewarded I was named Prince Faolin, Oberon’s only heir. I was given quarters and anything else I wanted.
“Those in Underhill wanted to start a new era. One that forgot about the mortals altogether. Oberon made a push for couples to have children and tried to do the same with Titania. But few had luck, and the Queen herself was left wanting. Oberon slipped the borders and brought a mortal woman back and gave her to one of his lords nine months later there was a new child in Underhill.
“Breeding with mortals became common practice after that and stolen women commonplace. I watched it all with disdain. I was taught my whole life that they were like animals not worthy of us. To lower ourselves by breeding with them was distasteful to me. My uncle said nothing of my attitude as long as I kept it to myself.
“I rarely came to court preferring the solitude of the hills and the thrill of the hunt. But one day I happened to be there when a new mortal was brought in. Ianthe was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. There was a spirit in her too, wild and fierce. I asked my uncle for her immediately, but he refused. My own past finally caught up to me, and he assumed I meant to hurt her. She was given to Lokesh. Before I could convince my uncle and stop Lokesh, he had already taken her and Ianthe was with child.
“It sent me over the edge. I stole Ianthe from Lokesh hiding her in the mortal realm. I told my uncle I killed her because she had betrayed me with Lokesh. Oberon’s justice was swift. I was stripped of my title and from then on only Titania’s nephew. My quarters were moved to the far reaches of the castle and barley rivaled a guest suite.
“I never cared, Ianthe gave birth to a healthy boy. Then almost two years later I had a son. She was happy with me and the life I provided. I loved both boys, but I hate to admit that I let my son beat on Lokesh’s more than I should have. They both turned out to be fine men though and married.
“Lokesh discovered my secret and found Ianthe and both our sons while I was in Underhill He killed all five of them. Ianthe, my son, his wife, even his own son, and wife. Only my granddaughter remained. Lokesh had missed her. As much as I loved that little girl I had no stomach to raise her. I took her to a poor family in town and paid them to raise her as their own. Then I returned to Underhill and took Lokesh’s life.”
“Shit, what did Oberon do?”
“What could he do? Lokesh killed my family.”
“You killed soldiers and innocent mortals didn’t you.” He nodded. “What does Faolin mean?”
“Wolf,” Hallie looked to the door. “Taise has been by my side for most of my life. He is my guardian and my friend.”
“He fought by your side didn’t he?” Faolin nodded. “ You’re not that Fairy anymore.” He shook his head. “Your Halloween costume really was part of your history then.”
“I wore something similar during the happier part with Ianthe and my sons.”
“You didn’t ride to battle in that.” He shook his head. “Can I see?” he flinched.
“Hallie I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“It’s part of you. I won’t leave I promise.” Faolin stood before her, and his clothes changed. His pants changed to a green plaid. His shirt disappeared, and his chest was covered with blue swirls of paint that continued up his neck and face. His hair was pulled partially up and braided, but the rest was wild. A sword hung at one hip and an ax on the other, he wore no shoes. He was frightening, yet strangely Hallie found him absolutely gorgeous. He looked worried until Hallie spoke, “Somehow it fits you.”
He gave a disgusted growl and the clothes he wore earlier reappeared. “You wouldn’t think so if you saw me then.”
“I know you now Faolin that’s all that matters.” She pulled him down beside her wrapping her arms around him. “The paint was kind of sexy.”
“It was meant to scare mortals.”
“I love a Fae remember.” Faolin let out a heavy breath. Hallie unbuttoned his shirt, and he didn’t stop her. “You could keep part of it as a tattoo, here” she ran her finger around his chest and upper arm.
“Crazy girl,” he growled as he grabbed her and pinned her beneath him. Hallie giggled as he kissed her neck.
“Oh just try it out.”
“Maybe I need some incentive.” Hallie kissed him running her nails down his back. He pulled her tighter against him. It was only after Hallie saw part of the pattern recreated in black on his shoulder and chest that she gave into her desire.
Hallie
&nb
sp; Hallie noticed Faolin admire the tattoo as he pulled his shirt on. She was glad he liked it because she wasn’t going to let him get rid of it just like she wasn’t going to let him cut his hair. She knew exactly who he was now and she wanted all of him. The realization scared Hallie. Staying here meant she had to give up everything in the mortal realm. Before she did that there were a few things to finish there and a few questions left for Faolin.
“Why can’t I be like your other wives Faolin and stay in the mortal realm?” Hallie asked.
“I’ve never married before. I thought about it with Ianthe something wasn’t right though. I never had the urge to tell her anything, she knew part of my past and Underhill because of Lokesh, but I never told her my true name. You are different. I wanted to tell you everything from the beginning. Marriage is an important decision for us. It is permanent, and forever is a very long time in Underhill. Once married if anything happened to you I would be lost like my mother. If we stayed in the mortal realm Hallie, you would grow old before my eyes and die. I can’t think of worse torture.”
“And if I stay I won’t age?” he shook his head. “And you won’t lose interest.”
“Never,”
“How old are you Faolin?”
He thought a long moment and Hallie took that as a bad sign “I don’t know between 1,000 and 1,100 mortal years. We don’t really keep track.”
“How many children have you brought to Underhill?” Hallie asked.
“None, oh I have had a dozen. They were mine, not the Fae’s. I would not share them.”
“The reason why you and Oberon still aren’t at peace?” Hallie guessed.
“In part, but mostly we are too much alike.” He grinned.
Moonlight Mist: A Limited Edition Collection of Fantasy & Paranormal) Page 139