Gilded

by Renita Pizzitola

  “Um, okay. I won’t tell him. You’re my best friend. You can trust me.”

  “I’m going to free Grant.”

  Lexie blinked.

  “I know it’s dangerous and I know I’ve already been told not to, but, Lexie, I love him. I can’t let him rot away in some basement prison.”

  “Let me start by saying I don’t agree with it. As your friend, it terrifies me. You could get caught, hurt, locked up.” She shook her head and shuddered. “But I know you care about him, and if it were me I’d do the same thing. I never expected you to be the irrational one. I’m not sure how to handle this new Kylie.” She grinned.

  “My newfound boldness even surprises me.”

  “What do you think triggered it?”

  “Everything. The betrothal, loving Grant, running away, and magic. Finding magic did something. I can’t describe it, but I feel–” I looked up, trying to think of the right word. “Stronger. More empowered.”

  “That’s never a bad thing. I think it’s good you’re standing up for yourself and accomplishing things on your own.”

  I wouldn’t say this to her, but a large part of it was being away from her. She had always spoken up for me. Which I appreciated, but had also depended on. Once on my own and forced to make decisions, I thought for myself and spoke for myself. Everything she’d done, I was capable of doing as well.

  “How are you going to do it?” she asked.

  “That’s the problem. I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

  “I want to help.”

  Helping me would be like going against Conor.

  “Don’t look so shocked. You’re my best friend. I want to help you. Of course, if Conor ever asks I’ll deny any knowledge of this conversation, but I want you to know you can count on me. Whatever I can do to help, I’m here. I’ll always be here for you.”

  I sat on the bed and wrapped my arm around her in a sideways hug. “You’ll never know how much that means to me.”

  After everything I’d been through since getting here, this little piece of home was more than I could ask for.

  She hugged back. “I’ve missed you.”

  I walked to the wardrobe, flung open the doors and smiled back at her. “Let’s get you changed and head to dinner. I need a little time to formulate a plan, but I have a few ideas. And with your help, it might work.”

  With Lexie by my side, the idea of freeing Grant didn’t seem so impossible.

  Chapter 5

  Liam leaned close to me at the mahogany dinner table. “I’m working on getting Cara out. I’ve requested her as my assistant.”

  “Assistant? Do you think it will work?” I cut the honeyed-ham on my plate and speared the thin strip with my fork.

  He cleared his throat. “Well, it’s um, not uncommon for men to take consorts. My request pretty much implies that’s what I want her around for.”

  “We aren’t even married and you’re taking on a mistress.” I pretended to glare at him then popped the ham into my mouth.

  His face turned a shade darker.

  “Liam, I’m giving you a hard time. Who cares what people think? She’ll be free, and I promise not to get too jealous.” I nudged him, and he smoothed his napkin over his lap.

  “Liam?” I placed my hand over his to still his fidgeting. “Thank you.”

  He nodded.

  Dinner with Liam, Conor and Lexie was pleasant. I had something to work for in my free-Grant campaign. Liam didn’t hate me, Cara might be getting out of kitchen duty and Grant would be free. For the first time in the last several days, it seemed like I might set all my wrongs right, but nothing had been easy since getting here, and I didn’t imagine my luck would change.

  As if to prove that, my mother appeared, as always, a vision of beauty in a flowing, pastel pink gown. She smiled at everyone, but conversations never went well with her so my guard came up.

  “I’m sorry to disrupt you, but if I may,” she said, “Kylie, will you join me for a walk after dinner?”

  Crap. I’d completely forgotten to meet with her. Figuring I might as well get it over with, I agreed.

  “Lovely. Will you meet me in the gardens when you’re finished?”

  “Sure, I’m almost done. Can I meet you there in a few minutes?”

  “Take your time.” She said goodbye to my friends and glided away.

  “Your mom’s beautiful.” Lexie rested her chin in her palm, gaze locked on Aislinn.

  “Yeah,” I responded.

  Conor looked at me. “The resemblance between you two is uncanny.”

  “We look alike, but she’s, well, I don’t look like that.” I gestured toward my mother, who had stopped to chat with someone. Laughter illuminated her heart-shaped face. Her eyes twinkled as she covered her mouth with perfectly manicured fingers and crinkled her small nose. She shook her head and the silken, blond threads moved delicately alongside.

  Conor shook his head. “You look exactly like her, minus the fact you have dark hair.”

  Lexie agreed.

  I shrugged, not seeing whatever they saw.

  “Except for your eyes, ” Liam added. “They’re the same shade of green, but yours are a little different. You have that little yellow star in yours. She doesn’t.”

  My starbursts. The creepy yellow made mine look like cat-eyes. I never cared too much for it and wished they were an untainted green like my mother’s.

  Liam continued, “Yours are much more exotic. Beautiful, really.” My cheeks warmed with his compliment. “You know, there’s a poem I read once as a child. The details are foggy, but it had to do with a girl with stars in her eyes.” He looked upward as if trying to recall it. “I’ll never remember how it went. I should try to find it. It might be your poem.”

  “I’m so sure.” I scoffed, trying to brush the whole thing off.

  Lexie looked at Conor. “Maybe you should write a poem about me.”

  I laughed, having a hard time picturing it. Conor didn’t strike me as the kind of guy with a romantic bone in his body.

  “No problem. Roses are red. Violets are blue. Not another girl here, lucky as you.”

  Lexie leaned back. “Let me guess, I’m lucky because you’re with me.”

  Conor winked. “The one and only.”

  “My turn. Roses are red. Violets are blue. How did a girl like me end up with a dog like you?”

  “Aw, you know you love it,” he teased, nudging her before planting a kiss on her cheek.

  I’d never seen Lexie act like this with a guy before, never with her on-again-off-again previous boyfriend. While sweet, Lexie and Conor’s display of affection made me uncomfortable, like a voyeur to their private moment.

  Mom exited the dining hall so I jumped at the opportunity to excuse myself. “I guess I might as well get this over with.”

  “I’ll walk you.” Liam stood. He and Conor made eye contact.

  Conor started to rise but Liam shook his head and motioned in Lexie’s direction. Conor’s chin dipped once. He turned his attention to Lexie, who, no surprise, was engrossed in her meal.

  She frowned as she pushed around some fruit on her plate. Lexie loved to eat, but according to her fruit didn’t constitute real food.

  Liam escorted me to the back door, and once my other friends could no longer hear me, I questioned him, “So what was that?”

  “What was what?”

  “Between you and Conor?”

  “You noticed that?” He paused, making me wonder if he planned to create a story or tell me the truth. “Well, you might as well know. But don’t mention anything to Lexie. I don’t want to concern her. Since Conor is one of my guards I can give him assignments as I see fit, and right now that assignment is you girls.”

  “What?” My jaw went slack and I crossed my arms. “Your father’s entire royal guard isn’t enough prying eyes on me? You need him to do it too?”

  “It’s not like that.” Liam scratched his head, ruffling his overgrown ash-blond hair. “Well, ac
tually, it’s exactly like that. My father has you girls being watched. I need someone I trust to make sure that’s all they do.”

  My arms stay rigid and I shifted my weight. I didn’t like the babysitter idea.

  “Look, now that my father has Grant, he couldn’t care less if Lexie stays or leaves. But Conor isn’t in a position to go, so she stays, I guess. But, it’s not safe for a human to be alone here. And as for you, I think my father’s confident you can’t escape nor would you, with Grant’s current situation, but I don’t trust his guards. Some are good guys, but some can be a little shady. With Grant locked away, I don’t think they would harm you, but I’d feel better if you’re protected.”

  “I’m not helpless.”

  He chuckled. “I know that but we need to be sure they do too. When I’m not with you, I’d like it if Conor was. Not that you can’t walk around the castle as you wish, but it’s for my peace of mind Conor guards you two for now.”

  “I guess.” I started walking again. He might have had a point, but I didn’t like thinking I needed protection. I could watch out for myself and, unless they wanted to take on the wrath of Alastar, the king’s guards would be idiots to mess with me. Look what happened to Grant, and that didn’t even really happen. It now made sense as to why I was never alone, and the one time I had been, ran into Liam. He was keeping tabs on me.

  We neared the back door and my mind went to Aislinn.

  Liam looked at the exit then to me. “It’s your mother. What are you worried about?”

  “I don’t know. Conversations with her tend to leave me guilty or sad. We have yet to accomplish mother-daughter bonding.”

  “Keep at it. You’ve only known her a couple weeks, maybe it takes time.”

  “Maybe.” I said goodbye and headed out to find her.

  She stood in the courtyard next to a large tree with her shoulder pressed into it.

  Not wanting to startle her, I cleared my throat as I approached.

  She turned and a smile spread across her face. “Kylie.”

  She’d said my name with love and affection, and it tugged at that part of me which wanted to do the right thing. I needed to try harder.

  “Let’s walk.” She led me down a path.

  Rose bushes bloomed on either side of us, the fragrance intoxicating.

  “Mom.” The word sounded stiff and awkward. “How did you do the dream thing?”

  She took a deep breath and exhaled. “Well, fae work various types of magic. You, of course, are linked to the earth element. And I’m connected to spirit. It’s the fifth element and a rarity among our people. Most people connected with spirit are healers, but mine is a bit different. I can cross into your subconscious.”

  “Just mine?”

  “Yes and no. With you, I can cross with ease, but with most, it’s more like the power of suggestion. I can guide their choices. Think faery charm magnified by a hundred. For instance, I don’t have to make contact, or even be in the same room as someone. As long as I can pick up on their spirit, I can influence it. But with you, it’s different. I’m sure it’s our blood bond.”

  “When did you realize you could enter my dreams?”

  “I’ve been doing it your whole life, ” she said with a delicate smile on her lips.

  “What?” How had she done that? I’d never seen her in a dream until coming here.

  “When you were on the other side of the portal, it was much more challenging. I couldn’t come over as you see me now but more like a feeling, or a thought.”

  My mind went to all my tree dreams, and the pull toward the faery triad. When oak, ash and hawthorn trees are found growing together they form the triad, a portal into the faery world.

  “Was that you pulling me here?”

  “It would have happened without me, but those were the dreams I connected to you in. Your deep affinity to the faery triad helped my transition. And as you neared the portal, I became something more concrete.”

  “Wait, were you the voice? The one who told me to stop when the banshee entered my dream?”

  She nodded.

  I shuddered at the memory of my nightmare. The petite woman with pale blond hair and a sweet voice, spinning around to reveal her old haggard face and blank white eyes. She didn’t scream, which would have warned of my imminent death but either way, my life hung in mortal danger at the time.

  “Now that you are in Tir na nOg, magic surrounds us. I can slip into your dreams with ease.

  That was amazing…and creepy.

  “I don’t do it often. But while you were gone, I needed to know you were okay. It gave me comfort, visiting your dreams.”

  “Does Alastar know you can do this?”

  “He knows I’m a spirit user.”

  “Does he know I’m not one?” Maybe Alastar wanted me here for that reason. If I married Liam he could use my powers of suggestion to his advantage.

  “He knows you’re an earth user. But, that brings me to what I wanted to discuss with you. You are quite young in matter of fae years, and only half-fae at that. It shouldn’t be this strong. Our people can sense each other’s magic, and I’m confident Alastar is aware your abilities are growing. It’s felt easiest through those with a connection like family ties, shared blood. When it comes to your magic, fae can’t help but notice.”

  “A woodland nymph seemed to think my human emotions strengthened my magic.”

  “It’s quite possible. I don’t know any other half-humans here, so I can’t say for sure.”

  “Is that why Grant feels it? Because it’s so strong?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “Since the first time I saw him it’s been like sparks sizzling between us, as if we’re connected by some kind of high voltage wire.”

  “How many people know about this?”

  “Actually, none.” Now having spoken it, to my mother none-the-less, admitting our connection embarrassed me. “You’re the first person, beside Grant of course, who I’ve ever talked about this to.”

  Her expression brightened. “That sounds like an amazing thing you two have, but–” She looked around and whispered, “Let’s not tell anyone else about this.”

  “Oh-kay. Why not?”

  “Grant has enough to deal with right now. We wouldn’t want to give anyone more reasons to question him.”

  This had more to do with hiding magic than sparing Grant.

  “Let’s head back inside.” She guided me along the path.

  Once again, my mother had frustrated me with conversation. “Mom,” I said.

  Walking, she glanced at me

  “Is having strong magic a bad thing?”

  She released a heavy sigh. “Being strong is never a bad thing, but carrying so much power is intimidating, especially to those who want everyone beneath them.”

  “The king,” I whispered, mostly to myself. But I noticed her slight nod. “Do you know something you aren’t telling me?”

  “Kylie, sometimes not knowing is better than knowing.”

  At the steps of the castle, I stared at her, wondering what she knew and why she wouldn’t tell me. “I disagree. Not knowing is worse. As the saying goes, ‘knowledge is power.’”

  Her gaze locked onto mine. “Exactly.”

  Chapter 6

  The next day I found a moment alone and plucked out the map. A plan formulated as I studied Cara’s sketch and memorized every detail. A good visual of the castle was imperative in order for me to sneak into the dungeon and free Grant.

  A knock at the door jolted me and I shoved the towel behind the wardrobe. The soft knock repeated, and when I opened the door, Liam greeted me, looking eager.

  “Hey, were you busy? I can come back.” He looked frenzied, his blond hair disheveled, and his words tumbled out of his mouth.

  “No, want to come in? Or go for a walk?”

  He stepped through the door and closed it behind him. “Remember the poem I told you about?”
I managed a nod before he continued, “It’s not a poem. It’s an oracle.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After we talked, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I went looking for the poem and found a book, the one I had seen as a child. The entire thing is handwritten in verse, which is why I thought it was poetry, but after viewing the contents again, they’re oracles.” He paused and looked at me. When I didn’t respond, he continued, “For centuries royals have sought advice from people who are gifted with the ability to see the future. My father seeks counsel from a cailleach feasa.”

  “A what?” I wasn’t even going to try to repeat whatever he’d said.

  “A wise woman who shares her visions with my father. Her oracles have been bound together as a book. I searched the entire thing but never found the one I looked for.”

  “So what do you think that means? And if it’s just some sort of fortune teller, do you think it’s a big deal?”

  “I think someone removed it. And yes, I believe in prophecy.”

  “Really?”

  He held my gaze without so much as a blink.

  I didn’t push it. “What kind of things does she say?”

  “It isn’t black and white details of the future but more like guidance. Like to beware of a journey, or not to trust someone, things like that.”

  “And you’re sure that’s where you saw this poem? The one about a girl with a star in her eye?”

  “Yes. I was young at the time but my fascination with the book made it hard to forget. I’d know it anywhere. Its leather cover has a Celtic knot branded into it, and the whole book is bound with cord. It’s a distinctive book.”

  “Why do you think it’s so important?” What was the big deal if it was missing and why did it transfix Liam?

  “At dinner, I joked about it being your poem, but the more I think about it, I think it might be about you.”

  I eyed him.

  “Look, if it were a poem, it would be far-fetched, but an oracle, why not? I’m sure she saw you coming.”

  An oracle? About me?

  “The fact it’s now missing, I think, confirms my suspicions.”