“She doesn’t belong to anyone,” Ana snarled while electric tendrils of magic crawled over her skin.
Isa’s eyes widened, and she stared at the magic forming over Ana’s arms.
“Maybe we should just go with her, Ana. After all, I’m pretty hungry,” I said, stepping closer to her. Ana calmed down, her magic retreating under her skin, making it glow for a second before dimming away.
“You said something about dinner?” Ana asked, her lips pressed tightly together. Isa was looking at her in a new way. It unnerved both of us because Isa looked at her with awe.
Chapter 11
Isa kept sneaking glances at Ana over her shoulder. Ana seemed a little discomfited by the warrior female’s candid scrutiny, so I did what I could to transfer the attention. Anything to protect those I loved. I clomped my feet against the floor, trying to be the noisy little human she thought I was. My noisiness seemed to annoy Isa, and Ana picked up on my tactic pretty quickly. I stifled my snort of amusement at the bit of havoc I caused.
We took a different route this time, this one taking us through a stunning courtyard. While I’d always wished I had a green thumb for planting, I could recognize the beauty of the gardens. I would have spent hours out there, examining the myriad of unearthly vegetation, but Isa snapped at me and forced me along.
We walked through a grandiose door that led back into the palace and into an imposing room with ceilings so large and expansive that I had to crane my neck all of the way back to see its full height. I was so focused on the impossible dimensions that I didn’t realize we’d moved through that room and stepped into the banquet room from earlier.
A soft murmur greeted our arrival before all of the mouths went silent. When I brought my gaze back down, it clashed with eyes that in this realm were rounder than I remembered but burned with the fire I knew so well.
Olezka.
I swallowed as his gaze dragged over me like a caress. I had to hold back a shiver from his intense perusal, but to be fair, it wasn’t my fault. He was even more handsome in this world. He always had an air of wildness about him, but here, he seemed untamed, and boy, did it do silly things to me.
Ana nudged me with her elbow. Oops, I’d been gawking. Like, a lot. As Isa prodded us over to Erebus’s banquet table, I did a quick sweep of its inhabitants. Timur sat to the left of Erebus and Olezka sat beside him, but the seat to the right of Erebus and the one next to that one sat empty. The fae with the shocking white hair, who kept nagging at my mind, sat further down from the brothers. Why did I feel like I knew him?
A few other fae, their looks equally alluring and exquisite, filled the rest of the table, putting my little, ragtag band of friends firmly in the minority.
My eyes were drawn to an elegant woman with chestnut brown skin that resembled tree bark as dusk descended. Her hair hung in thick, green tendrils down her back that swayed in a nonexistent breeze. When her eyes met mine, I was surprised to see they were black but not heartless. The lines around her eyes crinkled as if she was smiling secretly at us. I returned my attention to Olezka, who sat stiffly next to his brother. His lips were pressed in a thin line, but he didn’t speak or otherwise acknowledge my presence.
Erebus stood. The rest of the table followed suit, though some of them didn’t look too happy about the fact. Most of their eyes followed Ana’s movements. The white-haired one watched her the closest; well, second to Erebus.
“Join us,” Erebus commanded, sweeping his hand out to the two empty seats to his right. I hated that my seat was situated across from Olezka. I wanted to sit next to him, but at least I would have Ana by my side. We joined everyone at the table and stood awkwardly, waiting for instructions.
Erebus swept his gaze over the table before sitting. Everyone followed suit, so Ana and I sat, Ana taking the seat closest to Erebus. The woman with the green hair thankfully sat next to me. Other than Olezka and his brother Timur, she looked like the friendliest one at the table.
Instead of making eye contact with the other strange inhabitants, I took the opportunity to peer around the room. It was a peculiar mixture of gothic mingled with a mysterious forest vibe. It should have felt dark and intimidating, and honestly, it did a bit. But it was also eerily beautiful. There was allure in darkness and the thrill of the unknown, and this room played off those feelings. There were no electric lights; I’d noticed nothing here was powered by electricity. The only lighting I’d seen thus far seemed to emanate from bizarre fires that gave off no heat or glowing rocks lit from something within. I imagined they were using their natural resources and a bit of magic.
The conversation we’d interrupted with our arrival gradually started up at the table again. I lifted my gaze to see Olezka watching me carefully, checking every centimeter of my face.
“I’m fine,” I whispered.
His lips tightened, but his attention and anger switched to Erebus, who watched us with his hands steepled before him. Ana seemed to be doing the same thing, only less obviously. I shook my head, not wanting to be tonight’s entertainment.
“I am glad you could return for a time, Olezka. It’s been a while since you have graced us with your presence. While your brother has been doing a fine job, it’s hard to replace the best,” Erebus said.
Olezka didn’t answer. Instead, he took a sip of wine from the goblet in front of him.
“I do not mind taking up the debt our family owes for a while, milord,” Timur answered diplomatically.
What does that mean? I glanced at Olezka, but he refused to meet my gaze.
“Human at the table, what a disgrace!” Whispers from down the table finally caught up to me, and my ears burned with a flush that was overtaking my face. It didn’t seem anyone else on our side of the table heard. Before anyone could speak, servants erupted from a hidden door with heaping platters of food balanced on trays like seasoned pros.
The enigmatic woman sitting next to me stiffened when a vampire set a plate in front of her, but I offered a smile and a thank you after she served me. The vampire’s eyes were rimmed with red that was more rust than crimson, her canines sharpened to deadly points. She squinted her eyes at me before moving onto Ana. When Ana thanked her as well, the vampire gave her the same puzzled look.
“You are very polite,” the woman sitting next to me remarked.
“I mean, even if they are just doing their jobs, they still deserve our gratitude,” I said as nicely as I could. I glanced at the bright salad before me, but my stomach twisted in knots. The atmosphere was suffocating, which didn’t exactly invite me to dig in. Eating at a table with someone seemed like an intimate act done with people you cared for, trusted, or with whom you were trying to build a relationship. My attention snapped to Olezka, who watched me not eating.
He jerked his chin at my food as if telling me to eat or reassure me I could eat. I rolled my eyes, and his tense brows loosened, his lips tipping upward for a brief second.
“You have an odd relationship with the hellhound mix.”
“He has a name,” I said more harshly than I intended.
“Yes, he does. But I fear I am not high ranking enough to call him by his name. Nor do I have his permission.”
“Oh, um…” Well, that must be a cultural difference thing. “Well, I’m Sixx.” I held out my hand for her to shake.
I heard a quiet growl from across the table, and the curious woman looked at my hand and back up at my face. I pulled my hand back, embarrassed. Maybe they didn’t shake hands in the Veil.
The woman smiled. “My name is Tssenessauraka.”
“Um, can I call you Tess? I’m not sure my human tongue can wrap around all that.”
Her face brightened. “That is fine.”
I smiled back, and we both turned to our salads and began to eat.
“Disgusting. She’s making friends with those even lower than herself!” someone sneered at the other end of the table just loud enough that Tess and I both heard. Olezka was in the middle of a heated, whispe
red argument in Russian with his brother, while Ana and Erebus were having a stare-off. As I moved past their faces, another gaze caught mine: the white-haired fae.
“It’s repulsive to have a pet at the table,” he said, looking straight at me, causing the others around him to titter behind their elegant, long-fingered hands. My gut tightened.
“Why did you take Sixx?” Ana hissed. My attention turned back to my best friend as she continued to glare at Erebus.
“Careful, halfling. I am King.”
Ana snorted. “You think I care? In my world, we don’t have kings and queens.”
“This is your world,” Erebus said with gritted teeth. For a split second, those cold eyes held a flicker of emotion toward Ana.
“It’s not, though. This is the first time I’ve set foot here.”
“You will learn soon enough, Anastasia.”
Ana shivered next to me with the heat of his words. Hell, even I felt a little somethin’-somethin’.
“I will have to second Anastasia’s question, Ereb… milord,” Olezka corrected in a gravelly voice.
“You and I have much yet to discuss, old friend. And we will – later. For now, we will continue our meal.”
When the next course came out, I thanked the server who delivered my food. She gave me the same puzzled look as my vampire server from the first course, and I heard a gasp of shock at my gratitude.
These fae need to learn some freaking manners. All I did was thank the girl! It was fairly obvious that the High fae didn’t see the ones waiting on them as anything other than invisible servants. Maybe even lower.
Olezka looked pissed, but he had looked pissed since the moment he strode into the throne room. Erebus had a different reaction, which surprised me. He looked increasingly annoyed at the rude whispers that floated up from the other end of the table, yet as their King, he said nothing against the vileness of their words.
“Tssenessauraka, any news from the forests?” He leaned forward, ignoring Ana’s scathing glares.
“Unfortunately, yes, milord, and nothing good. The Light fae forces are-”
“Is it wise, sire, to be speaking so freely in front of your… guests?” the white-haired male asked.
“I would not have asked otherwise,” Erebus snapped.
Another of the High fae walked into the banquet hall and bowed before the table in front of Erebus. Everyone went silent. “I am sorry, my Lord, but we have a situation.”
“Again?” Erebus’s voice went so cold I could have sworn the temperature in the room dropped by ten degrees. I rubbed my hands over my arms. Ana sat a little straighter.
“Yes, my Lord.”
Erebus looked pissed for a moment before his gaze slid over to Ana and me. Then, it went carefully blank. “Leave, besides you three.”
Erebus looked at me, Ana, and Olezka, making it obvious we were the three to whom he was referring. Timur carefully bowed before slapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder and bending down to whisper in his ear. Olezka answered with a clipped “Da.”
After everyone else left the room, Erebus stood. “I need your unique skills, Olezka.”
“Timur took over my position. Use him.”
“If you do this for me, I will allow you the evening with your mate. Alone. No guards,” Erebus bargained. My back straightened, and my eyes widened. I looked at Olezka and Erebus, curious about the ‘unique skills’ Olezka possessed, though my mind flipped through many different scenarios. I was pretty sure Erebus wasn’t offering to let Olezka do whatever the hell he wanted with me, but time alone with him was a must. He knew how to navigate this world, and I did not.
“Give me more than that,” Olezka growled.
“For now, an evening. We will barter for more later. This matter must be dealt with swiftly. Things have changed since you left.”
Olezka looked over at me, searching my eyes.
“Please,” I whispered. I needed some time with him. The anxiety I felt by being held in this realm against my will, particularly as someone considered loathsome and vile by the famed High fae, made me sick to my stomach.
He swore at my quiet plea and nodded his head. His chest heaved as the weight of the world was pressed on his shoulders, and I regretted it. I wanted to take back my acceptance, but Ana leaped up from her seat.
“I’ll go with you guys.”
“No,” Erebus snapped. “You will remain within these walls. If not by my order, then to protect your human. You know as well as I do that she is not safe here.”
Another pang of regret hit me with the knowledge I was still being used as a bargaining chip to force my loved ones to do his bidding.
“Then, send us home,” Ana quipped.
“No. Now, you will return to your room.”
With those words, Erebus left with Olezka, who didn’t even turn back to look at me as he stalked away.
Isa returned to the banquet room to take us back to our room. This time, Ana and I went without a fight. Mostly because I wanted to see Olezka when he was done with his secret mission, and I hoped Ana and I might be able to grill him on some stuff. But also, I wanted to hear the rest of the story about how they arrived here in the Veil.
Isa dropped us off, leaving the resounding click of the door as it was locked from outside ringing through the otherwise quiet room.
Ana glared down at her dress, growling at it. “Please tell me there’s something else in this monstrous closet besides flippin’ dresses?”
“Not sure, but why don’t you finish the story on how you guys arrived here while you look?”
Ana disappeared into the closet. I followed her inside.
“Nothing too exciting,” she answered breezily. “Had to sneak past a bunch of guards. Olezka told me to keep my mouth shut because things were different here. But, girl, he was one scary bastard coming after you.”
Chapter 12
Ana and I stayed up late … or was it early? I had no clue since I’d lost all concept of time. Without a functional clock, the best way we could gauge the passage of time was by viewing the world outside the balcony. Inky darkness unfurled across the skies, creating a sumptuous backdrop for thousands of glittering stars wheeling around in the sky. I curled up in a lilac, flowy dress since all we could find to sleep in were skimpy little negligees. I wouldn’t be caught dead in them, and Ana flat-out refused to wear something that belonged to his mistress. I fell asleep as she paced the room and muttered indignantly.
A sudden warmth across my back stirred me from my sleep, but the click of the door made me jerk awake.
“Ana?” I murmured sleepily.
Disoriented from my light nap, panic spiked through my veins when there was no answer. My heavy lids raised as I searched the room, but the only light came from a collection of smooth, rounded stones placed throughout that emitted a soft, luminous glow. A warm, heavy weight settled over my hips, and I pulled at it, absently searching the room for Ana.
“Pchelka.”
I stopped my frantic searching and glanced down at the weight slung across my hips, catching sight of the heavily muscled arm resting on the fabric of my dress. I twisted around and threw myself at Olezka, catching him by surprise. He grunted at the unexpected movement, and I peppered his face with kisses, elated that not only was he here but safe and in one piece. Though I still had to check him over to make that claim official.
“Sixx.”
“Shh.” I kissed him again.
He grumbled out a laugh and flipped us so I was underneath him. He pulled back and searched my face. “As much as I love your affection – and do not think I am not honored – you need to rest.”
“I don’t need to rest. We need to talk. Oh, shit. Where’s Ana?” I asked.
“Erebus borrowed her for a short meeting.” He reached forward, brushing hair away from my face. “You are correct, my priyatel. And I owe you an apology.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I fear I am the cause behind your a
bduction.”
Guilt gnawed at me with the knowledge he wasn’t the cause of my kidnapping, but I couldn’t betray Ana’s secret. On the other hand, I refused to let Olezka feel guilty over this.
“No, it’s not your fault.”
“Da, I believe it is, Sixx.”
“Olezka…”
“There is much you do not know about me, my life, or about my brothers. Even my birth was complicated.”
“What…?”
“Allow me to explain the best I can, da?”
I nodded. “Wanna get more comfortable?” I asked since he was still looming over top of me. A sexy little smile teased his lips and made my heart flutter.
“I suppose we must, though I much prefer to see you like this.” Olezka trailed his finger over the slit of skin that showed from the dress’s design. “You looked stunning this evening. I wanted to rip out all their eyes so they could not look at you with lust.”
I laughed and pushed on his shoulder, but his words caused a full-blown blush to erupt across my cheeks.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think anyone else in the room saw me as riveted as they were on the blonde goddess next to me,” I said with a smile.
The High fae couldn’t take their eyes off Ana. I had no idea if it was because her light coloring was so different from their earthy, dark tones or if it was because they sensed she was half-human; an oddity in their world. They didn’t seem to take kindly to having a full human in their midst. How would they handle her?
“Yes… Bringing her was an unavoidable mistake. You two think nothing of sacrificing yourselves for the other, no matter the danger.”
“We don’t…” I closed my mouth when he gave me a searing look. “Okay, maybe a little.”
He raised his brows.
“Okay, okay! Didn’t you have a story to tell me?”
“Da.”
Olezka rolled off me, and I scooted back against the headboard. Olezka joined me and grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers. I closed my eyes and relished his comforting warmth and smoky, woodsy scent. The tension that had twisted my chest since the moment I arrived in this realm began to loosen.
The Sidekick Chronicles: Sixx and the Fae Page 8