I wondered what he would think of me. What would I think of him? I don’t know if I could forgive my mother if she’d chosen a bad pairing for me.
“How do I look?” I asked my mother when she appeared in the doorway.
She gave me a slow once over. “Beautiful as ever. You’ll certainly stand out, but that’s to be expected.”
I’d take that to mean I looked amazing, I thought smugly. Of course I didn’t have on my crown which felt strange. My head felt bare without it. But I understood her concern.
“Does Michael realize you are the queen and I am next in line?”
My mother didn’t speak. For a moment I thought she wasn’t going to answer. “No he does not. I honestly think meeting him is a bad idea. Would you please reconsider?”
“Why?”
“Do you recall when I told you there was still a small fraction of people who wanted magick removed?”
I nodded, suddenly feeling queasy.
She looked at me regretfully. “Michael’s parents head the rebellion.”
“Wh—?” I stared at my mother dumbfounded. Why in all creation would she choose a boy who hated us?
“Calm down. Just because his parents believe one way does not mean he does as well.”
“So you’re saying he’s not against magick? How did you even find him?” I asked bewildered.
My mother let out a long breath. “It’s a long story but basically he came to my rescue after his group attempted to take my life.”
“What happened and where were your guards?”
“When we first arrived I was convinced I could blend in on my own, and I didn’t want the guards tipping my position. So I forced them to leave me.”
I sucked in a breath. An unguarded queen was unheard of.
She gave me a look. “I wasn’t stupid and we both know I’m more powerful than our guards. But they caught me unexpectedly while working on the garden. I had a false sense of security. I know. I know. But the garden was one of the only places I felt at peace.”
That much I could understand. “What happened?”
She waved a hand like it wasn’t important. “They captured me. It was quite pathetic really. Somehow they knew to keep my hands bound inwardly facing each other so I couldn’t access my power. One of them shot me with a tranquilizer and the other grabbed me before I could react, binding my hands. They covered my head and brought me to the cave they’re living in. Everyday Michael would bring me food, and he had to hand feed me. We began talking and one night he came in and cut the ties. I cloaked myself and walked out.”
“He just let you go?”
“Yes, I was just as surprised as you are. He gave me no reason and I didn’t wait around to find out.”
I sat down on the edge of my bed. “How did you come to pick him as my mate? Obviously you saw him again.”
“Yes, it took me a long time to be able to talk to him alone. When I’d finally cornered him, I asked him why he let me go and he said because he didn’t believe in genocide no matter who or what the race was. We started meeting occasionally and talking. It took several months before I told him of my idea. At first he was very against the idea. Even though he didn’t believe in killing off a race, he was raised in such a way that blending of the two…well let’s just say was looked down upon.”
The same could be said with fairies. Everyone thought it was ludicrous, the idea of fey joining with a human. So this boy was able to see past his upbringing. This only made me more curious about him.
I had to admit the tale was a fascinating one. Leaning forward, I asked, “How did you convince him to go along with your idea?”
My mother sighed. “I’m not sure I did. When I first told him about it he stalked away. It was weeks before I saw him again. He came to the conclusion himself. I think he realized it was the only hope for the planet. If his parents ever found out—I’m not sure what would happen, but I know it wouldn’t be pretty. They are very cruel people. It’s a wonder Michael turned out to be so open minded.”
“Don’t you worry about those genetics being passed on?”
She laughed. “No my dear. Henrek informed me we can pick individual characteristics from each side. So only what is positive and beneficial will be joined in the making of the offsprings.”
It would seem as if this science was a sort of magick on its own.
How unusual. If Earth was so far advanced how did they end up where they are now? Maybe because magical creatures stuck their nose into something that didn’t concern them. I didn’t voice my opinion to the queen. She would have given me a lecture, I was sure.
Now more than ever I wanted to meet this unusual human. I stood up and smoothed down the front of my dress, and stole a glance at myself in the small mirror. I used a quick glamour to apply make-up and brighten my skin. The air here made my skin dry. I would have to make sure to make a lotion out of lavender.
“Mother do I have to take guards with me?”
She shot me a scolding look. “Yes, you cannot go anywhere on your own. I assure you they will not be a bother. You literally won’t even know they are there. They will only show themselves if you are in grave danger.”
I let out a breath. It was not like I expected her to allow me to leave on my own, but it was worth a try. I was grateful that she didn’t insist on joining me in our meeting. It was bad enough to have guards let alone your mother as a chaperone.
“Well then I guess it’s time.”
My mom reached for my hands. “Even if he is not what you’d dreamed of, please give him a chance. I hope you two will become friends.”
I nodded. “I’m open to the idea. I could use a friend in this strange land.”
“I’ve asked Michael to take you to the safe zones. There shouldn’t be any interference from the rebellion. They usually only come out after dusk. But if you find yourself in trouble, contact me telepathically.”
There was a rap on my door. I looked up and no one was there. It startled me when a deep voice announced the arrival of our guest. Invisible guards were going to take some getting used to.
My mother led the way out of the bedroom toward the front of the building.
When we reached the entrance way a young man stood there looking awkward. My lips threatened to form into a full blown smile.
His eyes were blue and weary as he crossed the room to meet us. His body was long and lithe. When he moved it was with the grace of an animal. High cheek bones and straight nose. By all accounts quite good looking. His hair was dark and hung low in his eyes. When our eyes met he gave me a faint smile. Overall he didn’t appear overly thrilled to meet me, but I could tell he was also curious. Much like myself.
“You must be Michael.”
He hesitated briefly before extending his hand. When our hands met his grasp was firm and his hand was calloused. The hands of someone who was used to hard work. “Your mother never mentioned your name.” His voice was deep and sent a small thrill through me. What an exotic creature he was.
I smiled. “Tulupea.”
An enigmatic grin spread across his face, making him even more handsome. “Tulupea? Now that’s a new one.”
I shrugged and dropped my hand. There were obviously vast differences between our kinds, and names were just a small part of it.
Chapter 7
“I trust you will keep her safe, Michael?” My mother stared at him intently.
My body tensed. I hated when my mother treated me like a child. I was almost equal to her in power.
He held her gaze for a moment before speaking. “I’ll do my best.”
“We’ll be fine, mother.” I tried to keep my tone level but she would know I was annoyed with her. If she wanted me to be a part of repairing earth, she needed to trust me. True, I didn’t know this planet the way she did, but I also knew I’d be able to handle a threat.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t treat you like a child. It’s just been so long since we’ve been together. I’m your mother
and I’ll always worry about you.”
I shifted on my feet uncomfortably.
“Run along. Have fun and Tulupea, if you have time do some healing work while you’re out. Whatever you’re drawn to.”
A surge of relief coursed through me. I wanted to get out of the building as quickly as possible. I was sick of being confined in the unsightly building and longed for sunlight. But I also wanted to be alone with Michael to get a better feel for him. So far no warning bells had gone off in my head. Maybe my mother had picked a good match after all.
A deep sigh escaped me as soon as we stepped outside. I lifted my head to feel the sunlight on my face and the soft breeze through my hair. I closed my eyes for a couple of minutes just enjoying the sensation. I’d almost forgotten about Michael and was surprised when he cleared his throat.
I spun around and stared up at him. He really was quite good-looking, for a human. I walked forward, my dress blowing in the breeze. The air was thick but it was still wonderful.
“Are you okay with this plan?” he asked, taking me by surprise.
My mother had never given me a say in the matter. My shoulder lifted absently. “If my mother thinks it will work then it’s probably the best shot we’ve got.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “It’s crazy enough that it just might work. But it won’t be a quick fix.”
No. It wouldn’t be a quick fix. After all, the wars had taken decades to ruin Earth; it would probably take just as much time to rebuild. “We’ll be able to accelerate the process if the offspring have our healing abilities, but you’re right, it will take time. We don’t even know how quickly they will grow or if this will even work.”
Crossing my arms over my chest I found myself voicing a concern I hadn’t dared bring up to my mother. “If this does work and there are offspring, will your tribe attempt to kill them off?”
He looked off in the distance as if gathering his thoughts before he spoke. “Yes, they will try to annihilate them. However, Henrek insists the hybrids will be able to regenerate like yourselves. So they won’t be easily killed off.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Do you think they will grow to accept the new breed?”
Michael laughed bitterly. “No. I don’t think that’s possible. The racism is too deeply imbedded in their consciousness. My planet has been at war with magick for over a hundred years. And honestly, it was even long before that, but the battles were kept hidden in the shadows. I don’t foresee a shift in their thinking anytime soon.”
I tilted my head to the side giving him a long stare. “But you’re not like them. Why is that?”
A faint flush spread from his neck to his face. I wondered if he was embarrassed by his family. “My best friend is a shifter. I didn’t realize it until one day I was at the brink of death. He shifted into a dragon, grabbed me by the scruff of my shirt and flew me out of the battle. He brought me to a witch’s home, and the woman healed my wounds. After that, my eyes were opened to different possibilities.”
I could see how that would make one think differently. “I’d like to meet your dragon.”
“Maybe. I’m sure Blake would like you.”
It would be nice to make friends in this unknown new world I’d be living in for the next foreseeable future.
“I think my mother made a great choice. To be honest with you, I was very concerned about what you would be like in person. My mother didn’t want us to meet at all.”
He raised a brow. “Really, why is that?”
I sighed. “Where I come from, when a couple mates, it’s for life. I think she’s worried that I would become attached to you.”
He ran a hand through his shaggy hair, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. “Well we’re not exactly mating.”
I laughed. “I know. But we are producing life. No matter how scientific my mother and Henrek want to make it appear, that is the reality of the situation. Have you given that any thought? You will essentially be a father.”
Michael shifted on his feet. “Not really. I mean, I guess I just thought of it as a human and fey sharing their DNA. Seems so abstract, I never gave it much thought beyond that.”
Okay, maybe I was the odd ball. To me this was a huge personal undertaking. I didn’t think I would be able to separate myself from the beings like my mother suggested. Maybe it was the fact that I was an only child and always dreamed of having lots of brothers and sisters to play with. I really hoped my mother wasn’t asking me to take on more than I could handle.
“We’ll be building a superior race.” Michael’s words brought me out of my thoughts.
I nodded in agreement. “It should be wonderful to see. Do you think the offspring will have wings?”
He shrugged. “From what I understand from Henrek, they can have whatever they want them to. However, I think the easier they blend in with our world, the better off they will be.”
“Meaning?” I gave him a pointed look.
A sheepish grin spread across his face. “You’re…” he paused as if struggling to find the right words. “Let’s just say your beauty outshines any human I’ve run across.”
I was surprised to feel a flush creep up my face. Being a princess, I was no stranger to compliments but coming from Michael—somehow, it just felt more real. Which made no sense at all.
“I don’t think my mother’s going to allow us to have much say in what happens with the pairing.”
He moved closer and bent his head slightly. “Does that bother you? Because if it does, we can insist on being a part of the decision making. After all, it is our bodies they are manipulating.”
I took a step backwards and shook my head. “I’m not sure. I definitely want to talk to Henrek some more. He seems like the type of guy that’s into details and outcomes. I’m sure he’d make a chart for us or something.”
“Alright. But Tulupea you need to be sure about this. I get a feeling you’re being pushed into something you’d rather not do.”
“I’m a princess, Michael. I often have to do things I don’t want to do. It comes with the territory.”
His eyes widened slightly. I’d completely forgotten that our station was not announced in this realm.
“A princess? Does that mean the offspring would be royalty?” A slow grin spread across his face as if he was about to break into a laugh.
To me this was not something to be taken lightly. “No. They will not be royalty, at least not recognizable to the faery court.”
“You have a faery court?”
I looked at him blankly. Of course we had a court. “Yes, we do.”
“Does that mean that your mother?” He let the question hang in the air.
“Yes, she’s the queen. However, you must promise not to tell anyone. If your family finds out, they will try to destroy us.”
He laughed bitterly. “They’ve been trying to destroy your kind for years. I have no intention of putting your mother in harm’s way. Or you either, for that matter.”
My shoulders relaxed. I knew he was telling the truth. A faery could spot a lie before it even came out of a person’s mouth, which was one of our secondary gifts. “Thank you. I think we should get back to the laboratory and talk to Henrek.”
“There’s plenty of time for that. You haven’t even seen the area, have you?”
Nope. I hadn’t seen anything other than the building we were living in. On the way to the building it’d been dark. I could tell that the place was in ruins, but not much beyond that.
“And your mother said something about healing?”
How could I have gotten side-tracked so easily? Of course I had to work on the planet. “You’re right. I was getting ahead of myself. I want to see everything.”
He held out his hand and I grasped it with my own. His hand was warm, the touch sent a shiver through me.
I grinned. My wings flapped in excitement. If there was one thing I loved, it was an adventure.
Chapter 8
The further we walk
ed, the sadder I got. The last time I’d been on Earth it had been so vibrant and alive but now it was desolate. So dusty and dreary. It didn’t take us long on our walk to come across destroyed neighborhoods and buildings. My heart literally hurt looking at them. How could this have happened? “Has it been this way since you were born?”
Michael nodded his head. “I’ve seen photographs of the way it used to be, but the war had been raging for a very long time before I was born.”
“How old are you anyway?” I asked. I’d never been good at guessing human ages.
“Almost nineteen.”
I did the conversion in my head: so his life was about a quarter over if he were lucky enough to make it to eighty. With the condition of the earth right now, that was not very likely.
“What about you?” He turned and walked backwards watching my face.
“Our time is vastly different than yours. In your time, I’m over two-hundred years old.”
His mouth dropped open in surprise. “Did you just say two-hundred?”
Smiling, I nodded. “But as far as time frame, emotional and physical development I’m close to your age. A teenager as your kind likes to call it. A blink of an eye really.”
He shook his head and got back in stride beside me. “It’s hard to wrap my head around.”
“I know. Just like for me it’s hard to believe your lifetime’s so short.”
His shoulder lifted. “You got me there.”
I felt his eyes on me and flicked my own toward him. “Why are you watching me?”
His face reddened. “I’ve just never seen anyone like you. Well other than your mother of course.”
“Surely you’ve seen stranger creatures than me?” I asked with a laugh.
“You have no idea,” he mumbled. “But none as unique as you. I’ve never seen anyone with eyes like yours.”
I looked down at the ground. I’d been born with a birth-defect of sorts. One of my eyes was blue-green and the other amber. In my realm it was considered a sign of luck, but I’d always been self-conscious of the defect.
Faery Tales: Six Novellas of Magic and Adventure (Faery Worlds Book 3) Page 34