Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5)

by JK Ensley

  “Very well, then. Call for the guards to come get him, Shea. He is much heavier than he looks. My legs are falling asleep.”

  His beady eyes went wide. “Th-the guards?”

  “Yes, you bumbling idiot, the guards. This disgusting troll of a Prince has obviously violated your Queen. The guards will take care of it. Summon them.”

  “B-but, Your Highness, the guards will—”

  “I know perfectly well what the guards will do, Shaemon Green. Do you believe I am ignorant of our laws?”

  “No. No, Your Majesty. But… they will execute him. He is a Crown Prince. Why would you do such a thing?”

  “Don’t you dare question me, Shae. I will be the only one asking questions. Tell me. How do you know he is a Crown Prince? How is it that a lowly courtier such as yourself knows anything of the other royal households?”

  “I… I…”

  “You… You, what?” She narrowed her bright green eyes. “Did you truly believe you could skip about all these years with a secret such as this…” She waved her arm to encompass the sleeping Prince. “…and I wouldn’t know about it?”

  Shaemon could only stand there, swallowing back his rising panic.

  “Of course I knew. That is why I made it to your regular meeting spot and winged him away before you got there.”

  “But… why?”

  “Because… I need you to do something for me.”

  “…What? If you need me to do something, all you have to do is but ask. Why would you feel the need to kidnap someone? Have I ever denied your commands before?”

  “No, of course not.” She snorted haughtily. “You yet live, do you not?”

  “Then why, Your Grace?”

  “Because… I have never asked you to do anything contrary to the law before.”

  “Contrary to the— But… why me? I am but a common courtier.”

  “Yes, I know. I know full well what and who you are, Shaemon. I am the Queen, after all.”

  “Then… why?”

  “Because you keep to yourself, Shae. I have not heard a single Fairy name you as friend. You don’t bat a single lash at the court ladies, even the ones who try to get your attention.” She lightly ran her fingers back through Garoth’s hair. “And after I decided to follow you one day… I knew you were a man who could keep a secret, and keep it well.”

  The stunned little Fairy gazed at the Prince’s full lips as they slowly parted. Garoth mumbled and stirred in his sleep. The Queen gently stroked his hair until he stilled once more.

  Shaemon blinked away his tears before he spoke. “But… why would you have to…” He paused, swallowing hard.

  “Have to what, Shae? Sleep with him? Join our bodies in passionate sex?” She chuckled. “Curiosity, I suppose.”

  He narrowed his eyes before looking back up to meet her haughty gaze.

  “Curiosity? You would do such a thing simply to sate your curiosity?”

  She smiled. “My curiosity was not the only thing in need of sating. I have never had a Dwarf before. Never wanted one, actually. And although he was quite good, I don’t believe I wish to have another. Tell me, Shae. Did you know he liked girls?”

  Shaemon bristled at the Queen’s brash tone. “Of course I knew. We have been the closest of friends since we were but children. I know everything there is to know about him. We have no secrets.”

  “Indeed. No secrets, you say? Then tell me. Does he know you are in love with him? You claim to know everything about him, Shae. Can he boast the same claim concerning you?”

  Anger was fast swelling inside the frazzled Fairy, but he refused to give her what she wanted, refused to be goaded by her viciously contrived line of questioning.

  “I am certain I have no idea what you are talking about, Your Highness.”

  “Indeed.” She finished off her tea. “Then, I suppose it wouldn’t bother you in the least if I keep him here in my chambers… while you see to the task I am about to set before you. Hmm?”

  “You are the Queen. You can do whatever you like. It is no concern of mine.”

  “Is that so? Well then, as long as it doesn’t bother you, perhaps I will let him wake now. I could do with a bit more of his royal attentions.”

  Shaemon took one bold step toward her before her icy green gaze halted his advance.

  “Do you have something you wish to say, Courtier?”

  He sighed, resignedly dropping his head. “What is it you wish of me, my Queen?”

  She smiled. “That’s a good boy, Shae. Now, help me up.”

  The Queen gently lifted the Prince’s head as she stood. Shaemon carefully placed a pillow on the lounge before lowering his dear friend back down. Garoth mumbled and stirred, turning over in his sleep. The distraught Fairy watched silently as the other man’s shoulders slowly rose and fell with his relaxed breathing.

  Shaemon lovingly spread a cover over the Prince before he spoke. “How did you convince him to come here? I mean, I know you are lovely and filled with the magic of our people. But bringing him here against his will… that would have been a great feat indeed.”

  “I did not bring him here against his will. He came freely.” She finished her second cup of tea. “Not only that, we shared in a lovely conversation along our journey here. He is quite charming, Shae—chivalrous and noble to a fault.”

  “Yes… I know,” Shaemon whispered. “So you simply bade him follow you… and he did? Just like that?”

  “Close.” The Queen came to stand beside the entranced little Fairy-man staring down so adoringly at the sleeping Prince. “I told him you had need of him, Shae. That’s all it took.”

  “What?”

  “Yes. He thought you needed him—didn’t even hesitate.”

  “…Garoth,” he whispered to himself.

  “Oh, come on, Shaemon. Snap out of it.” She snapped her fingers right in front of his nose as she spoke. “As I said, I’ve been watching you. I knew the exact path you always took to meet your friend here. I simply led him along the forest’s edge, ensuring that our trip would proceed unhindered.” She sighed as she turned toward her mirror. “You know how this works, Shae. Once he entered the grotto, he was mine. I sent the dove to you as soon as he had finished his tea and biscuits. Imagine my surprise when you didn’t answer my summons immediately.” She turned back to face him. “And imagine his surprise when we found ourselves with hours to kill… all alone… here in my private chambers.”

  Shaemon was gritting his teeth simply to keep from yelling.

  “By the time you decided to grace us with your presence, pure exhaustion had claimed him.”

  “What is it you want, my Queen?” he spat through clenched teeth.

  She giggled softly and took his arm, pulling the rigid Fairy-man against her.

  “Nothing less than what I deserve, good Shaemon… power.”

  “And how am I to grant such a wish as that, Your Highness? How can I bestow power upon you?”

  “By stealing it.”

  Jenevier gasped then. “How in the world did she expect you to steal power? Is it a tangible thing here on Lyra?”

  Shaemon only smiled. “Be quiet and I will tell you.”

  She yanked on a lock of his hair, then quickly kissed the top of his head.

  “Very well, Shae. I’ll hush.”

  He tilted his head back and looked up at her. “Since when did you learn how to mind? Normally, you tease me. When first we met, you were horrid.”

  “I was not.”

  “Yes, you were—swore to eat me, even. Remember?”

  Jenevier giggled. “And I could, you know. Gobble you up, quick as a whip.”

  She tickled him then. He actually laughed. It was small and muffled, but a laugh all the same.

  “I like the sound of that,” she whispered.

  “Sound of what?”

  “Your laughter. It’s so gentle. I didn’t expect it to sound so warm. I mean, you have the most ferocious scowl I have ever seen.” She lightly t
apped the tip of his pointy nose. “Never dreamed you could make such happy sounds.”

  Shaemon rolled his eyes. “Can I go on now?”

  “Apologies, little Fairy. Please, continue.”

  He sighed. “Me being a Fairy and all, walking upon the surface of water is no big deal. But plunging beneath its depths… that’s a whole other story.”

  “You mean… Fairies cannot swim?”

  “That is not our forte, no.”

  “So… she was sending you to the Mermaids?”

  “Yes. Now, just listen,” he said softly, continuing where he had left off…

  “Shaemon, I trust my request will not be a problem. Remember, mum’s the word.”

  “Oh, I don’t think you will have to worry about that, Your Excellency. Dead men cannot talk… and drowned Fairies are never found,” he mumbled quietly.

  “I swear, Shae, if all my subjects grumbled and twittered the way you do, I wouldn’t know a moment’s peace. Not a single moment, mind you.” She closed and locked the doors on her apothecary. “This should do the trick, you fretting little Fairy.”

  The Queen handed Shaemon a blue glass bottle. Golden wax was slowly running down from the tiny cork, her fresh royal seal now cooling there.

  “Do not open it until the very last moment. You hear me? Slip it into the pocket of your waistcoat before you leave here. Don’t let anyone see it and have cause to get curious. You know how Fairies can be.”

  At those words, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

  “I saw that, Shae.”

  He rolled them again. She ignored him

  “Now, we know the Mermaids aren’t all that smart. I mean, they have giant pearls upon the shore to mark the path to their underwater city. Not only that, they have a floating platform right atop the main entrance. Keep to the air, Shae. Do not touch the water’s surface until you slip beneath the depths, right at the platform.”

  “It seems that easy to you, does it? Just slip beneath the depths.” He snorted. “How far down does it go, anyway? How long am I expected to hold my breath?”

  “I do not expect you to hold your breath at all, you silly ninny. That’s what the potion is for.”

  He looked down at the shiny blue bottle in the palm of his hand.

  “Drink that a split second before you take your dive and you will be just fine. Well… you won’t be fine for days on end, no. But that little bit of liquid magic there will allow you to go without taking a breath for nearly an hour. Not a whole hour, mind you… but it will get you through the better part of one.”

  “This… will keep me from breathing?”

  “No, you twittering little fool. It will make it so you don’t have to breathe. There’s a huge difference. Mind your lungs, Shae. If you suck them full of water, they’re full, magic or no.”

  “How very reassuring.”

  “You know what, Shae? If you didn’t need your beady little eyes to find the stone, I would gouge them out the very next time you rolled them. Mind them or lose them, Courtier.”

  Shaemon glanced over at his sleeping friend. “And… what about him?”

  The Queen followed his tormented gaze. “I have already told you what about him. You keep up your end of the deal and you will find him alive and whole at your return. It’ll all work out perfectly—I will keep your dirty little secret, your handsome friend will get to keep his head, and then… he will return the great favor to you.”

  “I’m not nearly as certain as you are, my Queen. I do not believe Garoth will betray his people so easily. I cannot believe he would simply hand the Sky Stone over to you.”

  “Oh, don’t sell yourself short, Shae. It seems his loyalty to you runs deeper than you might think. I mean, I had but to mention your name and he followed me home like a happy little puppy.”

  “But this is different. You will be asking him to condemn his entire race, force them to bow down to you. They are a proud people, Your Majesty. They will not roll over simply because you bade them do so.”

  “Proud? Pffts. No one is prouder than a Fairy, and no one has the right to be. A disgusting old Dwarf could never stand as our equal. This you must know and agree with me on. And don’t worry your pointy little head over it, Shae. Once he sees what I will do to you, once he realizes how serious I am… let’s just say, he will not simply stand there and watch your head roll. I am certain of it.”

  “Please, Your Majesty. Do not do this. Do not involve Garoth in this. Let me retrieve both stones. He doesn’t even have to have knowledge of this whole affair. Let him sleep until my return. Once I retrieve the Water Stone, I will travel with him back to his people and steal the Sky Stone myself. I swear it.”

  “Oh, Shae, Shae, Shae.” She chuckled. “Do you honestly expect me to believe you would betray your dearest friend and only love? Hmm? Do you?”

  “If it will keep him from the debilitating guilt of betraying his own race, I will gladly do it.”

  “Come now, Shae. Think upon it logically, boy. Number one… if he were seen consorting with the likes of you, he would be shunned. You cannot simply walk alongside the Dwarf Prince right into his home, unaccosted. Tell me. Why is it you have both kept your friendship such a well-guarded secret all these years? Our kinds do not mix, period.” She sliced her hand sideways through the air, cutting off any objections. “Which brings me to your second impossibility; number two… you will never make it through the cave entrance, Shae. Garoth’s help or no, you will not be permitted there.”

  “Well, I am not permitted within the Mermaid’s world, either. Yet you apparently have no problem with that.”

  “Don’t get smart with me, Shae. You may have need of your eyes to do my bidding, but you most definitely do not have need of a tongue. In fact, you would be much more tolerable company if you didn’t have one at all. Watch your step, Fairy. I’m starting to warm up to the idea.”

  Shaemon swallowed hard but didn’t speak.

  “As for the Mermaids, I told you… they are idiots. They have no guards. They are too complacent in their watery world. No one can live there, save them. They feel no need to post guards at a place that will render any enemy of this world lifeless within minutes. And, if any creature found a way… those little swimming witches would easily take over the poor wretch’s mind before he even knew they had him.”

  “…Yes.” Shaemon tapped his finger against his chin. “They can control thoughts.”

  “Yes, they can. You must keep your wits about you, Shae. Do not let your thoughts stray, whatsoever. If even the faintest trace of love or magic or happiness crosses your mind… they will be on you like scales on a fish. Mark my words, boy.” She chuckled softly. “But that shouldn’t be a problem for you, Shae. Now, should it? I mean, you are one of the sourest Fairies I have ever known… truly. Just keep the scowl that’s normally painted across your face, painted across your mind as well. If you do that, you will be able to walk right by them without a care.”

  Shaemon sniffed then, pausing in his story.

  “Wow… She sounds like a truly horrible person, Shaemon,” Jenevier whispered as she tenderly stroked his soft hair.

  “She is. No…” He barely shook his head, biting his little lip. “She is even more horrible than you can yet imagine. I hate her,” he whispered. “I truly do.”

  Chapter 5

  Lyra

  (LYE-rah)

  “So… that’s why you stole the little triangle stone you were so desperately seeking when first we met—to save your friend.”

  “…Yes.”

  “Tell me how you managed it, Shae. Do you remember it in detail?”

  “Of course I do. I can never forget. As I said… it haunts me.” He nuzzled back against her. “You’re so soft, so warm. I never knew women could feel like this.”

  She chuckled. “What do you mean? Didn’t you have a mother? All mothers feel this soft when they are cuddling their children.” She felt him suddenly go rigid. “Wait. No. I did not mean to imply that y
ou were a child, Shae. I only meant—”

  “It’s not that,” he whispered. “…No. I didn’t have a mother or a sister—a father only.”

  “I’m sorry, Shae. I didn’t mean to bring on more unpleasant memories. Forgive me.”

  “It’s alright. I don’t have unpleasant memories about that sort of thing because, well… I simply have no memories of a mother—be they pleasant or unpleasant. No, I was just thinking… I must have missed something really incredible.”

  Jenevier did not speak, only waited for him to finish his train of thought.

  “If you get pampered and spoiled like this by a mother… then I truly did miss something incredible.” He let out a relaxing sigh. “Can you do that again—play with my hair like that?”

  She smiled softly. “Sure, Shae… anything you want.”

  He waited a moment more before continuing with his story.

  “I remember sitting by the water’s edge—staring between those giant pearl spheres, thinking about how much I hated my Queen—when a light came streaking down from the sky. It entered the sea right next to the floating platform. Completely noiseless, like… silence accompanied its presence.”

  “You mean… the streak of light?”

  “Yeah. There was something odd about it, unsettling even.”

  “Did you find out what it was?”

  “Yes.” He glanced up at her. “That silent lightening… it was an Angel.”

  Jenevier gasped. “An Angel? What happened, Shae? Did an Angel fall into the sea?”

  “No. I believe he dove into it. Well, I didn’t actually speak to him myself, but I did hear him speaking with the Mermaid Queen. I didn’t understand their conversation, no. But I did overhear it.”

  “Can you recall their words, verbatim?”

  “Very well.” He sighed. “As soon as the strange light disappeared beneath the waves, I quickly drank the potion and dove right in. I hoped the unexpected lightning would cause a bit of commotion and perhaps even provide cover for my intended theft. This is what happened.”

  He closed his eyes and began reciting the distant scene…

  “Uriel! How wonderful to see you again, Darling.” The Mermaid Queen waved her hands excitedly as she neared her visitor. “It has been ages, Angel, simply ages.”