“You mean that little ghosty thing that hung over you? Yeah, I knew that wasn’t the real you. So whatever you did, it doesn’t work on me. I see right through it.”
His eyes widened slightly then settled into a calm, even expression. “Well then, thank you. It has definitely been a while since I got the attentions of someone as beautiful as your self.”
Turning my gaze away, blushing, I continued walking. “I don’t usually blurt things like that.”
“It’s quite alright. I almost wish the Prince hadn’t laid a claim, I think by the end of the day there would have been a battle or two.”
“Prince?”
“Yes, Prince Halo.”
Through gritted, clenched teeth I asked, “What exactly do you mean laid claim?”
He gave a soft chuckle. “He has informed the King of his intensions towards you.”
“Devlin, you are going to have to be a little more specific for me. Apparently, I’m not that quick.”
His lips twitched. “I see why the Prince likes you.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“If you do not know, I would rather not be the one to bare such news.” He stopped me again and turned to face me. “I really like you,” He smiled and my breath caught. “And I think you like me and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I get it,” I nodded, rolling my eyes. “you don’t want me to kill the messenger.” He pulled my hand up and gently brushed his lips across my knuckles.
“The King is just beyond those doors,” He nodded his head toward the door behind him, smiled and started away. “And love?” He called a short distance away. “Make sure if the claim is denied, you come and find me.” Flashing another beautiful smile, he disappeared around a corner.
Turning back, I took a deep breath and opened the double doors. I barely registered the room before I heard my name called.
“Trystessa! How nice to meet you.”
Another gorgeous man walked toward me, his dark eyes glowing and his ebony hair long and hanging loose over his shoulders, nearly to his waist. Taking my hand in his, I looked up at his face and saw it and my breath hitched. A very strong resemblance to both Halo and Kamdyn. This was their father. This was the King.
“Hello… umm… I’m sorry… your majesty?”
He laughed, a good heart felt laugh, throwing back his head. “Please, call me Corrigan. At least in private.”
“Corrigan. It is very nice to meet you.”
“I have heard some great things about you from my son. I can see he wasn’t lying about your beauty. You are positively breathtaking.”
“Thank you Corrigan, but I’m sorry to be blunt but, why am I here?”
He smiled and it almost hurt. “My son, Halo, brought you here. He thought it was a good idea to introduce you to everyone before the ceremony.”
“Ceremony? What ceremony?” My heart was beating so hard it felt like it would pound out of my chest. This could not be good.
“The ceremony in which you are bonded to my son. Surely he has explained all of this to you.”
What! “Where is Halo now, is he here?”
“I believe he is in his rooms. Would you like to be taken there?”
“Please.”
“I will have Devlin bring you.” He lifted his arm toward the door. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Trystessa. I hope we can have another talk soon.”
When I turned to go, the door was already open, Devlin standing there waiting. I let a wicked smile creep across my lips. He smiled back as I took his waiting arm.
“I am taking you to the Prince’s rooms, Trystessa?”
“Or yours,” I teased, knowing I would be overheard.
Devlin glanced over my head quickly, than shut the door.
We started walking down the halls in silence. It wasn’t until we rounded a far corner that he finally spoke.
“I know what you’re playing at,” he whispered in my ear.
I smiled. “Do you?”
“I do,” he turned and flashed me that gorgeous smile. “And you are just lucky that you chose me for your little plan. Or am I the lucky one for being chosen?”
“Why’s that?”
He gestured for us to continue walking.
“Because the only reason I was not killed outright for that comment was because I am too important to throw away.” He winked at me causing my heart to skip a beat.
“Oh, so you’re important, huh? How important?”
“Not as important as a prince, if that is what you mean.”
I grabbed his arm pulling him to a stop. “I don’t care about titles or jobs. It means nothing to me. The person is who matters, nothing else”
“Fae. And even if it makes you a princess.”
“I have no aspirations of being a princess, therefore I have no intention of becoming one.”
He nodded slightly, a small twitching of his lips. “I am Captain of the guards and I am the King’s second in command.” His twitching lip turned into a full blown grin. “And I am at your service.” He bowed then, never taking his eyes from mine until he took my arm again and resumed twisting through the long halls.
“At my service. Hmm… I guess I do like that.”
Another heart twisting smile. “Anytime you need me.”
We traveled through more dark halls and up a twisting stairwell. Finally, Devlin led me toward a lighter hallway, where more light filtered through and the bright flickering drew my attention to the velvety red petals of the roses twisting around us.
“May I ask you a questions than?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“You may.”
“How far are you willing to take this? Would you be in danger of losing your position?”
“I will take it as far as you’re willing to go.”
“I hope we’re talking about the same thing.”
“Me, too.” He said as he lifted a playful eyebrow.
“But why?” He smirked in response and I shook my head. “About helping me. Why?”
“That answer I think will have to wait. Until then, you will have to just trust me.”
Great, more trust. Could I dish out more? “Fine, don’t make me regret it.”
“Oh, I definitely won’t.”
I tried hard not to smile as I shook my head and continued walking through the halls in silence.
Finally reaching Halo’s rooms, Devlin lifted a hand and knocked. But I wasn’t in the mood to wait for his reply, so I just burst through the door, listening to Devlin’s stifled laugh as we entered.
Halo was in motion, as we walked in, on his way toward the door. He was wearing a worn pair of dark jeans and no shirt, his dark hair, damp and falling around his face. His smile slowly faded as I approached. I didn’t bother waiting for him to speak.
“You better have a really good explanation for me. Why am I here, Halo?”
“Trystie, I can explain.” His hands came up, as if to ward me off and calm me down, then his gaze flicked at Devlin and he quickly dropped them and straightened himself.
He turned his attention to Devlin. “You can go.”
“No,” I said hooking my arm with his. “Devlin stays.”
Halo eyed our linked arms with malice and arched an eyebrow.
“This is a private conversation.”
“I don’t care. He stays,” I waited, holding Devlin’s arm until finally Halo nodded. “Why am I here?”
“I brought you to meet everyone before…”
“…before the ceremony. Yeah, I heard that from your father. My question is why was that the first I heard of it? And what do you think you’re doing? Did you actually think I would just sit back and let it all happen, not saying a word?”
He took a step closer and lowered his voice, speaking through clenched teeth. “We had a deal.”
“This was not part of the deal. You never said anything about being bonded, whatever that means.”
He opened his mouth to explain. “No, I d
on’t want to hear about it. Not from you. You fix this, Halo.” I turned to walk away and he grabbed my arm, pulling me back. I saw Devlin tense beside me.
“We had a deal and this is part of it.” He ran his fingers down the side of my neck. “I told you I was going to make you a princess. My princess. There is nothing to fix.”
“Halo, if you don’t do something about this, than I will. Starting with someone taking me home.”
Devlin cleared his throat beside me. “I’m sorry, Trystessa, but once a claim has been made, neither one can leave until after the ceremony.”
I turned to Halo, a cocky smile twisted his lips. When he saw my expression, the beautiful smile slipped and fell.
“Please, Trystie. Come and relax. My rooms are now yours as well.” His confident smile returned. “And if you feel like a bite.”
I shook off the chill that rocked my body, closed my eyes and took a deep, shaking breath. A bite. My body was betraying me. It wanted that bite and it showed. When I opened them, I turned to Devlin, ignoring Halo’s out stretched hand.
“Where in the Unseelie court is somewhere even Halo isn’t allowed access?”
“The King’s rooms.” Devlin answered.
I sighed. “Is that the only place?”
“Well,” a wicked smile spread across his lips, lighting his features. “My rooms, as well, are off limits to the Prince.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Sounds perfect. I’ll stay there, if you’ll have me.”
“Trystie, no, you can’t do this.”
I turned quickly and stormed up to him, stopping only inches away and staring straight into his eyes. “Watch me.”
“You don’t even know him,” he gestured toward Devlin. Devlin didn’t comment, only watched with amusement.
“You’re right, but watch how well I get to know him now. Either way, it’s better than being here.” I turned and started away.
“Trystie, you can’t. We have a deal and there are certain things you need to do.”
“I don’t have to do anything now, Halo. We are in Faery, remember. You don’t need me anymore.”
A menacing growl escaped from his throat. “Devlin, you can’t do this. I gave claim.”
“Tell that to her,” he said as I took his offered arm and together walked out the door.
Once outside the door, Devlin spun me around and pulled me in close against his chest. “Hold on and close your eyes,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.
I felt the room move, the floor give way and wing swirl around us. When I opened my eyes, we were in a room very similar to Halo’s, but decorated differently.
“What just happened?” I asked, my voice shaky. I rested the hand against my head waiting for it to stop spiining.
He laughed and held me steady. “Sorry, I shifted us. He was running toward the door. It was the fastest way out.”
“Shifted?”
He opened his mouth and I held up my hand.
“Nevermind, I don’t think I want to know.” I said pinching the bridge of my nose. “Thanks, I think, but more of a warning and, I don’t know, a class or two, would be helpful in the future.”
His smile widened. “Got it. And might I say, I loved the way you handled that. I think I can still hear his heart breaking from here.”
I shook my head. “No, his heart isn’t breaking. His ego might be, though. He doesn’t care about me enough for his heart to break. I just got in the way of his plans and he cut me a deal, which I obviously didn’t understand fully.”
“Well, I don’t know about your deal, but I do know he has feelings for you way beyond what you believe. In fact, I have never seen him act that way or allow someone to talk to him like that.” He stopped and shook his head. “He always said he would never get bonded. For him to ask for this from the King is a huge deal.”
“Well, what should I expect from him after this stunt?”
“I’m not sure. He might try and handle it between the two of you or he’ll run to the King.”
“Great,” I sighed again and fell into the closest couch with my eyes closed tight.
I heard a brush of cloth and felt him lean down. Opening my eyes, I saw Devlin kneeling at my feet, eyes focused intently on my face.
“I see why he is acting this way, why he is rushing the ceremony,” Devlin said, running his fingers down the side of my face then into my hair. “You are extremely beautiful.”
I barked out a loud laugh and Devlin jumped.
“I am average at best, Devlin, and compared to you people, Fae, I look ridiculously plain.”
His head cocked to the side, regarding me with curiosity, then rose to take the seat next to me. “I don’t understand why you would say this.” He paused to look me up and down, making me feel exposed. “And I can honestly say I have never seen anyone more beautiful.”
I looked away as I felt the heat rise to my face.
He chuckled softly and pushed my hair back behind my ear. “You are even more beautiful when you blush.”
I fidgeted nervously. “Flattery will get you no where.”
“I disagree. Flattery will get you everywhere,” He stood and started for the door. “And I haven’t even begun to try yet.” The look on his face alone was enough to make me hold my breath.
“Make yourself at home. I will bring you back some food. If you need anything at all or you wish to leave the room, just call my name and I’ll be here.” He winked and walked out the door.
“Damn,” I said out loud to no one. “I am in deep shit if they are all like that.”
Later that day, while Devlin was still out, Halo came by the room. He knocked lightly on the door and called my name. Sitting across the room I could barely hear him. Quietly, I padded across the large room to the door and leaned my head and shoulder against the wall. I listened to him quietly as he calmly talked to me through the door, not actually knowing if I could hear him.
“Trystie, please forgive me for this. I know you are upset with me. The last thing I would ever want from you is to be angry with me. I… you don’t understand… my father…” He stopped and I heard his sigh through the door. “I can not explain further,” I heard a noise, a slight bang against the door, when he spoke again, his voice was clearer. “I wish I had the words to tell you how I feel, but… if you would let show you. Come back to our rooms, stay with me, please. You don’t belong here with Devlin.”
I shook my head and said nothing as he continued to talk calmly through the door. He wasn’t offering me any answers, so I just listened, trying to understand this person I really didn’t know at all. After a good amount of time talking, and getting no reply, Halo said a good-bye with a reminder that I could call for him at any time and he would be there, than left.
I ground my teeth in confusion, not understanding this guy I thought I knew. Well, I guess I made that mistake before, right? He wasn’t the same person I met at Kamdyn’s party. He wasn’t the same person who came to my house everyday for homework. He wasn’t the same guy who attacked me in the dark room. It seemed the guy I stayed with, in his enormous home, was closer to the true Halo, but still, I wasn’t sure.
Completely lost in a strange world –in which I was stuck-, with no way to get out, consumed by so many questions –and absolutely no answers- my head was spinning. I couldn’t find a single phone anywhere, so I had no way to contact anyone. Not that I knew who I would call.
It didn’t take me all that long to get utterly lost in my thoughts and eventually surrendered to everything I had been pushing away about Kamdyn. No matter what I did, he wouldn’t leave my thoughts, he was always there somewhere. I could feel him like a lingering touch. I felt the tears swell up and start to pour down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them, even if I wanted to, even though I promised myself I wouldn’t cry anymore. I guess somewhere in the back on of my mind, I thought eventually Halo would go away, leaving us all behind to pick up whatever pieces remained, and Kamdyn and I would be free to do what we wanted.
/> But if I had to bond with Halo, which doesn’t sound good and sounds totally permanent, I would never get Kamdyn back.
The tears were still coming freely, when the door burst open, making me jump to attention to see Devlin charging into the room. A fierce expression on his face as he ran to me. He reached for me, placing both hands around my upper arms.
“Trystessa, are you all right?”
I wiggled free of his grasp and wiped at my face. “I’m fine. What’s going on?”
“It’s raining.”
“So,” I said gently rubbing my eyes clear. “Isn’t rain normal?”
“Yeah. Outside. It’s raining in every room at the court, except this one.”
My brows drew together in confusion. “I’m sorry, do you need me to go somewhere with you or…?”
He looked deep in my eyes and lifted a golden eyebrow. Without answering, he held up his hand and walked backwards leisurely toward the still open door and leaned out.
“Huh,” he said pulling himself back in the room. He started back toward me. “You aren’t crying anymore.”
“No, I’m not. Is that somehow relevant?”
He smiled. “Maybe.”
Devlin still had court business to handle, so since the rain had stopped, he returned to work. The rest of the day flew by, what exactly I did the whole day, I have not clue but before I knew it, Devlin had returned, coming to find me in his personal library. He walked me out and through the main rooms, into a room filled by a large table. Candles were set, and lit, down the center and giant plates of food were scattered about. Two empty plates sat across from each other at the very end.
Devlin showed me to my seat and then took his.
“I am here for the remainder of the day and I have asked that we not be disturbed,” he said, pouring a red liquid into my glass, then his.
I looked at the red liquid and something hit me. “Um, Devlin? I hope you don’t mind if I ask, but, are you like Halo?”
“I don’t think I understand.”
“Are you a vampire?” I eyed my glass again, suspiciously.
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