by Liz Schulte
“And where was it the two of you met?” Her clear, pretty voice drifted into our conversation.
“The market in Mizzendrel,” I answered automatically, not allowing myself to think about it. Turin smiled widely.
“If it doesn’t work out with the elf, a little goblin goes a long way,” he said with an exaggerated wink and a bow.
My laughter came so fast I couldn’t stop it. I felt at ease even though Alanna’s eyes were on me. Turin was a cheeky little fellow. “I knew I liked you,” I told him with my own wink. “May I get you a drink?”
“Whatever everyone else is having.”
“Whiskey?”
“Don’t mind it I do.”
I poured his glass of whiskey and walked him into the living room to join Beleg and Adan. Taking a deep breath, I went back to meet Alanna. I could already see we were not going to be best of friends. I didn’t want to scratch her eyes out—I had way more decorum than that. I’d just rip out her hair and bloody that pretty face a little. I shook the weirdly possessive thoughts from my mind and forced a smile, sticking out my hand. “I’m Selene. I’ve heard much of you.”
“And I you, changeling,” she said, taking my hand in her firm grip. Her skin vibrated with energy, setting my teeth on edge.
“You’re very beautiful,” I told her because it was true. My promise to not offend her held my tongue from making any snarky comments or threatening remarks. I had already won this game. Cheney was mine. I didn’t need to mark my territory.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly while her eyes gave me a slow once-over. “And you look very human.”
I smiled brightly, lifting my chin slightly. I knew perfectly well that was meant to be an insult, but I liked being human. “I know. I’m pretty, aren’t I?” I’d dealt with people like this my whole life. One girl after another, throwing underhanded insults in my direction because a guy they liked showed interest in me. I winked at Cheney, who smiled back, wisely not saying a word. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, human food never had any appeal to me.”
“Cheney? Sebastian?”
“Whiskey,” they said at the same time.
I made them both a drink and fetched myself a giant vodka tonic, which was either a very good or very bad decision—only time would tell. The four of us headed into the living room, Alanna annoyingly close to Cheney, but I didn’t give her a second glance. I took the middle seat on the couch between Beleg and Turin, letting Alanna have the armchair closest to Cheney.
“Thank you all for meeting tonight. Everyone in this room knows one another and why we are here. I want to start by saying this is in no way a slight against my father. I love and respect him, but some of his policies are bad policies. The refusal to amend his antiquated laws has put all the fae in grave peril, and I am left with little choice but to step in. I do not long for the crown, but I desire peace.”
“How does this change anything for the dwarves? One elf is no different than another elf.” Beleg waved his meaty hand in the air.
“I intend to give all the say they deserve. Each race will have a seat in the House of Nobles. The concerns of all will be considered in the laws and judgments.”
“And what of those forced into servitude?” Turin inquired.
“No one will be forced into servitude. Everyone will be equal under law and treated accordingly.”
“I think some of us are concerned about your resolve, Cheney. What happens when you lose interest in your little changeling? Will you still be a champion for non-elves?” Alanna asked with no softness in her voice.
Beleg gave a grumbling protest, Turin looked away, and Adan drummed his fingers together, but Sebastian stepped forward. “How dare you question prince Cheney’s devotion to his people?” Sebastian spat at her, his eyes flashing like silver daggers.
Cheney held up his hand and stepped in front of Sebastian. “I don’t mind her questioning my devotion, Sebastian. I’ve been ignoring the problem for a great number of years. It is no secret what has pushed me across the line.” Cheney’s posture was smooth and easy, his face relaxed, but his eyes were bright and wild. “You do have one thing wrong, Alanna.” He walked toward her, braced his hands on either side of her chair, and leaned in. “I will never lose interest in Selene, and no one will ever come between us. I will kill anyone who tries. If you have a problem with that, leave.”
Alanna glared back at him, unflinching, but said nothing.
“I take your silence to mean you’re staying,” Cheney said, standing upright. “That is your choice, but in the future if you must address my wife, make sure it is by her name or I will lose patience with you.”
Cheney turned back to me with a smile. Alanna jerked like she’d been slapped. The other three looked equally shocked. Sebastian just shook his head.
“That was a quick engagement,” Alanna said, recovering.
Cheney raised an eyebrow at me.
“Actually, I think our next anniversary is sculpture. Isn’t that right, Cheney? It’s been what—twenty seven years?” I said, my own smile tugging at my lips. Cheney enjoyed this entirely too much. It almost made me forget I was still mad at him—almost.
Alanna sputtered a few choice words and none of them were pretty. The men offered their sincere belated congratulations.
“Now if your doubts are soothed, Alanna, may we continue?” Cheney asked. “Adan, do you have any concerns you wish me to address?”
“No. You are your mother’s son, and she was a fine woman. You also have a fine wife with a kind heart by your side. You will do well for your people,” Adan said.
“Thank you, Adan. Your support is greatly appreciated. This will not be an easy task. In all likelihood my father will not back down, but even once he is removed, we will have a larger foe to deal with—and the task of mending relationships with all of those who do not want this change. The rebels cannot be ignored any longer. If you decide to join me in this, it will be a long and trying journey in which victory is not certain. The choice is yours.”
I stood up and walked to Cheney’s side, taking his hand. “You really sold that,” I whispered. Sebastian stood on his other side solemnly.
Adan strode over and kissed both of our hands. “My allegiance,” he said with a bow. Beleg and Turin quickly followed suit. Only Alanna held back, watching us.
“Alanna?” Cheney asked.
Her expression was unreadable. She inspected us for an uncomfortable length of time. “I would like to speak with the change—Selene. Alone.”
“No,” Cheney said. “If you have something to say to her, you can say it to me as well.”
Alanna’s jaw set at a stubborn angle.
I touched his forearm. “It’s all right. I’ll speak with her. Shall we go to the balcony?”
Alanna nodded and followed me out the door. I walked to the wall that surrounded the patio and leaned against it, taking in the lights twinkling through the city. Cities at night were at their most peaceful, especially from high up. Each light represented a separate life that had its own love, problems, and story. It made me feel the world was much smaller than it seemed most of the time. We were all essentially in the same boat. The moon looked down upon me, almost like it was smiling. I was doing something right.
“I know you had an affair with Cheney,” I told her, keeping my back to her.
Alanna sighed. “I was not aware the two of you were married.”
“Would it have made a difference?” I turned because I wanted to see her face when she responded.
Her pretty lips pursed. “Perhaps not?”
“I was gone for a long time. It was not definite that I was returning. I don’t hold the affair against you,” I said, willing myself to be fair when all I really wanted to do was throw her over the edge.
She stared at me, then shook her head. “I don’t trust you. I didn’t know you before you left, and while you seem nice enough now, I saw what you did to him. Now, knowing that you were marri
ed and still chose to leave the man you supposedly loved, I trust you even less. What could have been so important for you to leave? Better yet, why are you back?”
I didn’t rush to answer. I let my thoughts form before I started. “I left to pay for my mistakes. The anger I felt toward the king bled into my relationship with Cheney. I left him a year before I became a changeling.”
I held her eyes, making sure she was hearing what I was saying. “When I realized my mistake, it was too late. The rebels had a plan and it was a good one—one in which I was an integral piece of the puzzle. Had I left at that point, they would’ve replaced me. So I went to Cheney. I told him what I knew and became a changeling to buy the elves the time they needed to defeat the rebels. We sacrificed being together for our people.” I was surprised to find myself pacing. I told Alanna what I had learned from Cheney and Sebastian.
“I honestly don’t care if you trust me or not. I don’t owe you an explanation. I don’t know why I’m back, but I’m glad to be—and I’m not leaving Cheney again.”
Alanna sighed. “I still don’t trust you, but I have made my decision.”
We went back inside. I had failed. Cheney told me we needed her, and I’d ruined everything. Cheney’s eyes met mine, and I shook my head slightly. His jaw clenched and his shoulders rolled back. Alanna followed me to him.
“I have reservations about this, but you have my allegiance as well,” she said, bowing. I looked at Cheney, who looked every bit as stunned as I was, but he regrouped faster.
“Then we have our first order of business,” he said. “Sebastian has learned that rebels have been trying to form an allegiance with the vampires. So far they haven’t offered anything tempting enough to involve them, but the threat is there. We can ignore their attempts and hope the vampires do not become involved. Or we can recruit them to our side.”
“But those filthy abominations are not even fae,” Beleg grumbled.
“And they still wouldn’t be. Sebastian believes what they really want is to be invited to the wild hunt. Vampires have never cared about being a part of a society other than their own. And they certainly do not need our protection. This, however, is not a bargain I would make lightly. I want everyone’s consensus before I speak with them.”
“What happens if they want to be part of the fae? Would you take them?” Adan asked.
“If that was the only way we could secure their help, I would take them—with rules and stipulations. I can’t imagine they would want that though.”
“They would be a powerful yet untrustworthy ally. However, it would be devastating to our cause if the rebels secured them. I feel you must,” Adan said gravely.
“I’ve never even met a vampire,” Turin squeaked. “But if we must, then we must.”
“Filthy abominations,” Beleg muttered again, then frowned. “So be it.”
“My people have no conflict with the vampires. It would not affect our resolve one way or another,” Alanna said.
“Then it is settled,” Cheney said with a nod. “Selene and I have also spoken with the guardian Olivia and the jinni Holden. They cannot join our cause, but they have offered to give us information. We have other prospects but haven’t spoken with them yet. I will keep you informed of our progress.”
Everyone nodded except for Alanna, who turned curtly and headed for the front door. I tossed Cheney a glance, then chased after her.
“Alanna, wait,” I called out. She paused, her hand on the door knob. “Why?”
“I may not trust you, but you love him. It’s written all over your face. I have to believe that still counts for something.”
I went back to the living room where our other guests were getting ready to leave. I hugged each of them, making Beleg blush again, Adan smile, and Turin—well, Turin pinched my butt much to Cheney’s chagrin. Sebastian and Cheney walked them to the door, and I went back out on the patio. I felt Cheney in the air before I heard him behind me, but I didn’t turn around.
“Is Sebastian gone?”
“Yes.” He slipped his arms around my waist, his breath soft against my neck. “Are you ready to go back?”
“Mmmhmmm.”
He squeezed me a little closer, and I braced for the disorientation of travel, but he hesitated. “How did you know where you met Turin?”
“I didn’t. I answered without allowing myself to think about it. Obviously something inside of me remembers, just like with the sword. If I don’t fight it, the answers come out.” I leaned back against Cheney, his body feeling familiar and right.
“I’m sorry about Alanna. Had I known you would come back, I never would have—”
“We aren’t going to talk about any of that. You’re right that I had my own boyfriends. We’ll leave the past in the past. We are starting fresh.”
“Do I still have to buy you a sculpture?”
“Absolutely.” I laughed, kissing him.
I stood in the cottage with its low ceiling and tiny walls pressing in on me. The little stone escape never felt more like a jail than when Cheney and I were fighting.
“Silly me, I thought I’d been doing all of this training so I could defend myself.”
Cheney’s jaw clenched with equal stubbornness, but I wasn’t backing down. I’d be damned if I couldn’t go talk to my friends alone. “What was the reason for all the darts, bruises, sore muscles, and headaches over the last month?”
Cheney sighed. “It is so you can defend yourself, but—”
“No buts. Thanks to you and Sebastian, I can protect myself. I need to see them alone. I want to explain what it means for them to help us, and I want to do it in a relaxed environment. If they don’t help us, how often will I be able to see them? This could be the last time I get to hang out with them. I want it to be like old times.”
“I would never have you give up your friends, no matter what they choose.”
I pushed back my frustration, trying to make him see my side. “Cheney … please.”
He frowned and his forehead wrinkled. “I wanted you to be trained in case I couldn’t be with you. Not so you didn’t have to have me with you.”
It was my turn to sigh. “That isn’t fair. When you’re there, we can’t just be us. It changes the dynamics. I need a girls’ night.”
Cheney massaged the center of his forehead with his fingertips. “I get to take you to wherever you’re meeting them and under no circumstance are you to leave. When you’re finished, text me, and I’ll come back to get you. If there’s an emergency, put up your blocks immediately.”
I threw my arms around his neck.
“I hope this isn’t a bad idea,” he mumbled, returning my embrace. “If anything happens—”
“Nothing will happen. I’ll be fine.”
He stroked his hand down my cheek. “Just come back to me.”
“Always,” I said, kissing him. “Are you going to worry about me all night?”
”Probably,” he answered. A second later we were standing outside my yoga studio.
I felt bad for making him worry and considered inviting him along, but I didn’t want Cheney to think it would be okay with me for him to smother me the rest of my life. It wouldn’t be. I needed space.
He smiled, making me feel slightly less guilt-ridden. “Just be careful.”
“You know that I’m going to Katrina’s, right?”
He looked around. “We’ll take a cab.”
I was the last to arrive, and Cheney walked me to the door. “If anything happens or when you are ready to come home—”
I took his hand to stop him. “I have your number on speed dial.”
He nodded, kissed me one more time, and faded away. I knocked on the door, which flew open immediately. All four girls engulfed me in a hug and talked at once. God, I missed them.
“Oh my gosh, it hasn’t been that long.” I laughed, trying to break free.
“But last time totally didn’t count. This time it’s just us and alcohol. All is right in the
world,” Leslie said, a smile lighting her face.
“And you’re going to tell us everything about that hunky man you’re supposedly married to,” Katrina added.
Jessica shoved a drink at me as I was pulled into the living room. “You look different.” She tilted her head to the side.
“I think you look beautiful,” Devin said, elbowing Jess.
“More elf-like?” I scrunched my nose on reflex.
“No,” Jessica said slowly, inspecting me. “Content, maybe. And really fit. Does that make sense?”
“What on earth have you been doing?” Leslie asked with a glint in her eyes.
I rolled my eyes. “Cheney and Sebastian have been trying to kill me for the last month or so. It does amazing things for your figure.” I laughed. “I can’t look that different from when I was at the club.”
“You do. I think Jessica is right. Content—that’s the right word,” Devin said.
“Who’s Sebastian?” Leslie asked, sitting down beside me.
“He is a friend of Cheney’s—and mine, I guess. Cheney brought him in to train me because apparently I argue with him less.”
Katrina laughed. “You argue? Never.”
“What? I’m freaking pleasant,” I objected.
“Not when people are telling you what to do,” Jessica pointed out.
“Whatever. Anyway, I’ve been working out ten hours a day to get fighting ready. It’s been a bitch.”
“Fighting ready?” The smile fled Leslie’s face. “What does that mean? Why do you need to be fighting ready?” Devin, Jessica, and Katrina plunked down, too, waiting for my answer.
“I didn’t want to start with this. I thought we could just have a fun evening,” I said, shaking my head.
“Selene, start talking,” Katrina told me.
I downed my drink. “You know about the people trying to get me? Well, this isn’t entirely about that—but some of it is. Or, at least, that’s the way it started.”
“You aren’t making sense. Start at the top, because we know nothing,” Devin told me.
I explained everything I knew about what happened before Cheney came to get me, pausing only a couple of times so we could refresh our drinks. Too soon, I arrived at the part of the story that involved them. The last thing I wanted to do was ask them. How do you request people you love to risk their lives for you? My stomach twisted with anxiety.