Telophy

  ‘Princess?’

  I opened my eyes. It was the body artist, Riva. She led me to a table, one of several placed among the trees, and gestured to a stool. I sat down as she lifted the lid of a wooden box. Inside were jars and brushes and other implements. After pushing aside the strap of my dress, she used inks to mark Leif’s emblem over my heart, the brushes cool as they glided across my skin.

  When she was done, I looked at my reflection in a small mirror. Leif’s insignia, all brilliant colours and curling lines.

  Riva glanced among the trees, before turning back and reaching into the wooden box. I cringed as she withdrew a blade, a muffled cry escaping as she brought it to my chest and pressed down, the tip penetrating the skin over my heart, bringing with it a sharp sting. A bead of blood trickled down my chest. She ignored it, and began tracing over my king’s insignia, dragging the pain with her. I bit my lip hard, doing my best to bear it in silence.

  She was cleaning up the blood when Leif arrived. He looked from my chest to my face. I knew he saw watery eyes, and possibly bite marks on my lip. ‘Cease,’ he commanded. Riva did as he said. He turned on her with furious eyes. ‘My orders were to come for me before the bladework not after.’

  Riva bowed her head. ‘Apologies, Majesty, I could not find you.’

  ‘If you could not find me, it is because you did not look hard enough.’ Leif’s voice was seething. ‘You should have waited. You have done wrong.’

  She went to her knees, head down.

  I reached out and touched Leif’s arm and to his mind said, Tell her to get up, Leif—I’ve had much worse than this.

  I could have helped, he told me. She knew this and yet disregarded my command. But he told Riva to rise as he held his hand over my chest—almost, but not quite touching my new marking. He released a burst of hot light from his palm, and I gasped at the flash of searing heat. A haze of cool followed, calming the sting. Sorry for that, but the insignia is set now.

  Thank God for that.

  Riva picked up a jar and went to dip a finger inside. Leif took it from her and told her to leave us. Then it was he who scooped up the anaesthetic balm. He touched the sore flesh over my heart, and began working in slow circles that provided both wonderful relief and knee-wobbling tension. It felt delicious and tender and soon the pain was just a dim memory.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  I learned many things as a member of the King’s Most High— the politics and organisation of the kingdom, the names and responsibilities of faeries in high positions, and the details of some of Leif’s aspirations for his new kingdom. I also learned what Haigen had told me was true: she loved Leif. She was his defender and his cheer squad, and as frosty as things were between us, I had to respect her for that—but that didn’t stop me wanting to push her off her chair every time she leaned close and touched his chest or shoulder. I was sure she did it just to make the dark magic kick in, not doubting for a second she knew exactly the effect it had on me.

  Even without Haigen and her dark magic trickery, being with Leif after long months apart was half pleasure, half pain, never failing to leave me with an aching heart. It was worth it of course, not only because I adored his company, but because I got to witness the wonderful evolution of his relationship with his father. It was like watching a sculptor turn a lump of clay into something beautiful. Ever since I’d known them, it had been a case of father issues orders and son obeys. Now and then Leif had resisted, but it had rarely ended well for him.

  But now Leif was King and everything was different. He had his father’s full attention, the former King, offering guidance whenever he was called upon. Sometimes I thought I would burst with happiness to see them so close.

  Leif grew in confidence every day, the requests for his father’s help coming less often, until finally stopping altogether. Not long after that, his parents announced they were taking an extended tour of Faera.

  On the morning they left, I went outside with Leif to see them off. King Telophy lifted a hand to his son, let it rest on Leif’s shoulder, like a test. I’d seen him do the same in the past and Leif had instantly shrugged away. But this time he just watched the hand resting there. His father must have taken it as permission because he stepped closer. Atara’s hand went to her mouth as King Telophy put his arms around his son. ‘I’m proud of you,’ he said. ‘I don’t deserve you, and you don’t need me, but I want you to know I’m proud of you.’

  Leif didn’t speak. I didn’t know if he could. But his arms came up and he hugged his father back. Two tall magnificent kings.

  Several weeks later I was thinking about how well Leif was doing during my first catapults class when I realised I’d missed the guide’s instructions. I glanced at Lysander a short distance away and tried to copy him, my arms straining as I pulled the rubber back and held it in place. I stared through the prongs and shifted my arms to bring the target into alignment.

  ‘It is your body needs to move, not your arms,’ a deep, velvety voice said from behind.

  My heart leapt and I released the rubber, the stone it was holding bouncing off a tree and narrowly missing one of the other slingers as Leif placed his hands on my hips. Fierce longing swept through me. ‘What?’

  All up and down the row, faeries stopped to watch as Leif stood behind me. I wondered if he could feel my blood heating up. His breath whispered softly through my hair when he leaned close and said, ‘It’s not enough to move your arms when you make an adjustment. Keep your feet steady and move your body.’ He moved me gently from side to side to demonstrate before stepping aside and holding a hand towards the slingshot. ‘May I?’

  I turned and handed him the weapon.

  ‘Watch,’ he said. Like he had to tell me.

  He pointed. ‘Second target from the right.’ He lined his feet up, loaded the rubber and pulled it back, staring through the prongs. ‘Now, I will make my adjustment. Watch my arms, you will see they remain still.’

  I did what he said—his muscles hard and dead sexy in their state of tension, every one sharply defined from the next. I shuddered, snapping back to attention when he added, ‘It is my body that moves, do you see?’

  I gulped as I glanced from his arms to the rest of him, my blood burning. ‘I see.’

  He released the stone and watched it take out the target, applause erupting as he handed the slingshot to me, grinning as he caught my flushed cheeks. ‘Your turn.’

  Flustered, I took the weapon. He hadn’t missed a thing. But who wouldn’t check him out? He was King and attracting more attention than ever before. But it was obvious it made him happy and I was pleased for it, though I wondered where my ugly creeping jealousy had gone.

  Leif watched as I demolished the targets. When I’d used up my stones, I looked up to him, a smile on my face that I couldn’t have shaken off if I’d tried.

  ‘Perfect, Marla,’ he said, then tipping his head ever so slightly to the side, added, ‘Would you walk with me?’

  I nodded and glanced in my brother’s direction to tell him I’d see him later. He was watching me, a smirk on his face.

  We followed a stream winding through the trees, the soft crunch of leaves and gentle babble of water doing nothing to steal the silence that settled between us. Leif seemed perfectly at peace with it. There were many times we’d strolled along just like this—except my hand had been tucked into his. I wished it were there now. Eventually I asked how his parents were.

  ‘They’ll be home in a few days,’ he said.

  ‘You must be looking forward to seeing them.’

  ‘I am, but I’m surprised they’re coming back so soon.’ He frowned as though deep in thought, then his expression softened. ‘I don’t see you often enough. I’m glad to see you today.’

  ‘You see me at meetings, and at dinner, and …’ I’d been going to say when he was training but realised that was me seeing him not the other way around, so finished with, ‘a whole lot more than before you were King.’

  ‘I
meant I don’t see you alone.’ He caught my hand as I clambered over a fallen branch, giving me time to process what he’d said. Had he been wanting to see me alone?

  ‘Probably for the best,’ I said eventually. ‘Haigen wouldn’t like it. I mean I get why she wouldn’t like it—not that she has reason to, only—’

  ‘Hush,’ Leif said, placing his fingers on my lips. He took them away and smiled. ‘I don’t think Haigen would mind.’

  He had to be delusional. Then again, he hadn’t heard the things she’d said to me.

  ‘Let me tell you my purpose for seeking you out.’

  My heart sank a little bit. I’d thought our walk was a lovely, random thing, but of course he wanted to tell me something Most High related—that was pretty much the extent of our conversations. I was surprised when he said, ‘Do you know of the Celebration of New Life?’

  ‘It’s kind of like the faery equivalent to New Year’s, isn’t it?’

  He nodded. ‘And do you know what happens on that night?’

  ‘I do,’ I said, glad I’d been paying attention to Daphne when she’d spoken of it in nature group. ‘In every kingdom there’s this enormous tree called the Spirit Tree, and when the time is right, it sheds leaves that fly all across the kingdom. It’s so bright the Shadow Fae can’t come out for the whole night.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Leif said. ‘And that night will soon be here.’

  ‘Which you know because the leaves have turned gold and begun to fill with sun.’

  ‘You have been doing your research.’

  ‘You’d be surprised what I know.’

  He leaned close as though telling me a secret. ‘Tell me then, for I love surprises.’

  I scrunched up my shoulders as his warm breath slid over me. ‘I know that when the leaves fly it symbolises the beginning of the new. Already word would have been sent through the entire kingdom that the leaves are ripening. There will be festivals and parties and every faery will celebrate. But those soon to be married will get to celebrate with you. You’ve probably invited them already and when they see the leaves fly, they’ll join you at the Spirit Tree.’

  ‘I’m impressed,’ Leif said, nodding.

  ‘I haven’t finished yet.’

  A grin snuck up his face. ‘My apologies, please go on.’

  ‘The faeries will begin to arrive at dusk. You’ll be waiting for them. And you’ll be drunk—which would be really funny to see.’

  He laughed. ‘What makes you think I’ll be drunk?’

  ‘The King always gets drunk because it’s the one night he doesn’t have to look out for his subjects.’

  ‘I need to be on my guard then.’

  ‘No, don’t,’ I said touching his arm. ‘You should let go of all that control once in a while.’

  ‘Should I?’

  ‘Yes,’ I asserted with a nod. ‘And I say this as one of your advisors.’

  His eyebrows went up. ‘I guess I’d better take notice then. But tell me, what else do you know of that night? Wait, I need to sit for this.’ He pulled me by the hand to a sandy part of the bank. ‘Go on,’ he said when we’d both sat down.

  ‘You will give each pair a blessing,’ I said, crossing my legs. ‘It’s called the blessing of the father protector and the mother nurturer. The King represents the father protector and the Spirit Tree represents mother nature or something.’

  Leif leaned back on his elbows. ‘Who told you that?’

  ‘I just hear these things as I travel around. Why? Am I wrong?’

  ‘It’s just not the whole truth is all.’ His voice was dreamy and just a little bit teasing.

  ‘So what is the whole truth?’

  He touched a knuckle to my cheek. ‘Ask me again on the night.’

  ‘On the night?’

  ‘It would serve my people well to see you there. And it’s the only night I can truly enjoy with those closest to me. So … will you come?’

  Those closest to him. Haigen would be there. I would have to watch her spend the night in his arms, kissing, caressing. Whether it was real or dark magic, it would hurt just the same. But I refused to let that stop me, so steeling myself, I said, ‘If you want me to come, then I’ll come.’

  Leif frowned. ‘I won’t insist, Marla, the choice is yours. But I would not have asked if I did not want it.’

  I lowered my eyes. ‘Of course I’ll be there.’

  He took my chin in his fingers and lifted my face. ‘With you, I often get the feeling I am missing something … something I cannot see. You can tell me anything—you know that, don’t you?’

  How I wished that were true. When I thought of the time I begged his father to block my betrothal connection, I felt like a fool. But if I could tell Leif the reason I knew he’d understand. And so I tried to force myself to speak about the dark magic. When the words failed to come, I tried to tell him with my mind. As usual, nausea whirled inside me, blocking the truth completely.

  And so I told him not to worry, that I was fine. I was surprised I was able to. He was my King now, but I felt none of the compulsion to be honest with him as I had his father. And then I remembered something King Telophy had shared with me when he took me into his soul. If Finelle were my betrothed, she could keep her secrets.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Three nights after Leif invited me to the Celebration of New Life, the leaves began to fly, splashes of gold sprinkled across the sky. I stood on my balcony with Jack and watched them twirl, flickering like candle flames and turning the twilight bright. ‘How can there be so many?’ I said.

  ‘Have you seen the tree?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘It’s huge. Anyway, go get ready, Ameyah and Claudette will be here soon.’

  He followed me inside and watched me go through my wardrobe. ‘I don’t know what to wear,’ I exclaimed.

  Jack pointed to the skirt Leif had chosen from the markets the first time I’d been—seashell pink and made from the soft shimmery fabric of the solari bugs. It hung unworn with every other skirt I’d ever been given. Jack plucked it from its hanger. ‘What about this?’

  ‘There’s no top half in case you hadn’t noticed.’

  He shrugged. ‘It’s not like you’ll stand out.’

  He was right, and for a long time now, even just for convenience alone, I wished I were as free as other faeries. Unlike the humans I’d grown up around, they didn’t see a female’s chest as any more sexual than a male’s. I stared at the skirt longingly, lifted the top layer and slipped my hand beneath, watched the outline of my fingers beneath the fabric. Could I be so brave?

  I narrowed my eyes at Jack. ‘If I wear it, you can’t stare.’

  He flicked an eyebrow up. ‘One word—Ameyah.’

  I stepped into the skirt, straightened the band and tied it at my hip. ‘Anything to report there?’

  ‘Getting there, we just want to be sure, after … you know.’

  I smoothed my hands over my skirt. ‘Do you regret us?’

  He gave me a disbelieving look. ‘Of course not. If it hadn’t happened, we’d always be wondering, wouldn’t we?’ He paused. ‘Well I would anyway.’

  ‘I would too,’ I reassured him, and before we could delve any deeper into the past I said, ‘Close your eyes.’

  He rolled them instead. ‘I’m not going around with my eyes shut all night. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen you before.’

  ‘Just for a minute—till I get used to it.’

  He closed his eyes. I whipped my dress over my head, tiptoed quickly to the ensuite. ‘You can open them,’ I called out. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The skirt was beautiful—soft and floaty and dotted with sparkles—above it an expanse of pale skin. I let down my hair and brushed it, bringing it over my shoulders. It fell almost to my waist and did a good job of covering me. But it’s not like it would stay there.

  I went back out and Jack laughed at the sight of me. ‘You need glue.’

  I waved my hand a
t him and rang the little bell beside my bed, asked the maid to bring whichever body artist was on duty. A short time later Calum appeared, paintbox in hand.

  I blushed and thought about sending him away again. Instead I thanked him and said, ‘I need something special. I’m going to the Celebration of New Life with the King.’

  He opened the box and peered inside. ‘I have an idea, unless there is a particular design you wanted?’

  ‘Surprise me,’ I said, nervously watching him lay out his equipment. I looked up as Ameyah and Claudette came in, both decorated for the occasion.

  ‘Ooh, let’s paint Jack,’ Claudette said, diverting my attention from Calum who was sweeping my hair up and piling it on top of my head. I folded my arms across my chest, but he didn’t notice, only began selecting colours and brushes. Jack didn’t either, his eyes fixed on Ameyah. Claudette noticed though, her brows halfway up her forehead. ‘Feeling brave?’

  My eyes wandered up and down my green dress, a little loose on her pixie-thin body. It made me realise how much I’d filled out since reaching immortality. ‘Well somebody took all my dresses,’ I said.

  Claudette ignored me and inspected Calum’s paintbox. ‘Can we take some of these for Jack?’

  The body artist selected some colours and handed them over. Claudette snatched them up and grabbed Jack’s hand, pulling him to the door. He looked back over his shoulder. ‘See you in a minute.’

  ‘Take your time,’ I told them. Then, taking a deep breath, I let my arms fall away.

  Calum chatted while he worked, mixing pinks and golds and greens, painting intricate designs on my skin with fine brushes and soft sponges. He added touches of gold glitter and finished with a dusting of fine powder to set the image. Then he left, returning with arms full of leaves which he crafted into a wreath, adding little wooden beads and pink gemstones from his paintbox. He let my hair down and placed the wreath on my head. A few final dabs of glitter and he was leading me to the mirror. The image before me was stunning—a swirl of leaves coming over my shoulder as though blown by the wind, curling down my collarbone and across my chest, a few flying free to fall down my stomach—every one touched with gold and light. ‘It’s beautiful.’