Fairy-Struck

by Amy Sumida

  Then the most miraculous thing happened. Something that restored my faith in humanity as well as in fairykind. Amanda came up to me and offered to help me tend the injured unseelie... and they accepted her help. Seelie, unseelie, twilight, and human, we were all just people then, no race or grievance to separate us.

  When we had them all settled down for the night, I hugged Amanda and thanked her.

  “I can't move past my fear if I don't confront its source and this is probably the safest way for me to do that,” she whispered to me before she headed off to bed.

  “Smart girl,” Tiernan said as we watched her curl up in her blanket near the fire.

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “I need you to take her home tomorrow.”

  “Excuse me?” He lifted a brow. “You're insane if you think I'm going to leave you now.”

  “My father thinks I'm in the Human Realm and he'll be expecting me back soon. We need all the time we can get,” I sighed. “Would you rather I take her back and you take the unseelie home?”

  “Yes, actually,” he growled. “I think that would be safer for you. We'll swing by the mound that leads to Gentry and you can take Amanda to the Council. Then they can get her home. I'll have one of the less injured fey drive your carriage to the unseelie castle.”

  “The Council will have a lot of questions,” I sighed.

  “So answer them, Princess,” he smirked and slid his hands around my waist. “You're good with your mouth.”

  “You're so naughty,” I chuckled and then he lowered his face to mine and I tried my best to prove his statement true.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  We were almost to the fairy mound that led to Gentry Technologies, when Aodh caught up with us. I'd never been so happy to see a fairy in all of my life. I screamed like a little girl when he landed on the seat beside me and then jumped up in delight and nearly fell off the carriage.

  “Thank Goddess you're alright,” I declared as I hugged him.

  “It's good to see you too, Princess,” he laughed and looked around. “Where are we going?”

  “I need to get Amanda home,” I waved towards the clearing Tiernan's coach was just entering. “I'm taking her back through the rath in Gentry Technologies, my father's company.”

  “Oh, right, the human girl,” Aodh cast a glance down to the carriage. “Is she alright?”

  “I think she will be,” I smiled. “She's been traumatized but she's already trying to move past it.” I pulled the horses to a stop and handed the reins to him. “You couldn't have better timing. I need you to drive my carriage to the unseelie castle.” Then I saw Tiernan come walking up with Conri and I shouted down to them “Hey guys, look who dropped in.” I gave a little giggle, it couldn't be helped.

  “Yes, we heard you shrieking like a bean-sidhe,” Tiernan glanced at the carriage behind me. “Apologies, my lady,” he gave a little nod and I saw a beautiful, pale face disappear back into the shadows of the carriage. Tiernan set his gaze back on Aodh. “Your arrival is most fortunate, the Princess is taking the human girl back to her realm and we'll need someone to drive her carriage.”

  “Yes, I've heard,” Aodh grinned, “and you'll be happy to hear that the commotion we heard was simply the seelie rejoicing in the return of their friends and family members. There is much to celebrate in Seelie today.”

  “That's a relief,” I sighed and opened the carriage door. “Come on, Amanda, we're here.”

  “I'm really going home?” She crawled out of the carriage with the help of the bean-sidhe, who then kissed her cheek and waved goodbye to her. Amanda waved back before closing the door and turning to me. “She doesn't talk a lot but she's sweet.”

  “You ready?” I asked and she nodded. “Okay, one sec,” I went to Cat, where she was bridled to the carriage, and took her sleek face in my hands. “I need you to be good for Aodh and help him get to the Unseelie Court, then back home to Twilight safely.” Cat huffed and swung her head. “Cat,” I chided her. “Please be good and I'll see you back here...” I turned to look at Tiernan.

  “We should be able to get back to the rath in two days, maybe sooner,” he sighed.

  “I'll see you in two days, okay?” I asked Cat and she gave me a annoyed look but nodded her head. “Good girl,” I gave her a kiss on her cheek.

  “Do I get a kiss too?” Conri pursed his lips.

  “Thank you for your help, Conri,” I grabbed his face, turned it, and kissed his cheek.

  “She loves me,” Conri smiled big and nodded smugly to Aodh.

  Aodh rolled his eyes, then gave me a cheery smile, “Safe travels, Your Highness.”

  “Thank you, Aodh,” I hugged him and moved away with Tiernan.

  “Seren,” Tiernan took my hand, “remember to stay on the path.”

  “Yes, I know,” I nodded. “I'm the Twilight Star, remember? I'm safe in the in-between.”

  “Maybe I should go with you,” he frowned. “You really should have a guard with you.”

  “I'll be fine, Tiernan,” I shook my head. “I'm going right into Gentry, no one will hurt me there, and then I'm heading straight to the Council House.”

  “When you get to Gentry, go to the reception desk and ask for Dylan Thorn. He'll help you and will lend credence to your story of simply going into the Human Realm to see Extinguisher Ewan,” Tiernan urged.

  “Oh, okay, good tip,” I nodded.

  “And one more thing,” he pulled me close. “Two days and no longer. Don't keep me waiting.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I teased, “just kiss me already.”

  It was toe-curling, blood-warming, passionate wonderfulness and I enjoyed every second of it until Conri interrupted.

  “I'd be happy to attend you in the Human Realm, Princess Seren,” he called out brightly.

  “Thank you but I'll be fine,” I called back after pulling away from Tiernan.

  “Remind me to give him a lesson in manners when this is all over,” Tiernan growled.

  “Just get those fairies home safe,” I kissed his cheek. “I'll see you soon.”

  “Alright,” he smiled and pushed me towards the golden door of the fairy mound. I took Amanda's hand and led her in. Just as I was closing the door behind us, I heard him say, “I love you, Seren.”

  I almost fell off the path. Amanda steadied me and I led her through the in-between. It was a quick journey now that I was used to it but when we emerged into the bright basement of Gentry, I was still reeling from Tiernan's declaration.

  “Did he really just say that?” I whispered to myself.

  “Yep, the foxy fairy totally said he loves you,” Amanda laughed.

  “Damn, I'm self-centered,” I shook my head and reminded myself why I was there. “Sorry about that. Come on, let's get you as far from Fairy as possible.”

  “No biggie,” she grinned radiantly. “I'd be a little shocked too if a guy who looked like him, said that to me.”

  “He's very nice looking,” I agreed as I motioned her up the stairs.

  “Nice looking?” She giggled. “Yeah, in the way that Ian Somerhalder is nice looking.”

  “Who?” I asked and she stopped to stare at me in shock.

  “Ian Somerhalder from Vampire Diaries,” she huffed.

  “Oh sheesh,” I rolled my eyes, “not another vampire reference.”

  “What do you mean?” She frowned.

  “Nothing, never mind,” I waved it away. “This Ian guy is hot, huh?”

  “Uh, he's gorgeous,” she gave me a duh tone.

  “Okay, good to know. I'll Google him later.”

  “Your guy is hotter though,” she grinned at me over her shoulder.

  “Thanks,” I leaned around her to push the door open and bring us out into the second floor.

  Then I froze because the room was full of people and they all stopped working to stare at us. Correction, it was full of fairies. I gave a little laugh and smiled brightly.

  “Hi there, does anyone know where I can find Dylan Thorn?” I
asked with forced gaiety.

  They gaped at me some more but then finally, a guy near the back jumped up and ran off, hopefully to fetch Dylan. I edged towards the elevator with Amanda, momentarily forgetting that this was my father's company and I wasn't in any danger there. I guess my trips into the other courts had left their mark. Or maybe being in the Human Realm again made my Extinguisher training emerge. Whatever it was, I pressed the button and got us into the elevator before anyone could move towards us.

  “Tell him to meet us at reception,” I called out as the doors closed.

  “That was awkward,” Amanda sighed.

  “And totally stupid,” I rolled my eyes. “This is my father's business. All of those fairies work for him so we weren't in any danger.”

  “They were all fairies?” She gaped at me.

  “Uh, yeah,” I chewed at my lip. I hadn't thought of how to handle Amanda's knowledge of the fey. “Look, it could be dangerous for you to talk about fairies. I'm going to take you to the Human Council and they'll be able to help you get back home and sort things out but they're probably going to tell you the same thing; you need to pretend that you don't know anything about the fey.”

  “Trust me, I want this all to just go away,” she sighed. “I'm not going to cause any problems. Besides, who's going to believe me? They'd lock me up in the loony bin.”

  “Great,” I smiled as we exited the elevator and headed towards the reception desk. “I mean about your not talking not the loony bin part.”

  Sunlight poured in from the wall of windows, blending with the artificial light shed by the abundance of ceiling lamps, to create an almost blinding environment. A steady stream of people bustled through the large room, not at all bothered by the extreme brightness. I inhaled sharply when a passing fairy caught my eye and waved a hand towards his own eyes with a pointed look. Oh crap, my eyes. I gave him a grateful smile and blinked away the stars, covering them up with glamor. He nodded his approval and started to move past but then suddenly stopped and stared at the top of my head.

  “Your Highness,” he whispered and bowed deeply before moving on.

  “What the hell?” I gaped at his back. “How did he know?”

  “What was with that guy?” Amanda asked.

  “I have no idea,” I frowned and then remembered my eyes. It must have been the stars. If he worked for my father, he'd know about Keir's eyes. I shrugged at Amanda, not wanting to take the time to explain.

  We maneuvered through the crowd and finally reached the reception desk, a shining curve of snowy marble topped with glass. There was a tall, ebony-haired man waiting in front of it, pointedly ignoring the adoring looks he was getting from the receptionist. His hair was cut fashionably short, sweeping back from his high forehead in tousled layers; his suit was obviously expensive, fitting his broad shoulders and narrow waist perfectly; and his sapphire eyes, though stunning, looked completely normal. Except he wasn't normal, he was a fairy.

  “Dylan Thorn?” I asked and he smiled slowly, his aura flashing with sparks of deep emerald.

  “Sweet Seren,” he opened his arms and enveloped me in a hug. Then he whispered. “What are you doing here alone and unguarded? We've only just recovered from the Sluagh attack.”

  “I know,” I pulled away. “I had to bring Amanda home,” I gestured to her. “Amanda, this is Dylan Thorn. He works for my father.”

  “Hey,” she nodded to him but her expression was wary.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said stiffly and moved us away from the reception desk. Then under his breath, he said, “Come with me, Your Highness.”

  “I need to take Amanda to the Human Council,” I whispered to him.

  “Yes, I assumed as much,” Dylan glanced at her as he led us through a door marked parking and then down some stairs. “Where did you find her?”

  “In an unseelie dungeon,” I said grimly.

  “What?” He stopped and looked back at us. “You went into the Unseelie Court? Into their dungeons?!”

  “Yeah, and you're not going to tell my father about it because it could cause irreparable damage,” I smiled grimly. I failed to mention that the damage would be to my ass, which Keir would no doubt lay the smackdown on.

  “I barely know you and I already dislike you,” he sighed. “Very well, come with me. I'll drive her to the Council House myself.”

  “Us, you mean,” I clarified. “I can't go back to Fairy for a couple of days so I'm going to stay at the Council House.”

  “Oh, is that where you're going to stay?” He scoffed. “No, I don't think so. It's hardly suitable accommodations for the Twilight Princess.”

  “You're the Twilight Princess?” Amanda nearly shrieked in glee.

  “I hate that title,” I grimaced at her. “Please, no jokes.”

  “Oh my god, that's the most awesome title ever!” Amanda laughed. “Do you sparkle?”

  “Shut up, Amanda,” I growled.

  “Do you have pointy teeth? Can you run super fast?” She kept going. “Do you know Robert Pattinson?”

  “Now that doesn't even make any sense,” I turned to shake my head at her but she just shrugged.

  “Who is Robert Pattinson?” Dylan asked and Amanda shrieked again.

  “Are you kidding me?!” She gaped at us. “What's wrong with you people? Don't you ever watch movies?”

  “I do but I'm not sure about him,” I looked Dylan over critically and shot his words back at him. “I barely know him and I already dislike him.”

  “I don't have time for entertainment,” Dylan was barely holding it together. “I have to handle all the issues that come up here... like a princess showing up with a human girl she stole from the unseelie.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that,” I shrugged. “Tiernan said I should ask for you.”

  “Oh, he did, did he?” Dylan opened a door at the bottom of the stairwell and we all filed out into a underground garage. “How do you know Count Shadowcall?”

  “He's my boyfriend,” I said flippantly and Dylan lifted a perfect black brow. I admit, it felt good to say it, if a little silly. I mean what does a fairy princess call the guy she's sleeping with? Her lover? Her consort? That just sounded even sillier to me.

  “Your what?” Dylan asked.

  “Her boyfriend,” Amanda said slowly like he was stupid. “You know,” she started making kissing sounds, “the guy she makes out with.”

  “Wow, I think I over estimated your age,” I looked her over.

  “I'm sixteen,” she whined. “I was just teasing the stuffed suit.”

  “What did you call me?” Dylan leaned towards Amanda aggressively.

  “Alright, enough teasing everyone,” I held up my hands. “Let's just get the child home, okay?”

  “I'm not a child,” she whined again.

  “The teenager,” I clarified and she pouted. “The young woman?”

  “That's better,” she nodded.

  “Well now that you're happy with your title,” I rolled my eyes and gestured to Dylan. “Can we go?”

  “Sure,” he huffed. “Why not? I aim to please. I am but a mere servant to the whims of my princess.”

  “Excellent,” I ignored his sarcasm and he grimaced.

  He pressed a button on his keyfob and a sleek, black sports car beeped. I sighed. Did none of these guys know the convenience of an SUV? We all piled in. Amanda slid into the back happily, stretching out across the leather seats, while I sat in the front, next to the stuffed suit. Then Dylan sped out of the garage with a squeal of rubber. We came out into the San Francisco sunlight and I smiled, a part of me was very happy to be back.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  “Once more, if you please,” Councilman Murdock was back to sitting across a tea set from me in the parlor of the San Francisco Council House.

  “I can't give you specifics, Councilman,” I sighed. “Just please help Amanda get home, she's been through a lot.”

  “Of course we'll help her,” he huffed. “But you say
you rescued her from the unseelie. Isn't there something we can do?”

  “Not unless you'd like to storm the unseelie castle,” Dylan grimaced. “There's nothing that even we can do about it, Mr. Murdock. Princess Seren has done more than any fey monarch has ever done concerning this situation. The idea that anyone could try and hold the entire Unseelie Court accountable for the abduction of one human girl is frankly, laughable.”

  “Councilman Murdock not Mr.,” Murdock corrected in irritation, probably because he couldn't fault anything else Dylan said.

  “Ah,” Dylan narrowed his eyes on Murdock and then waved a hand at himself, “Duke... of the Unseelie.”

  Murdock swallowed hard, “My apologies, Your Grace.”

  “Duke?” I looked over at Dylan. “Who are you?”

  “I'm your uncle, Seren,” he winked at me. “Your other unseelie uncle; the handsome one,” he grinned. “Also known as the Defector of the Dark Court and, rather ironically, the Unseelie Heir.”

  “You're my uncle?” I stared harder at him and as I watched, he lowered his glamor. His skin paled to pure white, the angles of his face sharpened, and his eyes darkened to a shimmering, deep cerulean. Then that blue bled out into the whites of his eyes until they were completely saturated. The black pupils remained at their centers, almost tricking you into believing they were still normal. “Oh wow,” I whispered. “Yeah, I see the resemblance now.”

  “Yes, I've heard you had an unfortunate introduction to our kin,” Dylan sighed.

  “I'm sorry, Your Grace,” Murdock interrupted, “but can we get back to the matter at hand?”

  “Please,” Dylan waved his hand elegantly and I saw even more of Uisdean in him. Another wave of his hand and the glamor was back in place, he was just a normal guy once more.

  “The Fairy Council has contacted us and informed us that they would like to make you a sort of peace-keeping ambassador between the realms,” Murdock directed his attention to me. “You would have their full support, as well as ours of course, to continue your work as an Extinguisher in the Realm of Fairy. This would mean that if we needed to pursue a fairy back into that realm, we could simply call on you to apprehend the criminal. Or, if you uncovered any unlawful activity, you could report it to either council and then would be given instructions on how to handle the matter.”