by Tina Smith
“No, not yet. These memory spells take time to recover from.” His grip around me tightened lovingly.
“And your body was already weakened by the poison. Do you think Liat knows something?”
Lacon rubbed the side of his face against mine. “I’m not sure, Lila. I remember three figures appearing in the woods that day. Father seemed upset to see them. And then I heard chanting.”
“Where is Holly’s grandmother now?” Lila’s voice grew excited. She clapped her hands. “Where is the human’s phone? Can we call her?”
“No! Put her phone down, sister,” he chastised her. “Besides, we don’t know how to use it. We cannot use her possession without her permission. We need to summon Carna. She has to remove Holly’s spell.”
Lila laughed harshly. “Please, big brother, don’t set yourself up for failure or heartache. She is part human. The Court will not allow her to sit on the throne with you. I’ll call for Carnation, but don’t get caught up in this. You’re simply giving Liat more ammunition in his quest for the throne.”
Lacon sighed as he drew me closer. His body heat was heady. I could get accustomed to being in his arms. “Liat can have the throne if he proves himself worthy.”
The princess gasped. “Don’t be a fool! Not over a human. Give up your birthright? My twin doesn’t deserve it. He’s selfish and inept.”
“I’m not sure Liat is responsible. He may be power hungry, but those men wanted to kill me. That’s not our brother. That’s someone else’s doing.”
“Who?”
“I have my suspicions.”
A thick silence made me want to reveal my being awake so I could look around. Lacon began lazily stroking my cheek. I suddenly knew what Chewie felt when someone petted him. Care. Appreciation. Pure love.
“What will you do if you’re correct and Liat takes Father’s place until he returns?”
“I will spend time here, getting to know Holly if she will allow me.”
“What? And leave the Court? Your duties?” Lila’s tone grew indignant. Outraged. Spoiled. Just like Lacon when we met.
He nodded, his jaw brushed against my forehead. “It’s my decision. You weren’t with me all those times. The bond Holly and I developed was strong. True. No magic can break that.”
Laughter. “I think the nectar is still speaking for you. You know Mother will never agree to any of this. A union between a Summer Prince and some Winter hybrid? She has very little fae in her, if any. It’s never happened.”
“Lila, my precious sister, do not question the power of Helleborus’ line. Her lineage is ancient and powerful. The females in her family were given their power from a goddess, you know this. I can feel Holly’s power simmering beneath, waiting to be released. Have faith.”
She sighed. “Nevertheless, when the human awakens, talk to her. Let her decide. I will bring Carna with me when I return.”
The door closed. Lacon shifted, sitting me up on his lap. Our position felt so intimate. I hadn’t been held by many guys, and yet, this seemed right.
“She’s gone. You can open your eyes.”
Shocked, I stared up into his smiling face. “Your breathing changed once you were awake.” He kissed my forehead. “I apologize for being rude when you found me. I didn’t recognize you.”
I sat up, almost knocking my head into his chin. His quick reflex prevented a collision. “So it’s true what you said? About us knowing each other?”
He nodded. “Lila’s bringing the witch who can remove your memory-block spell.”
My stomach growled. “Wow, that’s incredible.”
“Have you ever wondered why you loved the winter months so much?” His smile was infectious.
I bobbed my head up and down like a happy Chewie. What I really wanted to do was run down the road to tell the neighbors. My fingers itched to send everyone I knew a message like “Hey! I’m part fairy! So is my family. Isn’t that wonderful?” In reality, I’d never do anything to reveal that secret. My good news would bring a rash of horrible things, beginning with name-calling and labels.
My anxiety already made me feel like a freak.
“You’d better eat. My staff left breakfast for us downstairs. Coming?” he asked, already standing, hand outstretched.
“Um, can I go freshen up?”
He bowed, letting me go. I climbed off and ran to my room.
*
Fifteen minutes later, I joined Lacon in the kitchen. I’d checked my phone for messages. No news was a sign I took as good. The table was filled with plates jammed with pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad. I sat down across from him. His injured leg was stretched out on a chair.
I filled a plate with a sample of everything and grabbed a cup of coffee. With one whiff, I grinned. Yes, hazelnut! I spread a napkin across my lap and took in his fruit-heavy plate. My plate made me look like a slob.
The prince saw my apprehension. “I need the healing properties of plant life to regain my strength. The poison took a lot out of me. My staff found your cook books and used them. I hope you like what they prepared.” He refilled his glass from the orange juice pitcher.
“That’s cool. Thanks.” I dug in. We ate in relative silence. Occasionally I glanced up, expecting to see Chewie make an appearance or beg for food. He didn’t. His bowls were full from last night.
“Could we go out for a ride on your sled?” Lacon asked, dropping his napkin down on his empty plate.
“Um…” I glanced outside. “Too much snow melted. And it looks slippery for you with your leg. I don’t want to take the chance. Sorry.” I wanted to go back to the woods with him, to see if my own memories stirred.
He looked over my shoulder, out the window, as if lost somewhere in thought.
“How old are you?” I finally asked moments later.
Lacon blinked away the haze. “In fae years, twenty-four. In human time, I would say about forty. Our aging process begins to slow down once we hit maturity which is around our mid-to-late teen years.” Inquisitiveness touched his eyes. I offered him my hand, which he took as he slid off the bench.
We took our time going to the family room. Once he sat down, with the coffee table pushed closer to the sofa and a cushion under his knee, I started a fire. The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” I had dressed in jeans and a sweater with bulky slipper socks.
I glanced out the glass panels of the door frame before opening it. “Hi, Keith,” I said. He was a few years older than me and worked at his father’s garden store.
“Hey, Holly, got a delivery. Mr. Barclay ordered it.” His brown eyes glistened from the frigid air. “Want me to bring it in?”
“Bring it in?” He wasn’t holding anything. Laughing, he pointed to something.
I took the bait and poked my head out into the cold air to check the porch. “A Scotch pine?” I said, thrilled. “My favorite!” I touched its needles, breathing in the fresh pine smell.
“That’s what your dad said. She’s a beaut and about seven feet tall. Where do you want it?” Keith secured his gloved hand around the middle of the trunk.
“The living room.”
He followed me inside. I stopped by the middle of the bay of windows. “Here.”
Keith stood the pot in front of the sheer panels where the living tree would receive filtered light. “Don’t overwater her,” he said, smiling.
“Thanks, Keith.”
I followed him back to the door. As he stepped over the threshold he paused and turned. “Hey, there’s a bunch of us going over to McCrory’s tonight to catch up. Want to go?”
I glanced down at my socks. “Sorry. I’m waiting to hear about Nana.” I wasn’t one for bars anyway.
His face paled. “Holly, I forgot! Mama told me about Mrs. Conroy. We’re keeping her and your family in our prayers.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Keith. Maybe another time.”
Once inside his truck he waved and drove off. I shut the front door and locked it. The smell o
f pine spiked the air.
In the family room doorway, I slowed my steps. There were voices coming from inside. I poked my head around but saw no one besides Lacon petting Chewie. The fire glowed normally, no strange bird-like creatures.
The prince turned to regard me.
An idea struck. “Have you ever decorated a Christmas tree before?”
*
Halfway through trimming the tree, I stopped to handle the sudden rush of emotions that hit me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked from his seat on the large sofa. Various storage boxes, tops open, were spread across the floor.
I wiped at my eyes and picked up a sled made out of wooden mixing sticks. A picture of me with Brad was glued to it. We’d made them with Nana when I was five. I sunk down next to Lacon as he took the ornament from my hands.
“Is this your first time doing this alone?” he asked, voice tender.
I nodded, fighting back tears and losing.
“Hey, don’t do that. Never hide your emotions.” Lacon gently pulled me towards him, wiping my cheeks. His hair, still damp from his earlier shower, smelled of my floral shampoo, comforting. Rubbing my back, I don’t think he realized what his touch did to me. From missing my family, my emotions switched to desire, shocking me with the intensity of how much I wanted to have him touch me. And I wanted more.
“Holly, when a fae is aroused during their mating cycle, they emit a special scent only for the one they’re attracted to,” Lacon said, his breathing clipped. “Females usually have something sweet or floral. Since you’re a hybrid, yours is mixed. Cinnamon pine is your scent. Two of my favorites, by the way.”
His usual almond eyes held specks of glowing gold. I blinked, thinking I had glitter in my lashes from handling the ornaments.
He saw my confusion. “My apologies. I can’t tell you everything yet. It’ll be too much.” Breathing heavy, he leaned back against the cushions.
I stood, leaning against the nearest table, my knees unsteady.
“You’re approaching your maturity which may weaken any spells or blocks on you.”
“I don’t understand.”
Lacon patted a space beside him. I scooted down, controlling my hormones. “Fae spells last for a specific amount of time. They are meant to attain something. When accomplished, they begin to wither away. The fae as a people have a strong belief system based on nature. Letting things run their natural course. When spells are invoked, they disrupt nature, upset the balance.”
I remembered what he’d said about hedge witches from our earlier conversation.
“To forget about that day in the woods, someone put a memory spell on all of us. You, me, my father, King Phlox, Helle. But in order for it to last so long—nine years long—another spell was also used on top—a subconscious block. Anything which alters someone’s mind needs dark magic to work. For so many—two kids and three adults—even more power was necessary. A trifold—a trio comprised of a fae, a hedge witch and a dark magic user.”
Patiently, he waited for everything he said to sink in. Spells. Nature. Power. Trio. “I think I got it.”
He kissed my hand. I wrinkled my eyebrows at him. With a snort, he winked back.
“Was that a snort?” I grinned.
He shrugged, turning serious. “A fae created the curse, the witch infused it with her power, the dark user strengthened it with theirs. That’s a subconscious block. The one in charge then instructs what they want done. For you, to forget your heritage. For me, to forget you. Blocks are detested, illegal, and the punishment is life in prison.”
I gasped. “That’s horrible. Why would someone do that?”
“For the blackest needs. Greed. Hatred. Power. Jealousy. My father never talked about coming here, so he too had his memories hidden away. As for your grandmother, she may remember but not say anything to protect your mind. Since Royal Court members were spelled, the guilty will be killed.”
I yawned, smiling apologetically. “I’d like to hear more about the fae and whatever happened, but after last night I really need a nap.”
Like the prince he is, Lacon opened his arms and I cuddled up against him, eyes already closing. “I will be here when you awaken, Holly Bear,” was the last thing I heard.
Chapter Nine
We finished off Mom’s soup and all of the fruit salad for dinner. Still, no one—human or fae—had shown up. I fed Chewie and let him out. As his form took off across the field, the colors of the setting sun spread across the sky. In winter, the days darkened so early. I closed the kitchen door and saw Lacon staring at me from his seat by the island.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Holly?”
I played with the tie on my ponytail. “Not now.” I stared out the nearest window; his reflection filled the space between us across the pane. It was like having him watch over me.
“Could you see yourself content with someone like me?”
I stepped away from the window and began to fill the dishwasher. My mind buzzed with hundreds of questions. Dating? Could I introduce him to friends? Do things in town together? Bowling, movies, eating out? Or would I be restricted to just his realm?
He waited in silence as I rinsed glasses and plates then stacked them inside the machine.
But did those things really matter? The connection, the intense way I felt drawn to him was incredible. I needed Lacon in my life. Once I set the cycles and shut the door, I faced him. “I think so.”
He smiled, exhaling like he’d been holding his breath. I thought only girls did that.
“I ask because it is fae custom to first gain permission of the female to date, and then I must inform both my parents and hers of my intentions.”
There was a rush of scratching on the screen. I opened it to let Chewie in. The dog rushed inside. I went to close the door when a long-nailed hand wrapped around its side.
“Is my son in this building?”
Lacon jumped to his good foot, dragging the other, and winced.
With a flick of the wrist, both doors flew back, almost clipping me in the head. A tall, stately woman clad in a deep, blood orange cape strode in. Her gaze bypassed me and honed in on the prince. Relief washed over her perfect features as she yanked the hood from her head. “There you are! How dare you put me through such aggravation and worry? Why did you come to this realm of all places? This horrid place?” She sniffed the air as though the house smelled of horse manure.
Lacon grimaced. “I was attacked on Court grounds, by the greenhouses, Mother. I fought back, but the odds of three against one didn’t bode well for me. One had a warrior’s sword. He sliced my leg. I knew the next strike would be my heart. I prayed to the Goddess and activated the secret Royal Portal.”
Her lips curled as she took in his full appearance. Navy blue sweat pants, slightly baggy and above his ankles, a white V-neck Hanes t-shirt peeking from under an open grey hoodie with spaghetti-sauce stains. His outfit was topped off with a pair of old off-white socks with a hole over one big toe. Brad wasn’t the cleanest or pickiest of people.
“Where are your clothes?” she asked, her voice rising. She sniffed the air surrounding him and made a face. “Why do you smell like a human?”
He’d used our soap and shampoo. Nothing got by this woman.
“Most of his clothes were ruined,” I said, defensively. “And I couldn’t get the blood out.”
Quite deliberately, she turned and glared. “You dressed him, a royal prince of the Summer Court, in a commoner’s clothes?” Her eyebrows rose in outrage.
“Well, I couldn’t drag him to Target in his condition. I didn’t know if the guys who attacked him were still around. Then he came down with that fever.”
Her fingers rolled into fists. I prepared to duck in case she could make things fly. “You were poisoned?”
Lacon glanced down at his injured leg. She followed his eyes, seething. “They will die when found. As for you with the flippant tongue…” With a swoosh of her cape she stood before me. Eyes blaz
ing, not literally, thankfully, she gave me the once over as her fingers released the fancy jeweled buttons on her cape.
“Who are you to address a Queen with such familiarity?” Her frigid voice was synonymous to the dropping temps outside.
For once I wasn’t anxious. I was mad. “I found Lacon.”
She shuttered her eyes briefly, lips pursed. “That is Prince Hallacon to you, human. Don’t forget that, or I’ll have your skin ripped—”
“I’ve had it with you royals coming here and treating me like scum. I live here, in the human world. I have no use for kings and queens. You should be grateful I protected Hallacon.” I’d omitted “princes” of course.
“You insolent little wench!” she growled, fingers raised.
Chewie’s growl filled the room as he ran to my side.
The Queen’s hand wavered. “Get that mongrel out of my sight before I slit—”
“Mother, please.” Lacon hobbled over and took her hand into his. “Holly saved my life. Do not threaten her or her companion who watched over me. Please go back to the Court.”
“Hallacon? What is wrong with you?” Her questioning eyes glistened. “My first born. I brought you nectar for your wounds. Your sister said you needed more.” She produced a vial of that golden liquid I’d given him.
Lacon smiled and took it. “Thank you, Mother.”
Chewie growled again. I petted him. He looked at me with those expressive, dark eyes before setting his gaze back on the prince and releasing an insistent, low rumble.
Was he trying to say something?
Before the words came out of my mouth, Lacon downed the nectar.
Chewie lunged at the prince, knocking the vial down. But it was empty.
The Queen screeched. “Get that mongrel away!”
“Chewie is not a mutt. He’s a full-blooded, Irish wolfhound, named after my favorite Star Wars character.” After things calmed down, I grabbed the hand broom from the pantry and swept the glass shards into the dustpan.