“Indeed? We will have to show you more of the beauty Summer Court has to offer. Most of your time was spent in Winter Court, correct?”
“Yes, except for the ball.”
“How fortunate you resemble Winter fae so much,” Queen Orla’s voice was quieter as her eyes glided over Gwen’s features. Gwen thought she detected a bit of sorrow in the queen’s words, but was surprised when she realized there was none of the disgust she anticipated.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Gwen’s answer matched the queen’s lower volume.
“Please,” King Cai interrupted. “Call us Cai and Orla. You are family, after all.”
Gwen’s relief of their relation finally being addressed out loud was accompanied by surprise with the king’s familiarity. At least he did not ask I call them granddad or grandmom, she thought with a smile.
“Alright.” Gwen responded, making eye contact with both fae before taking another drink from her glass.
A silence descended on the group. No one spoke, but the royals simply continued to observe Gwen with happy expressions.
Unnerved by Cai and Orla’s lingering gazes, Gwen turned her attention to Ian. The moment they locked eyes her foster-brother detected her unease.
“I believe Your Majesties would be proud to know Gwen is studying to be a human healer. It is a very prestigious and demanding career in the Human Realm.”
“Is that so?” Cai grinned, delighted with the information. “How wonderful. Tell me, Gwen. How do you find your studies?”
And that was how Gwen began speaking of medical school, ultimately informing the Summer royals of her different academic successes. With encouragement from Ian, Gwen also revealed various facts about her life in the Human Realm.
Gwen shared stories about her childhood with Ian. She spoke of Ian teaching her to rollerblade; how Ian installed pegs on his bicycle so Gwen could ride with him through Olympia Park. She also brought up Kate and Sarah, revealing them to be her two closest friends.
Gwen even mentioned Sharon Longe, but delicately moved past telling too much about her. She did not know why, but Gwen had the odd sense mentioning her adoptive mother to the royals might upset them. She did not believe they would be upset in a petty way, but in a way which would remind them of their daughter and her inability raise her own daughter. More accurately, the fact Princess Gwendolyn was never given the chance to raise her own daughter.
“It sounds like you had a very blessed and peaceful upbringing,” Duke Aeron commented, giving a kind look to both Gwen and his brother.
“Very much,” Gwen agreed, locking Ian with a warm expression of her own. “Ian did a wonderful job.” Her friend’s face turned pink as he gave her a small smile.
“We cannot thank you enough, Eilian,” Queen Orla said in a choked voice. Gwen turned and could not miss the tears in the queen’s eyes. She spared a glance to the king; his eyes watered as well.
“It was my honor, Your Majesty.”
Silence descended again, but it was not an uncomfortable silence. Gwen felt an odd sense of security sitting in the room. She felt welcomed, protected, and cared for. She knew it could be considered odd to feel such a way around practical strangers, but it was true nonetheless.
A knock sounded on the far-side door, pulling Gwen from her thoughts. King Cai stood and opened it. A lovely Summer fae rolled in a wooden dining cart filled with plates of steaming food. The king dismissed her and began passing out the plates himself.
Once everyone had their meal, the group moved on to eating in the comfortable quiet. Dinner was a beef dish of some kind, with steamed vegetables as sides. Duke Aeron refilled her glass of elixir midway through the meal, Gwen managed to consume quite a bit during her storytelling.
Gwen picked around her plate, barely tasting the food she ate. Her mind ran through the past couple of days at Summer Court, wondering what was next for her. Would the king and queen insist she stay out of sight in her guest rooms, or was she finally going to have freedom? The queen did mention showing her the beauty of Summer Court.
As if able to read her mind, King Cai cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. “Gwen, I am sure you are wondering what our plan is regarding your stay here.”
She swallowed the rough chunk of broccoli in her mouth as she nodded. “That was just on my mind,” she admitted before taking a sip to wash down the food.
“Have the Wise One’s finished securing the palace?” Ian asked, his demeanor switching from relaxed to alert. He really was all-business when it came to Gwen’s well-being.
“Yes. We have made it so no one but the royal family and specific guests may enter the palace. Also, only Summer fae will be able to freely enter Summer Court.”
“What of the servants? How can we be sure they can be trusted?”
“Trusted with what?” King Cai questioned, seeming confused.
“Keeping Gwen’s presence and identity a secret.”
The royal couple shared a brief glance. “We do not plan on keeping either of those things a secret.” The king answered, stunning the room into a moment of silence.
Finally, Ian found his voice. “What?!”
“Just listen, Eilian,” Duke Aeron stared hard at his brother, willing him to not lose control of his behavior in the presence of the king and queen. Gwen was too stunned by the information to have any sort of reaction.
“Orla and I have given it much thought, and we do not believe there is any way we can hide Gwen which will be successful. After much deliberation, we decided the best way to keep Gwen safe will be to reveal her true identity. We will announce Gwen as Gwendolyn’s daughter. We will inform our citizens that she was raised in the Human Realm with Eilian, for her safety, following her mother’s death.”
“Are you serious… Your Majesty?” Ian seemed to throw the respectful title in as an afterthought. “You will be signing her death warrant. You are willingly naïve if you believe Summer Fae do not fear dual-court fae as much as Winter Court.”
Gwen stiffened at her friend’s rudeness. Thankfully, King Cai seemed unaffected. “They will not know she is dual-court.”
“How can you be sure?”
Queen Orla turned to face Gwen, answering for her husband. “I am told blonde is your natural hair color. Is that correct, My Dear?”
Gwen slowly nodded. She believed she knew where the queen was going with the question.
“Good. We will remove the dark dye from your hair, and you will look every bit a Summer Fae.”
“What about her eyes?” Ian bit out, angry with the plan laid out in front of him.
“Does your realm not have contact lenses?” Duke Aeron pipped up, not appearing surprised with the royals’ plan in the slightest.
Ian ran his hands down his face as he slumped against the back of his chair. He, too, saw where the conversation was leading.
“What about Summer Nobles?” Gwen asked quietly.
“What was that, Gwen?” Queen Orla’s kind eyes were the only reason Gwen had enough strength to repeat her question.
“What about the Summer Fae who saw me in Eirie? The Summer Nobles? Won’t they recognize me and realize my secret?”
“We have thought of that, Gwen.” King Cai’s confidence was noteworthy. “We will require every Summer Noble in attendance that night to perform a blood vow to Fate. They will vow their silence on the matter and promise to serve and protect you.”
“A blood vow?” Gwen was not squeamish, but the words caused her stomach to roll uncomfortably.
“It is a simple exchange of words, accompanied by a prick of their finger. Nothing drastic.” The king waved a dismissive hand.
Gwen tilted her head in thought. “How will that keep them from revealing my secret?”
“Fae’s vows hold weight,” Queen Orla explained. “The Summer Fae will not be able to break their word.”
Gwen remembered Kalan saying something similar regarding their vow to be together. She had hoped he was wrong. She still hoped he was wrong. Gwe
n did not make a blood vow to Fate…
“So, what? Those nobles and common fae who do not know her true identity will simply believe Gwen was kept from the Fae Realm her entire life, only to suddenly appear out of nowhere? You do not think there will be suspicions?” Gwen could feel the anger rolling off of Ian as he bit out his questions.
“You have been gone, Eilian, so I forgive your ignorance.” King Cai’s tone was firm. “Summer Fae will believe what we say because it is true. They will not have suspicions because they trust their royals. Not only will they believe our words, but they will rejoice in learning they have a princess again. Summer Fae will celebrate the knowledge that our court has someone to carry on the royal line.”
Ian turned his head to stare blankly at the portrait hanging above the king’s seat. After a moment, he released a long breath and gave a stiff nod of his head.
Gwen slumped against her seat back, realizing her only ally conceded to the royals’ plan. Her mind whirled with the information the dinner conversation revealed to her. The role being placed on her threatened to overwhelm her. She did not want any of it.
“This is insane,” Gwen whispered as she stared at the ceiling, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. She could not believe everything that had happened to her in such a short amount of time. She could not think of a way to get herself out of the mess. She had a life in the Human Realm. She didn’t want to be a princess.
“No, Gwen.” Queen Orla’s soft voice flowed into her ears, interrupting Gwen’s reflections. “This is your Fate.”
Chapter 6
The remaining time at dinner passed with light conversation. Gwen joined in when necessary, though most of her attention focused on the knowledge that the king and queen desired to announce her true identity to the entire Summer Court.
Gwen supposed she should feel thankful to have found family members eager to accept her, but she could not shake her uneasiness with the idea. Gwen feared that no matter the measures taken to keep the secret, her dual-court heritage would be found out eventually. Both Ian and Kalan imposed on her just how taboo her existence would be considered to all Fae, and she did not want to live through the consequences of being found out.
Even if her true heritage was not discovered, Gwen was not naïve enough to believe the transition to being recognized as a princess would not alter her life in significant ways. How would she be able to return to her studies in the Human Realm under such scrutiny? Would the king and queen approve of her wanting to become a physician? Her head ached with all the thoughts racing across her mind.
“Shall we retire to our private patio for some light refreshment and air?” Queen Orla’s musical voice asked the room as she and her husband rose from their seats. Gwen stood enthusiastically, eager to spend any amount of time out of doors.
Duke Aeron stood and held out his arm to Gwen. She accepted it immediately, practically tipping back her chair with her sudden movements. Across the table, Ian sent her an amused grin. The smile also urged her to calm down.
The party exited the dining room from the door beside the fountain wall and, in a short time, approached an open doorway. Sheer white curtains decorated the opening and billowed inwards from the breeze. Duke Aeron parted the fabric with his free hand for Gwen to precede him.
Gwen walked onto a stone patio the size of her and Ian’s apartment in San Antonio. The patio was covered by wooden beams with flowering vines wrapping themselves around the sturdy structure. The moon, now high in the clear sky, cast its white beams around the surrounding greenery. The sight was stunning and Gwen could not wait to see the rest of Summer Court’s beauty in the light of day.
Gwen heard Ian let out a tight gasp behind her. Turning to her friend, she took in his taut expression and intense gaze. Following his stare, Gwen was surprised to see the patio had other occupants. Gwen was so preoccupied with drinking in her surroundings she did not see the handsome Summer couple standing on the far side of the outdoor space.
Gwen felt a twinge of unease as she remembered she still resembled a Winter Fae.
Her worries were magnified when Duke Aeron confidently led her towards the strangers. Gwen fought the urge to tug him back and hide her darker features in the night shadows.
“Mother. Father,” her escort greeted the strangers with a bow. The revelation accompanying the words shocked Gwen. She openly gaped at the couple before snapping her head back to her foster-brother. Ian stood unmoving at the entrance to the patio. His expression fluctuated between unease, shock, and longing.
“Eilian,” a small, feminine voice spoke into the night air. Gwen could not help but notice the ache surrounding the sound of her friend’s name.
“Mother,” Ian replied.
“Princess Gwenevere.” Duke Aeron’s use of her name with the strange title brought Gwen’s attention back to her escort. His eyes were warm and encouraging. “Please, allow me to introduce my parents, Lord Orin and Lady Nance. Mother. Father. This is Princess Gwenevere, daughter of Princess Gwendolyn.”
Gwen’s eyes widened in surprise when Lord Orin and Lady Nance bowed and curtsied low to the ground.
“Your Highness,” Lord Orin’s strong voice carried to her ears though he spoke towards the ground. “It is our honor to make your acquaintance. My wife and I cannot express our sincere happiness to learn of your existence. We pray to Fate that you will find us your most devoted subjects.”
Gwen did not know what to say. She shot a confused glance towards her grandparents, seeking answers to the strange situation before her. She was met with encouraging smiles. Their happiness beamed towards her. She turned to Ian for assistance, but he remained distracted by his conflicting emotions.
“They will not stand until you address them,” Duke Aeron murmured into her ear. His tone was kind and slightly teasing as his breath brushed against her hair.
“Oh,” Gwen exhaled, returning her eyes to the lowered pair in front of her. “Um... Thank you. It is nice to meet you too.” Her words sounded foolish to her ears, but what could she say to such an unexpected and devoted greeting?
As the pair rose, King Cai stepped up beside Gwen. His strong presence meant to be reassuring. “Lord Orin and Lady Nance have already sworn a blood vow to keep your secret. All others will occur during a ceremony to take place in two days’ time.”
“I see.” Gwen nodded. Still unsure about meeting Summer Fae while resembling a Winter Fae, Gwen unconsciously tightened her hold on Aeron’s forearm.
“It is truly an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Lord Orin and I were so happy when Their Majesties informed us of your existence. What a blessing to learn Princess Gwendolyn had a child and that you have remained safe all these years.”
Finding her voice, Gwen responded instinctively. “I owe that to Ian.” Her words drew attention back to her friend.
“Indeed,” Lord Orin nodded respectfully to his eldest son. “We are very proud of him.”
“Gwen just finished regaling us all with tales of her upbringing with Eilian,” Queen Orla addressed the nobles. “The stories are quite charming. Perhaps Gwen will share them with you in the future.”
“We would love nothing more,” Lady Nance’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her husband’s eyes, though not watery, expressed his equally hopeful emotion at the prospect of learning of their missing son’s years in the Human Realm.
Without thinking, Gwen replied, “Ian provided me with the best childhood I could have ever asked for. I would love to share my happy memories with you.”
The noble couple smiled thankfully at her words. Gwen felt her own heart tighten in emotion at the family’s reunion. What must it have been like for Lord Orin and Lady Nance to find their eldest son gone from Court one day? To not to hear from him for twenty-five years?
Gwen’s thoughts turned to Ian. What must he be going through now that he was faced with those he walked away from? Ian gave up ties to his family in an attempt to lessen the pain from loving Princess Gwendolyn. Then, he kept his d
istance out of a desire to protect her child. To protect Gwen.
King Cai cleared his throat. “Orla and I are indebted to Lord Eilian for keeping our granddaughter safe. As a show of trust and gratitude, we will be appointing him to the Summer Council as Head of Protection for the Summer Court.”
The title meant nothing to Gwen, but the other fae on the patio appeared impressed by the honor.
“Your Majesties,” Ian finally spoke, his voice thick and unsure. “I am honored by your consideration, but there is no need to bestow such an honor on me. My only wish is to remain close to Gwen’s side as an extra means of protection. I do not seek a position at Court.”
“Stay by Gwen’s side you shall, Lord Eilian,” King Cai replied. “Gwen will be attending council meetings as she learns the duties and responsibilities of her position. As you are to be with her at all times, Queen Orla and I simply wish to bestow a position of authority upon you so you may advice and assist the princess when needed.”
Gwen forced herself to remain quiet throughout the exchange, hiding her surprise at learning her grandparents expected her to take up the duties of a princess so soon. She supposed the information should not have caught her off guard. What else would be the purpose of introducing her as a princess to the entire Court if not to allow her to take up the role?
After a moment’s pause, Gwen saw Ian bow out of the corner of her eye. “In that case, I am thankful for the honor, Your Majesties. I will strive to deserve it.”
“You already have, My Lord,” the king assured him, flashing a meaningful smile to Gwen. She managed a small one in return.
“Perhaps… if it will not be considered an inconvenience,” Lord Orin began slowly. “My wife and I may speak with Eilian in private? We would like to catch up after our time apart.”
Work of Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 2) Page 4