“Hi,” Sara greeted, relieved she sounded normal. She closed the car door with her hip, juggling her purse and school work in her arms.
“I am so sorry,” Ronan repeated, his eyes roaming over her face. “I did not mean to scare you. I arrived and saw you sitting in your vehicle.” Sara knew the handsome guy noticed the dark circles under her eyes, and cringed as she wondered how bad she looked after days of being too busy to do more than glance in mirrors.
Sara gave him a forgiving smile, trying to push down her insecurities. “It’s okay, really. I’m fine.” She glanced around the parking lot. “Where’s your car?”
Ronan straightened. “I walked.”
“Ah.” Sara did not comment on the subject further. She wasn’t the best with small talk and would, no doubt, fumble through any attempt.
When Ronan did not make a move to excuse himself, Sara found herself asking, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I was actually here to speak with you.”
“Me?” Sara couldn’t hide her surprise, or the blush that accompanied his blunt words. She barely knew Ronan. Why would he be there to see her? Sara asked the question aloud.
It was Ronan’s turn to blush; the color added to his attractiveness. Sara tried to conceal her admiration.
“Yes,” Ronan continued. “Kalan and I have heard of the terrible problems happening in the area, and I wanted to ensure you and your family were alright.”
Sara’s confusion grew. “Are you talking about my uncle? How would you know about that? Gwen doesn’t even know.”
Sara and Kate mutually decided to not burden their best friend with the news of their uncle. Gwen’s last few weeks in San Antonio were nothing short of strange following her breakup with Kalan. Their normally confident friend was a wreck, and the sisters worried how she would fare once she returned to medical school. They didn’t want to add troubles to the girl’s plate; she had enough going on.
“I was referencing the weather and such. You have not spoken to Gwen?” Ronan’s voice mirrored her confusion.
Sara shook her head. “No. She didn’t even tell us she was leaving to go back to school,” she elaborated. “Ian did.”
“I see.” Ronan frowned, seeming bothered with the information. He changed the subject quickly, “What happened to your uncle?”
Sara sighed and shifted her hips to hold the stack of papers. Ronan noticed. “Would you like me to take those for you?”
“I’m fine,” Sara answered, but Ronan reached forward to take her burden. Sara stiffened and locked eyes with Ronan as his hands brushed against her bare arm. He pulled back after a moment’s pause. Sara willed her heart to stop racing.
He stared at her with expectation. Sara stood awkwardly, unsure what to do. “Thank you,” she finally murmured.
Ronan gave her a small smile. “Should we take shelter inside? You look exhausted.”
Sara frowned as she was reminded of how horrible she must look. “Sure.” She turned and led the way to her apartment.
Sara spared a brief thought to wonder if she should be letting a relative stranger into her home, but she dismissed the worry. She met Ronan before, and he was nothing but a perfect gentleman.
Sara smiled as she remembered their group lunch at Blue Elephant during the summer. Kate teased her endlessly for the attention the man gave the older sister that afternoon. Sara’s blush deepened with the memory.
Still flustered, Sara fumbled awkwardly with her ring of keys at the front door. Ronan stood and waited patiently.
Get it together, Sara scolded herself before successfully unlocking the door. She breathed a sigh of relief and mentally thanked Kate for deciding to clean the living area the previous day.
“Can I offer you something to drink?” Sara asked Ronan, shutting the door after he stepped through the doorway. No matter how nervous she was, Sara would not forget her southern hospitality.
“Thank you, but I am fine.”
Sara moved to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, eager to have something to do other than stare at the man in her home. “You can put the papers down anywhere,” she called over her shoulder. “Thanks again for carrying them.”
“It was my pleasure.” Sara heard him move and place the papers on top of the coffee table.
“You truly have not heard from Gwen?” Ronan asked suddenly.
Sara looked up from the Brita pitcher with sad eyes. “No. Not since she went back to school early. Do you know how she is?”
Ronan looked as if he were about to say something, but stopped himself before the words were out. With a tired look, he answered, “She’s been better.”
“Haven’t we all,” Sara whispered.
Apparently, Ronan heard her. “You mentioned your uncle earlier. Has something happened to him?”
Sara turned to put the pitcher back in the fridge and used the opportunity to compose herself before answering. “He was hurt during the earthquake. Did you hear about it?”
“Earthquake?” Sara could hear the surprise in the man’s voice. “When was this?”
Sara ran the numbers as she faced him. “A little over a week ago, now.” She continued on to explain the extent of her uncle’s injury.
“Please accept my condolences,” Ronan said with sincerity. “I can see this has not been easy to handle.”
Sara gave a self-depreciating smile and gestured to her face, “Gee, I must look worse than I thought.” She meant the words as a joke, but Ronan did not look amused.
“What do you mean?” He asked, eyes watching her expression intently.
“Never mind.” Sara did not want to address her flaws out loud. She changed the subject, “You said you wanted to talk with me about the weather. What, exactly, do you want to know?”
Ronan donned a professional demeanor. “I would be obliged if you could inform me of any strange activity in the area. More specifically, when they occurred.”
“Oh man, how much time do you have? There’s a lot to tell.” Sara moved to sit on the sofa and gestured for Ronan to do the same. He chose to sit across from her, maintaining eye contact. She squirmed under his gaze.
“I have as long as it takes,” he answered in earnest, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “What’s happened?”
Sara started with the events which occurred in Texas. She told Ronan of the wildfires, floods, tornados, and ended with the earthquake. Sara watched as Ronan’s expression changed from open interest, to shock, and ending in one of worry. While she found Ronan’s gradual shift in demeanor odd, Sara did not comment on it. Instead, she elaborated further and told the man of the other problems occurring across the United States around the same time as the disasters in Texas.
“Relief agencies are having a tough time handling all those in need,” Sara added as she wound down her story. “There are so many different disasters happening at once, getting supplies and resources to affected areas is difficult.”
“I would imagine so,” Ronan spoke to her, but his mind seemed far away. Sara sipped her water to cover her nervousness.
“Where is your sister, Kate?” He asked, taking Sara by surprise. She tried to shove down her disappointment over the handsome guy asked about her social sister. Everyone remembered Kate.
Her surprise grew when he added, “Why isn’t she helping you?”
“Kate’s working,” Sara answered in immediate defense of her younger sister. “She helps as much as she can.” Sara took another drink of water to hide from his scrutinizing look.
“You need help.”
Sara instinctively shook her head. “I’m fine. I have it covered.” She did not like burdening others with her problems.
“You were crying in your car,” Ronan pointed out softly. “You are obviously not fine.”
Sara frowned. “My uncle is in the hospital. I think crying is a normal response to that.”
“But looking dead on your feet is not,” he countered with more strength in his voice. �
��You need help.”
Sara ran a hand over her brown hair. That was the second time he referred to how bad she looked. She blushed in embarrassment.
Ronan noticed. He gave her a small smile. “You are as lovely as I remember,” his words caused Sara’s eyes to widen.
He continued, “I only mean you look as if the situation is causing you stress. It is not a good idea to try and handle everything alone. I would like to help you.”
Sara’s jaw dropped, but she snapped it closed. Ronan hardly knew her. She couldn’t ask anything from him. “I appreciate your offer, but it’s unnecessary. Everything is under control.”
Ronan’s own jaw tightened. “I can sense it’s not. Please, allow me to help you.”
As she was readying herself to deny his offer again, Sara suddenly stopped. She locked eyes with Ronan and was lost in their blue depths.
“Please,” Ronan repeated, looking deep into her eyes. “Allow me to help.”
Would it really be the worst thing to have Ronan around and helping me? Sara knew it would not be.
Slowly, and with a small smile, Sara nodded and whispered, “Okay.”
Chapter 25
Ian woke to the sound of numerous fae shouting and running through the Summer Palace halls. He observed his surroundings, wondering why he was lying face down on the floor.
The Summer Fae remembered leaving the dining hall and walking outside for a quick breath of fresh air. It had been so long since he acted the role of a Summer Noble, he needed a quick reprieve before joining the next event and leading Gwen in the first dance.
Gwen. Thinking her name made his fear grow exponentially. Immediately, Ian jumped to his feet and raced to the ballroom.
Ian recalled standing outside for only a moment, enjoying the crisp night air, when he saw the shadows slinking across the palace lawn. They came from the direction of the palace gates, and Ian’s hair immediately stood on end. He began to take a step back, to sound the alarm, when he was hit from behind. The next thing Ian knew, he was waking up next to porcelain shards from the planter used to knock him unconscious.
Ian ran until he reached the emptying ballroom. He grabbed the nearest guard he could find. “Where is the royal family?”
The guard bowed in respect before answering. “Saferoom number 3.”
Ian took off running again. He knew the palace like the back of his hand from his childhood with Wendy. He took the back stairs two at a time and reached the second landing. He turned the corner and almost stumbled over the various bodies strewn across the hall floor.
Winter Fae. Too many of them.
Ian’s eyes quickly assessed the scene. His gut clenched as he took in the iron weapons thrown across the space.
Ian cursed as he noticed one blonde head among the group. He bent down to turn the guard’s face and recognized Jai.
“Damnit,” Ian shouted. He lowered Gwen’s personal guard and continued to scan the scene. Gwen had been in the hallway. He noted the shattered window and poked his head out. Attached to a shard of glass was one long, blonde hair. Ian touched it with his finger and sighed. Gwen left the hallway through the window. The Summer fae wished he knew if it was on her own terms, or if she was forced.
Ian turned to the sound of approaching footsteps. Several guards came upon him with their weapons raised. Their swords lowered once the fae recognized him.
“Lord Eilian,” one greeted. Their Majesties have wondered where you were.” His face was grim.
“Are they still in saferoom 3?” Ian questioned.
“Yes.”
Without another word, Ian moved past the fae and made his way to see the royals.
King Cai and Queen Orla’s green eyes were filled with worry when Ian arrived. The king’s, also, held barely contained fury.
“How did this happen?” The king shouted to his head guard. Ian moved to stand beside Queen Orla. She wrapped her hands around his arm, holding tightly. Ian placed a consoling palm against her hands.
“We are working on figuring that out, Your Majesty.” The guard responded with more strength than Ian would have had if faced with the king’s fury.
“Well, work harder!” The king shouted. The male bowed as another guard entered.
“Your Majesty,” the new fae began. “We’ve cleared the palace. The main conflict appears to have happened in the far-west corridor leading to the saferoom. Our only confirmed casualty is Sir Jai.” The guard’s eyes lowered in respect to his fallen colleague.
The queen’s grip tightened. “Any news of Gwenevere?” Her voice was quiet, but strong.
“There’s been no sign of the princess.”
“I believe she left through the broken window in the hallway,” Ian supplied. All eyes turned to him.
“I saw a strand of her hair on a broken piece of glass,” he explained.
“She got away?” The queen asked, hopefully looking to each male in the room.
“That,” Ian swallowed. “Or that’s how she was taken out of the palace.”
After thinking for a moment, Ian added, “Why was she only with Jai?”
“She wasn’t,” the king responded, frowning. “Duke Aeron left the ballroom with them. I searched for them the moment I knew Winter Fae had infiltrated our borders. I saw them for an instant before they disappeared through a side door.”
“Where is Aeron?” Ian’s alarm for his twin was lessened by the knowledge there were no fatalities reported, besides Jai.
“There has been no sign of him.”
Ian tried to school his expression and control his worry. He needed to think clearly. If Gwen and Aeron left Summer Palace, either forced or by their own volition, Ian needed to figure out where they might be. He felt a slight sense of relief neither turned up injured or worse.
“Have any Winter Fae been captured? Do we know who sent them?”
The head guard answered Ian’s questions. “We found two. They are being kept in the basement prisons.”
The fae’s expression turned wary. “One actually gave himself up. He is requesting to speak with Their Majesties.”
The king and queen shared a look, communicating without words.
“It could be a trap,” Ian interjected between their silent exchange. “Let me go speak to the fae.”
The king frowned. “No. I will go. Eilian, please escort the queen to our rooms.”
“You will not be going without me, Cai. If you go, I go.” Ian knew the queen’s objection was coming before she even opened her mouth. Queen Orla was anything but timid, and she would not shy away from participating in investigating the attack on her court. Wendy and Gwen took after the matriarch in more than appearances.
The king frowned and looked like he meant to object, but stopped before the words could leave his lips. He nodded to his wife, instead. “Very well.”
He turned to Ian. “Please take guards and go question the prisoner regarding the attack. Be sure to inquire about the possible location of Gwenevere.”
Ian bowed and swiftly exited the saferoom. On his way, he paused and instructed two guards assessing the fight scene to come with him to the dungeon.
With determination, Ian and his companions descended multiple flights of stairs and made their way to speak with the captured Winter fae. Ian fervently hoped the attackers would be unable to report on Gwen’s location, and prayed to Fate she and his brother escaped unharmed.
Chapter 26
Kalan appeared in the Summer Palace. Immediately, the eerie silence permeating the room unsettled him. A warm breeze ruffled his hair, and the prince noticed all the room’s doors and windows were open. Odd, considering rumor said the Summer Royals were diligent in securing their home and Court from unwanted visitors.
Kalan noticed his extreme emotions from earlier were settling with each passing moment. The knowledge gave him hope that Gwen was somewhere nearby. The feeling wasn’t quite the same he experienced in Eirie, but it was close enough.
Following his instinct, Kalan walk
ed towards the back of the room. He glanced inside before stepping across the threshold. The room was empty. Suddenly, a door across the space opened. Queen Orla walked in. The prince immediately held his hands up to signal he was not a threat.
The queen took a startled step back before recognizing him. “Prince Kalan?” She asked.
“I heard about the attack. I’ve come to check on Gwen. Is she alright?”
The queen frowned and her look grew stern. “Of course you’ve heard about the attack. They were your subjects.”
“My father and I had nothing to do with the attack. It was carried out on my mother’s command with no warning.” Kalan’s eyes begged her to believe him.
“What was your mother’s objective?”
Kalan swallowed. “To eliminate Gwen. Please, will you tell me if she is alright?”
Queen Orla’s expression did not soften. “We do not know.”
“You don’t know? But… my mother said she escaped.”
“She did? Thank Fate,” Queen Orla let out a quivering sigh of relief. “We weren’t sure if she left Court, or if she was taken.”
Kalan’s stomach fell. “Gwen left? Where?”
“We do not know,” the queen repeated, looking at him oddly. “Why would you risk coming here? Many are seeking retribution for the attack from Winter Court.”
“What did the attackers do?” Kalan hated to ask, but he needed to know.
“Gwen’s personal guard was killed in the attack. Other than that, they only caused damage to the palace and scared the wits out of many Summer Fae.”
Kalan’s heart raced as he realized how close Gwen must have come to danger if her guard died during the attack. “How did he die?” The prince feared he already knew the answer.
“A shallow cut by an Iron dagger,” Queen Orla answered. “The weapon was similar to the one used to kill my daughter all those years ago.”
The implication was obvious, but Kalan did not know how to inform the queen his mother denied having anything to do with the late princess’ murder. He decided not to bother. The more pressing issue, at the moment, was Gwen and her safety.
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