Dipping a tiny spoon into the hot drink, Jess stirred the cream and sugar she'd added. Looking up and catching Fallon's attention, she shrugged and nodded in the queen's direction. He nodded back, giving her the go-ahead.
Chapter Twelve
"I have one concern," she said as calmly and clearly as she could for as nervous as she was. Seeing Brianna's head come up and meet her eyes, she went on. "I'm not familiar with the history between your people and the Seelie."
The queen nodded in understanding.
"I don't want to jump into anything without being sure of what I'm deciding on." Jess stopped when Cormac started chuckling on his end of the table.
"She's saying she doesn't know if we can be trusted, mother," he said, making Jess blush in embarrassment and Alyss' fingers curl.
Brianna looked at her son, brows raised. "I am well aware of that, Cormac. We wouldn't be here if she didn't have her doubts."
Contrite and properly reprimanded, he quieted, only frowning when Alyss giggled.
"My dear, Jessandra," she said, setting her cup down in its saucer. "For the possibility to return my people to the Seelie court and the Mother Goddess herself, I'm willing to take the Mionn Fola to help assure you."
The men went still at her words, staring at her now.
Completely out of the loop, Jess looked to Fallon and asked, "What is a Mionn Fola?"
Fallon cleared his throat before he explained, "It's a blood oath." Glancing to the Unseelie queen before looking back to Jess. "Both parties are obligated to fulfill their part of the oath, or face death by the horde."
A chill went through her body at his last word, though she didn't understand that either. "Horde?"
"The horde is a swarm of beings that fly only at night and with one purpose, to collect souls of those who have broken oaths or vows they have taken. Usually to take them back to those they have betrayed, but in the case of the Mionn Fola, they would be the ones to met out the punishment, which is death," Kaer offered.
"A most horrid one too, as they have a liking for torture," Brianna added, sipping her tea.
"Do you have something to say, Cormac?" Fallon asked, peering down the table at the prince, his gaze scrutinizing.
Everyone turned to look at him, waiting for his answer. He looked worried, which, Jess assumed, is probably why Fallon called him out. Cormac was a confusing character, one moment he will tease and joke and the next he was burning holes through Jess and Fallon with his eyes, it seemed.
"How are we to know if you can be trusted to uphold your end without any tricks?" He said finally, looking to Jess.
"Are you for real?" Alyss snapped, before Jess could answer, slamming her tea cup down. "Why would she have any reason to betray you? Or any of you?" She raged on defensively. "She was dragged into this as Switzerland and you all are forcing her to choose a side, your side, and not expect her to have doubts?" She scoffed when she was done.
"She's right." Fallon said calmly, surprising the rest, especially Jess. Alyss seemed to deflate at knowing she had someone in her corner. It didn’t look like she had expected it, either, judging from the flight part of her mouth, frozen for a moment. Jess could see her sister’s opinion of him shoot up a few notches when she collected herself. Turning, Fallon met her gaze with his. "We— I took her against her will, and we expect her to fight with us. With no regard to the life she had elsewhere."
Breaking contact, Jess looked down to the hand that absently traced the raised designs on the saucer's rim. His words struck her heart a little. He had taken her and never once asked about her life above, or expected her to need to go back. If she had had a boyfriend, friends or other obligations, they wouldn't have ever known. Or they didn’t seem to care. Her heart ached a little bit at the thought. Especially since it was Fallon, a male that she’d grown so attached to in such a short time. Invested, her heart was torn a little, which made the cut that much deeper.
"For this, I apologize," he said with remorse, looking at her bowed head before she looked up, a little shocked, meeting his apologetic eyes. It was simple. Such a simple gesture from him but it made the sting ease just a little with it. He was looking down at her with eyes that implored her forgiveness.
"Thank you," she whispered. He gave her a small, sad smile, before she went on. "But it doesn't matter. None of that matters right now." Now he was frowning, while Brianna smirked and raised a brow. It surprised even Jess. But she meant it.
Looking to each person around the table, she said, "You were all out of options. I understand. And my life, before you brought me into yours, was insignificant, I know that now, and I completely understand."
"Fallon," Brianna said, tearing her eyes away from the young princess before her. "Let us begin the process of the Mionn Fola."
Fallon smiled back at her and nodded. "As you wish, Queen Brianna."
"She is just what the Seelie need. All Seelie," she finished, nodding to Jess and smiling to her son, who didn't seem to want to argue.
The night, having concluded a few minutes later after some further discussion on the rites to the oath, was a successful one, Fallon informed her. Brianna would be returning the following evening with someone who could perform the Mionn Fola properly. A few ingredients were required and would need to be found beforehand as well. Brianna said she would also be bringing the Daeghtus to do the reclaiming of Jessandra's powers. Jess tried not to let the idea of becoming something different in under twenty-four hours scare her too much. Fallon assured her it wouldn't change who she was, only give her magical abilities, which she'd need to learn to control.
Yeah, no changes there, she thought.
Cormac said goodbye to Alyss with a reluctant kiss on the hand, breaking tradition of not touching skin, but Fallon turned a blind eye to it since Alyss seemed to put up a good enough fight on her own. Obviously, she was still upset with him for what he'd said during tea and coffee. Cormac took it in stride, though, appearing to not be deterred at all. He hummed a little as he escorted his mother outside to the car.
The guards, Finn and Keegan seemed to have eyed each other as if to say "Next time," before the Unseele males went to open the car doors for their prince and queen. Chuckling a little, Jess was caught off guard when Fallon caught her elbow, turning her around and pulling her against him. Like that first cup of coffee in the morning or probably a hit of heroine to an addict, she felt relief flow through her and her muscles relax at the feel of him. Drunkenly, she smiled up at him, eyes closing briefly before opening them to half-mast.
"You did well," he whispered, brushing a wayward tendril back from her cheek.
"Mmmm... I didn't do anything though," she said, sighing as more tension leaked out of her when he rested a hand on her cheek.
"You did. You didn't back down or cower at anyone's accusations or attempts to make you feel inferior."
Recalling the night's events, she frowned a little. "I like Queen Brianna," she said.
"Yes," he agreed. "She is a fair ruler. Unlike your grandfather."
"Cormac seems to have a thing for Alyss," she said conspiratorially, feeling drunk. She wasn't sure if she was just loopy from another long night or if there was something extra in the tea.
"I would have to agree with you," he smiled down at her, relishing at the feel of her lush body flush to his. He could feel her every curve, making his hands itch to touch skin to skin. "He will have his hands full."
Laughter burst from her before she could contain it. Biting her lip, she hooked an arm around his waist to anchor herself, feeling even more out of control of her own body. Taking her other hand, he brought it up to his mouth, pressing his lips to her palm.
"Fallon," she breathed, heart now fluttering beneath the gossamer fabric.
"Shhh," he cooed. "Everyone's already left," he assured her, letting her hand go to knead her hip.
"Oh, thank god," she said, going to wrap her arms around his neck and shoulders. "Take the gloves off."
"What?" He asked
, unable to think clearly all of a sudden.
"The gloves. Take them off," she urged. "I need to feel your skin."
"Goddess, yes," he revered before gripping the leather on one hand with his teeth to pull it off. When he finished with the other one, he threw them to the ground to run his bare hands along her exposed back, making them both sigh with content. The rush of warmth his skin sent through hers and the tingling from his markings sent heat flowing between her legs.
A growl built up from deep within his chest as his own body hummed with feeling her body move against his in minute motions.
"Fallon, there's – Oh, dear Goddess!" Kaer cursed, turning his back on them.
They both froze but neither tried to separate themselves from the other.
"What is it, Kaer?" Fallon ground out, holding Jess steady when he could see she wanted to flee.
Turning back around, Kaer kept his eyes on the ceiling, the floor, the walls, anywhere but on them. "The ah – ahem," he cleared his throat forcefully. "Illian, Roshea and Dorana are waiting for you in your office, Mo rí," he finished, looking relieved to have gotten all the words out.
Shutting his eyes tight, Fallon sighed, easing his hold before he parted his body from hers. "There's something I need to take care of. May I come to see you after I'm finished?" Holding her hand now, he pressed another lingering kiss to her palm.
Biting her lip, reveling in the exquisiteness of what he was doing to her hand. She could only nodded.
Pleased with her acceptance, he turned to proceed Kaer down the stairs.
"Wait," she called. "You forgot your gloves." Gathering them from the floor, she went to hold them out to him.
"Hold on to them for me. I won't be needing them anytime soon," he replied, winking at her before going down, Kaer following closely behind.
Clutching the leather gloves in one hand, she smiled at the implication of him not needing barriers when he touched her. Maybe their mating wouldn't have to be kept under wraps for too long, she thought. Oh shit, I just referred to it as a mating, too.
Shaking her head when she realized it didn't really bother her as much as she thought it would, she made her way to the stairs as well.
Foot in midair, ready to step down, something heavy fell to land behind her. Before she could whip around to see what it was, it was wrapping a massive arm around the front of her, pinning her arms to her sides. Pressing something to her nose and mouth with the other hand, he held her still as she wriggled, trying to shake loose. It stunk, whatever it was. Panicked, she kicked back and clawed at the arm, trying to scream around the cloth and hand. Her attacker didn't say a word, just remained still, even when she was sure she had drawn blood. But then, it wasn't long before her arms grew heavy, her legs gelatin, and her head lulled to the side. The fight was completely leeched out of her body. Inside, her mind screamed Fallon's name one last time before darkness consumed her.
As the marketplace started to close, with carts being put away for the day, Alyss spotted Kaer exiting the wing of the D'ilansis that had the media room and library, still following behind Fallon. Calling his name, he stopped and waited for her as she jogged up to meet him.
"Have you seen, Jess?"
Frowning, he said, "We left her in the Barr after the meal to attend to some business a little while ago."
"Well, she hasn't been in her room," Alyss said frustrated. She'd been waiting to talk to her sister for nearly an hour now. So many things to say about Cormac.
Hearing this, Fallon, who was a few feet away, stopped and turned on his heel. A couple large strides back and he stood beside the two.
"You haven't seen Jessandra since the meal?" He demanded.
"No," Alyss said, worried now from his tone.
He turned to Kaer. "Check with the others, see if anyone has seen her."
"Wait," Alyss called after Kaer when he rushed towards a group of males. "Let’s not get worked up over nothing. Maybe she went for a walk topside."
"Is that what your gut tells you, Alyss?" Fallon asked gravely, eyes blazing blue now.
She thought for a second, heart pounding and air rushing in and out as she tried to calm her breathing. "No, it's not," she whispered.
"We'll find her," he growled. He turned away from her, caught sight of Finn and Keegan across the cavern about to head to the dining hall, probably for a nightcap before heading to bed. "Finn, Keegan! With me," he hollered, wings fanning out slightly in irritation. Not looking to see if they paid heed to his order, he turned to walk back to the stairs.
He stopped at the top of the stairs when he spotted one of his gloves on the ground there. Not where he'd left them, he recalled picking it up. She wasn't there either. From the corner of his eye, he could see the twins rush up the stairs behind him. "What is it, Mo rí?" Finn asked?
"Princess Jessandra is missing." He growled, clutching the leather glove in his fist.
Kaer rushed in behind the other males, crowding around the three of them. "No one's seen her, Mo rí," he said. "Where would she have gone?"
Not answering, Fallon flashed his wings up and out to their full span and rushed down, shooting him up and through the manhole like a cannonball. He hovered just above the ceiling, scanning the rooftop and those surrounding it.
"We can't go out now, Fallon," Kaer said regretfully, having followed him. "The day. We'd be exposed."
Whirling to him, ruins flashing bright blue along his torso, he snapped, "I can't not look for her!"
"That's not what I'm saying at all," Kaer said calmly, trying to be a voice of reason. "We need help."
Fallon breathed deep as the need to go out and find her beat at him inside. Everything in his nature told him to break down doors, tear throats, whatever it took to get her back. "What do you suggest?" He asked, taking deep breathes in through the nose and calming his heart. After a couple beats, he could see his skin turn back to normal, no more blue rushing under the surface.
"We could ask Brianna for assistance. Most of her people aren't chained to the night," Kaer offered.
Taking one last look out over the rooftops, he could see the sun peeking out from the horizon. He knew he was limited, but never once did it bother him as much as it did this minute.
"Call her," he said, turning back to tuck his wings in and fall back through the hole, only to spread them out again to catch him just above the floor inside, retracting them again to touch ground and walk back to the stairs. Finn and Keegan waited for Kaer, taking orders from him as they all followed their king down to the caverns.
He was lost in his thoughts as he passed the onlookers, having taken notice of the commotion. Not looking human had never bothered him as much as it did that very moment. If he didn’t have the wings that towered above his shoulders like they did now, he’d be able to walk amongst them, searching for Jessandra himself. No one to stop him, no secrets to be revealed with the wrath of the Seelie king to come down upon him and his people. Not to mention the inevitable fear mongering from the humans that would incur. Humans had a habit of fearing what they didn’t understand. Unlike the fae, who accepted, generally, the different, the odd and the unique. The idea had Fallon’s temper rising anew, causing his eyes to glow blue again, a sign that his protective instincts for his mate was in high gear. It’s what Brianna had seen in the tunnel at her home in Connecticut when her man dared to touch Jessandra. It was a rare sight because only an idiot would ignore the mating mark and risk his life by touching a Fomorian’s mate. Though, in this case, the Unseelie wasn’t given any warning. There was no mating mark on Jessandra. He hadn’t claimed her fully, to his people’s nature, yet. That didn’t matter to Fallon though. He just hadn’t mated Jessandra because of the risk it posed to being discovered by the Seelie guard, Banner. The asshole got a kick out of personally breaking in the females when they first arrived at the King’s keep. Just an extra dig to the daors he wanted to remind of their place in the world. I’m going to change that, he thought. Soon.
The sound
of arguing voices roused her from a drunken sleep. A throbbing in her head didn't help the spots floating in and out of her vision as she blinked slowly to clear it. It was dark, wherever she was, and cold. Her body felt tired as she shivered, making her think she'd been shivering for some time. While she took stock of herself, she realized that she was actually lying down, not sitting up, like she'd first thought. Pushing herself up, she found a smooth, painted wall behind her. Unable to go any farther at the moment, she stayed sitting, tipping her head back. As she sat there, her vision cleared, the fog in her head gradually lifting.
Pressing a hand to the ache at her right temple, she closed her eyes to help the remaining dizziness pass. Thank goodness she wasn't much of a puker, this headache would warrant a good long visit with the porcelain king if she were.
Right now, I've gotta get up, she thought.
Bracing her legs under her and pressing back against the wall, she pushed up to stand. Hands out to the sides, palms flat against the wall still, she waited for the room to stop spinning before taking a step. When her world only tilted a little, she went for another, only to have her body shift too much to one side. Over correcting made her list to the side like a sinking ship and collapse onto the rough Berber carpet.
At the same moment, she reacquainted herself with the floor a door crashed open, making her flinch when her ears rang and head throbbed anew. Someone picked her up like a sack of potatoes and set her back down forcing her to lean against the wall again. Opening her eyes, Jess tried to see her abductor just as it turned back around from grabbing something, she jerked back. Eyes, glowing an orange you’d see in a dying fire pit, shone back at her before glancing down as he yanked her hands together and began wrapping a type of cord around her wrists, digging into her flesh. She wanted to believe that he wore a mask, her mind wanted to reason, but she couldn't convince it. She’d been exposed to too much, which allowed her to see beyond reason. His skin looked like old cracked leather, but it was the fangs that had her frozen. Similar to Fallon's, except these jutted out and away from his closed mouth they were so long. Looking beyond his shoulder, she found what she was looking for. He had wings like Fallon's as well, but they were riddled with holes and cracked like his skin. What the hell was he, she wondered.
Descending Into Darkness Page 12