by Karen Lynch
The child’s mother hugged her and watched me as we walked by. She wasn’t the only one. There were other parents with their children who stared until we left them behind us.
“I feel like an exhibit at the circus,” I grumbled.
Faris laughed. “They’ve never seen a red-haired faerie. Don’t worry; it’ll pass.”
The path curved around some gigantic flowering shrubs, and I forgot all about the gawking faeries. Before us, the path branched off in three directions, The right and left paths led to more extensive gardens. Directly ahead of us was a wide stretch of grassy ground dotted with trees and flowers that sloped down to a small sparkling lake. In the middle of the lake was a white pavilion accessible by a wooden walkway.
There were faeries everywhere, strolling along leisurely, sitting on the many benches, or standing in small groups. I had never seen so many Court faeries together. Every adult was at least six feet tall, the females slender and the males with a natural athletic build. Unlike Lukas and his men, everyone had long, straight hair, although some of the females wore theirs in various styles.
Everyone was beautiful and elegantly dressed like we were at a summer yacht party. And though they had different features, they had a sameness about them that I found a little unsettling coming from a world with so much diversity.
“Shall we walk to the lake?” Faris asked.
“Yes.” I looked away from the curious eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
“You must have many questions. You can ask me anything.”
I thought about the best way to phrase my question. “Everyone looks like they are out for a Sunday stroll. Do Court faeries have jobs? I know some are guards and some work with the king, but what about the rest of the court?”
“Some do, but in general, no.”
I shook my head. “That sounds like a boring life for an immortal. How do they stay sane?”
Faris’s warm laugh surrounded us, drawing even more curious stares. “They throw many gatherings and parties and spend their time trying to maneuver themselves into better standing at court.”
I turned my head, expecting to see a grin, but he wasn’t joking.
He nudged my shoulder with his arm. “It’s not all that bad.”
“For you. You’re an elite royal guard.” I was starting to see why so many faeries found my world appealing. It was far from perfect, but it was vibrant and at lot more exciting.
A thought occurred to me. “Are there female royal guards?”
“Yes. The consort’s personal guard is entirely female and so is Princess Roswen’s.”
Princess Roswen, I’d learned, was Lukas’s younger sister. He also had a younger brother named Kellen. When Lukas said we were coming to Faerie, I’d wondered if I would meet his family. So far, he hadn’t brought it up.
“What do you think of the grounds?” Faris asked.
“They’re beautiful.” I stopped walking and tilted my face up to the sun. “It smells so fresh and clean, and I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere this quiet and peaceful. It’s strange not to see buildings or hear the city.”
“My first visit to the human world was jarring,” he said. “It’s not only the iron. I had never seen a city or automobiles. It’s always noisy, and there is this chemical smell in the air that never goes away. It takes a while to adjust to a new world.”
I gave him a sideways look. “Point taken.”
We continued on our walk. Now that I’d gotten my first look at the place, I was able to notice other things. For one, the parents doted on their children, playing and interacting with them instead of watching them run around like people did in the parks at home. Another thing I saw was how people acted around Faris. If we encountered someone on the path, they stepped aside for us, and they all looked at him with deference. I wondered if this was because he was royalty or a royal guard.
As we neared the lake, the surface rippled, and I caught the flash of a silver tail that was too big to belong to a fish. “What was that?”
“A siren. There are a few in the lake.”
“Really?” I craned my neck eagerly, hoping for another look at the creature. I’d read about sirens, but actual sightings of them were rare in my world. They resembled the mythical mermaid, but their singing was so beautiful it was said to mesmerize any human who heard it.
Faris chuckled. “You’re not planning to take up your old occupation here, are you? I think King Oseron is particularly fond of the lake dwellers.”
I smiled. “My interest is purely academic. I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad about it.”
A male faerie in the court livery approached us and spoke to Faris in Fae. Faris nodded and looked at me. “I need to step away for a few minutes. Do you mind?”
“Go ahead. I want to look for those sirens.”
I walked to a bench a few feet away, and I’d barely sat down when I heard a soft splash nearby. I thought I caught a glimpse of dark hair, but I couldn’t be sure if it was my eyes playing tricks on me.
“Such an unfortunate color. And those curls,” a female voice drawled, intruding on my thoughts.
“And her skin,” said another. “Humans call those spots freckles.”
“I don’t know,” said a third. “I think it gives her an exotic look.”
It took a few seconds for my brain to register the voices had spoken in perfect English – and that I recognized one of them. I schooled my expression to be as serene as the lake as three faeries came to stand in front of me.
Dariyah was flanked by two females I didn’t know, her fake smile not reaching her green eyes, which glittered with malice. One of her companions had black hair and bore enough of a resemblance to her to make them sisters or cousins. The third was blonde, and the tiny smile she gave me was hesitant as if she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to greet me.
“Josie, how lovely to see you again,” Dariyah said with a self-satisfied smirk. “Welcome to Unseelie.”
I turned up my smile a notch. “Thank you, Delilah. It’s great to be here.”
Her blonde friend made a sound and pressed her lips together.
Dariyah’s smile slipped a fraction. “It’s Dariyah, Vaerik’s…friend.”
She said friend like she was a lot more than that to him. My chest squeezed because I had no idea what she was to Lukas. I’d be damned if I let her know her words had hit their mark.
“My bad.” I made an oops face. “I guess I forgot because he doesn’t talk about you to me.”
This time it was her dark-haired friend who could barely keep a straight face.
Dariyah’s smug look vanished, and I half-expected her to lunge at me. She regained her composure so quickly I was impressed.
“We heard you were very ill last night. Pity your first night in Faerie was ruined.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “Vomiting all over yourself is nothing to be ashamed of.”
I gave her my sweetest smile. “That’s what Lukas – Vaerik – said when I woke up this morning. He stayed all night to take care of me.”
I had no idea if that was true, but neither did Dariyah. Her lips flattened, and her eyes narrowed to slits. She was seconds away from exploding, but I didn’t care. I was not going to be bullied or demeaned, and she might as well learn that now.
Her two friends’ eyes widened, and they took a step back. The blonde paled, and the brunette inhaled sharply. I’d been the brunt of one of Dariyah’s rages, and her bark was definitely worse than her bite.
It wasn’t until I heard other gasps and a few urgently spoken Fae words that I realized Dariyah’s friends were staring at something happening behind me. They backed up a few more steps, and Dariyah went with them, her mouth now curved into a malicious smile.
My stomach knotted. Anything that would make her happy did not bode well for me.
Chapter 10
My heart leapt into my throat as I stood and spun to look up the way I’d come with Faris. I expected to see a dozen bunneks coming to tear
me apart, but I was greeted by the sight of Kaia making a beeline right for me. Her lips were pulled back into what I used to mistake for a snarl until I got to know her. She looked scary, but at heart, she was a big old softy.
When she reached me, she pounced, knocking me back down to the bench. Her huge paws rested on my shoulders, and she growled playfully before she rubbed her head against mine. I laughed and then sputtered when I got a mouthful of lamal hair.
“Kaia, down.” I pushed her away, and she fell back to all fours. Then she jumped up beside me on the bench where she seemed to notice the three females for the first time. She clearly didn’t like what she saw because she showed her fangs to them and hissed.
I scratched behind her ear. “Be nice.”
Faris returned and smiled at Dariyah and her friends before he looked at me. “Shall we continue our walk?”
I nearly jumped to my feet. “Absolutely!”
Kaia leaped off the bench, and the three females stepped back so fast I thought they would end up in the lake. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t a tiny bit disappointed when they stayed on dry land.
We resumed our stroll along the lake with Kaia walking beside me, and I didn’t miss the strange looks we were getting from people around us. I waited until we were out of earshot of anyone else to mention it to Faris.
“Why does everyone look like they’ve never seen a lamal before? Lukas said some are bred in captivity and domesticated, so Kaia can’t be the only one here.”
Faris looked over at the big cat. “She’s not. But what you probably don’t know about lamals is that they imprint on the person who raises them. They will tolerate family members and close friends, but they don’t often show affection for anyone except their owner. Everyone at court knows who Kaia belongs to. Her familiarity with you tells them you’ve spent a lot of time with her and Lukas.”
I made a face. “I’m guessing that won’t earn me many friends around here.”
“On the contrary. I’d say your status at court just shot up considerably.”
I could think of at least one person who wouldn’t be happy about that, but I didn’t mention her. The less I heard her name the better.
As if he knew what I was thinking, Faris said, “I heard part of your conversation with Dariyah. I was ready to come to your rescue, but I’m not surprised you didn’t need it.”
“Dariyah might be the resident mean girl here, but I’m a Brooklyn girl.” I tipped one corner of my mouth up. “And she hasn’t trained with Faolin.”
Faris laughed. “Or hit him with a wooden bat. And that was before you started your training.”
“Imagine what I’ll be able to do with even more training.” I paused. “Will you be able to train me here? It’s not against the rules or anything, is it?”
“Few rules apply to the royal guard,” he said without a hint of arrogance. “We assumed you’d want time to adjust before resuming your training.”
“God, no. When can we start?” The other faeries might enjoy this life of leisure, but I needed something more.
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’ll talk to Faolin. I’m sure he will appreciate your eagerness.”
Ahead, three children raced up a small hill under the watchful eyes of their parents. It reminded me of the conversation Faolin and I had on my first day of training.
I looked at the tall cliffs in the distance and shivered. “Faolin’s not going to make me run up a mountain, is he?”
“Not at first.” Faris grinned. “He’ll save that for a special occasion.”
I grimaced. “Forget I asked.”
* * *
The bell rang, announcing I had a visitor, and I smoothed down my hair as I ran to get the door. Lukas had said he’d be here for dinner, and it was nearing that time. I’d hardly seen him since we got to Faerie, and I was looking forward to spending the evening with him.
I swung open the door to a smiling Conlan, and the second I saw him, I knew Lukas wasn’t coming. My smile faltered, and I tried to mask my disappointment. The empathy in Conlan’s eyes said I hadn’t been successful.
“Is he still meeting with the king?” I asked in an attempt to sound nonchalant.
“The king is having a dinner party, and Vaerik’s presence is mandatory. Vaerik asked me to tell you that he won’t be able to eat with you tonight.”
I let out a long breath. “I guess not even the crown prince can say no to the king.”
Conlan sat on the couch. “The king can be demanding of Vaerik’s time when he is at home. It’s one of the reasons he likes to get away from court.”
I bit my lip. I was upset about not seeing Lukas, but he was the one who didn’t have any choice in the matter. I’d known when we came here that he had many responsibilities and obligations, and I couldn’t expect him always to be available for me.
What I needed was something to occupy my time and to not be dependent on Lukas and the others for everything. At home, I had my family, a job, and my independence. Here, I didn’t have to do anything, and I was already missing my life back in New York.
Conlan held up his hands. “Lucky you, you get to have dinner with us tonight.”
“Us?”
“Iian and Kerr will be here soon. They are bringing the food.”
I joined him on the couch. “You guys don’t have to keep me company. What about your own families?” Aside from Faris and Faolin being brothers, I knew nothing about their home lives or their families. Why was that?
“My mother and sister are at our home near the ocean,” he said. “My father is one of the king’s advisors, and that role keeps him very busy.”
His answer surprised me. “I thought all royals lived at court.”
He smiled and stretched out his legs. “Many do, but we all have family estates away from here. Some, like my family, prefer the quieter life away from court. Iian and Kerr’s family estates are near mine. Faris and Faolin’s home is in the Daerig Mountains, but they spent most of their lives here. Their mother is one of the king’s advisors, and their father is the head of court security.”
“Why am I not surprised that Faolin’s father is the head of security?” I said wryly. “Is he a ray of sunshine like his son?”
Conlan let out a laugh. “If you think training under Faolin is bad, you should have seen what Korrigan put us through. I don’t think a day went by in the first year of training that at least one of us didn’t throw up or pass out.”
“How old were you when you started training?”
“Ten.”
I gaped at him. “Ten?”
The door opened, and I turned to see Iian and Kerr enter carrying trays of food and drink, which they set on the table in the dining area.
Conlan stood. “Just in time. I was about to tell Jesse what it was like to train under Korrigan.”
“Excellent.” Iian flashed a smile and gave me a small bow. “Dinner is served.”
* * *
Hours later, I was on the balcony staring at the stars when my door opened. My heart gave a little leap when Lukas entered with Kaia. I had given up hoping to see him tonight.
Our eyes met, and he smiled, setting off butterflies in my stomach. Neither of us spoke until he crossed the room and joined me on the balcony.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d still be up,” he said as he leaned against the rail. “I wanted to see how your day went.”
“It was good. Faris and I spent half the day outside, and I had dinner with Conlan, Iian, and Kerr.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around much since we got here. This business with the barrier is taking more of my time than I expected. And then there is my father…” He paused, and I waited for him to continue, but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
“You don’t have to apologize. I know you have a lot of responsibilities here.”
His gaze came back to me, and for a second, he looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He smiled, and it was gone, but I knew I hadn
’t imagined it. He was burdened by something, and I wished I knew how to help him.
I faced the valley that was shrouded in darkness. Far off in the distance, lightning flashed over the ocean. The storm was too far away to affect us, but the sight of it sent a shiver through me.
“Are you cold? The nights can be cool this time of year.” Lukas turned and put an arm around me, drawing me against his side as if he did it all the time. I leaned into his warmth and suppressed a happy sigh. It was balmy here compared to New York, but he wouldn’t hear that from me.
“I know my parents are safe from Davian on your island, but what if there is a storm, and I’m not there to help them?”
Lukas’s hand rubbed the arm not pressed against him. “The storms have only been happening in the cities with the most portal use, so your family is safe in that remote location. And I have four trusted guards posted there for added protection and daily updates.”
“You do?” I tilted my head to look up at him, but his face was hidden in shadows.
“Your family’s safety is a priority for me. Never doubt that.” He stared into the darkness for a long moment. “I’ll take you to see them soon.”
His words made me giddy with happiness. “Really?”
“I promise.”
I rested my head against the crook of his shoulder again. “Am I allowed to ask if you’ve made any progress with fixing the barrier?”
He raked his free hand through his hair. “We have all come to the agreement that neither Unseelie nor Seelie can do this alone. Arrangements are being made to meet with Seelie so we can work on a solution together.”
“How will that work? Queen Anwyn caused all of this when she had the ke’tain stolen.”
“That is not common knowledge, and we have no proof of her involvement,” he said, sounding as unhappy about it as I was. “But we have to put aside our differences for the good of Faerie.”
I scowled at the darkness. I understood the importance and role of diplomacy, but I was glad I didn’t have to see or speak to the Seelie queen. I didn’t think I could be civil with the person who had nearly destroyed my family.