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In my land, you must not trust your mortal eyes. You cannot see things as they truly are.”
“Do you wear a glamor to hide what you really look like?”
“Of course. Mainly for play, but around those who are not our kind, the glamor clings unconsciously to my skin, like a habit.”
“You didn’t look that different.” Kind of a lie. And kind of not. “Which version do you prefer?” His voice rumbles at my left ear, sending a shiver along my skin.
“Some will always choose a softer fantasy over harsh reality. They wish their world to be bland. More palatable and easier to swallow down. I wonder which type of person you are.”
The last things I think of before darkness drags me under are the creepy words Ether spoke as she sent me flying through the portal to Faery. Those words blend and muddle as I slip into the realm of the unconscious: say hello to forever for us. Say hello to forever. Say hello to Ever. Forever. Ever. Ever. Ever.
The girl sleeps for hours. Secured in my arms and rocked by the roll of Jinn’s easy canter, she is a dead weight against my chest.
As I do so, it occurs to me I barely feel the black poison as it creeps through my veins. The pain in my chest is minimal, too. The Lake of Spirits is indeed a miraculous cure, and I should make a point of swimming there more often. But no, the pain disappeared well before then, around the time I found the human.
“As usual, you misunderstand. I just told you the weather is tied to my feelings. I would need to be exceedingly happy in order to clear the skies, which is impossible. Many years ago, when this was a sunny place, I was a different creature.”
Then, “Something must have happened to make you so gloomy. Either you weren’t loved by your parents or you lost the love of your life? Which was it?”
Immediately, my mind is flung back to Mount Cúig; the doe has died, and the girl is singing. This should not be a happy or a pleasant thought. At the time, I felt only anger and shame. Even so, I’m there again, my pulse thundering in my ears as she somehow sings calm into a moment polluted with the struggle of death.
And I stay there on the mountain with the dead doe, because it is good. I stay there with her, because it is also good. I dwell in this calm state because I like it.
The human squeaks like an excited mouse and pushes back her sleeves, thrusting her short arms into the air. Balor frolics, running circles as he chases his tail. Jinn prances like a foal and shakes his braided mane.
Look what you did. Well done, Never!”
Telling myself I do this not for her, but for Jinn and Balor who revel in the change in temperature, I let her song weave through my mind again. With its haunting melody come more memories of childhood—traipsing through the countryside with my brothers, dogs bounding around us while we fished in streams and ignored the wood nymphs who strove to tempt us from our games. Even then, my older brother, Rain, could not ignore them for long.
“Worse.” I can practically see his face-splitting grin from here. “You will no doubt like him.”
Raff growls and pushes my shoulder. “Brother, I insist you at least tell me what this pretty, disheveled creature you’ve found is called.”
“You must excuse my brother’s discourtesy, Lara. For some of our kind—I speak of my mother and the brother who holds you in his arms—royal blood goes to their heads,
Raff’s grin turns rhapsodic. “Oh, he didn’t tell you? He is no humble huntsman, Lara. You are being transported about the land by none other than the thirteenth Black Blood Prince of Air, he who is destined to reign over—”
“Our mother, the queen, thinks thirteen is a lucky number—and that Ever shall survive the curse, unlike our brother Rain and our fath—”
“Oh, yes, Everend Calidore Fionbharr here is our future king. The heir to the Throne of Five. Did he tell you nothing?”
wriggling forward in the saddle as though she cannot bear to touch me. Well, it is far too late for that. Over the duration of our journey, our bodies have melded into one. I know the chill of her skin, the scent of her sweat, the precise depth and breadth her ribcage expands with every breath she takes. She is known to me, and it cannot be undone.
“I’ve heard eating your food will trap me here in Faery forever.” “That would be exciting.” He leans close, bumping shoulders with her on purpose. Spark shrieks and tugs the girl’s hair. “It would be a pleasure to have you with us forever, Lara. But, unfortunately, that particular rumor isn’t true.
“But you were sixteen then, and it was after the black poison had set in.” “Was it?” I ask, curious to know the answer. “Yes, when Rain died. Remember?”
The girl digs an elbow into the leather wrapping my side. “I can’t wait to be rid of you either. I don’t care what your court does to me as long as it means my time with you ends.”
“Brother, shouldn’t you make her walk? If the guards see her held so securely in your arms, they may take the wrong impression from the sight.”
clinging to my leather bracer as though I am her greatest protector. Hardly. Does she not realize I am the exact opposite? Beaming, Raff says in a secretive tone, “The dedicated way he guards you, close and tight in his arms, the court may take you for a bride rather than a captive. There may be a riot. The queen will expire from shock. And where will the Court of Five be then?”
As I swing back onto Jinn, Balor trots to the human’s side and walks alongside her. “Your hound is smitten,” says Raff, a host of devils laughing in his golden gaze.
This girl may have beguiled my brother, but I do not like her chances of charming the Queen of Five. No one fools my mother.
“Your Highness, please allow me to carry the human on my horse. I’ll transport her directly to the Great Hall.” “No,” says Ever. “I shall do it.”
Leaning down, Ever scoops me up, and then deposits me in front of him, side-saddle this time. Even so, his forearm presses as tightly as always against my waist, locking me in place.
The shock makes me moan. He inhales a sharp breath, squeezing me tighter. Then the sun bursts through the clouds, a fresh earthy scent filling the air as warm drops of rain fall on my hair and shoulders. Ever has made a gloriously brilliant sun shower.
“What was that noise you made a moment ago?” “It’s called humming.” Or moaning. “Surely, you’ve heard of such a thing before.” “Don’t do it again,” he commands,
“Make no mistake, if you wish to survive your encounter with the queen, I suggest you do not speak to her the way you do to me.”
“Where’s your father?” I hiss. This time, Ever whips his head around to glare at me. “Dead.”
And I see on this journey you have captured something far more interesting than draygonets.” Only then does her gaze slide to mine.
“Yes. As you can see, I found a human girl.” The queen tilts forward. “Bring her to me.”
“Of course, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” I dip another curtsy. “My name is Lara.” “And do you possess a family name?” My gut tightens. A warning not to tell her. “O’Sullivan,” I lie.
“What are your special talents?” asks Lord Stavros. “Do you stitch fine gowns? Dance, play music, or perhaps sing?” Ever shuffles beside me and sighs again, the word, “No,” whispered under his breath.
“I can cook pretty well.”
The prince bows and takes my arm. As he turns me toward the exit, the queen says, “Not you, Everend. Lord Stavros shall take the human down to the servants.”
Arms crossed, Ever stares at the marble floor. As we go to move past him, his eyes lift and hold mine, then drop and linger briefly on the lord’s fingers digging into my upper arm. His lips compress into a grim line. Ever must believe only he is allowed to hurt me.
“Thank you for riding to meet your brother. Your joy in his return is commendable. Being second in line to our kingdom’s throne, one would expect you to be far less enthusiastic.” Raff isn’t stupid either. Being the Black Blood heir is no enviable position, and he knows it well.
“I only wondered if current low pleasures might distract you from the hunt for your queen.”
And then she accused me of kissing her. Incredible! I’d sooner kiss a hairy hog’s snout than that girl’s pale lips.
“Come now, Ever, some would find her innocence and fragile countenance quite attractive.”
“And some members of your court take trolls and winter hags to their chambers. I usually have no taste for mortals. They are plain and boring.” Emphasis on usually and they—and on the group notion of the human race—
“Yes, when he learns of her, King El Fannon will do almost anything to steal her away. But by the Elements, what was Temnen doing alone so far north?”
“I don’t know. It would be unusual for the Merit prince to sniff around the forest without purpose. But because I was busy issuing veiled threats to discourage him from taking her and also trying not to murder him in the process, I failed to make inquiries. I wished to avoid causing an all-out war between our courts. But, Mother, I tell you the urge to strike him down was fierce.”
“The mortal will bring us great trouble. Do you wish me to kill her straight away?”
