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Lara is seated at the high table. Lara dressed in my colors of silver and gold, the órga falcons gathered around her with their yellow eyes fixed on me, not blinking even once.
Crystals drip from tree branches, their flame-lit jewels forming an ethereal crown above Lara’s head. Tonight, she looks beautiful. Almost fae.
My mortal is smart. Surrounded by vipers, she regulates her movements accordingly, her breathing slow and rhythmic, her eyes fixed on mine.
“The feasting ended long ago,” she continues. “And so, I began to doubt your attendance, your commitment to winning your human, whose subtle charms have entertained me over dinner.”
“This is the one night of the year a human taken by the fae can be won back by their own kind.” Aer’s voice rings loud and clear as she addresses the Samhain gathering as though she is high queen of all the courts. “If there is a human present tonight who wishes to speak for Lara, they must do so now.” Her eyes move through the spectators, impatient beams of gold.
She turns to Lara. “No one has come through the veil to seek you on this night. So, you remain ours to do with as we will for another year. Before the princes’ contest begins,
“What do you see?” Aer demands. “Black,” I croak. “Black shadows. No, a shape. It’s a… a heart ripped in two.”
“Next to your plate is a paring knife. I challenge you to peel this apple in one single piece. If you can do it, I will grant you one opportunity to assist Everend in the forthcoming battle.”
“Oh, look! We have a letter E!” “What does that mean?” asks Lara, her voice flat. “This particular divination shows the initial of the man you are destined to marry. His name begins with an E, just as our dear prince’s does. But look closely and you’ll see that, unfortunately, the letter is broken.”
She smiles, and then hisses, “You will never own your true love’s heart, human.”
“You will not have her,” I say, soft as a sigh.
“When a contestant cries mercy, the match is complete. The prince who has the most votes will immediately take possession of the change bringer called Lara from the human realm—and may do with her as they will.”
Raff grins and opens his free hand. Taibsear lands on his shoulder but keeps his tawny eyes on Lara. Message received—they will watch over the human.
“To the endless Elements I dedicate my sword and skill. As the Five imbues all that exists, so may my destiny unfold. To truth and honor. I give my life to the Five.”
Why should I care what becomes of the human? What bearing does her fate have upon mine? Nothing. She means nothing. She is nothing. I don’t care, I tell myself while I continue feinting and parrying and slashing and stepping sideways. I no longer want to win. I just want him to finish me off.
I won’t have to find my destined queen and take her innocent life before she even looks upon my face. I won’t die a prolonged death by poison. Instead, this will be quick. I can end everything right now.
Temnen’s fetid breath gusts over me. “I’m going to delight in breaking your human change bringer, Everend. Slowly. And carefully, so I can enjoy her pathetic tears for as long as possible.”
Fury blasts away my idea to let him kill me,
“Shall I kill you?” I grate out between harsh breaths. Bloody tears fill his eyes. “No. Do not… Ever, I beg you, please. Do not.”
“Mercy!” he calls loudly. Then whispers, “Please. Do not break the rules. You must grant mercy.”
“Garda an cailín,” I tell Taibsear. In a flurry of wings, the falcons zip through the air and land around the human to guard her. The air witch smirks, mocking the protection they offer Lara. She could kill her in an instant.
Aer’s head swivels to Lara, fixing her with a deadly stare. “And so, you may begin, human, and for the duration of your speech, votes may be changed.”
“I dedicate these words to the Prince of Air’s unbeaten sword. If his spirit moves you through this song, you must vote accordingly. As it is sung, so must it be.”
The pendant on my chest flashes brightly. Votes are changing. I cannot understand the words of Lara’s song—they’re another language, meaningless, yet they’re everything. I don’t care what they mean as long as she keeps singing. Mournful yet rousing. Passionate yet eerily calm. My human is a battle commander. A shield maiden. A warrior.
When I think the thrashing muscle in my chest will burst from my ribcage, her voice dissolves, carried away on a breeze.
“Prince Everend has won,” he finally admits.
Panting, I hold the gaping wound at my chest and, suddenly, Raff is above me, his palms replacing mine.
“You nearly let him kill you, Ever,” he accuses. “I felt you give up.
“I’m tired.” I release a breath and rub my forehead. “The court, our mother, the burn of the poison—” “When you find your queen,” he interrupts, “all your worries will melt sweet on your tongue like amber honey. And what about Lara? You were going to leave her at the mercy of that foul prince?” “For a moment, yes. But then I couldn’t. I couldn’t let him hurt her.”
“There, now you are healed. Stand tall like the king yo...
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“Yes, Rainier is gone, and I don’t want to lose another brother,” he says as I turn away.
“So, dark princeling, do you come now to take possession of your property?” Before I can answer, Lara says, “A man can proclaim all he wants, but I belong to none but myself. Just because something is said over and over doesn’t make it the truth.”
Drawing back, my nails sink into her flesh. “Meddle with the girl, and I will make you regret it forever.”
haven’t come to possess you. I wish merely to escort you to your room. Samhain is not the night to be rambling about our lands.”
“You’re breathless. I’ve been traveling too fast. Ask me a question while you rest a while.”
At the beginning of the feast, I thought I saw the moss elves. Are there other creatures who look the same?”
“No. It was they, the moss elves.” Flames sizzle under my skin, a strange feeling roiling through my gut as I hurry to explain. “I told my mother if ...
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“Why?” “Well, I…” My face burns, and I lick my dry lips. “Becaus...
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But then again, you were forced to fight, weren’t you? It’s not like you did it out of the goodness of your heart.” “Can a black heart be good? And besides, I didn’t win the tournament. You did.” I recall her song, the way it slid into our souls and held us all captive. Bewitched us.
Her laugh warms my blood, and I want her to keep doing it. For once, I’m truly glad she does not fear me. Because if she’s not afraid, she might let me taste her freckles.
“Oh, I don’t know. Something about our differences perhaps. You may wonder if my thoughts are similar to a human man’s. Does my body work the same? Feel the same?” To hide my hunger, I turn toward the shadows. “Taste the same?”
It looks wonderful when you fae do it. Important and romantic.”
“If I took regular lessons and practiced, I’m sure I could learn them.” “Then I shall give you a lesson right now,” I say,
“Tonight is Samhain, but I will teach you a spring dance, a romantic one as you suggest. Come, Lara, all you need do is follow my moves.”
I bow. She bows instead of curtsying, her wide grin matching my own.
After an eternity, she’s within arm’s reach, the space between us as we move front-to-front, then back-to-back is a new territory I want to conquer with haste. “And now we embrace.”
We dance until we are giddy. We dance until the world melts around us and her laughter becomes the new song. The new poison in my blood.
“Bravo. I’ve never witnessed such a tender sight as you teaching your mortal pet to dance. It was most touching. But what made you choose a courting dance, Ever? It was an intriguing choice.”
“Thank the Elements it’s not Beltane where you would’ve been obliged to play the May King and Queen. That dance requires little clothing and even fewer civilities.
I’m not sure your fragile human would survive such a ritual.
