High Fae Academy - Year Three: Paranormal Fae Romance

by Kaylin Peyerk

  “Are sirens real?

  Adrian shakes his head. “No, but there is such a thing as a succubus.”

  “I'm aware. My friend Annie is a succubus.”

  His eyes widen. “Really? That's pretty remarkable, you know. Succubae are really rare, as most of them were murdered thousands of years ago. That's why they stay in the same dorms as the vampires. They take up so little space because their race is practically endangered.”

  Horror spirals in my gut. “Annie never told me that.”

  He shrugs. “Anyway, we're only a few minutes away from my father's castle on the other side of the city. Would you like me to tell you about him?”

  “Yes! What is he like? What kind of trial will he ask me to do?”

  Rowan leans past me to look at Adrian, clearly interested in what he's about to say. All the masters except for the water king's son have told me that he should be the easiest man to convince to join my cause. I had believed it and told Adrian to mention that the Water Kingdom is full of natural and peaceful people. People that are in tune with their feelings and thoughts, people that don't hide from themselves. I've gotten increasingly worried that this trial I'm about to go through has nothing to do with my physical strength.

  Will he make me confess my love to Rowan? Or perhaps walk across burning coals until I tell the truth? No, I think to myself, he's a peaceful and calm man. He would never do anything to hurt me. At least not physically.

  “As I told you before he is a man of peace, but also conviction. He is not soft-hearted, he just believes in a constant state of right and wrong. Once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it, so try not to make a bad first impression.”

  “That's not funny,” I say while scowling.

  “Who said I was joking?” He lifts one eyebrow as we turn the corner as the castle comes into view, a massive looming piece of carved sandstone.

  It's the first castle out of all of the kingdoms that I visited that is the same material and style of the homes around it. There is no grand gate, and no guards around the entrance. It's as if anyone could walk in and do whatever they please. The only reason I know it's the castle is due to the sheer size of it. Every other building around it is an eighth of the behemoth in front of me. The best part about it is that you can hear the roaring of the ocean even though you can't set your eyes on it.

  The only person that meets us on the outside of the castle is a stable boy who motions for all three of the horses to follow him around the building after we dismount. They do so without complaint, most likely on the hunt for water. Adrian pushes the door open himself and closes it on the other side after allowing me and Rowan to step through. The great hall is empty of people, and no one is around to greet us. I turn back to Adrian.

  “Does your father know that we're coming?”

  “Yes. I do not have family, unlike the other masters who have older or younger brothers. The only one with the same dynamics as me is Lucien. Only I simply have my father while he has simply his mother.”

  “So your father lives in this big castle by himself?” I ask, a pang of sadness rippling through me.

  “Don't sound so sad for me, my dear,” says a voice from behind me.

  When I spin around, the king is in the doorway where no one had been a moment before. I had been wrong when thinking of the other kings looked the most feral of all the Fae I had ever met. The man in front of me is nothing but wild; even his eyes hold a sense of mania that puts me on edge. And this body is so still that I can't even tell whether he's breathing. His clothing does little to put me at ease after seeing the rest of him. He has nothing covering his muscled bronze chest, his feet are bare, in the pants he's wearing seem paper thin and blow on a breeze that isn't present in the room. So this is the water king, my final stop before visiting the Dark Fae Kingdom.

  “Hello, Father,” says Adrian dryly.

  “That's no way to greet your old man, come here and give me a hug.”

  My brows shoot up and I exchange a glance with Rowan beside me. None of the fae kings before him showed any sort of affection to their children. This must be an anomaly. Why does his appearance clash so much with his sudden affection? Is it all an act? The thought fades away as he leads us down a narrow hallway coated with shattered beach glass and shimmering gold. I can tell that this king is no stranger to luxury, even if he is a wreck loose inside his plain looking castle.

  As we move closer to what I assume is the throne room he flourishes his arms and the doors soundlessly open of their own accord. Inside, there is nothing but a long table set with five placemats and fine china. Down the center is a luxurious-looking dinner, most likely prepared for our arrival.

  The king turns to us and gestures to the table. “I had my servants make the finest fish and seafood dishes that they could make. You will not be disappointed, come sit.”

  “And stay,” I mutter, earning a chuckle from Rowan.

  Rowan pulls my chair out for me before he circles the table to sit across from me. The king sits at the head of the table while Adrian is on his left and I am on his right. Rowan sits next to Adrian, looking sullen. The next few minutes are full of awkward, charged silence. Dishes are passed around the table, and I fill my plate with as much fresh seafood as I can. Ever since leaving Florida, I haven't gotten my hands on this kind of food in months. My mouth waters at the smell of it, and I can tell that seafood prepared here is little different from what I know.

  The king glances at me, smiling. “I can see that you enjoy seafood. Are you a water fae at heart?”

  “No, well, maybe I am. Before coming to the academy, I lived most of my life on the coast of Florida, which has all sorts of seafood. I ran a restaurant that catered to tourists in the area and a lot of our famous dishes were seafood.”

  He nods along to my story but doesn't seem to comprehend half of the things I'm saying. I suppose that's to be expected. I doubt many of the masters would know what I'm saying besides Orin. He had actually been there.

  “Ah, I see,” is all he says in response.

  We lapse back into uncomfortable silence, and I glance at Adrian, urging him to say or do anything to make this less of a chore. I thought he said his father is easy to talk to. But, then again, he also said that his father is peaceful yet holds conviction. A strong yet gentle soul. Adrian opens his mouth before he can get anything out his father slams one palm down onto the table.

  The silverware jumps and so do I, rising about a half an inch off my chair. My eyes went wide when I turned to face him, only to see another smiling expression. Confusion swirls in my chest and I inch my chair slightly farther away out of wariness.

  “My apologies,” he says while smoothing down the front of his already perfectly pressed tunic, “I am not a man who beats around the bush, such as my brothers. I know what you're here for, and let's not wait a day to decide or to argue. I have supported your cause since long before you were born so it will take little convincing for me to pledge my allegiance to you.”

  I lean forward, eager to know the answer. “Then what is it you want in exchange for your allegiance?”

  “For me, this will not be an exchange of something of value. I want to know that you are capable of becoming the next Queen of the Fae. Your betrothed is clearly ready for the task and has been for centuries. You, however, are new. I can practically smell it on you, along with your guilt and uneasiness. The stench of it makes me sick.”

  I shrink back in my chair, feeling trapped. “What does that have to do with proving myself as the Queen of the Fae? What do you want me to do?”

  “After we have a nice meal together, you and I will retire to my study and begin the water walk.”

  Adrian's face goes slack. “Father, she is only half-fae, what if she cannot take it?”

  “Then she is not fit to be queen,” he snaps, not looking at his son. “What do you say, Tiana?”

  “Before I agree to anything, I need to know what that means.”

  He leans back i
n his chair, smirking. “The water walk is a trail that all fae royals must embark. Every single master you know has done it, and I'm sure Rowan has done it with my predecessor. It is a time of discovery, painful truth, and emotional availability. While you may know physical pain, I can assure you that it compares very little to what you are about to experience. We will journey together through your thoughts and feelings about the fae world, your moral values, and your personal feelings about yourself.”

  I wring my hands in my lap. “That sounds awfully personal. Can't Adrian do it with me?”

  Adrian leans forward, giving me a sincere smile. “I wish that I could Tiana, but the only one that can guide you is the king of the Water Kingdom.”

  “So,” the king says, “are you willing to face every single fear you've ever had to become queen?”

  I look to Rowan, but his face is unreadable. I know it's because this is a personal decision that no one else can make for me, it's probably the reason why the Water Kingdom is the final place that we visited. They had all known exactly what the water king would ask of me. And they probably also know that it's too late for me to turn back, not when we're so close to the dark fae border, and to peace.

  “I will do as you ask of me,” I say, my voice booming across the room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The water king’s study reminds me of the ocean. The floor is plush with saltwater cushions, the air smells of seaweed, and all the furniture is made of gray driftwood. I step into the room first in front of the water king and move toward the roaring fire in the hearth. Even the fire glows a beautiful plethora of green and blue shades that I didn't even know existed.

  The king steps up behind me, placing a cool hand on my shoulder. “Beautiful, isn't it?”

  “Yes,” I respond, my voice shaking slightly.

  “You do not have to be afraid of what you are about to experience. If you are ready to face your personal failures, thoughts, and feelings you will survive. Now sit across from me as close to the fire as you'd like. It will help to guide us on our journey.”

  I do as I'm told and sit cross-legged on the plush carpet beneath me, feeling the heat of the flame on my left side. The king does the same and sits so close that our knees are touching, and the slight brush brings sounds of the waves into my ears. He holds out his forearms and I clasped them with my own hands.

  “Close your eyes,” he murmurs, and I do. “Imagine the ocean, listen to my voice, and allow yourself to relive your greatest failure.”

  I take even, deep breaths as I listen to his lilting voice. It fades off as a vision forms. It's my father's house, a marvelous two-story farmhouse on the outskirts of Arcadia. I'm standing in the middle of the driveway as the front door bangs open, and I see a nine-year old girl pound down the front steps. A woman flies out behind her, lavender eyes flashing.

  Listen to me please! the woman shouts.

  She almost flies across the grass to grip the girl’s arm, pulling her back toward the stairs. I didn't feel it at the time, but now the woman's power hits me like a freight train. It startles me as I have never felt spirit energy like this other than from the king of spirit himself, Lucien.

  Who are you? the girl shouts.

  I think you know exactly who I am, Tiana.

  No, I don't. Where's my dad? I want my dad.

  The woman glances back toward the house with an annoyed look. Clearly, she hasn't been around children that often, and it makes me glad that I never knew my mother. In that time, she must have still been alive, but I don't recall this memory. Has it been hidden from me? Taken from me by her?

  I am your mother, she hisses.

  No!

  Yes, I am. And you will be coming back with me.

  The girl looks distraught at the prospect of leaving with this strange woman. Her body shakes from the fear. The front door slams open again, and my father stumbles down the stairs, clutching at his right arm. He appears dazed, and slightly ruffled. Had she done that to him? Maybe to give herself time to snatch me away?

  You promised me! You said that you would never come back, and that I would be the one to take care of her and protect her from the outside world. You were the one that said being here would be too much of a distraction and a beacon to other supernatural creatures. Why are you here?

  His voice is stronger than I've ever heard it. My father was a quiet simple man who owned a local dive bar. He isn't someone who has romantic relationships with fae, and he isn't the type to raise his voice like he just did. My heart breaks at seeing him again, even in my distant memories. I have never been so crushed by one person's death in my entire life. And I'm pretty sure that no one else will compare.

  She is of age to be trained for the army.

  He flies into a rage. The army! Are you insane? She's nine years old, she's a child.

  Child or not, she is mine. And I will be taking her.

  My father rushes forward in an attempt to save the girl. The woman flicks her wrist, flinging him back into the railings of our deck, shattering the wood. The young girl lets out a horrific scream so loud that the woman covers her ears in pain. The woman turns, a surprised look on her face.

  You will not take me! And you will not hurt my father. she screeches.

  The little girl raises her arms in the air and a similar thing happens to what occurred at the bar with Orin, except on a magnified scale. Over twenty icicles form first, and then vines rip from the ground wrapping around it, flames engulf it yet do not melt it. Her skin burns lavender, pulsing in time with her heart.

  Listen Tiana, I am your mother. I have come to take care of you in a way that a fae child is meant to be taken care of.

  No you're a liar! Leave us alone! the girl shouts, flinging her arms in the direction of the woman.

  The woman's face goes white with panic before she snaps her fingers. The air behind her waivers like heat rays in the summertime before she steps back into it, disappearing before anything can strike her. The little girl sobs, and all of the magic drains away back into the Earth where it belongs. Without another thought, she runs to her father, dropping to her knees in the soft dirt on the edge of the house.

  Daddy! Wake up!

  My father groans while shaking his head back and forth slowly. His eyes blink open and I watch with rapt attention as he embraces the girl, holding her tightly. Tears spring to my own eyes at the sight of it, and I can almost exactly recall the way my father's calloused fingers felt on my skin. The warmth of his embrace.

  She's gone daddy. She won't come back.

  My father looks up at her then, a sad distant look in his eyes. That's what I'm afraid of.

  The vision shifts, blowing away like smoke. My feet land in a river, yet I feel nothing as my ankles sink deeper. The king is standing in front of me, looking solemn. Sobs escape my chest and I struggle to catch my breath. I had met my mother, and for some reason my own mind had protected me from the memory. My father, god my father, seeing him felt like ripping open an old wound and rubbing salt into the raw flesh of it.

  So that is your biggest failure? Did you want to kill her? Or love her? the king's voice filters through my head.

  Could it have been both? I think bitterly.

  He laughs, and it echoes strangely between us. You are an intriguing person, but this is not a time for joking. Do you regret not knowing your mother?

  No.

  No? Tell me more about that.

  I drop my body down into the river, and yet it makes no sound as it hits, creating ripples that move outward. What does my mother have to do with anything? Why would she be the center of my water walk, which is supposed to be about my personal thoughts, feelings, and failures. I've never once missed my mother—hell, I barely even thought about her.

  You're lying, the water king says, kneeling down in front of me. Tell me the truth and this will be easier. You will not hurt quite so much.

  Tears continue to stream down my face as I look away from him, not wanting him to witness my w
eakness. He is supposed to pledge his allegiance to me and my cause. Why would he want to do that if he sees a girl crying about a mother she had never met—or I guess met but drove away?

  My father was my family and that is the only one I ever needed. I came to this realm to help people and eat, that's it. It's not my choice to live here, it's not for me. I was happy and content where I was.

  Then why did you come? It can't be as simple as a hero complex.

  Can't it?

  The river disappears as he settles down next to me. Our surroundings are a deep black for one moment before familiar glowing beams around us. My elemental souls come into view, and I smile when Spirit comes to brush against my arms. The king watches me closely as my other elements greet me one by one.

  They hold the answer. Listen to your elements. Here their call.

  I do as I'm told and hold out my fingers. The tiny globes of light spin above my hands, circling like a solar system. What information do you have of me? I think of them. As usual, they answer me with feelings rather than thought. Fire fuels me with passion while Water heals my emotional wounds. Spirit gives me life, and Air gives me joy. Earth strengthens me, grounding me enough for success.

  I don't know what they're trying to say about my mother. All I feel is encouragement to accept my elements, to accept my birthright.

  And how is that not connected to your mother?

  His words punch a hole through my chest, and I curl into myself, wrapping my arms around my knees. If there's any place to be honest with myself, it's here in front of my elements and in front of a man who is known for healing all wounds—not only physical.

  My mind protected me from that memory because . . .

  Because?

  The moment she left, I regretted it. While I love my father more than words can say, I knew where I belonged. I've always known. And maybe if I had come sooner, I could have done something. Something to stop the bloodshed, but I was selfish. At the time, all I wanted was to be normal and to be loved by my father. I ignored my destiny at the time, and I'm convinced that it caused my mother's death.