“You expected you’d be free to remain doing all the awful things you do with the Wild Hunt for a little longer until he found me. Or gave up looking.”
An emotion I couldn’t decipher crossed his face, gone before I truly saw it. Had my words hurt him? I couldn’t imagine it. “That was my plan. But it’s not the point I’m trying to make. You look Seelie, Bria. Maybe you have a family connection and that is why your mother told you to go there. Maybe Queen Rhiannon will keep you safe from whatever Father wants from you and your mother.” He licked his lips, his voice softening. “Perhaps she can introduce you to the rest of your fae family.”
I stared at him. I didn’t want a fae family. Mother was all the family I needed.
He shook his head, sounding more like himself. “Or maybe she’ll do something else entirely, but there has to be a reason your mother told you go to her.”
For years I’d feared the queen. Just thinking about walking into her court made my heart rate quicken. “Are you scared of her? The Seelie Queen?”
Fergus shook his head, something between a smile and a grimace crossing his face. “I have a healthy respect for her immense power from which I try to stay well away, but no, I’m not scared of her.” He stared at me with pity. “I see her reputation proceeds her.”
I nodded. “I’m terrified of her.”
He ducked his head into my line of vision. “The only difference between her and my father is that she is a little more power hungry. You managed yourself fine around the king.”
That wasn’t entirely true, but I went with it. “Power hungry?”
A faint smile grew on Fergus’ lips. “A very long time ago, Faery was one kingdom. The fae on the north side of the Azure river—the fae you know as the Seelie—were in control of all the lands. The fae in the south—the Unseelie—wanted to govern themselves. A war was fought and the Unseelie fae won. We established our own kingdom, and the Seelie fae have been trying to take it from us ever since. Rhiannon’s made no secret of the fact she intends to make it happen while she’s queen.” He shrugged. “She won’t be able to, but she likes us to know she wants to.”
None of what he’d said had anything to do with me, except to remind me I had met King Aengus, and I’d lived to leave his kingdom. I could do the same with Queen Rhiannon, and I was done thinking about it. I changed the subject. “What did you mean back at my cottage when you said you should have remembered?”
He shook his head. “Your mother reminded me of another time I came to your home. It was a long time ago. Before the time I hurt her.”
My heart stilled and my voice grew cold. “You killed my father that time.” What sort of daughter was I? Sitting here having a conversation with one of my father’s murderers and enjoying it. How dare he pretend to forget what he did to my family? That day had been the worst of my life. How dare I allow myself to forget what he was?
His voice was soft when he spoke again. “I remember very little about that night. Just that your father put up more of a fight than expected. I can’t even recall what he looked like, though I should.” He got to his feet and paced a few steps away, dragging both hands over his eyes and down his face.
Anger bloomed in my chest. He’d already told me how much he loved being part of the Wild Hunt—I’d seen the joy on his face myself as we rode to the cottage—yet he now expected me to believe he was upset over my father’s death? No, he didn’t get to do that. He didn’t get to hurt Father, then ask me to feel sorry for him because he couldn’t recall it. “You remember every person you kill or capture during your nightly raids, right?” My attempt to keep the sarcasm from my voice failed, and Fergus spun around as if he would bite back.
His jaw tightened and for a moment he was silent. When he spoke, it was without a trace of irritation. “You’d be surprised what I remember.” His voice was soft, yet lethal.
I blew out a breath, my anger not so fast to dispel as his. “Just not the night you tortured and murdered my father.”
He shook his head, pressing the heels of his hands to his temples. “Not that night. I should.” His voice grew desperate. “I should remember it all. But your mother’s comment showed me there’s magic blocking my memory. I didn’t remember any of it until she told me we knew each other. Since then, small things have been coming back, but none of the things I want to know. Like why we were there, or what was so unusual about that night that I wasn’t allowed to recall it.”
“How convenient.” I didn’t believe him for a second. It was a coward’s excuse. A way not to have to own up to the atrocities he’d caused. It was very easy to forget what he was while spending time with him. Prince Fergus was easy to like. I had to remind myself he was also Xion Starguard, and that part of him wasn’t pleasant at all. I stood up and climbed the steps, unable to look at him. He didn’t even care what he’d done to my family. I was stupid to have come here with him.
As I opened my mouth to ask him to take me home, his voice floated softly up the stairs to my back. “I’m sorry.”
My body stilled. Even as I wanted to keep walking I couldn’t, waiting to hear what he would say.
“If it was me that killed your father, I’m sorry. If it wasn’t, then I’m sorry I stood by and watched. I don’t imagine my apology makes any difference, but please know it’s sincere.” There was a beat of silence and I imagined him shaking his head. “This isn’t what we usually do in the Hunt. I don’t understand any of it yet, but I’m going to. I’ll break the spell on my mind, and when I do, the person who put it there will be sorry.”
A shiver went up my spine as his tone hardened. My voice sounded small when I answered. “Well, when you do, let me know what you discover.”
Later, after Fergus left, I returned to the steps and sat listening to the lull of the ocean with my feet in the sand. He was right about one thing. There was a reason Mother had told me to go to Queen Rhiannon. If I wanted to help her, and I did, then I had to go to Seelie.
Deep growling pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to find Buttercup, Fergus’ hound, on the beach in front of me, teeth bared and body vibrating with anger. I put my hand up, moving slowly to my feet.
Her growls increased in volume and the hound tensed like she was about to attack. She was so huge that one swipe of her paw would put me on the ground.
I glanced over my shoulder to my room in Fergus’ mansion. It was too far to run; the hound would catch me before I got there. “Nice doggy.” There was nothing nice about that animal.
I searched for something I could use as a weapon, moving just my eyes and keeping my hands out in front of me. There was nothing. Not even a stick on the beach. Unless I could pick up the apple I’d left here earlier and throw it at her, which would probably only make her angrier.
I put my hand into my pocket, my fingers closing around a chunk of the dried meat I’d found in my room. I really hoped this animal liked food.
I broke off a piece and threw it to her.
Her nostrils flickered and another deep growl rumbled from the back of her throat.
She dropped her head, sniffing until she found the food on the ground, and then gobbled it down. She fixed her black eyes on me again.
“You like that?” I broke another piece off, throwing it past her so she had to turn to find it.
The hound scampered after it, turning back a moment later and licking her lips, and not looking half as scary as she had a moment ago. I threw another piece even farther this time, and then spun on my heel and ran to my room, slamming the door closed behind me.
Strangely, sleep came easier after the chat with Fergus and the terror of facing his hound. I woke early in the afternoon, washed, and stepped outside, searching for Fergus.
I’d decided to go to Seelie, and I needed him to take me there. Or at least, get me off the island and point me in the right direction. I didn’t have to search far, because he and another fae were deep in conversation as they wandered past the pool, comin
g along the paving stones toward my chamber. Fergus carried a tray and was dressed the same as his friend in black pants, knee-high boots and a black shirt—similar to the attire Fergus had dressed me in.
Fergus smiled when he saw me and held out the covered platter. “Thought you might be hungry.”
I lifted my eyebrows. I’d decided last night that I couldn’t hold Father’s death against Fergus. At least, I couldn’t at the moment. Once I was off his island, I could go back to hating him, but for now, I needed his help. “Served by the Prince. I must be special.”
Fergus’ glance was mildly amused. “Not so much special, as I don’t want to be responsible for your death because you haven’t eaten. Plus, I promised I’d bring you coconut to taste.” He glanced at his friend. “This is Jax Sunfall. My—”
“Impersonator?” He’d told me his friend Jax had pretended to be him at the masquerade. Right now, apart from the almost identical clothing, the two couldn’t look more different. Jax was a little shorter than Fergus, and a few years older than him, with stunning emerald hair that fell into his eyes. His skin was dark, and his muscles bulged beneath his light shirt.
He stuck out his hand, his smile friendly. “I prefer the term lookalike.” He turned to Fergus. “Is that a smile on your face, Ferg? I don’t believe I’ve seen a genuine one of those from you in…” He pretended to count on his fingers. “… I’d say since you were a baby eighteen years ago. Typical that a pretty Seelie would make that happen.”
The inference sent a jolt through me. I put up my hands. “I’m not Seelie.” And no one had ever considered me pretty before. Jax mustn’t know about my ears. I smoothed my hair over them to keep it that way.
Fergus spoke at the same time, his cheeks tinged magenta. “You are full of it, Jax. You know that’s not true.”
Jax’s eyebrows lifted as he looked between us. “I think you both protest too much.”
My stomach growled loud enough for them both to hear. I didn’t get around to eating the apple last night, and I couldn’t remember when I’d eaten before then.
Fergus seemed pleased to use it as an excuse to ignore Jax. He beckoned me out to the pool and placed the tray on one of the outdoor tables, then fell into the chair beside it, kicking one leg over the chair’s arm. Jax followed his lead. Fergus looked at me. “Go ahead. Eat.”
I stared at them a moment before sinking down onto the edge of the matching chair. I wasn’t convinced eating was in my best interest. Mother had always warned me against eating anything in Faery. Hungry as I was, it wasn’t advice I wanted to go against right now.
Fergus leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. “You know, strictly speaking, since you’re fae, the food here in Faery should never affect you.”
There were a few things in that sentence that needed clarification, not the least that he’d basically read my thoughts. “You want me to risk my life on strictly speaking and should never?”
He shrugged. “It would only risk your life if there was an actual risk involved.”
Jax removed the lid from the platter. He took a grape, tossed it in the air and caught it in his mouth. “Eat. Or you’ll fade away to nothing.”
My stomach growled again. There was a chunk of bread sitting beside the grapes. Looking at it made my mouth water. And something white and fleshy that I assumed was the coconut. I looked between them both. “Assuming I am fae, I will need you to explain the strictly speaking part of that sentence.” I wanted to eat, and I thought I could trust Fergus. He’d hardly have brought me to his island just to watch me starve to death.
Fergus broke off a piece of bread, smoothed some paste on it and took a bite. “Well.” He stretched out the word as if he were thinking as he spoke. “You said you have no magic? Or magic so weak you have never felt it within you?”
We’d had this conversation. I’d used it as an excuse to argue why I couldn’t be fae. “Don’t you think I would have used it against you the night you burst into our cottage and injured my mother if I did?” That night seemed so long ago and the person who’d burst in so different from the person I currently sat with.
Jax tossed another grape in the air, catching it, and then speaking around it. “Without magic, if you were to eat enchanted food while in Faery, you would likely have the same reaction as any mortal.”
“Meaning whatever spell is on the food will affect me?”
He grinned and nodded, his emerald hair falling into his eyes.
“Not making me feel any better.” I stared at the bread, the grapes, the coconut and the cheese sitting beside it, my mouth watering.
“We’re not trying to.” Fergus lifted one shoulder. “This food isn’t spelled. I have no reason to do that. It’s up to you whether you believe me.”
My stomach rumbled again. I had to eat. I trusted Fergus. Why was I even hesitating? I reached out and took a slice of the coconut, biting into it. The flavor exploded in my mouth, nutty and sweet. I grinned and took another mouthful.
“Good, right?” Fergus smiled.
I nodded, my mouth too full to speak.
Fergus and Jax watched as I ate foods I’d never eaten before as well as plenty I had. “I could get used to eating like this,” I admitted, my eyes catching a slight movement in the bushes just over Fergus’ shoulder. I broke off a piece of cheese and threw it toward the bushes.
Buttercup ducked out of her hiding place and gobbled it up, her tail swinging. She definitely wasn’t as scary when she was eating.
Fergus looked over his shoulder just as Buttercup was licking her lips and staring at me with big eyes that made me want to give her another treat. “What are you doing here?”
“Anyone would think you never fed her.” I threw her some more cheese.
“Lucky you’re here to do it, then.” He cast me a sidelong glance.
I wasn’t sure if I was in trouble. I shrugged. “She’s less terrifying when she’s otherwise occupied.”
Jax snorted. “Looks like Buttercup found your weak spot.”
“She won’t hurt you, if that’s what you’re worried about. Not now you’re here.” He whistled and Buttercup skulked over, her shaggy cinnamon-colored fur bouncing as she walked. She rolled onto the ground in front of him, eyes half closed while he gave her a vigorous rub down. “She’s really very sweet.”
Buttercup opened her eyes and walked over to me, tongue lolling. She didn’t look like she was about to bite. I reached my hand out, and she nudged it with her nose, waiting for me to pat her. No, she wasn’t scary at all like this. If I wasn’t afraid of her anymore, then perhaps there were other things I shouldn’t fear. I drew in a breath. “I’ve decided I have to go to Seelie. I need to know why Mother told me to go there. Can you take me?”
Fergus gave a soft smile. “I think you’re doing the right thing.” He glanced at Jax. “But I can’t take you today.”
“Oh. That’s … okay.” Of course he would have other things to do. He was a prince.
Before I could suggest waiting until tomorrow, or whenever Fergus was next free, he said, “Jax will take you.”
I nodded, smiling to hide my disappointment. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to travel with Fergus again until he said he was busy.
“Jax can get you across the river at the border. After that, you’ll be on your own. The Seelie guards will kill us if we’re caught across there.”
“Or worse,” mumbled Jax.
I nodded again. I could get myself to the queen. They’d already been so generous, I needed nothing else from them. “Thank you. For giving me a place to stay. I appreciate it.”
Fergus got to his feet. He inclined his head. “It was nice meeting you, Bria.”
ELEVEN
The Seelie castle was in the far north of the fae lands, farther north even than Lanwick Island. Jax, his hair color now a fiery red, and Diamond—his horse—took me across the ocean, and once we reached Faery, we rode above the Azure river which split
Seelie from Unseelie.
When the woods in Seelie looked deep and dark, we crossed the river and flew above them. Jax was silent. I could feel his nerves in the tightness of his body, and it made my own nerves build. Apart from knowing that we flew above the Seelie woods for much longer than I expected, I didn’t take in the view, searching only for the Seelie castle.
The moment the first turret came into view, Jax brought Diamond down onto a trail in the thinning woods and pulled her to a stop. “This is as far as I can take you.” There was an apology in his voice. He pointed up the trail. “Keep following this trail and once the woods end, you’ll see where you need to go.”
I slid to the ground. He’d already taken me farther than he should have. “Thank you, Jax.”
He nodded and turned his horse. “Be careful, Bria.” He left without giving me a chance to reply.
That was it. The Wild Hunt was out of my life, yet I didn’t feel like celebrating. I wasn’t sure what I felt, except perhaps disappointed.
The trail through the last of the woods was well worn and soon gave way to rolling green hills. The Seelie castle was closer than I expected, sitting among the hills and looking like something out of the children’s book Selina loved so much. It was made of white stone, had high turrets and was surrounded by a moat of the bluest water I’d ever seen.
I followed the trail down to the castle. A guard in a grey uniform stood on either side of the bridge that crossed the moat, watching as people came and went. I checked my hair was covering my ears, pulled up the hood of my cloak and crossed the bridge behind a fae pushing a cart, hoping neither guard paid me any attention. They didn’t.
Inside the castle walls was a busy and bustling town. The marketplace was to my left, where stall holders called at the top of their voices trying to sell their wares, but I wasn’t interested in shopping. I was interested in the long line of fae snaking from the castle almost all the way to the gates.
They stood in silence—the opposite of the marketplace—and moved a few steps every few minutes toward the arched doors into the castle. Jax had warned me the queen would be holding court today. I joined the back of the line, put my head down and moved with them.
Kingdom of Yesterday's Lies (Royals of Faery Book 1) Page 13
