by Dyan Chick
As we rode down a pink and gray cobblestone road, I looked at the leafless trees and patches of pine on the faraway mountains. This wasn't the winter wonderland I had hoped for. Instead of sparkling white snow, I saw brown grass and dead shrubs. It was as if everything was at the beginning of winter, after leaves had fallen and the cold nights had prevented new growth before the snow came.
Ethan rode next to me, with Cormac in front and Dane behind me, Tristan at his side. We were riding quickly enough that conversation would be difficult so I kept my thoughts to myself. Though I wondered if there was a way I could ask Tristan about the landscape here without offending him.
We rode parallel to the mountains, never toward them. Something inside me longed to visit those peaks. I'd never been on a mountain, but I'd learned about them in my limited geography lessons as a child. I knew well enough that there were mountains and oceans and lakes so wide that humans couldn't see across them.
All I had seen was either forest or grass or farmland. The seasons changed back in the human realm, each of them bringing life or death in an endless cycle. It seemed odd to have these places nearly frozen in one part of that cycle. How did they ever grow crops in the Winter Court? If spring never came, they would never have the summer growing months for the fall harvest. I'd seen the Fae eat, they clearly needed food, and lots of it. Where did that come from? They couldn't have grown it themselves, could they?
The sun neared the midpoint of the sky, a faded white disk behind a mask of thick gray clouds. Cormac finally slowed and stopped. Ethan and I stopped behind him and Tristan rode up alongside. "Ready for break already? I assure you, the horses from the Winter Court ride all day and night. All creatures of the Winter Court can do that." Tristan grinned.
I shook my head and turned away from him, not wanting to indulge his innuendo.
"I'm concerned about Cassia, she's never done a ride longer than a few hours. She needs the rest," Cormac said.
I would never ask for a break, which I think Cormac knew. The thought of getting off the horse and stretching my legs was very appealing. "Maybe just a short one?"
Tristan was off his horse before anyone answered me and offered his hand to help me off of mine. "Why don’t you stretch your legs then we can continue on. When we get to town, I’ll show you some of the Winter hospitality we're so well known for," Tristan said.
I hesitated before taking Tristan's hand. I'd heard nothing but bad things about him and had applied those rumors to all of the Winter Court. Though, now that I was thinking about it, I'd been shown nothing but excellent hospitality. Unable to hide my smile, I took Tristan's hand.
We passed homes settled off the road, increasing in number the closer we got to town. In the distance, I could see buildings crowded together. Wherever Tristan was taking us, it was the most densely populated place I'd seen so far in Faerie. The road widened as we approached the first grouping of buildings. Several carts and buggies pulled by horses passed us, leaving town as we entered.
We seemed to have arrived on market day. The streets were lined with tables covered in goods. Fruits and vegetables, pottery and housewares, fabric and jewels overflowed as various vendors shouted at passersby to gain their attention. The streets were lively, and full of people who ducked around us as we carefully made our way through.
There were more Fae gathered at this marketplace than I'd seen the night of the wedding. I looked around the town trying to discern its size. There had to be hundreds of buildings here and all that I could see seemed in good repair. Despite the desolate landscape, the Winter Court seemed to be thriving. Where they got the fresh fruit and vegetables from I didn't know, but they didn't seem to have any problems surviving in this cool climate.
Tristan stopped in front of a three-story building with large glass windows and intricately patterned brickwork. As soon as we stopped, someone came through the door and greeted us with a sweeping bow.
I expected to see another blue clothed servant, but this Fae male was tall and dressed in a crisp white tunic and gray leggings that looked like something I might find Tristan himself wearing. The Fae who greeted us had the same glowing quality every Fae I'd come across had. His bright blue eyes and strong jaw line quickly caught my attention. He didn't look like the guests at the wedding. He looked more like my princes and with his long blond hair he could be mistaken for Tristan's brother.
Tristan dismounted and offered a hand to me. I took it and climbed off the horse. The man who had exited the building stood waiting calmly, hands clasped in front of him. As soon as I was off the horse, Tristan guided me over to him with his hands on my shoulders.
The man bowed. "Welcome, My Lady, Your Grace."
"No reason to be so formal, Kai. She's a friend not a fucking dignitary."
"Some of us in the Winter Court have manners," Kai said. "May I take your cloak?"
"Such a show off, this one," Tristan said with a grin. "Kai, this is Cassia. Cassia, my cousin, Kai."
Kai inclined his head. "Lovey to meet you, Lady Cassia. And more friends who aren't dignitaries?" Kai lifted an eyebrow and I turned to see what he was staring at.
Ethan, Dane, and Cormac had joined us at the front entrance to the building.
"Yes, friends," Tristan said. "For now."
"Come on in, your suite is ready for you," Kai said.
Tristan walked in through the double doors and I followed close behind him. I was grateful that Ethan, Dane, and Cormac were right behind me.
I looked around the massive formal entryway. Gray marble floors stretched in front of us, capped by walls covered in white damask wallpaper. Along the wall on either side were pedestals topped with small sculptures. One wall held a massive tapestry showing a battle scene. Masses of bodies punctuated with bursts of red. I turned away from it and looked at the other wall where a series of framed paintings showed portraits of Fae males who all looked very similar to Tristan and his cousin, Kai.
"Will you all be staying with us this evening?" Kai asked.
"They're all staying," Tristan said. "Will you please prepare the guest rooms?"
Kai nodded, then walked down a wood paneled hallway and disappeared out of sight. I turned and looked at Tristan. "What is this place?"
"We call this place the Small Palace. It used to be the primary home for my family, but we outgrew it. Kai runs things for me in this part of the Winter Court, so he lives here."
That was more of an explanation than I was used to getting from any of the other princes I'd been traveling with. I wondered if I could press my luck. "So why is the Winter Court separate from all the others? Why did you leave during the war?"
"I think that's enough history for today," Cormac said.
"You can't keep her sheltered forever," Tristan said. He offered me his elbow. "Why don't I give you a tour?" He glanced back at the other Fae. "Don't worry, Kai will show you to your rooms shortly. And I'll bring her back in one piece."
I felt like I was being pulled in two directions. Behind me, the princes had saved me countless times. Dane and Ethan who I'd been intimate with and Cormac who I fantasized about being intimate with. We'd known each other such a short time yet they already felt like they were part of me.
I hesitated next to Tristan, working up the willpower to follow him. I wanted to hear what he had to say and I was curious about what insight he might offer. He might come across as cold and impersonal, but he was the only one of the four who easily answered my question.
"Don't worry, I won't bite unless you ask me to," Tristan said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
I glanced at his teeth and caught sight of his sharp canines. Fae teeth were definitely more predator than human. I knew I should've felt fear from that glint in his eyes. He was trouble and I knew it, but I couldn't stop myself. I threaded my arm through his waiting elbow, and without a goodbye to the others, I followed him down the hallway.
Chapter Three
"These used to be the servants’ stairs," Tristan s
aid as we walked single file up a narrow, dark stairway. "Things were different when we were all part of the same kingdom. Servants in most Courts are expected to be invisible at all times. Here, it's a job. They're paid for their time and granted equal representation as a citizen."
"I saw the servants at Cormac's home and at a wedding we stopped at in the Autumn Court," I said.
"Cormac's father must be visiting the Queen then," Tristan said.
Tristan waited for me at the top of the stairs and I joined him in the hallway. "What do you mean?"
"All servants in Faerie belong to a different kind of Fae. They are Brownies, helper faeries. They don't have the same kind of magic as the High Fae, which all of the ruling class are. Which, I guess you are."
"My maid growing up told me I was a changeling before I fled the human world. She said she was a Brownie, and that she had been working for my mother," I said the words without really considering the meaning of them, or what Tristan might think.
He seemed to ponder me, his brow furrowed while he studied my face. "It's possible you're from a noble house then. While some of the merchant class can afford to keep and care for Brownies, they mostly serve the High Fae of the nobility."
"Then why did they send me away?" I asked.
"I don't know," Tristan said.
Not wanting to think about how hurt I felt, I changed the subject. "What do you mean by Cormac's father must have been away?"
"The Brownies in Faerie aren't free. They aren't paid for their work and they have no voice as citizens of the realm. It's one of the few areas in politics where Cormac and I agree. Neither of us believe they should be treated as less than us, but Cormac's father has a stranglehold on the old ways. I've heard the new Queen is more lenient with her servants, there's even rumors she pays them, but that doesn't mean they have a choice," he said.
I frowned, not liking what I heard. I knew the servants we had growing up weren't paid well, and I knew they had little voice when it came to matters of politics, but so had I as a woman. Politics was considered a man’s domain in the human realm. Here, they had a queen. Maybe it was time for me to start paying attention to the things going on around me. It might be possible to have a voice in this realm. "Everyone should be free to make their own decision. And they certainly shouldn't be forced to work for anyone."
"I think you're going to rather enjoy your time in the Winter Court," Tristan said. He swept his arm toward the long, formal hallway in front of us. It was lined with plush red carpet and the walls were covered with striped silver and white wallpaper. Now that I knew this place used to be the primary palace of the Winter Court, the extra attention to detail made sense. I walked down the hall as Tristan had indicated and he followed one step behind me.
"This floor contains my rooms. No one else uses them so they are very private. Of course, you're welcome to stay up here with me."
I stopped and turned to look at Tristan as I pressed my lips into a tight line.
"In your own room with your own closed door, of course." Tristan put his hands up in mock surrender. "These are the chambers designed for the Prince and Princess of the Winter Court. So there are separate bedrooms that connect to sitting rooms, dining areas, and a library."
He opened the door and we stepped into a comfortable looking sitting room. A sofa and several chairs were arranged around a low table. Against one wall was a dormant fireplace. A few shelves held what appeared to be games and books. I wondered if Tristan sat in here alone playing cards or if this was where he brought and entertained females.
Tristan cut through the room, walking straight toward one of two closed doors. He opened the first door, then crossed the room again to open a second on the opposite side. "This door," he indicated the right, "takes you to the prince's room." He swept his arm to the left. "This room is for the princess. While we are here, it's yours to use. If you want it."
I had to admit, I was curious what a room designed for a princess looked like. Taking slow steps, I walked toward the open door and stepped inside. Just like everything else in this palace, the princess's room spared no expense. A four poster canopy bed was the centerpiece of the room sitting on top of a massive ornate rug that probably cost more than everything in my entire childhood home. A wardrobe, two bedside tables, and a circle of four chairs in the corner completed the furniture. The chairs were situated next to a large glass window framed by sheer white curtains. Directly across from the bed, trimmed in white stone with silver inlay, was the fireplace.
The walls were white wallpaper covered in a pattern formed by silver birds. Everything about the room was simple, understated luxury. It was clear it was all the best money could buy, and yet none of it was over the top.
I could feel Tristan standing behind me now, his warm breath on my neck. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful."
"I imagine you'll sleep well here tonight," Tristan said. "And I'll be right across the sitting room if you need me."
"I don't know if I can stay here. I'm no Princess. I can stay in a guest room like the others."
"If you'd like to share with one of the males," Tristan said with a shrug. "You have to make a choice though, would it be Dane or Ethan? I suppose it could even be Cormac, maybe you're the one to finally thaw that icy soul of his."
My cheeks heated, but I didn't turn to look at Tristan. He had a point. If I slept near any of the princes, I would be tempted to crawl into bed with one of them. When I'd been with Dane, it felt natural and for the first time I didn't feel like I was letting anyone down or hurting anyone's feelings. Because it had just been him and me. When I did it with Ethan, the others were away. So I hadn't felt guilty, but now they were all here together and they might expect me to make a choice which was something I couldn't do.
How would I make a choice when the others would be watching me? I didn't want to offend anyone or be forced to make a choice. If being with one meant saying no to another, I wasn't sure I could do that. I didn't want to make a choice. "You'll let me sleep here, alone?"
Tristan inclined his head. "I'm not sure what your friends have said about me, but I don't force females to do anything they don't want to do. One day, you'll come to me. Until that time, I won't touch you."
I pressed my lips together into a tight line, trying to hide the rush of curiosity accompanied by a tingling between my legs. It wasn't fair that he had this kind of command over my body without even knowing me. I wondered if my reaction had to do with the things I did with Ethan. Had he awakened some dormant part of me that now wanted to have sex with every male I met?
"You should probably go back downstairs and find your males, I'm sure they're coming up with all sorts of imaginative things that the two of us were doing in their absence." Tristan turned and walked toward the main entrance to the suite.
I followed him out the door, still too confused about the strange feelings I was having for him to speak. It was as if something in me had changed since arriving in Faerie. I'd never had feelings like this for any human men and now I found myself lusting after four Fae princes. I hoped my visit with the Queen would help me figure out some of the confusion I was feeling.
Downstairs, I found Cormac pacing in the entryway where we'd parted ways. He stopped walking when he spotted me.
"Waiting to see if I violated her?" Tristan asked.
Cormac frowned. "Cassia, I'm sorry you have to spend time with him."
"If the Queen proves she's Winter Fae, she'll get to spend so much more time with me," Tristan said.
"We'll see about that," Cormac said. "Cassia, I promised I'd start teaching you." He glared at Tristan. "And I make good on my promises. Always."
The tension in the room was suffocating and all I wanted to do was separate these two. "Thank you, for showing me around, Tristan." I turned to Cormac. "I'm ready to learn whatever you have to share."
Chapter Four
Cormac secured us a place inside an empty stockyard. The smell of animals hung in the air
of the large wooden building and the soft dirt ground was filled with divots and footprints from the previous inhabitants. I didn't ask how he knew about this place or how it came to be empty. I was grateful for the moment of peace and a place with a roof over us for training.
Outside, icy cold rain pelted the roof like thousands of tiny stones falling from the sky. I always associated snow with winter, though I supposed we got our share of cold rain as the seasons changed in the human realm.
"The first thing you need to know about being Fae, is how to channel magic," Cormac said. "Now, I won't be able to help you with all the magic you seem to have, but at least we can work on you keeping it contained so it only comes when you need it."
"That would be nice," I said. "So far, I've blinded people when I'm scared."
"Yes, you have done that. Believe it or not, that's a sign of some pretty powerful pent up magic," he said.
"When I learn how to channel, can I still do the thing with the light?" I asked.
"Maybe," Cormac said. "I'm honestly not sure. I've never seen anything quite like it, but I have seen others manifest unusual magic when they didn't know how to use it. The difference is, it's usually in children and we know Fae magic strengthens as you age."
"Do you really think I have magic from three courts?" I asked.
He pursed his lips as if trying to keep from blurting something out.
"What?" I asked.
Cormac sighed. "I think you have magic from all four. But I'm not sure yet."
My brow furrowed. "What makes you think that?"
"Mostly, it's the way the Sodalis tracked you. Uncontrolled magic is like an invitation to the monsters from the Under. It's part of why we have the Academy to train young Fae how to manage their magic."
