by Lexi C. Foss
Her mouth quirked up on the side, her amusement palpable. “It’s a pumpkin carriage.”
I reviewed my work, trying to grasp her meaning. The rounded orange undercarriage was left open at the top with fine vine framework to keep its shape. I supposed it sort of resembled a pumpkin, but I wasn’t quite sure why she jumped to that conclusion.
“Sure. I guess it resembles half of one.” I had taken pride in doing this for her, despite the work required to create such a delicate design. Oh well. “If that’s what you want to call it, then that’s what it is.” I held out my hand to help her onto the first step.
She giggled and placed her palm against mine. “All I need now are some glass slippers and talking mice.”
Vox paused at Claire’s side and gave me a worried look over her head. “Glass would be quite dangerous to walk on, and mice don’t speak here.” His eyes seemed to ask me if the mice in the Human Realm spoke, something I didn’t know. We’d have to ask River later. Titus’s Water Fae buddy seemed to know everything about mortals.
“Guys, I’m joking.” Claire settled onto the bench and tucked her dress under her thighs, leaving little to the imagination as the fabric hugged her curves. “It’s from an old fairy tale.” At our blank stares, she sighed. “Just get in here.”
She didn’t need to tell me twice. I bounced into the opposite seat, needing more space in the small vehicle and to balance the weight. Vox cleared his throat as a small breeze swept between us. He seemed nervous and unsure of himself, which was decidedly unlike him.
I arched a brow. His power seemed to be unraveling as a result of the mating, something he hadn’t exactly admitted out loud. But I could see it in the way he handled himself, especially now. Yet he said nothing. Part of me wanted to call him out on it. Claire was our mate, and if his powers were on the fritz, she needed to be aware of it.
However, as someone who had spent an entire life in his shoes, I understood his hesitancy. He would tell us when he was ready. As long as it didn’t wind out of control, I would allow it. But the second I even suspected he might put Claire in danger, I’d call him on it.
Vox wiped his hands on his pants before slipping into the carriage and next to Claire. His gaze went down her delicious curves, and another stronger breeze swept her hair away from her shoulders, revealing cleavage that I wanted to bite into like one of her ripe peaches.
Claire chuckled. “If the two of you keep looking at me like that, we’re not going to make it to the ball with our clothes on.”
Vox’s gaze snapped up to her face, and he offered her a smile. “You’re gorgeous, Claire. You’re going to be the envy of everyone at the ball.”
Her natural blush deepened. “And you both look quite dashing in your suits. I’m glad we decided on formal wear.” She glanced at us, and this time I took note of how we were affecting her. We’d all been intimate together before, but tonight felt like it was supposed to be special, that it needed to be perfect.
I cleared my throat and leaned onto my knees, taking one of Claire’s hands and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I agree with Vox. All the fae are going to drop at your feet.”
With the tense moment broken, Claire smiled, her magic conjuring tiny pink butterflies. It was a new trait, one that I liked and made her seem all the more ethereal. Her free hand strayed to Vox so that we were all connected, then she glanced around the carriage. “So, uh, how do we get to the ball? I don’t see any horses or anything.”
That was Vox’s cue. Usually, an Earth Fae would hire a troll, or some other creature of burden, to take us to the ball. But we didn’t need one with an Air Fae present.
Vox grinned, and this time he appeared more confident now that he was touching Claire. She seemed to ground him and embolden his courage.
A strong gust of wind caught at the carriage, sending it rolling along the path to the ball.
Claire jolted as the wheels moved, and amusement warmed her features. “Oh, I see.”
Vox normally would have had to concentrate for the amount of elemental power it took us to ride all the way to the ball, but he was strengthened by his connection to his mate.
I felt the same with her.
My unruly energy found its roots in her soul, something that only intensified as she closed her eyes and allowed the three of our elements to blend into an intoxicating web of rightness.
I almost didn’t want to leave when the carriage came to a halt outside the bustle of the castle used for the Academy’s entertainment events. However, when Claire gaped up at it, I knew she was going to love every minute of this.
I exited the carriage first, followed by Vox, and we both held out our hands for our mate.
Several fae paused on the stairs to watch, causing Claire to freeze. Air magic swept up her golden locks, sending them tumbling over her shoulders in an alluring wave. My earth gave her skin a bronze glow, and then there was still the immense buildup of her time with the others. Her eyes glowed blue with Cyrus’s water, her tongue flicked out with a touch of Titus’s fire, and a fresh sprinkle of pink butterflies tangled up in her hair like a crown, reflecting Exos’s coronation and her eternal connection with the source of spirit.
Her impact stole my breath away, as it did for any fae who’d stopped to observe the new arrival.
Aflora was the first to break the frozen moment. “Sol!” she exclaimed, skipping up to us and flashing Claire an adoring smile. “I see that you’ve brought the Halfling.”
Claire chuckled. “I do have a name, you know.”
Aflora’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend. I just, uh...” She bit her lip. “I’m terrible at this.”
Claire grinned. “I’ll let you in on a secret,” she whispered as she descended the carriage. “I’m terrible at this, too.”
My lips curved, pleased by their interaction. “She prefers ‘Claire,’ ” I said softly.
“I do,” my mate agreed.
“Claire,” Aflora repeated, her pale cheeks pinkening as she studied the makeshift crown in Claire’s hair. “I love your ornaments.” She reached up to touch one and jumped back when it moved.
“Butterflies,” Claire explained. “They’re my favorite.”
“They’re beautiful,” Aflora replied, awed.
“Thank you.” She licked her lips and glanced at Vox, who squeezed her hand in encouragement.
This was probably the longest conversation Claire had ever experienced with another fae on campus, aside from her mates. I couldn’t have picked a better representative. Not only was Aflora kind, but she was well liked by our people. They would see her interaction with Claire as a vote of confidence.
“I, uh, love your dress,” Claire attempted.
Aflora giggled and smoothed out the soft petal frills. “Really? I made it myself.”
“Wait…” Claire eyed the fabric closely. “Is that… It’s alive?”
Aflora’s icy blue eyes lit up. “Yes!” She shifted in a circle, pointing out all the nuances of her vibrant red gown while Claire studied it in awe.
Vox and I subtly led them toward the ballroom, the two girls lost in a discussion about other clothes Aflora had made for herself using the roots of her earth. She was a powerful fae, which was to be expected with her royal bloodline. Her father had been king, once upon a time. Leaving her as the only heir to the throne. But as a female, she couldn’t accept it. Only male fae could access the source directly.
Claire sucked in a breath as we pushed open the oversized ballroom doors. “Oh…”
Delicate melodies filtered throughout the huge chamber, filling every corner with the best music magic had to offer. Elana had gone all out this time, as had the other professors and student committee who’d put together this year’s Festivus celebration.
Aflora stepped back into the balcony shadows with a wink, fully aware of what was about to happen. And I gave the male at the top of the ballroom stairs a card to announce us.
He cleared his throat, adjusting the run
e on his necklace that amplified his voice. “Solstice Celebration, I announce Sol of the Earth Fae, Vox of the Air Fae, and their consort, Claire, Halfling of the Five Elements.”
A hush fell over the crowd as Claire went rigid under the scrutiny.
“You didn’t say they’d announce us!” she hissed under her breath.
I chuckled and tucked my arm around her tiny waist. “Would you have come if I had?”
She glared at me, but I took a step forward, my weight forcing her to follow me down the stairs and into the crowd. The other fae didn’t shy away from her, but rather eased closer to welcome us all.
Some of the Earth Fae swept in to touch the butterflies in Claire’s hair, all of them naturally drawn to signs of life. The Fire Fae nodded in admiration. The Air Fae bowed when Vox passed, giving Claire respect out of association. Even the Water Fae took turns joining us for idle chatter, curious about their new princess.
Aflora leaned closer to Claire and lowered her voice. “Do you like the plants?” she asked, pointing up at the delicate vines and blooms that lined the ancient walls and spiraled up columns that speared to the top of the high ceiling. “I added some of those peach trees you taught us.”
Claire smiled, taking note of the fuzzy fruit being enjoyed by some of the fae. Glacier, who I assumed was Aflora’s date, approached us with a half-eaten treat in his grip. “I presume I have you to thank for this delicacy? Do tell, is there more like this where you come from?”
Aflora beamed and nodded emphatically. “Yes, I’d love to hear all about the many human trees you could teach us!”
“Have you tried them?” Glacier asked Aflora, offering his piece. “They’re quite delicious.”
Aflora blushed. “Yes, of course. She grew some during Earth Class.” She glanced at Glacier’s companion, who joined us with a handful of the fuzzy fruits in tow. “I see that River is new to them.”
The Water Fae, who I remembered was Titus’s friend, joined us with a beaming smile on his face. “This is incredible!” He tucked his chin when he noticed Claire giving him a raised brow. “Oh, hi.” He glanced at Aflora. “Did I hear someone say Claire was going to teach us more about human trees?” The Water Fae had a vast knowledge of human facts, but he seemed as enthralled as Aflora to hear it from the source.
Claire giggled and started talking about apple trees, which bled into a discussion on other fruits and how they were grown. River seemed most fascinated by the fact that humans took years to grow their trees, with no magic at all. A crowd formed, everyone hanging on her every word. Even the Fire Fae seemed enraptured.
I met Vox’s amused gaze and shook my head.
So much for this being a special night for the three of us. It seemed the school had finally embraced Claire as their own, and now they wanted to know every detail about her.
Aflora stood at her side the entire time, offering a friendship I would have to thank her for later. I knew she did this out of loyalty to my sister, whom we both lost in recent years. Kamsa would have appreciated this a great deal. She always thought I would end up with Aflora, but while the younger female fancied me, I’d only ever been able to see her as a sister. And it seemed she was starting to realize that her crush had been unfounded as well.
The music changed, causing several of the fae to grab their partner and head for the dance floor. I took that as a cue to truly begin the evening with my date.
I glanced at Vox and corrected myself. Our date.
Glacier bowed and offered his arm to Aflora. “Shall we dance?”
Aflora shrugged. “If you can stop stuffing your face with peaches, perhaps.”
“For you? Anything.” He kissed her cheek, to which Aflora fluttered a shy gaze at me, then looked away.
An Earth Fae and a Water Fae. Not a typical pairing, but there weren’t many Earth Fae left for our kind to date.
Claire smiled as they walked away. “They seem nice.” She glanced around the ballroom. “Everyone seems to be nice, actually.”
Vox bent his elbow the same way Glacier had. “You belong here, Claire. They all know that, even if they were reluctant to admit it at the beginning.”
Claire relaxed and took Vox’s arm, then glanced at me to see how to manage. She finally decided on resting her palm on my wrist. My bicep was far too massive for her to loop her arm around.
“So, who gets the first dance?” Claire asked, seeming to enjoy the dilemma. “You can’t possibly ask me to choose.”
Vox loosened his collar, then snagged a fluted glass from one of the passing server’s trays. “Perhaps a drink first.” He handed her the bubbly drink, then grabbed one for me and himself.
I raised my glass. “A toast to the best Solstice Ball ever.”
Claire grinned. “Agreed.”
Vox saluted with his drink, then tipped it back, downing the whole thing. I had hoped the Air Fae would have calmed his nerves, but now that we were here, it seemed he was getting all worked up again.
Claire sipped from the rim, and the butterflies in her hair fluttered. “Mmm. That’s delicious.”
“Careful,” I warned. “Solstice brew is strong.”
She gave me a sly smile. “I doubt it can hold a candle to spritemead. If I can handle that stuff, then I can handle some Academy booze.”
I chuckled. “Very well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I clinked my glass against hers. “Maybe it’ll help you pick who to dance with first.”
Claire relaxed, her expression one of joy and happiness, a sight that warmed my heart. The other fae were accepting her, the ballroom was breathtakingly beautiful, and her contentment brightened the air.
A perfect evening.
Eventually, she nodded. “Very well. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll dance with Sol first.” She placed her empty glass on a passing tray. “I mean, the whole ball was your idea to begin with. It only seems fair.”
If Vox was dejected, he didn’t show it. In fact, he looked relieved as he handed her over to me. “I’ll be waiting for my turn,” he promised, giving her a brief kiss before backing away.
I frowned at him, but Claire tugged me toward the dance floor before I could protest. Something was definitely up with Vox. He seemed trapped in an eternal struggle between his clear intoxication with Claire and his reservations of how she made him feel.
Claire stood on her tiptoes to reach me as she wrapped her arms around my neck. She seemed to sway a bit, the drink having loosened her muscles and leaving her in a pliable state.
I chuckled. “I warned you that it was strong. Are you going to dance or just let me carry you around on the dance floor?”
She tilted her head back and grinned at me. “Where I come from, that qualifies as dancing.” She moved with me, humming to the music. “Oh, Sol, this is just perfect. I feel like I’m in a dream.” She glanced over her shoulder, noting Vox, who watched us with that soft ring of silver to his eyes. He smiled and waved. “Vox isn’t mad at me, though, right?”
I smoothed her hair from her face. “No, of course not. He’s just nervous.” At least, I hoped that was the cause of his odd behavior. Maybe his control over his power had slipped more than I realized.
Claire murmured something, her eyes glazed with pleasure, and giggled when the song transformed into a more rambunctious beat. It didn’t fit the mood, and Vox looked like he dreaded having his turn. Considering the new pace, I couldn’t blame him.
“I think I’ll go to the bathroom. Give Vox some time to prepare.” She hiccupped and covered her mouth, smothering a giggle. “Okay. Perhaps that Solstice brew was a bit much.”
I pointed to the end corridor. “The facilities are that way. Do you want me to take you?”
She waved me away. “I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”
I waited until she had disappeared from sight before approaching Vox. “The fuck is wrong with you?”
The Air Fae frowned. Although, he didn’t seem surprised at my anger. “You don’t understand what it’s like, Sol.” He gl
anced up at the trees and vines lining the walls. A cool breeze had kicked up during the last song, and even I had noticed how leaves floated through the air, the decorations slowly deteriorating under the damaging winds. “I can’t even control myself here, during what is supposed to be a joyous occasion.” He scoffed and ripped the band from his warrior’s tail, sending his hair flying around his face. “I’m losing control, Sol. I’m not used to this.”
Well, at least he admitted it out loud.
Still, I couldn’t help feeling a bit irritated by his statement. “Really? I wouldn’t know anything about losing control?” I narrowed my gaze. “How about you try that again?”
He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. You’ve had all your life to learn how to deal with it, but it’s new for me, and it shouldn’t exist at all. I should be in control.”
“Claire is what you need,” I reminded him. “And damn your control. Your ass is tighter than an orc’s. You really need to get over yourself.”
The Air Fae smirked. “That’s a lovely picture.”
I retrieved another Solstice brew and made him drink it. When he was done, I shook him by the shoulders. “Now, are you going to pull yourself together and show Claire a good time? She’s counting on us. It’s important that she feels welcome here. I don’t want anything to make her feel like she doesn’t belong, especially not your broody-ass self.”
Vox chuckled and pushed my hands off him. “Yeah, all right. Stop hounding me already.”
We both nursed a fresh drink while we waited for Claire, but when the next song started and she still hadn’t returned, an unsettling feeling grumbled in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t until an unfamiliar surge of fear swept through the mate-bond that I realized Claire might be in trouble.
“Did you feel that?” I asked, shoving my drink to a fae next to us.
Vox’s eyes locked on the corridor. “She’s in trouble.”
We hurried through the gathering of female fae, ignoring their shrieks when I ripped the door open. “Claire?” I called, my rumbling voice rising in panic.
