Ferrous (Fae's Folly Book 1)

by Valerie Mars

  “You had us worried for a moment, there,” he says with a squeeze, bringing me back to the source of their worry: the canter Ryland kicked into after answering my question.

  “Will your sister be attending the matching, Mister Everhart?” I ask demurely for the sake of our stable hand’s nerves.

  Ryland hands the reins to said stable hand and steps in to tower over me. A perfectly congenial smile stretches below his cold eyes. “If you wanted to experience a gallop across the length of the city’s center, you only needed to ask, Miss Brooks.”

  Oh, she’s totally going to be here. “I do hope she’s as kind and accommodating as you.”

  “We are but at your service,” he replies before turning away.

  Bash hooks an arm around mine, which I’ve notched onto my hips without realizing. A few days ago, my hands were moist enough to drop beer glasses at the mere sight of Bash and Kai at our table, yet there’s something about Eversmart that has me unconsciously power posing without a hint of timidity. Maybe it’s that survival instinct. Or maybe he’s just a dick.

  “I’d like you to meet my brother if there’s time,” Bash says. “Although I haven’t seen him in a decade, myself.”

  “You haven’t seen your twin in over ten years?”

  We exit the stable. “He married a Winter miss and went north. We all got busy and time went on its merry way.”

  “Time tends to do that. Kai, do you have any siblings?”

  “Only child.” No wonder his father is all over him.

  “Me, too.” And my parents are all over me.

  I thought all you needed to do during horseback riding was sit and clasp the reins. I had no idea it’d make me feel like I’ve been tossed down the brilliant white staircase Ryland is beginning to ascend ten yards before us. I’m out of breath before we’re even halfway up, the pace set by their long legs and supernatural superiority too punishing to deny. I drop Bash’s arm, fearing he’ll think me too slow and determine it’s necessary to carry me like a child. Which, compared to them, I probably am, but this is about maintaining what little pride I have left. I will conquer a set of stairs unaided. Step by painful step.

  Bash continues without me, taking two at a time until meeting Ryland at the top. Kai checks on me from my measly position at three quarters of the way. It shouldn’t embarrass me that I’m not keeping up with them, but I attempt to disguise my wheezing gasps, nonetheless. I dare not survey their expressions as I sprint the last set of stairs, hitting the landing with all the grace of a refrigerator.

  Bash offers his arm again, and I take it. “Let’s go meet your makers,” I say in a crude attempt to deflect the attention from myself.

  “Not mine, love,” Bash reminds. “He’d rather be on a boat.”

  “That sounds infinitely better than meeting a council of powerful fae.”

  “Worry not, Mal-gal. It’ll all be over soon and you’ll be back to Slushies and automobiles in no time.”

  His reassurance does all but reassure as a stone sinks into my gut. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.

  Two fae nod to Ryland and Kai as we enter a cavernous hall lit by skylights. I eye another lengthy staircase awaiting us directly ahead, hoping we take one of the corridors lining the perimeter of the hall instead. I’ll be sweating enough in front of the council without any additional encouragement, thanks.

  Kai cranes his neck at the skylight. “They’ll be in session another hour or so.”

  “Let’s give them something to talk about,” Ryland replies before blessedly starting down a corridor. Yes!

  The quartz windows are beautiful lies. Inside, this place reads like a sanitarium. Everything is white, pushing me toward the surprising sensation of missing the porn windows and forest floor of The Knotty Willow’s. That’s where fae craftsmanship really is.

  “No offense, guys, but even the White House has more going for it in terms of style.”

  Ryland snorts, but as usual it’s Kai who elaborates. “This is just the business end fashioned after the war. In the interest of pleasing all parties, it’s meant to be bland and void of all interest.”

  “Actual parties are on the second floor, by the way,” Bash says, giving my arm a squeeze. “And the last surviving castle of Oberon and Ophelia is across the courtyard.”

  I’ve heard these names from him before. Oberon was one of the first things he told Kai on the balcony, in fact. Fuck, does that feel like ages ago.

  Time to get in some questions. “Is this the same war that ate a chunk of the capital’s population?”

  “Aye. The War of the Ancients, it’s called.”

  “Does this monument to blandness of a building mean Oberon and Ophelia lost that war?”

  Bash digs his left hand into his temple, squinting. “It was more of a truce, eh, Kai?”

  “For now, it seems.” Well, that’s a loaded answer.

  Ryland’s lips flutter up ahead, his words indiscernible as his gift guides them to the single fae attending the door. He opens it well before our arrival. I’d kill to have had that ability for the moments I ran out of toilet paper during my childhood. My voice was never loud enough to gain the attention of my parents. Big house problems.

  We enter the hall where nine fae line a dais at the far end. Every single one of their noses twitches and flares as we approach. A male with hair similar to Ryland’s looks similarly disgusted, while a female with platinum hair sitting center may pee herself from excitement. The remaining members’ reactions vary, but are difficult to read. We’ve definitely entered a den of politicians.

  They remain silent, allowing us to approach as they continue to taste the air. There’s no way they haven’t figured out my identity by the time we stand before them. The man who is obviously Ryland’s father moves to stand, but sits back down and looks at the platinum-haired female expectantly.

  Her eyes widen at his attention, their color a blue so pale they’re nearly white. “My apologies, Ramsey, I forget myself. When was the last time anyone’s encountered a human?” she says with an airy giggle. “I can’t recall any after the Techies’ portals were closed, and that was before they put hydro in place.”

  Ramsey Everhart’s hands clasp together as he nods. “It’s been some time, Speaker Celeste.”

  “A striking coincidence given recent events,” a well-defined male with dark hair cropped close to his head comments. “I’m sure our sons have an interesting story for us?”

  “One all too simple, I’m afraid,” says Ryland. “We had a mortal stowaway.”

  Celeste’s lips part at his words. “How did this happen?”

  “It was no fault of theirs,” Bash says while stepping forward. “I tossed the port—”

  “There was a misjudgment of the portal’s proximity to nearby mortals,” Kai interrupts.

  “Sounds careless,” a female with jet black hair down to her hips asserts.

  “It was,” Bash replies. “And I will take full responsibility for my mistake.”

  “This is what we get for sending the wrong Ankerstrand,” a lumberjack clone murmurs not so discreetly to the female beside him. The way Bash’s shoulders slope forward reflects the comment’s bite. What is it about his twin brother that sparks so many comparisons in the space of an hour?

  Celeste claps her hands together. “Now, now. None of us would be here if we hadn’t made mistakes along the way, no? I’m sure this will be a lesson young Sebastian isn’t soon to forget.”

  “Indeed not, Speaker.”

  Her eyes pan over to Kai. “Kaiser Varigarde. I see you nurse an injury. Please explain.”

  “An honest blunder, Speaker Celeste. I took hold of meteorite to convince the mortal of our existence. Their land compromised my fortitude more than I realized.”

  The female with black hair crosses her arms. “I fear we’ve fallen too far if these mishaps characterize our most worthy youth, Speaker. These are to be the protectors of our future?”

  “It’s true that our realm has
been comfortable an inordinate length of time. Perhaps we are to blame for neglecting to impart on them the true nature of our world.”

  “Oberon help us all,” a female with hair like cotton candy whispers.

  Kai’s father rises from his seat. “I believe these mishaps can be turned to happy misses if the council will permit me to explain.” He gestures to where we stand. “May I?”

  “I see no objections. The floor is yours, Lazarus.”

  “Thank you, Speaker.”

  Lazarus Varigarde jumps from the dais and lands silently before turning to face the council. The muscles on his back are visible through his shirt, promising his rumored lethality. This is the kind of person who can choke you into submission with his thighs, and not in a kinky way. “How many portals would you estimate remain in our vaults, Councilor Ravenna?”

  The female with smoke-colored hair sitting beside Ramsey Everhart looks up from the notes she scribbles. “No more than eleven, sir.”

  “As I thought.” He turns, locking his dark eyes onto mine. My heart doesn’t do enough cardio to handle the way it’s responding to his scrutiny. “Come forth, child.”

  I look to the men who brought me here. Ryland bears no expression, Bash smiles in encouragement, and Kai tosses me a nod. It’s out of their hands now. I approach him on shaky legs, pulse thundering in my ears. He stands half a head shorter than Kai.

  “You may lower your hood now.” I do, and the corners of his mouth pull upward. His eyes bore into mine. “Are those your natural color?”

  I blink. “My eyes? Yes…sir.”

  He faces the council once more. “What do her eyes remind you of, Councilors?” He wraps an arm around my back, nudging me forward. I nearly fall on my face, and I dimly hear Bash hiss from behind.

  “Looks like Ankerstrand found a new flavor of the week,” the redhead beside the lumberjack snickers.

  Eight pairs of eyes study me. A tingle breaks out across my dampened palms.

  “I dare say a Techie, Lazarus,” offers Ramsey Everhart.

  “My exact thought,” he replies. “The boys passed her off as a sep at the gates to deliver her here, but I’m wondering if we can’t parade her as one a little longer before sending her home.”

  Celeste’s pale brows contort into a frown. “Why would we keep the poor thing from home?”

  “How many Separatists do you expect to be in attendance of the matching, Speaker?”

  She throws a dainty hand to her lips, pouting in thought. “I cannot imagine more than a hundred, no?”

  “My Shadows estimate seventy-two, but this may increase in the coming days as word spreads. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have someone among the seps who can suss out any traitors? We cannot allow conniving minds to infiltrate our quads.”

  “An iron spy,” the lumberjack says while scratching the chestnut scruff on his wide jaw. “Her eyes do resemble those of an early Separatist.” My breath hitches. I wanted to stay a smidge longer, but not as a spy. I struggle to play hide-and-seek without nearly peeing myself as it is.

  Celeste leans forward on her elbows. “You have my interest.”

  “I say we throw a glamour on and have her participate in the matching to gather intel before allowing her to be escorted home. By then, we’ll know of any emerging portalers who can send her directly,” Lazarus finishes.

  “You would endanger an innocent who knows nothing of our world when you’ve an entire core of Shadows at your beckon?” Bash’s voice nears a growl as heavy footfalls hit the marble behind me.

  “You speak out of turn, boy. If you’re truly prepared to deal with the ramifications, you’ll see to it yourself that she’s safe.”

  Bash squeezes between me and the edge of the dais, taking a knee. “You have my vow, Mallory Meadowbrook. I’ll see you home.” His honey-brown eyes are mournful, his mouth grimly set. This was never his intention.

  Kai appears next to him, also dropping to one knee. “You have mine, as well,” he bows. Is it bad that despite the intensity of the moment all I can do is imagine Gimli popping out from the woodwork and offering his ax?

  “To be young again,” Celeste sings with a sigh. “On your feet, gentlemen.” They rise as she turns to Ryland. “What of you, young Everhart?”

  He fluidly approaches the dais. “There isn’t a moment too soon in which I can wash my hands of this, Speaker. I wish to focus on the matching.”

  “Oh?” she hums. “Were you not sent to monitor on behalf of the council?” She glances to Ramsey Everhart. “He bears some culpability, wouldn’t you say?”

  Papa Everhart examines his son shrewdly with pewter eyes. Chip off the old block, this one. “I agree he’s fallen short of his expectations.” Ryland’s jaw ticks. “What do you suggest, Speaker?”

  She addresses Ryland. “Do you still desire to act as a representative for your region or work within this building one day?”

  “I have endeavored my entire life to do so, Speaker Celeste.”

  “Then you shall endeavor through my request. With the council’s blessing, I would have you act as representative for the entire realm by becoming the mortal’s mentor. Should this plan of Varigarde’s pass, you will teach her everything necessary to play a fresh Separatist.”

  I can almost hear his teeth grinding from how his jaw tightens, but his reply is formal and composed as he bows at the waist. “I am filled with gratitude for the honor, Speaker Celeste.”

  I’m not sure which idea disturbs me more: acting as a spy during the ramp-up to war, or spending time alone in a room with Ryland Everhart. He’s looking more angry than the campfire incident, and I was under the impression I pissed him off good that time.

  The layers of Celeste’s dress swish as she stands. “Let us discuss this without the children and have a vote, shall we?” She waves her hand toward the door. “We’ll call you four soon.”

  The guys thank the council for their time and then we depart. I tug on my hood again, because my cheeks are starting to feel fiery and I want to hide.

  “Mallory, was it?”

  I spin around to face her, my pulse threatening to resume its frantic push. “Yes, Speaker.”

  She smiles, and I can see why she would be chosen as the glue which binds the council. “I forgot to welcome you to Faerie, my dear.”

  14

  Mallory

  Ryland’s pacing is driving me up a wall, and if he wasn’t furious already, I’d probably tell him to quit being a drama queen and sit his ass down. You’re going to act like tutoring me is the end of the world when I’m literally about to lose my world for who knows how long? Suck it up, Buttercup.

  Kai squats with his back against the actual wall, making crude work of his cuticles. Maybe he should throw some extra salve on that. Bash works at sharpening one of his blades, which I suspect comforts him, but the repetitive scraping makes it sound like he’s getting ready to murder his way into the portal vault.

  I’m sick of stewing in it without a word from any of them. “Do I get no choice in this? What happens if I refuse to spy for them?”

  Kai looks up from punishing his hands. “At that point they’ll likely hold you somewhere until it’s over and they’ve found a new portaler. Consider it a choice between staying here against your will with freedom or staying here against your will behind bars.”

  Neither sound like freedom to me. A wave of nausea takes hold in my gut. “Do you think there are dangerous fae in this group of seventy-whatever?”

  The scraping stops. “To a mortal, all fae are dangerous,” Bash says with a sardonic smile. Right. This person can roast marshmallows with his hands.

  “Why not get a portaler now?”

  Kai rests his brow on his fingertips, applying pressure. “There aren’t any, and there won’t be an opportunity for more until the matching is complete. We have portals now, but they’re mere remnants of a time when portalers existed. They’re reluctant to use the relics when we’re in the midst of preparing for war.”

&nb
sp; And let’s casually throw the human rag doll into the mix, eh? What could go wrong? “I think it’s about time you guys explain to me what the matching is.”

  Kai prepares to speak, but Bash beats him to the punch. “I’d say that’s a task for Representative Everhart.”

  For a moment I’m transported to my childhood, to the times my mother would lean her head out the window and yell at me to get back inside. Mallory! Do you smell that? It’s about to storm! Over the years I came to recognize the tang of ozone that precedes every good thunderstorm. It’s what I smell this very moment.

  There’s a storm brewing between these two, the surrounding air charged with electricity and a healthy dose of testosterone. Ryland’s eyes are liquid metal as the ends of his hair lift. He coolly steps to Bash, who rises to meet him. Ryland stares down with narrowed eyes, and from my peripherals I catch my own hair dancing.

  “Make my day, Everhart,” Bash sneers, and I smell smoke without seeing any. He raises his chin to Ryland, tendons in his neck bulging from the effort. Bash, you aren’t even short. Just stop.

  Ryland looks seconds from striking when one of his ears twitches, freezing his intentions. He leans in close to Bash, voice smooth and deliberate.

  “I am so looking forward to meeting you on the training grounds, Sebastian,” he drawls. Then the chamber doors swing open and we’re ushered back inside. Kai mouths an apology to me, looking thoroughly disgusted with his peers. I shrug, because it’s nothing compared to whatever the council’s about to prescribe.

  We gather before them again, Bash and Kai close while Ryland’s placement reflects his detachment from the group. My hands wring behind my back of their own volition as I attempt to stand tall. Celeste remains seated, one leg crossed casually over the other. Just another day at the office for them.

  “It wasn’t unanimous, but we reached an overwhelming majority in the decision,” she says, uncrossing her leg. “In a final count of six to three, the council rules in favor of retaining Mallory Meadowbrook to reconnoiter through the end of the matching. In exchange for her service, we will see that she is safely escorted home. During this time she will report her findings to young Everhart, who will act as her guide. Mister Varigarde and Ankerstrand are free to stand vigil, provided they do not arouse suspicion among her fellow candidates.” She surveys each of the guys. “I will leave it to the three of you to guarantee her success, but the council will not hesitate to take control should you fail. Let this prove a redemptive venture for you.”