She leaned closer to me, whispering, “I don’t want to go with them. I miss my mom.”
I nodded gravely. I knew exactly how she felt. My mom was in Eldrea, yet I didn’t dare contact her. I hoped at some point I would be able to, but until I was bound to someone, I couldn’t do much about it.
“Maybe they’ll let you visit her from time to time.” I knew that wasn’t really a possibility, but I wondered if it could be. If I was as powerful as I had been lead to believe, I might be able to get some much needed change to happen between the fae and Elementals.
Styx touched down near us. Beth looked into his onyx gaze and let out another wail. I shook my head at Zach who only shrugged before he jumped to the ground.
He stalked over to me, clamping his fingers around my elbow. He turned toward Lacey. “Excuse us, please.”
Since when had he become so polite?
“If you don’t stop making stupid decisions you are going to get us all…”
His voice faltered when he saw my expression. “You might want to back up a bit,” I said coolly. “I am done getting bossed around by you or anyone. If you want me to start making better choices, I suggest you fill me in on some much needed details.”
He nodded covering his shock with a slap on my back. “First things first, we need to get you back to Lombarda where you will be safe.”
My awareness of the Elementals around me intensified. I could feel their fear as if it were my own. “What will happen to them,” I whispered.
He shrugged. “We haven’t had access to this many Elementals in a very long time. The council will need to vote before we can determine what will be done.”
I moved closer to him. His bright eyes watched me closely. “I have a better idea,” I said motioning toward the girls behind me. “Let them choose.”
He laughed. With all the strength I could muster I shot a compulsion at him to listen to me.
His face fell into a severe frown. “I don’t think I like how Heath has influenced you.”
“I don’t care,” I said grouchily.
He touched my cheek lightly. “Why are you so angry with me?”
I couldn’t believe he was actually asking me that. “You left me for the wolves to pick apart, Zach. What do you expect?”
“If I hadn’t, Ainessa would have had full access to you by now. I had to protect you.”
I leveled a steely expression at him. “Here’s a thought I’m sure you would never have on your own. Why don’t you teach me how to protect myself?”
Just then Luke and Heath showed up with Roger in tow. Luke turned toward Zach, “What are we supposed to do with him?”
I stepped in between them. “He’s coming with us.”
Jett chimed in. “The council will never agree—”
“Blame it on me,” I said.
He glanced at me. His look told me he wasn’t pleased that I was speaking. Too bad for him.
He heaved in a ragged breath. “What makes you think they will care what you want?”
“Why wouldn’t they?” I asked sweetly.
He bristled at me, but Heath stepped nearer. “Get away from her,” he said in a menacing tone.
Jett moved closer to Heath and they had a wordless faceoff. I just walked away. I had never been impressed with male bravado. You’d think that men who were millions of years old would know better than to act like that.
I caught Lacey’s attention. “Will you help me round up the girls? We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
When we were all within a half circle, I stepped into the middle. “Believe me,” I started. “I know this is not how you expected your life to unfold. I am also fully aware of how scary this is. I was in your shoes not that long ago.” I laughed lightly. “Strike that. I still am, and so you have to trust me when I say that as bad as the fae seem, the Order is a hundred times worse.”
“Traitor,” one of the girls yelled.
I raised my hand. “If wanting to control my own life makes me a traitor then I fully accept that label.” I looked around, catching the gazes of as many of them as I could. “You have been taught to fear the fae, but do you really know anything about them?”
“I would rather die than allow them to have access to my power,” said another girl and many more spoke up to agree with her.
I frowned sadly. “I guess that’s your decision to make, but what you don’t realize is that we have an opportunity to change things here. What if you were given an option to choose your own mate?”
A girl with dark hair stepped forward with her arms folded across her chest. “No matter how many of them you wave in front of my face I will never want one.”
I walked over to her, taking in her striking features. She had shoulder length black hair so straight you could probably iron a shirt on it; however, it wasn’t artificial in any way. Her onyx eyes were exotic, slightly tilted upwards at the edges. I faced her and said, “How would you know?”
She looked taken aback momentarily then stiffened her stance. “Who died and made you queen of the world?”
I touched her shoulder and she recoiled away from me. “I’m sorry if that’s how I appear to you. I am only trying to help.”
“Yeah?” she said. “Then make them leave us alone. Make them leave our planet. They have no right to be here.”
I couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. If I recalled correctly I had once reacted similarly. “Trust me when I say that I know how you feel, but I have seen goodness in the fae. I know things could be better between us.”
“Why would you care about them?” she hissed at me, giving a short nod toward the fae warriors.
I gave her a knowing smile. “The same reason I would care for any person,” I answered plainly. “You do realize they are people, right?”
She got the strangest expression on her face as if she was wondering if I had any brain cells left. “You have to be under a compulsion right now. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
I shook my head. “I will be the first to admit that compulsion is unsavory. No one should have their will manipulated like that, but the Order is no better than the fae in that regard. I was forced to marry Roger, experimented upon, inseminated, and nearly killed. I can’t say the same thing about the fae. Compulsion intensifies feelings that are already there. It is a magnification of will, nothing more.” I felt someone watching me. When I looked around, Luke had a self satisfied smile adorning his lips. “Besides,” I added, ignoring him. “The fae want to live peaceably with humans. Given all you know about them, can you say the same thing about the Order?”
Her dark eyes searched mine for a while before she spoke. “Do you honestly believe they will let us have some choices for a change?”
The vision of Jessica facing Taylor for the first time drifted into my consciousness. She had been in love with Adam. That note she gave me just before she was taken spilled it all to him. I regretted the fact that I hadn’t been able to deliver it for her, but I also wondered if it wasn’t for the best. Adam was better off not knowing the extent of her feelings for him.
I still hadn’t seen her again, but I was going to insist on it. Even though I hadn’t liked her all that much, I needed to see that she was okay—that she was happy with Taylor.
“All I can offer at the moment is a bit of hope. From what I have witnessed of the fae, most are reasonable. If I’m wrong, the worst you’ll get is an attentive husband out of the deal. The Order wants your power as badly as the fae. They are just a bit more persuasive when it comes to making you think you are doing what you want, when in reality you have been led to do what they want.”
The woman standing in front of me nodded fractionally considering what I had said. “I’m willing to see this out, but if you are wrong, you will have our deaths on your head.”
I extended my hand toward her. “Agreed.”
Hushed voices broke our connection. She glanced around then disappeared into the middle of the circle.
“
Who is she?” I asked Lacey, trying to spot the girl amongst the others.
“Her name is Robin. She was May’s second. If you can win her over, you might have a chance at changing things.” She touched my shoulder, stealing my attention. “Do you really believe that crap you were spouting, or were you just trying to delay the inevitable?”
I laughed and clamped my hand around her elbow in a friendly gesture. “Only time can truly answer that question.”
Jett interrupted us. His gaze slid over Lacey so subtly that I might have missed it if I hadn’t been watching him closely. “We’d better get going.” He turned his attention completely to me, all evidence that he had noticed her gone from his expression. “You will be riding with me.”
I cocked my head. “Yeah? Who’s going to make me?”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?”
“Why do you have to be so demanding? I will choose who I ride with, not you.”
“You are only delaying the inevitable,” he said, echoing Lacey’s earlier question.
“We’ll just have to see about that,” I said before I walked away from him. Hadn’t he learned anything about me? Would it kill him to ask for once? I picked a fae man I had never met. “May I ride with you?” I asked sweetly, peering up at him through my lashes.
His face drained of color and he looked sharply at Jett. “You don’t need his permission,” I said firmly.
Jet stood beside me. “It is alright, Valen. I am entrusting her safety to you.”
I smiled inwardly. It would be nice to have some space from the lords so I could think for a change. I turned toward the group of Elementals. “Choose a mount, Ladies. The sooner we face this the quicker we can get on with our lives.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The ride was amazing. Seeing the planet from the air reinforced just how insignificant I was in comparison. Valen didn’t say much. He sat ahead of me, his body rigid as if he was afraid to accidentally touch me.
The instant we crossed into the borderlands my stomach tightened from nerves. What was I doing thinking I could really make a difference for these women?
Styx had graciously informed me that the infamous fae council wanted to speak with me. It was all good as far as I was concerned. I had some things to say to them, as well. It was about time they considered another path. I just hoped my plan would work.
Robin’s threat hung over me like a pendulum waiting to connect with my neck. I couldn’t live with myself if I caused that many Elementals to take their own lives.
I knew they didn’t see it as that, but it was. I couldn’t really blame them for wanting to control the situation. Accepting the bond was the only choice they had been given since the beginning. Why had Faine made such a terrible mistake? Although to be fair, I wasn’t sure how I would handle things if I had been in her place.
She had been abruptly exposed to a whole new world just like I had. Could she have possibly foreseen all the pitfalls to her decision?
I wanted so desperately to believe that I was more aware, but how could I be sure? What if I did something that made life worse for the Elementals that were trusting me to fix things for them? What if I messed things up so badly that—
Sharp cries of alarm split the air. The women were covering their eyes and ducking their heads. I hadn’t even realized that we had crossed into the fae realms. I glanced around and caught Luke’s attention. I motioned toward my eyes and he nodded. Before I could blink the women had shades on…and ear muffs.
Lacey was riding next to me and shot me an angry glance.
“Sorry” I mouthed.
She just shook her head, but that was the last of her attention I would get until we arrived at the palace. She was gazing down at the shimmering landscape with her mouth hanging open.
The palace was alive with activity. We landed in a field of wild poppies. The vibrant blooms danced against our legs as we stepped toward the front gates of the glowing castle.
Heath approached me and my heart quickened in response. He smiled, but there was no light to it. When he offered me his arm, I took it gratefully. We walked in silence for a while. I marveled at the comfort his touch gave me. I couldn’t believe how somber he was. He wasn’t even commenting on my outfit. That was so unlike him.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said softly.
I glanced at him sidelong. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just that the council is made up of the two strongest unions from each of our realms. They will not take kindly to being ordered around.”
“What makes you think I was going to do that?”
He patted my hand. “You think I don’t know you by now? I’m only saying that humility can go a long way in situations such as this.”
I laughed. “And you have so much experience with this sort of thing?”
His lips turned in a smirk. “More than you do, that’s for sure.”
We were at the castle steps. He stopped me, turning my shoulders to face him. “Don’t underestimate these people, Rayla. They have an agenda for you already. They will know your thoughts so don’t try to deceive them. Just be honest.”
I nodded wondering why he was being so forthcoming all of a sudden. I stole a glance at him and shivered. I could have been bound to this man if Luke hadn’t interfered. I was seeing a part of him that I hadn’t known existed. Why was it that the lords tried to take instead of entice? Did they really think it was better to have a companion that was falsely compliant over one that willingly gave herself to them?
Didn’t they understand the heart of a woman?
I cleared my throat, cocking my head. “Thanks for the advice. I think I like this side of you.”
Just then we were joined by Zach, Luke, and Jett, who were all wearing a deep frown.
I now had four men that all expected me to pick one of them as my bondmate. Jett would have to morph into another person entirely for me to choose him, but the other three…how was I going to decide? I was hoping at some point I would really be able to get to know them without the threat of death hanging over my head.
I smiled at them. “Do any of the rest of you have something to say or should we get on with this?”
Zach shook his head and Luke looked away from me. Jett was the only one who spoke up. “We are not supposed to influence you in any way.”
I laughed. He had to be kidding. What did they think they had been doing since the moment they met me? Every encounter with them led me to a different place. I didn’t want to argue that point though.
I started forward, skirts swishing after me. I wasn’t sure which one of them had done it, but I was in a flowing black gown. My hair lifted gracefully into an up-doo. I felt refreshed and almost ready to face the council. I looked around and said, “Thanks” to no one in particular.
Lysanne waited for me at the top of the stairs, her face tight with worry. “Do you need anything, my lady?” she asked as I approached her.
“I don’t think so. Wait.” I pulled her out of earshot of the others; at least, I hoped I had. “Do you know where they will take the other Elementals?”
Her eyes lowered to the softly glowing floor. “They are being readied as we speak.”
I nodded. I couldn’t delay this any longer if I wanted my plan to work.
I stood outside the ornate double doors of the council chamber nervously fidgeting with the lace of my bodice. I pulled it up again, but it refused to stay. I was showing a bit more cleavage than I was comfortable with. Regretfully I realized I should have asked Lysanne for a different dress when I had the chance.
The clack of heels hitting stone caught my attention. I watched breathlessly as the knob turned. My heart pounded against my ribs and my palms grew sweaty. This was it.
A pretty woman with flowing brown hair opened the door. She curtsied to me. “They are ready to see you now.”
I put one foot in front of the other and kept my gaze straight forw
ard trying not to react to the oddness of the room.
Everything about it was meant to intimidate from the size to the minimalistic color scheme. Two multi-level daises lined the walls, facing each other. The glossy floor was divided down the center. Half was black; the other white. I straddled the line refusing to give even the slightest impression that I was choosing sides. Eight couples, four on either side, occupied separate lavishly appointed boxes as if they were about to enjoy a good opera.
Knowing that they could hear my thoughts did strange things to my mind. I ignored the piercing stares I was getting and proceeded to the podium where four people sat—two women and two men.
It was hard for me to accept that any of these women had ever been human. Their faces were as flawless as any fae I had seen. Their beauty was almost as distracting as their power, but not quite. The room was charged to the point that I wouldn’t have been surprised to see bolts of lightning jump around at any moment.
“Welcome, Rayla,” said one of the men in front of me. He stood and met me on the floor below. His eyes were pale blue, his hair blond. He had even features that I suspected matched his temper.
“Thank you,” I replied as I took his hand.
“Would you like to sit? I understand you have had a very trying day.”
That was an understatement, but I shook my head. I didn’t need any help with feeling inferior.
A few murmurs split the silence, but I wasn’t sure who was speaking. The man that was now at my side whispered into my ear. “Ignore them.”
I nodded and stared into his kind face. Was it genuine or merely a façade?
“I have my thoughts on that subject,” he said. “But you will have to form your own opinion. Would you mind if we ask you a few questions?”
I shook my head, but worry stepped up my pulse. I took a deep breath. I needed to be strong, and here I was showing these people how pathetic I really was. Oh, crap. I shouldn’t be thinking that. Or that.
In the end I gave him a sheepish expression and stared at the seamless floor. How did they do that…
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