The Beast of the Fae Court

by ERIN BEDFORD

  I let out a long sigh.

  "Something I can do for you, your majesty?" The only male server, a faun, appeared at my side. I glanced up from the inside of my glass, wondering how I hadn't noticed him approach me. My mind must really be off today.

  I shook my head. "No. I'm fine."

  "Is the food not to your liking?" The curly brown headed faun nodded toward the meal before me. His pointed ears twitched, a telling sign that he was nervous about my answer.

  Turning my eyes to the food and then back to the faun, I shook my head. "Everything looks great. I guess I'm just not that hungry."

  The faun nodded and stepped back. He then motioned to the two serving women who came to clear the table. The faun turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm as I thought of something.

  "Your name is Luke, correct?"

  I could tell I'd caught the faun off guard as his brows lifted and his eyes widened.

  "Uh, yes, Your Majesty." Confusion filled his voice.

  Leaning back in my seat, I placed an elbow on the armrest of my chair, surveying him closely. "You worked with the other one. The human woman."

  Luke licked his lips, and his eyes flitted to the side to the other servant women who tried to hide a shake of their heads. The moment he decided he wasn't going to tell me anything, his back straightened, and his jaw tightened. When he spoke, his voice no longer wavered and had a sharpness to it that it didn't have before.

  "I do not know who you're talking about, your majesty. We have so many servants come in and out of your employment, human and fae alike. It is hard to remember them all."

  There was a lie in there somewhere, one that the faun had carefully tried to conceal. I decided not calling him out on it and tried another tactic.

  "The human I am looking for goes by the name of Ericka Burner." His ears twitched at Ericka's name, but he didn't speak yet. I hadn't asked a question, so he didn't think he had to. The two others shot Luke a worried look before taking their plates and hurrying toward the kitchen door, leaving him to my wrath. "Now before you try to walk around my question, I know you know who she is. I remember you talking to her the night Lady Nico had dinner here. Now, I haven't run into Ericka since earlier today, but I have a feeling you know where she is."

  Luke opened his mouth to answer, but I cut him off with a warning look.

  "Don't try and evade the question. Where is Ericka Burner?"

  Clipping his mouth shut, Luke's brows furrowed and his cheek twitches. After a moment, he decided what he was going to tell me. "I haven't seen her today."

  "But someone must have," I prodded further, shifting so that my hands laced in front of me on the table. I glanced down at the table and sighed, praying for patience. "Who saw her last? And where is she now?"

  Squirming in place, the faun looked anywhere but at me.

  "Tell me, faun." I banged my hand on the table, the sound causing the faun to jump in place. Counting down from ten, I let a long breath out and rubbed my forehead. "I'm not going to punish you. I just want to know where she is." I struggled with the next word. "Please."

  "I don't know where she is." Luke began wringing his hands in front of him. When I sighed in frustration and about to bang my hand on the table again, he rushed out, "But I do know she came to the kitchens earlier with a bag in her hands. She was leaving." Sadness filled his voice.

  I wasn't sad though, I was furious. I jerked to my feet, which sent my chair flying back to smash into the wall.

  "What do you mean she was leaving? Where did she go?"

  Luke backed up quickly, shaking his head from side to side. "I... I don't know. You'd have to talk to the cook, Jasmine. She would know."

  My gaze darted to the revolving door, and my eyes narrowed. "I'll do just that."

  The faun sagged in relief as I stalked by him and toward the kitchen. I pushed the door open hard enough that it banged against the wall. The sound reverberated through the room, and the chattering in the room instantly went quiet. My gaze scanned the room quickly and zeroed in on the cerulean-haired fae.

  Jasmine had her hands full of pots, and it looked like she was in the middle of moving them to the cabinet but stopped when I appeared. I didn't need to ask the question of where Ericka was because the look on her face said everything I needed to know.

  She was gone. Ericka had left, and she hadn't even said goodbye.

  Rage, frustration, and if I was honest with myself, despair whirled inside of me. How could she have left like that? Where had she gone?

  Who was I kidding? Why wouldn't she leave after what I did to her? I was surprised she hadn't left before.

  Shaking my head at my own stupidity, I rubbed my hand over my face and groaned out, "Please tell me you know where she went."

  Jasmine placed the pots down on the counter and stepped toward me. Her eyes narrowed on me, she crossed her arms over her apron-clad body. "Why should I tell you?"

  A few of the servants gasped at Jasmine's answer. They were right to be afraid for her. Speaking to me that way was an automatic trip to the dungeon. However, this time, Jasmine's ire was justified. Trying my best to keep my voice steady and not to lose my temper, I approached her, my hands out in an offer of peace.

  "Please, I need to find her. Just tell me where she went."

  Jasmine struggled for a moment, and confusion crossed her face at my words. It wasn't surprising that she didn't trust my unusual behavior. I was more of a punish first and ask questions later kind of person. This time, though, I had something to lose, and I couldn't be rash or threaten my way out of this one.

  "You care for her." A red headed freckled fae stepped out from behind the counter, her brows drawn down and her lips twisted in a frown. I couldn’t remember her name, something like Mary or Maggie. There were too many of them to remember. Whatever-her-name was bound and determined to get me to answer the next question she asked. "Do you love her?"

  I opened my mouth, and no words came out. Did I? I didn't know. I knew I couldn't bear the thought of her being gone but as far as love was concerned... I didn't know. I just didn't know.

  "You don't have to answer that." Jasmine held her hand up and closed the distance between us. "Ericka came here earlier with a bag in her hand. She said she had a family emergency and might not be back for a while. But looking at you," her eyes trailed over my face as if searching for something, "I have a feeling it was something else."

  "So, she went home?" I couldn't hold back the hope in my voice. I could go to Boggsville. I could find her and explain. Hopefully, I could even convince her to come back.

  "She said her father was sick. I would assume that means she went back to Boggsville." Jasmine glanced toward the clock on the wall and hummed. "It's only been about half an hour since she left. You might still be able to catch her on the main road."

  I grabbed her by the shoulders, which caused her to stiffen. "You have my gratitude." My gaze went around the room. "All of you."

  Releasing Jasmine, I marched out of the kitchen and toward my bedroom. If I was going to go after Ericka, I needed to change. I wasn't getting on a horse with pants that might split at any moment. It wasn't until I arrived at my bedroom door that I remembered Shirazan might still be in there waiting for me. Gods above, help me. I did not have the time or patience to deal with her right now.

  After a moment spent preparing myself for an argument, I opened the bedroom door and walked into the room. The light was off which was a good sign. I flicked it on and skimmed my room. She wasn't here. Good.

  Not wasting anymore time, I rushed to my wardrobe and threw on my riding pants and a tunic. Then I shoved my feet into my riding boots, grabbed my jacket, and pulled it on as I made for the door. I'd have to take a horse. It was the quickest way to get to her in time. I could only assume she hadn't opted to walk to Boggsville and had caught a ride with one of the various carriages that came and went from the palace daily. I should be able to catch up with them fairly easy.

  I moved for the door
but then stopped at the sight of the hand mirror sitting on the side table. Of course, how could I have forgotten about it? I had been so frazzled by the banshees and what happened with Ericka earlier that I had forgotten all about using the magic mirror to find her.

  Picking the mirror up, I turned it over my hand. The surface had several long cracks in it. My heart sank and then anger flare in my belly.

  Shirazan.

  It had to be her who had done this. That conniving bitch. The mirror wouldn’t work now with a crack through it. I’d have to take it to the court sorcerer to have it fixed later. With an annoyed growl, I tossed the mirror onto the nearby chair and turned on my heels. I’d have to find Ericka the old fashion way.

  On my way to the stables, I stopped by Finch's room to return his clothing and tell him my plan.

  "So, you're going after her?" Finch asked with a smug grin. "It took you long enough to figure out how you feel about her. I was beginning to think you were dropped on your head as a child."

  "That's beside the point." I shook my head and backed towards Finch's door. "I have to find her, explain what happened, and beg her to come back."

  "Beg? You?" Finch chuckled and stood. "I have to see that. I'm coming too."

  I narrowed my eyes at him and growled out, "Fine, but if you slow me down, I will leave you behind."

  Finch snorted. "Out of the two of us, who is the better rider?"

  I didn't answer his redundant question as we made quick time getting to the stables. When we arrived, it was obvious something was off. There weren't many servants around, and the ones that were there had huddled into a little group off to the side. A wagon laid overturned, and scorch marks covered the side of it. The usual horses that were known to be around waiting to be attached to wagons and carriages were suspiciously missing.

  Finch hurried over to the group of servants, and in hushed voices, they rapidly answered his questions. The servants tossed fearful looks in my direction, and when Finch was done, they dispersed. Finch walked back over to me with a frown marring his mouth.

  "What happened?" I prodded, knowing I wasn't going to like the answer.

  "Your pet dragon happened. I told you it was a bad idea to give her so much freedom."

  "Shirazan?" My mouth fell open as I surveyed the damage once more. Now that I knew what to look for, it definitely seemed like something large had rampaged through here. The scorch marks should have tipped me off right away. "Why would she do this?"

  "I don't know." Finch ran a hand through his pale hair and scowled. "Someone said she came in here hell bent on running off any horses she could. She didn't even bother with the servants. It was like she was making sure no one could leave here today."

  Something tickled at the back of my mind. "Where did she go?"

  Finch pointed toward the east. "That way."

  "But there's nothing but trees and forest in that direction.” I stroked my chin and tried to puzzle out the predicament before me. “The closest village isn't for at least a day's ride. Why would she go that way?"

  "Actually," Finch interrupted my thoughts, "there's a small village on the other side of those trees. Not many go there because it's just a few houses and a farm, but it's there. Maybe she knows something we don't?"

  My eyes widened. "Ericka!"

  "What?"

  I grabbed Finch by the arms and shook him. "She must have figured out before we did that Ericka had gone that way."

  "Why would she care about her? Last I heard, Shirazan was eating out of the palm of your hand." His eyes dipped down to my pants and he smirked. "So to speak."

  I shook my head and cursed. "Not since today when I told her I was done with her."

  "You did what?" Finch gaped and then chuckled bitterly. "After all these years, I've been telling you to get rid of her, and you finally do it today of all days. Why?"

  My lips twisted to the side, and I kicked at the ground as I muttered, "Ericka walked in on us."

  "Please tell me you are joking." Finch looked ready to wrap his hands around my throat, and I didn't blame him. It wasn't something I had wanted Ericka to see. Especially, when I didn't really want to be there with Shirazan anyway.

  I sighed and stared off toward the east. "I wish I was. However, in my defense I did push her off before anything could escalate.”

  "Fine. Fine. You messed up. We'll fix it, but first, we have to save the damsel." Finch placed his hands on his hips and searched around the stables. "Where are we going to get a horse?"

  The tattoos on my chest pulsated with powers as I stared hard in the direction Shirazan and Ericka went. I had to get to her, and I had to get to her now. The tattoos on my skin blazed brightly, burning away my shirt as my skin itched. I flexed my arms as the power pushed at my back and head. Pain ripped through as my flesh tore and long wings sprouted from my back. Horns pushed through my skull and curled toward the sky.

  “Bale,” Finch cautiously stepped forward, his eyes on my wings and horns, “are you sure this is a good idea? You know what happened last time. You don’t have complete control over yourself in this form.”

  I tested my wings, my back muscles contracting and releasing. A low gurgling growl slipped from between my clenched teeth.

  “I have no choice.”

  Without waiting for Finch to speak again, I took to the skies, my mind on one thing: Ericka.

  Chapter 21

  Ericka

  I stared off into the horizon and sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time. The sun had sunk further in the distance and what was supposed to be an easy fix ended up being more complicated than we thought.

  Freddie, the man who could have helped up fix our wheel and be on our way, had been called away and wouldn't be back until evening. Well, the evening came and went, and still no sign of the elusive Freddie. With each minute that passed, my nerves ratched up even more.

  "Oh, baby, look at that sunset,” Bea mused. “Ain't that the prettiest thing you've ever seen?"

  I jumped in my seat, spinning around to stare up at Bea. "Huh? What?"

  "A bit jumpy, huh?" Bea, my new unlikely companion, chuckled and plopped down on a seat next to me at the long table the little village used for their evening dinners.

  The concept of community was big with the villagers, all of them brownies, and it made my heart ache for my own little community I'd left behind. I glanced away from the woman and back toward the setting sun.

  "Uh, yeah. It's pretty," I muttered, my heart really not into it. The longer we stayed here, the more likely that Balefire would catch up with me, and the last thing I wanted right now was a confrontation with him.

  Understanding blossomed on Bea's face and she nodded with a sly grin. "But it's not the sight you'd rather be seeing, is it?"

  "No. Sorry.” I sighed and pressed the heel of my hand against my eyes to soothe the ache there. “It's great. Just really wanted to be further away from the palace by now."

  "No, no," Bea insisted with a wave of her hands. "I get it. Running from your problems and all that. I can hardly expect you are enjoying our little side trip. Still..." Her gaze drifted over the little village.

  Really it was less of a village and more of a cluster of houses. I counted six houses all bundled together, with the surrounding trees squeezing in between. A barn and a fenced-in area housing horses, sheep, and chicken sat on the opposite side of the clearing. They had made the center of their little village a fire pit with an old-style cooking pot hanging from metal rods over the now-lit fire.

  The village had a certain homey feel to it, a simpler feel that made me wish I could have come there for another reason, one that didn't require me to be checking the time so often. As it were, every time someone came by or I heard hooves on the road, my heart jumped into my throat, and my pulse raced. It was only a matter of time before Balefire came after me... if he came after me. I still wasn't so sure, but Bea seemed to think that I was someone worth coming after. She meant it as a compliment, but it was not on
e that I really cared for at the moment.

  "How much longer do you think it'll be?" I asked as I glanced toward the carriage.

  Cailean had gotten into the clearing with some help from the local brownies. He was having a merry old time chatting up the locals. They were in awe of a half-kelpie which made Cailean feel much like royalty when he was used to being ignored or even sneered at.

  I was happy for him, I really was, but all this time here was making me lose that much more time to get away. If this Freddie fellow didn't show up by nightfall, I'd have to find another way to go on. I couldn't go back to the palace, but there was supposed to be another village further ahead, one with more carriages that could take me to my next destination or, at least, get me further from the palace.

  “Who knows?” Bea leaned back in her chair, her legs thrown out in front of her, ankles crossed over each other as she laced her hands on top of her yellow mop of hair. "Could be tomorrow before it gets fixed."

  My jaw tightened at her words. Tomorrow. I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I needed to be gone now.

  I sat by the fire with Bea for a few moments longer, trying to work out how to get to my next destination when the woods around us grew quiet. Unnaturally quiet. Then I heard it. The flapping of wings. Large wings by the way the wind blew hazardously through the village.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared up at the sky. The light that had been left from the setting sun was suddenly blotted out, leaving only the torches and fire pit to keep us out of complete darkness. That shadow that darkened the sky had the distinctive shape of something familiar.