“My King,” Cursed responded and dipped his head again.
I took it as a good sign that Tdem still considered Cursed family and had made a point of calling it to our attention in his greeting. “If it will not offend you, King Stoneshadow, may my guards rise?” I asked and the King looked like I’d managed to surprise him but nodded and Lira, Nolls, and Roral all climbed carefully to their feet.
“Please,” he offered to me, “you may call me Lord Tdem.” My own eyebrows rose nearly to my hairline and I dipped my head while I schooled my features back to normal and nodded.
“My pleasure,” I replied, not quite sure what he should be calling me. Beside me Amras looked pained then wiped his expression blank and I wondered if I’d just done something wrong.
“So what brings you to our Sidhe?” the King asked as he moved toward me, his black eyes moving over my face. I wasn’t certain if he was trying to intimidate me but he moved in a stealthy manner, his feet silent upon the floor. He looked like a warrior and I could see the family resemblance to Cursed in his facial features, powerful shoulders and deep chest. His body was pleasing and his hair was like a golden cloud of waves that swayed as he waked and looked to be nearly of a length with mine.
I held my ground watching him as he neared me like a rabbit might watch a snake. What do you want from me? I thought, and noticed his lids lower to hide his eyes while his full lips tilted upward in a sly smile. It took me a second to recall his question, so intent was I focused on his stalking of me. “The Queen has requested my presence,” I replied quietly as he moved to within several feet.
He nodded and glanced at the flute in my hand, his eyes flicking between the flute and my face. “I see you carry the Mirel Flute. And may I say you play quite well. Your music has been a welcome distraction over the years. I believe it was somewhat of a surprise to find your mother had removed it with her from the Sidhe. Perhaps it was Danu’s wish she take it with her, since you play more passionately than your mother ever did.”
“How kind of you to say so.” I murmured while the weight of his dark eyes fell upon those standing nearest me, making it clear that he wanted them to move away. All stepped back leaving an empty space around me. Cursed was the last to go, and it took a lifted eyebrow from the King to force him to back up. When he’d moved, the King edged around me. I remained still while he circled me like a tasty morsel he might like to chew upon. It was not the first time I’d been looked over and I waited calmly while he took his time. If his intent was to rattle me, he was in for a major disappointment.
“You are composed for one so young,” he said and I couldn’t help the small smile. “And quite lovely,” he continued as he moved past my right shoulder, nearly done with his circuit. “More lovely in fact, than your Mother, who is very beautiful indeed.”
I tilted my head to the side and looked at him inquiringly. “Lord Tdem, you are much too kind.” I told him softly. My voice even and calm just as I was.
“My people tell me you are talented also,” he offered and again his dark eyes searched mine. In my mind I felt the touch of his and smiled again.
“What is it you wish to know?” I asked, coming straight to the point. If he wanted to poke around in my head I felt it was only fair I should know what he was searching for.
“And just that easily you will tell me?” he asked with a small smile of his own.
“Elves do not lie,” I informed him and again I tilted my head slightly, thinking that I should not have to remind him of this.
“Ah… but do Dragons?” he murmured and I couldn’t help the flare of anger which seemed to amuse him.
“Is it your wish to provoke me, Lord Tdem? Or merely enjoy a game of cat and mouse to entertain yourself? Come, if you have questions, ask them. I will either tell you the truth or not. You must take your chances,” I informed him while behind me Amras shifted and Cursed made a low strangled noise in his throat. I didn’t think either of them was happy with my choice of words, but then I had never been one for playing these types of games.
The King’s face went blank for a second as if he couldn’t quite believe what I’d said to him. It must be difficult indeed if people only ever told you what you wanted to hear for fear of being punished or worse. I did not think I needed to worry all that much about it. I doubted he was a fool and for what reason would he wish to harm me? In the grand scheme I was nothing to him. A mere novelty.
The King turned to Cursed and both his eyebrows dropped threateningly. “Is she always this indelicate in her thinking?” He demanded. Cursed held his gaze and hesitated before nodding briefly.
I sighed and raised my Dragonsward while Gareth and Jace shifted uncomfortably and the guards made shocked noises which were immediately cut off. The King’s three guards shifted, their bodies tensing, hands grasping hilts. The King’s dark eyes swept back to my face immediately and he looked as if he expected me to have disappeared, yet there I stood before him. “My apologies, Lord Tdem,” I told him. “I did not realize my thoughts would distress you. Is this better?” I asked sweetly and lifted an eyebrow when he frowned at me.
“What have you done amin vanima mal-er?” He asked softly his eyes curious, his words translating literally as my or mine beautiful golden one. His aura bled from the steady purple haze it had been up to this point to something tinged with red.
My gaze focused around the cornea of his head and I raised both eyebrows at his term of endearment and replied evasively. “I am not sure what you mean.” Perhaps he didn’t know I understood Elvish. Tis having you is what he’s after…can ye nae see? Dane’s voice whispered across mine. I sighed and shifted slightly, realizing even here my thoughts weren’t my own. The King looked at me oddly as if he knew something had just occurred but wasn’t sure what it was. It didn’t appear to make him happy either. Behind him one of his guards made an odd noise and shifted from foot to foot. All three of them had turned their heads slightly to glance at Dane before swinging back to me.
“I mean,” He told me strongly, “that you were there a minute ago and now it is as if you do not exist. It is disturbing.”
“It seems I cannot please you, Lord Tdem. Perhaps it would be best if I and my men were to proceed to the Great Hall to await the Queen’s audience. It is not my intent to offend you,” I told him, then dropped my Dragonsward and watched while his eyes narrowed upon me.
He ignored my bid for freedom and turned to glance at the wall. “So the Queen has called you home to take your place with her at Court?” he asked, his voice deceptively even.
I considered his question for a moment. “I could not say, as I have yet to meet my Grandmother.”
“Yes, yes. But her intent is to keep you here as her Mother before you. Are you prepared to take your place at Court?” he demanded of me, a sly note having entered his voice.
I took the opportunity to move away from him toward the wall, my steps careful on the floor of the Sidhe. When I would have touched the outline of my Dragon, the King made a small noise in his throat and I hesitated, letting my fingers drop to my side. “I am prepared to take my place with my Court” I told him softly. My eyes turned away from him as I spoke, my mind focused on the beautiful detail of the Dragon scales before me to keep him from realizing I spoke the truth, just not the truth he sought.
His shoulder brushed mine and I had to keep from jerking away from him as I turned to look up into his eyes. “And if you do not find the Court of the Seelie to your liking?” He asked softly while his eyes caressed my face just as his mind caressed mine.
“Do you know some reason it would not?” I asked, keeping my mind free of clutter by concentrating on the shape of his chin and the sweep of his brow.
“Only that you are… unique,” He told me. “And unique is not a quality highly prized by the Seelie.”
I smiled and nodded. “You worry I may have issues with the consequences of my birth. That is sweet.” I told him.
He looked shocked, then like he might hav
e swallowed his tongue and finally replied. “I am charmed that you think so. Are you not the least worried it may hold true?”
I dropped my gaze and stared at the wall for a moment. “It is not my only option.” I replied. “And prejudice is not new to me.” Growing up shimmered had seen to that. “Were it my only choice perhaps I might find myself more concerned. I am who I am,” I told him, my hand motioning to the wall. “If this does not work out for me I will simply continue being that someone… elsewhere.”
I don’t think he knew what to think about my statement and I took the opportunity to try to move us along. By now folks might be wondering what was taking us so long. The runner we’d sent ahead had surely arrived by now with word that we were right behind him. “Lord Tdem,” I murmured. “It has been a pleasure meeting you.” And I turned to him and smiled. “If you will excuse us, I do not wish to alarm my Grandmother.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at me and I raised an eyebrow. “Is there something else you wish to discuss?” I asked quietly.
His eyes moved to my men and back to me and he nodded. “How close are you?” He asked and raised his own eyebrow when I frowned up at him in confusion. “My servant informed me you are in Fecundity, how close are you? You did say to ask my questions.” He informed me.
I swallowed and glanced at Gareth who looked like he was ill but shook his head. “I do not know,” I replied. “It is not something that has ever occurred to me before and therefore I am unsure how to gage.” I admitted. I honestly had no way of knowing and I wasn’t certain any of the others did either. Perhaps my Father might know but he wasn’t here at the moment to advise me and I hadn’t had the chance to speak with him about it since I’d discovered it myself. Perhaps I should have simply squashed the damn Spriggins earlier, and then I wouldn’t be answering this question.
He frowned thoughtfully and then nodded. “I declare.” He replied and I blinked and gave myself a mental shake. Surely I did not just hear what I thought I had just heard.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I declare,” he replied and his hands came down upon my shoulders and he pulled me into his chest while my mind whirled and I tried to understand why he would do such a thing. “Because,” he told me, “I can.” And his lips came down upon mine while I struggled, mostly from the shock, in the circle of his arms.
Chapter 5
Tdem’s lips brushed at mine, coaxing gently, urging me to pay attention and participate. I moaned softly, my mind struggling to absorb what was happening as he pulled me closer and deepened the kiss.
When he finally pulled himself off me, I raised my fingers to my lips and looked at him in near horror. “You are no Dragon,” I told him bluntly. “I thought only Dragons could declare! This cannot be happening,” and I turned accusing eyes on my Drakes. They all looked as shocked and horrified as I felt.
Tdem made a low sound in his throat… an unhappy sound, and I turned back to him warily. His eyes looked jealous and the aura surrounding him had shifted from red to a yellow-green indicating I wasn’t mistaken about his eyes. Somehow he’d learned about ascension but someone must have failed to inform him of the sharing part. He didn’t look like he was inclined to and I wasn’t about to accept him if he didn’t.
“You said suitable. A suitable potential mate!” I hissed at Gareth, my eyes and temper swinging back to him. He looked pale but nodded. I waved my hand back toward Tdem and glared all the harder at him. “What do you call this?” I demanded, my anger exploding proportionate to the circumstances.
“The law does not state Dragons only.” He told me in a harsh voice, and his dark blue eyes whirled as he turned to glance daggers at Tdem. The guards hissed across the room and in response I turned on them and hissed right back. Above me my superimposed tail flicked and while they may have wanted to step back, they somehow managed to hold their ground. Next to me Tdem raised an eyebrow so self-assured he obviously felt no need for protection as he crossed his arms over his chest and smiled calmly.
“Close indeed,” he murmured and I turned my golden eyes on him and glared.
“You!” I said, and turned my back on him. “We are leaving now,” I informed the group. Lira and Roral were torn between kneeling to the King and scurrying out of my way. In my mind I yelled for Kit and he jumped and quickly moved up next to my side. I wasn’t sure why, but my anger always seem to startle him.
“Yes, Mistress?” he asked as I strode toward the hall, the three guards standing in my way. When they refused to move I glanced back at Tdem who was watching me closely, his arms still crossed over his chest a smug smile on his lips.
“Move them or I will,” I informed Tdem abruptly.
“It isn’t wise to threaten me, Your Majesty,” he replied calmly.
“King Stoneshadow, that was not a threat! That was a request for action, or a statement of fact. You, I believe, are now part of my Court. It is your job to see to my… satisfaction. Do I look satisfied?” I asked abruptly and he shifted, his smile sliding away as an uncertain look covered his face. “Perhaps you didn’t think I would take you seriously? Or did I misunderstand your earlier declaration?” I asked sweetly and he stared back at me but didn’t respond.
“Move them,” I informed Kit. He glanced at me like I’d grown another set of horns but snapped his fingers. The guards disappeared and reappeared behind their King, unhurt and no longer blocking my path. I smiled at Tdem who wasn’t smiling back and whose arms were no longer crossed. The others fell in behind and around me as I strode down the hall as quickly as my dress and ridiculous heels would allow. Normally my height didn’t bother me but having to wear heels was becoming unbearable.
Behind me I heard Dane mutter under his breath and looked back to find the King tagging along behind Gareth and Jace and in front of Cursed and Amras. His guards brought up the rear of our little tango line and I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming out my frustration. Another fifty feet and I stopped suddenly and turned to face Tdem. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked as calmly as I could.
He frowned then glanced around him at the others. “You said it yourself, your Majesty. I am now part of your Court. As such, I will accompany you to the Great Hall and be introduced to your Grandmother. I am quite looking forward to it.” He told me with an evil grin. My gaze slid to Cursed and he looked both pale and ill. His eyes burned as he glanced back at me, his mouth pressed into a tight line. Next to him Amras looked like a strong wind might blow him over, he appeared so unhealthy. This so wasn’t right, I thought and sighed, thinking how much worse could it get?
“Much,” Owen murmured and I rubbed my temple with my index finger, though it helped me not at all.
“Just another day in paradise,” I muttered, glancing down at Mi who was staring up at me with wide eyes. “Did you want to wander ahead and warn someone… like Dad?” I asked. She shook her head and glanced at the King behind me.
“No, I don’t think I want to be the one to deliver that news.” She informed me bluntly.
“What about the Queen? Do you think she might want to be warned before we drop this in her lap?”
Mi tilted her head to the side as if listening and shook her head again. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. The Queen of Light is already aware of the situation. These halls are, after all, communal.”
“Shared public access, eh?” I asked and glanced at my Dragons. Dane looked irritated, his black eyes annoyed. It was probably a delayed reaction to his being forced onto his knees earlier. Jace appeared to have overcome his initial shock and was quickly sliding into annoyance also. Gareth seemed to be taking it the worst and his dark eyes were still whirling softly as if the agitation inside him could not be contained.
“Lord Tdem?”
“Yes?” he responded a pleased look upon his face.
“What did you hope to gain by this?”
He hesitated a moment then looked like he might answer, but thought bett
er of it. His black eyes went flat while his lips pressed together in a thin line. No wonder my mother had fled the Sidhe, I thought, and turned my back on him. I have no idea how long we walked for, but my feet were starting to hurt in my heels long before we faced a huge set of gilded double doors and Lira and Roral halted and glanced over at me. Lucky for us the foyer in front of the doors was huge and I turned to my men and held out my hands.
“Gentlemen, if you please? Lord Tdem you may wish to move back so you do not become jostled.” And around me everyone that had come with me shifted except the guards Lira, Roral, Nolls, and of course the King and his men. We had discussed my entrance earlier and the men had decided it would be most impressive if I were to arrive alone amidst them in such a manner. It certainly would get their attention. Mi sat by my feet and glanced around at my little group. Cursed had sifted to a huge black panther, Amras a large wolfhound, Owen a huge creamy yellow timber wolf, and Kit to his normal black wolf with silver tipped hair. Dane, Jace, and Gareth shifted to Dragon. I noticed that Dane was eyeing Tdem with a gleam in his dark eye that had me a little concerned. “Dane?” I called to him and he turned one multifaceted eye to me. “Please stop doing that, the King is not snack food. He commands the Raging Host and could, no doubt, rip you into tiny pieces,” I warned him. Hearing this, Tdem lifted an eyebrow and looked at me with humor sparkling in his dark eyes.
Kit came to my side and bumped my hand with his nose. “Mistress, be careful with your personage.” He warned me then proceeded to bite me gently on the fingers. “Please remember that I do not wish to return to Hell.”
“I will do my best,” I told him, stroking his head while I gazed into his red eyes. He turned after a moment and went to sit in front to my right, waiting.
Owen came to me next and stood in front of me, his dark brown eyes searching my face. “They say pride ever goes before a fall, Lexi, but Elves do not prize humility. To them it is more than a character flaw. It is seen as weakness that must not be tolerated. For all our sakes, try not to be humble.” I nodded and gently tugged his mane before he turned and took his place to my left, even with Kit.
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