“I just wanted to save my people.”
“Is that all? I do wonder why you’re here.”
I still hadn’t seen any sign of Aramy. Maybe he had gathered forces back at the Revels.
I could hear Gretel saying, Have you ever apologized?
“Magus,” Will said. “I know why you’re here.”
I deliberately ignored my nerves.
“You’ve found yourself a girl and you want to touch her,” Will said. “Your sentence officially ends tomorrow. But I appreciate the aid. I will commute your sentence now.”
At first, I hardly comprehended the words. I can touch Gretel…? I didn’t even have to apologize.
“Take my hand,” Will said.
I hesitated to touch the broad, slightly calloused hand offered to me. I didn’t trust his generosity. He must suspect my plans.
“One good turn for another,” Will said. “That’s all. I still don’t want to see you at the Revels, but I also don’t want to be in your debt. And I do like those cakes…” The hand didn’t waver.
I reached for the hand, and I touched his skin. It didn’t burn me. For the first time in three years, I felt the warmth of another being—just as I heard horses thundering down the hills surrounding Pillna, and the cries of invaders. I recognized the solid pounding of a battle drum, and it was all familiar to me, the sounds of my homeland.
Aramy was finally here, with the force from Ellurine. I should have been relieved.
Now I saw a memory of Gretel’s face, stirring from sleep. This is where you belong. Here with me.
Will reached for the reins and our truce was forgotten. “What is that?”
Are you sure you’re not just repeating your old mistake in a different way?
I have to believe you’re wrong. People can change.
The horses pounded through the mist, trampling anyone who didn’t get out of the way. The human offense against the faeries now seemed like a joke with a real army charging in. The faeries were forced to fall back, scattering in all directions toward the forest. They would find their way back to the Revels, no matter which path they chose.
I extended a hand toward one of the trees in the town square and pulled myself up into the branches for a better vantage point. I saw Deniel’s banners fluttering above the sea of pale fog. My nephew led the charge.
“Deniel!” I shouted. “Halt! It’s your uncle! I want to talk.”
As Deniel stepped out of the fog, I heard sounds of female protest. My nephew had Queen Evaline bound, gagged, and slung across his horse. “Don’t worry, lamb,” he said. “I have no intention of hurting you, but you’re much too wriggly.”
“Mmph!” Evaline was trying to speak.
“No time to talk, Uncle,” Deniel said. I had not Deniel as more than a child except in painted miniature; he was born shortly before I left Ellurine. Now he was about the age I was when I left home, and my little sister’s son could have been my own, with the softly curling dark hair, strong but refined nose and slightly amused mouth that were traits of my father’s bloodline. “This is our chance, when Will is away from the Revels. Everything looks to be in a state of convenient chaos already!”
“Wait.” I held up my wand. “We’re making a mistake. My people—Will’s people—they’re happy with him.”
By the time I spoke the truth aloud, it no longer felt like a revelation. It had been true for so long. I had fought the truth. I had tried not to change, myself. But I had.
“I saw the Revels under Will’s rule. I saw him singing to them, his fine voice and their laughter—all of it. Gods, I don’t want to admit it, but when I was the king, I made a mess of everything. The Revels are merry and peaceful, as they should be. Put the queen down.”
I could hardly look at Evaline, but I saw her anyway, out of the corner of my eye. She stopped wriggling, and her eyes softened at me.
Aramy was behind Deniel. The old, retired baker and my handsome young nephew exchanged glances.
“You warned me, Aramy,” Deniel said. “I’m sorry, Uncle, but you’re talking madness. The Revels belong to our clan. If you don’t want them, believe me—I do. Forward!” he shouted at his men. “Capture Will!”
The drums started back up in earnest and the horses charged around the tree where I was perched. I dropped back to the ground and ran for the inn.
Chapter Seventeen
Gretel
I refused to believe that I had to give up my brother forever.
But the Magus had a point. For years now, I had been trying to convince my brother to allow me the same freedom he allowed himself. The argument always ended at the same impasse. He had already made up his mind that men and women had a different set of rules.
If I wanted him to understand, I had to make him see.
When I walked in, at first I didn’t even see Hansel. The room appeared empty of people. Food had been upturned in the haste to leave.
“Hansel?”
“Over here…”
Hansel’s voice came from behind the souvenir counter. Peter was unconscious.
“Is he all right?”
“I—I hope so. He hasn’t woken up, but his breathing is steady. I thought it would be safer for him back here,” he said. He looked at me with a face more familiar to me than my own. I had looked upon that face for more days of my life than I could count. Across dinner tables and fires, my brother and I had laughed and cried together.
“How did we grow so far apart, while we were so close?” I asked. “Every day spent together, and I never knew you were in love with Peter.”
He shrugged a shoulder.
“Gretel, I’m still not sure I understand…what you want,” he said. “What is it you wanted all this time? Just…to…lose your virginity?” He dropped his eyes back toward Peter. “Look, brothers and sisters shouldn’t talk about these things.”
“No, Hansel…that’s why I don’t know how to tell you. But you’re afraid for me because you don’t understand, so I guess I have to tell you something. I have always been drawn to sensual experiences. To colors and music and rich foods, sure, but also…feelings. In the faery world, it isn’t strange to acknowledge the pleasures of the body all the time, for sex to be a part of daily life. The Magus understands what makes me happy. I want to be with him. But—he has not been able to touch me, not once. Tonight, I pray…his curse will be lifted.”
“He truly hasn’t touched you?”
“No.”
We were silent for a little while. I found some blankets in a closet to support Peter’s head.
His brow furrowed. “You seem so different. I don’t like it.”
“I’m happy and not starving. I don’t think I should have to tell you everything. You seem different too, you know.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“I want you to knock it off!”
“He hurt Peter.”
“And Peter hurt him.” I was getting frustrated now. “I don’t want to go in circles forever. I don’t want to lose you either. I want to help you get Peter to a healer, and start over.”
The door opened behind us and the Magus appeared. Shouting and thumping noises outside briefly grew loud until he shut the door again. His pale skin was sweating, but his expression remained calm. No matter how he looked, I was always happy to see him, a wave of anticipation sweeping across my whole body. Tonight, separated from him and denied any of the usual stimulation, I had realized how well all the drawn out teasing had trained me to feel pleasure even in my own mind.
But I had also learned to work through it, to decorate cakes and dip berries into chocolate in the most careful of gestures and keep my mind engaged, ignoring the scream of hunger inside me. It was a balancing act that had made me more aware of everything I was thinking and feeling.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“My nephew has brought a force from Ellurine. I thought Aramy was bringing my nephew to support my claim to the throne, but apparently, w
hen I asked Aramy to swear he wouldn’t kill Will, he started making plans to go around me. I was just about to make a tentative truce with Will when they appeared. Aramy and all the faeries who once supported me now want to put Deniel on the throne.”
I had not expected this. “Then—what do we do?”
“They’ve captured Queen Evaline. They’re trying to scatter the Revelers. I don’t know what they plan, but we should assume the worst. It was already a mess before they arrived, and they’re taking advantage of it. Mobs are not known for their good sense.”
“Magus.” I looked at him, praying he knew what he must do.
His head tilted like he had smelled something unpleasant. “I need to get back to the faery realm, call the horses, and fight…with Will. Time has almost run out for me. Come here, Gretel.” He held out his hand.
I rushed to his side but of course I didn’t touch him.
He grabbed my hand.
And held it.
An absolute thrill ran through me and for a moment all I could hear was the roar of all my unfulfilled desires pounding in my ears. I was touching him. I felt his skin, his hand engulfing my own in masculine warmth and strength. My eyes searched his face. I don’t understand. How?
“Soon,” he whispered to me. Then, to Hansel, “Hansel, you encouraged the humans to fight back tonight, didn’t you?”
“They were already upset,” Hansel finally said. “I just said I was looking for my sister.”
“Well,” the Magus continued, “if my nephew takes over the Revels, he’s an impetuous young man. I don’t think he will let this incident go without taking revenge on you, if you don’t leave immediately. Whether or not you leave, he will take revenge on the people of Pillna. Will, on the other hand, is a human. He is far more likely to understand and forgive. If I were you, I would reconsider my allegiances.”
“Peter needs a healer,” I said. “Can Hansel come with us?”
Hansel hunched his shoulders in unconscious defense.
“Yes,” the Magus said.
I saw faint relief in Hansel as he picked up Peter in his arms. I didn’t let go of the Magus’ hand for even a second while we hurried outside, with Hansel behind us.
The Magus stopped and waved some of the faeries onward, knocking back humans who pursued them. “Go, go,” he said. “Get back to the Revels.”
A few of them paused at the sound of his voice. “My lord…is that you?”
“I’m the baker,” he said.
When he had aided as many faeries as were in the vicinity, we forged through the mist ourselves, hearing sounds of fighting we could no longer see, the Magus leading us toward a path leading back to the forest.
“How is it that we can we touch?” I finally asked.
“I helped Will fight off some humans, and he ended my sentence then and there. A mere few hours early.”
“So, then—“ I tugged on his arm, forcing him to stop hurrying, and I tugged on the tie of his cloak and tried to kiss him.
Instead, my unicorn horn collided with his dragon mask.
He laughed gently, pulled off his own mask, and pushed mine up to the top of my head. Our lips crashed together, sweeter than any confection I had ever tasted. I had been waiting for this forever and a day, and every faint touch of his skin to mine was like fire. My whole body thrummed with wanting. I hardly cared if Hansel saw us. I could hardly believe that I was permitted, now, to let my fingers explore the contours of his face as our lips and tongues joined with almost violent hunger. I nipped his lower lip just as he pushed me back.
He made a little growl of desire. “Soon,” he said again. “It’s not safe yet.”
We kept moving, and we came to a grove of trees with silver leaves. “We’ve made it. The gateway to the Revels,” the Magus said. The mist was still thick here, too, but we had lost most of the humans. Faeries were fleeing through the trees; I saw ghostly, costumed heads float by over the fog, hair flowing as girls ran home.
We passed through groves with leaves of gold and translucent leaves that glinted like icy diamonds, and then we came to a gently flowing river. The dark trunks of trees stood in silhouette against its moonlit waters. Beautifully carved wooden boats were crossing, some of them swamped with faeries, others almost empty, but most of the boats were tied up on the other side of the bank. The harpy girl came soaring overhead.
“I’ll swim across and get one of the boats for us,” the Magus said. He quickly yanked off his boots, cloak and jacket, and ran into the water wearing just his trousers and a thin shirt. The water must have been fairly cold, but I could see bonfires burning on the opposite bank, so at least he could dry out there.
Hansel stood awkwardly, shifting Peter’s weight in his arms. Peter started to stir.
“Peter?”
“Hans?”
Hansel lowered him to the riverbank. The other boy clutched his head. “How do you feel?” Hansel asked.
“Like shit, but I’ll live.” Peter laughed weakly. “I can’t remember what happened. Are we safe?”
I was watching across the water. The Magus had almost reached the opposite bank, but men on horseback were riding up to meet him. They seemed to be waiting. He glanced back at me from a distance and then he reached the shore. They immediately tried to seize him and he knocked one of them off his horse and slipped past their grasp. I looked at Hansel, stricken. I’m not sure what I was more afraid of: that he would be hurt by the other faeries, or that the Magus would be captured and we couldn’t join before midnight. There were too many ways he might die.
“It’s safer to stay here,” Hansel said.
Just as I plunged into the cold water.
Chapter Eighteen
The Magus
I withdrew into the woods, but I could see Gretel coming after me. The men didn’t chase me because now they were watching her. I surveyed as much of the scene as I could from my vantage point, which wasn’t ideal. I scrambled up a little higher on the bank. The mist was not so thick here. Deniel and the other men from Ellurine were charging into the Revels, and they were armed better than the costumed dancers could ever be. Ellurine had a proper army, while the Revels only had guards.
Deniel had ridden up toward the dais with the thrones. He already had Evaline, and he must be looking for Will now.
I looked at the moon. In the midst of all this, my own situation was becoming more dire. If I didn’t join with Gretel, I would die, regardless of what other chaos was going on.
Some dark part of me couldn’t help but wonder if Aramy had been planning this long before our discussion the other day. It all seemed too convenient.
Gretel was almost at the shore, and one of the men dismounted and tried to go after her. She swam farther down the shore. “Magus!” she cried, and then she dove under the water.
I scrambled back down the bank, dead leaves under my bare feet. My sodden clothes were making me shiver but I hardly noticed. I emerged, shooting magic. The Ellurinans were starting to realize I only had one good offense, and getting knocked back wasn’t that devastating if you knew it was coming. The man on the ground crouched, bracing himself for my attack. I ignored him and went for the horses instead. I didn’t want to harm the horses if I could help it. I blasted their flanks, startling them, so they all went running with their riders forced to hang on.
Gretel popped up farther down the river. I changed course, running toward her instead. The man left behind on foot tore after me. I tried to knock him back, and he dodged my spell.
Gretel came toward me, at first wading slowly, and then running as more of her body came out of the water. She was still wearing her costume, unicorn horn, little shoes, and all, but it was soaking wet.
“Watch out!” she told me, and then she threw a few rocks at the man behind me. She must have picked them up off the riverbank when she went underwater. One of them hit his head and he stumbled and tripped on the brush.
“Ouccch,” she hissed. “I hope I didn’t kill him.”
&
nbsp; “I highly doubt that. But what else could we do? I’m glad you have good aim, my dear. This has turned into a huge mess, but Gretel…I’m almost out of time.”
“Are you asking me if you can make love to me?”
“I’m asking you if I can fuck you quickly and make love to you later…which is not how I’ve envisioned it, but I still have to attempt to save Will’s hide.”
“Does this mean we can keep the bake shop?”
I took her hands. “Yes.”
She smiled her magnificent smile. One could actually see it unfold from the center of her lips to the corners. “After all that, it just figures that I have to keep waiting for what I deserve. But…I couldn’t be happier. All I’ve ever wanted is you, and our little home, and…miles of chocolate. Being king and queen could not possibly be better than all of that.”
Chapter Nineteen
Gretel
We hurried up a hill, circling the Revels, as fast as we could run. Looking below us through the forest, I saw a vast clearing ahead, the size of a grand ballroom, or maybe much larger. It’s not as if I had ever seen a grand ballroom. Fires burned around the perimeter, and I thought I saw some of our cakes on one of the tables, but no one was dancing or playing music. A faery sitting on horseback was addressing the revelers, who now huddled in their costumes.
“That’s Deniel,” the Magus said. “I’m not sure how this will be received…”
“The Revelers began thanks to the faeries,” Deniel was saying, gesturing with his sword. “They need to stay in the family. Don’t you agree?”
“I see Evaline, in the custody of one of his knights. Where is Will?” He tried to peer over the brush. “Damnit, I see him there on the dais. He’s surrounded and he knows he’s outnumbered, too. If only these woods still belonged to me.”
“What can we do? If we find Will, can you tell him how to cast magic to stop this?”
He turned to me. “I should have helped him long ago, shown him how to harness the magic of the woods so he could protect his people in the case of invaders… It’s too late for that.”
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