Six Times a Charm

by Deanna Chase

  I leaned into Cheney. “They all know me, don’t they?”

  “Yes. Ignore them.”

  “The whispering doesn’t bother me. They’re just curious,” I said in my normal voice, knowing full well the elves could hear me. I smiled and nodded at the next person who looked at me with wide eyes.

  Cheney laughed but didn’t comment. We talked as we moved through the crowd, proud and happy for the world to see. At the castle entrance, the guards bowed to Cheney then opened both doors for him.

  The inside was even lovelier than the outside. Silver threaded through the white marble walls, making a gleaming forest. The floor was made from some sort of polished milky crystal and the ceiling twinkled like the night sky. We walked to another set of double doors where Cheney finally paused, taking a deep breath.

  I squeezed his hand. This better work out, I thought to the universe. You better not have brought us here to kill us—and if you did? Well, please be merciful. I drew strength from my inner elf and kept my heart steady and my face from blushing like the human in me wanted to do. Balancing the two halves of myself wasn’t as easy as Olivia made it sound. We walked through the doors hand in hand, perfectly synchronized, with heads held high and eyes focused on the front of the room.

  As we walked down the aisle, a hushed silence fell over the room. The man I assumed was the king because he sat in the large throne-like chair looked away from the person he was speaking with to watch us approach. I could see a family resemblance between Cheney and him. His eyes tilted at the same angle as Cheney’s did when he was furious and his jaw set in the same determined fashion. I fought not to glance at Cheney. Every eye in the room drilled into the two of us.

  We stopped several feet from the throne and gave what I had learned just days previously was the customary short, stiff bow.

  “Father,” Cheney said, his voice sending icy chills down my spine.

  “Son,” the King said in a similar manner.

  I said nothing, as was part of the plan.

  “May we speak with you in private?”

  His father gave a withering look and smirked. “If whatever you have to say can be said in front of someone as common as her, then surely you can say it in front of the entire court.”

  Cheney tightened his grip on my hand. “You really shouldn’t speak of my wife in such a manner, Father. What will people say?”

  The king went very still, rage consuming his eyes. His ears turned an odd shade of purple.

  “When you are ready to speak with us, we’ll be in Mother’s waiting banquet room,” Cheney said, leading me to the door to the right of the throne.

  Inside was a table that could easily seat fifty. I sagged against it and released my breath when Cheney shut the door behind us. “That didn’t go so well,” I said softly.

  “It went much better than I expected,” he said, lightly kissing my hairline.

  The door flew open and the king marched in, slamming the door behind him. I started to move from Cheney’s arms, but he held me to him.

  “What was the meaning of that? You cannot go around saying such things in front of everyone. It was the whore’s idea, wasn’t it? Trying to embarrass me again.” His glare met my own. Just who did he think he was calling a whore?

  I was about to say something snarky, but Cheney released me and stalked toward his father with gait of a wolf. “If you call my wife a whore again, you won’t live to regret it. Have a seat. Selene would like to speak with you.”

  “I will not be told what to do in my own kingdom.”

  “You will have a seat or I will sit you down myself,” Cheney told him, inches from his father. His father sat, fists clenched with white knuckles. Not really how I wanted this conversation to start.

  “I’m sorry,” I started. Cheney and the king looked at me in shock. I pulled out my own chair and perched on the edge of it. “I know saying we haven’t always gotten along is an understatement of epic proportions. We have never really found any common ground between the two of us, which is surprising since the common ground was always right there in front of us.”

  “I share no common ground with half breeds.”

  “But you do.” I smiled gently. “Cheney is our common ground. Instead of constantly battling for him and tearing him apart, I thought it would be nice to come up with a truce that would allow for both of us to be in his life at the same time. I don’t want Cheney to lose his family because he’s with me.”

  “Then leave him and stay gone.”

  “I cannot. I don’t want him to lose you, but losing me isn’t an option either. We tried that and you saw how well it worked.”

  “If it comes down to losing one of you, it will not be Selene this time.” Cheney said.

  “I did not raise you to follow around half-breeds like a lovesick fool. You’re nearly five-hundred years old and yet you act like an adolescent.”

  “Then perhaps it’s time you trust my ability to make my own decisions.”

  “How can I when you do things like this? You choose her over your own people—”

  “Stop right there,” I cut him off. “Last time I left, how did Cheney handle it? Was everything sunshine and roses from that day forward?” The king looked away from me. “Our souls are bound and nothing will undo it. You don’t like me, but I swear I’m a nice person if you get to know me. I’m not a full elf, and for that I’m not sorry. I know you see humans as flawed—”

  “Flaws you, yourself, demonstrate.”

  I took a deep breath. “And what would those be?”

  “Oh, where to begin? You are a power-hungry, backstabbing, user—”

  “No, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t care for power at all. I would be happy if Cheney and I could peacefully live our lives without the interference of this world. As for backstabbing, I have made some poor decisions in the past, but I’d like to make up for them now. And finally…I’m not using your son,” I swallowed hard, “I love him.”

  I glanced at Cheney and he winked at me. “But what I can see that you seem to be blind toward are the flaws of the elf. You are prideful to the point of stupidity, cold to the point of isolation, and so arrogant you have alienated every ally you may have had, making yourself vulnerable to attack. The world is changing and you have to change with it. I want to offer a truce. Consider it the first step in a very necessary change if you expect to survive this coming war.”

  The king said nothing and refused to look in my direction. I shrugged. I couldn’t reach him. I had failed.

  “Selene is right, Father.” Cheney’s voice was no longer as cold as it had been. “She’s not the only one who thinks so. There are others. We have to make changes now or we’ll lose.”

  The king looked to him and nodded. “Yes, changes have to be made.” He stood and walked to the door. As we followed him back to the throne room, the quiet murmuring buzz of the audience dissipated and all eyes were again on us.

  “My son informed me that he spoke the truth earlier,” the king said, addressing the people. “The half-elf, Selene, is his wife, despite my laws and advice. He is in love.” His tone was mocking. “He told me change is before us, and I must comply or we will lose this war that she has started.” He pointed at me. “As much as it pains me to do, Cheney knew the rules. He is forthwith stripped of this crown and is no longer of my family.”

  There was a collective gasp from the audience.

  Cheney stepped forward. “Thank you, Father, for proving my point. A war is coming and we’re woefully underprepared. Under your rule the elves have grown complacent. We have allowed ourselves to forget how it was before the fae were united. We were selected to rule—not because we are better or superior. But now the very people who selected us to protect them fear us. I have stood idly by too long and will do so no longer. Selene didn’t start this war. Your prejudice did. I am the only hope the elves have left. You are no longer fit to lead our people. It is time for you to step aside.”

  As h
e spoke the words ”step aside,” our allies separated themselves from the audience falling in a V formation behind the two of us. Goose bumps covered my entire body as the room filled with tension.

  “You have a choice,” Cheney continued, speaking to the room. “Stand with me and succeed, or stand against me and fall. But make your choice now.”

  Elves in fancy robes across the front of the room stirred. Several of them moved behind the king, but more of them stayed where they were. A few moments later, people began to trickle behind Cheney. Our number grew to outnumber the support of the king.

  “Step down, Father. Do not create a rift between our people.” The king looked past Cheney to his still increasing numbers. “They have chosen me.”

  “You are responsible for this,” the king said to me. “Guards,” he yelled. A line of heavily armored men filed into the room, weapons drawn. Someone in the audience screamed and chaos ensued.

  Instincts took over. I focused my energy and threw it in the guards’ general direction, knocking three of them against the wall as I sprinted toward the melee without another thought on my mind, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

  “Selene!” I glanced over and Cheney threw me a sword.

  I twirled the weapon in my hand with natural ease. Hello, my old friend, I thought, impaling the first guard I came across. I felt something hit the air behind me. I turned to see a very shocked woman who couldn’t get her sword through my shield. An eerie calm and almost glee took over as the battle came to me. My mind was silent and my body moved in a fluid motion as if it always knew what to do. Somewhere deep inside I was horrified at my own violence, but the louder part just felt free.

  Cheney moved in fury of motion, slicing through the guards. Sebastian stayed close to my friends, protecting them as they cast protection spells on the people with us. The other members of our small company held their own.

  “We do not want to fight,” Cheney shouted. “You do not have to follow my father’s directives. If you stop now, you can join us. My father’s time is through.”

  The guard I was fighting stepped back and dropped his sword. I struggled to stay my weapon. With gritted teeth I managed to force my arms down and nod to him, and he nodded back. Slowly all the guards surrendered, were subdued, or were slain, and the reality of what happened sank in, making my hands shake. The nobles who stood against Cheney had escaped during the chaos, and I couldn’t find the Erlking either. I shook my head. It didn’t matter. We won the day. I released a breath and searched for Cheney. As I spotted him talking to Sebastian, a sharp point pressed against my back.

  Cheney was in front of me in an instant, eyes glistening. “Do not make me do this, Father.”

  “How could you have chosen her?”

  “I love her.”

  “She has bewitched you.” The sword pressed harder against my back, making me gasp. “Admit it.”

  “If you hurt her, I will kill you.”

  “I’d rather be dead than allow my son to be made a fool of.”

  The tip of his sword sank into my flesh and I cried out. Suddenly, the pressure eased and he was gone. I whirled around, a hand pressed to the sticky, wet spot on my lower back. Sy had the king in a headlock, his dagger over the king’s heart.

  “I’ll take him,” Cheney said, walking up to them.

  “Selene?” Sy asked, ignoring him.

  Part of me wanted to tell him to end this now. With the king dead, everything would be easier. I looked at Cheney, his eyes were cautious as he gazed back at me. I looked at the Erlking, struggling uselessly against Sy.

  “You tried to have me killed. Why should I show you mercy?”

  “I don’t ask for mercy,” he spat at me. “Kill me now and show my son who you really are.”

  I drew my hand from my back, looking at the blood on my fingers. “Let him go,” I said quietly.

  Sy shoved the king to Cheney and came to me. “Turn around.” He lifted my shirt and looked at my spine. “Superficial. You’ll be okay.” He hugged me. “That was close, coz.”

  ***

  When everyone was calmed and the king had been taken out of the room, Adan handed Cheney the crown. Cheney closed his eyes for moment, then looked to the door his father had just departed from. The crown was a thick, silver ring with silver ruins carved around it. Cheney came back to me and scooped me into his arms.

  “This was all for you. Now we can be together without running,” he whispered in my ear. Nervousness clenched my throat so I hugged him back. He released me and took my hand. We walked back to the front of the room.

  Cheney’s voice rose above the excited clamor of the room. “All bounties on Selene are henceforth revoked. She is not an enemy of our people.”

  All of the robed elves who remained in the room came one by one to acknowledge Cheney as the new king. My eyes strayed to the back of the room where I met a familiar face, but in a blink it was gone. I refocused on the people shaking my hand as I smiled down at them. When everyone had finally made it through the receiving line, the tension was replaced with excitement. Change was on the horizon. I noticed my friends hovering in the back, looking as uncomfortable as I felt. I let go of Cheney’s hand.

  “I’m going to talk to the girls,” I told him. He smiled and I walked through the crowd, shaking hands as I went. It was the strangest sensation. When I finally made it back to them, I was engulfed in a hug.

  “Where’s Gram?” I asked.

  “She’s over there harassing Adan,” Katrina said. “And holy crap, I’m going to start calling you Buffy, slayer.”

  I knew she was joking, but I didn’t know how I felt about it. I had taken lives and felt nothing. I would have never thought that was possible.

  “How are you, sweetie?” Devin asked, hugging me. “This was a traumatic day in more ways than one.”

  I hugged her back, wanting to cry, but the tears refused to fall. Devin stiffened, squeezing me hard like she felt something. But before she could say anything there was a tap on my shoulder. I let go of her and looked back. Sy stood behind me. “Can we talk for a moment?”

  I went with him to the back of the room behind the crowd. He took me to a shadowed corner. Femi stepped out with the familiar man I saw earlier.

  Chapter 37

  Something about the slight smile on his full lips was just out of my grasp. I knew him but couldn’t quite place how. He was really tall and his shoulders were broad and thick. His dark hair moved back from his face in curling waves and a well-kept beard shaded his jaw. The gray eyes smiled at me though his face was serious.

  “It’s been a long time,” was all he said.

  I shook my head helplessly, biting my lip.

  He glanced toward Cheney. “Now is not a good time, I know. Femi insisted I come with her. Everything is going as planned. We’ll talk soon.”

  I looked back at him, my heart thudding. “As planned?” I asked weakly.

  He smiled and my hand reached toward him until I stopped myself. “I always knew you would pull it off.”

  “Pull it off?”

  “Oh, I forgot you don’t remember. We started the revolution. Everything has gone exactly as you said it would.”

  “No. It started before me.” That was what Cheney said. He said I joined them. How did this guy know I couldn’t remember? What had I done?

  “It started with you, Selene, not before you.”

  “You’re lying—and you’ve been trying to kill me.” I clung to what Cheney had told me—what I needed to be true.

  Jaron gave me a half smile. “Why would I want to kill you? You’ve done everything we discussed. You’re wonderful.”

  “No,” I said louder than I meant to. I covered my mouth and glanced around, hoping I hadn’t drawn attention. “The old Selene may have been on your side, but I’m with Cheney. You people need to leave me alone.”

  “That’s just it. I didn’t know phase two had started until Femi found me. We were never after you. We’ve been waiting for
you to initiate the next phase.”

  “It was just the king from the start?” Sy said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s the next phase?”

  “The prince taking the crown. I’ll explain everything soon.” He reached for me, but I backed away.

  Sy caught his arm. “We’ll be in touch.”

  “Selene?” Cheney called from the front of the room.

  “You have to go.” I shook my head and went toward the sound of Cheney’s voice, my thoughts shocked into silence. Worry and doubt filled me. Had I made a horrible mistake? Sy was right. I should have waited until I remembered.

  Cheney held out his hand. I hesitated, then took it, trusting the feeling of comfort that came with my skin touching his, even though it was a product of the bond. I let Cheney lead me to the front and I stood by his side.

  “We have won the battle, but the trials before us are still great. My wife and I will work to mend the bridges that have been destroyed by prejudice,” Cheney’s voice rang out.

  My eyes met Jaron’s before Femi pulled him back into the shadows. He touched his fingers to his forehead in a salute before he disappeared. Suddenly a memory of kissing him in the soft morning light came to life behind my eyes.

  I couldn’t hear any more of the words Cheney spoke. My ears roared with the sound of my own blood. Cheney squeezed my hand and my heart stilled. I looked into his beautiful, wild eyes and a smile touched my mouth. Cheney smiled back and kissed the back of my hand. I had to trust someone. Jaron was a stranger. I wouldn’t let him come between us. We would figure everything out. Cheney didn’t need to know until I understood everything better.

  There was a new day before us and I refused to allow the sins of the past to destroy the future.