Pixie-Led (Book 2 in the Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  “If my word isn't good enough for you,” I growled at Iseabal, “than this should be.” I waved a hand and the thorny, burning vines, unraveled and cracked out into the air like whips. “And if this isn't good enough,” I drew closer to her and had the satisfaction of watching her pale to unseelie white. “Then I'll be happy to give you a first hand experience, Grandma.”

  “Seren, no!” Keir's hand came down hard on my shoulder but I shrugged it off and Cat turned to snap at Keir once in warning.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tiernan come running up to us. He pushed gawking fairies out of the way and took the dais steps two at a time. In an instant, he was behind me, hands at my waist and cheek pressed to mine.

  “Easy, Little Star,” he whispered, sending shivers along my skin despite the violence that rode my blood. “Think about what you're doing and just breathe deeply. Queen Iseabal is part of your family. You don't really want to hurt her.”

  “Don't I?” I whispered as I looked over Iseabal's perfect face. Too perfect. It needed some scars for character.

  She held herself rigid, chin lifted proudly, arms wide and ready to defend herself. There were spots of wild color in her cheeks and sparks shifting across her fingertips. But it was what I saw in her eyes that stopped me. Fear. She was afraid of me and even more afraid of allowing her court to see her terror. The Seelie Queen was scared of me.

  “She wanted me to hurt an innocent fairy,” I glanced down to where the brownie still cowered, too frightened to even run. “What kind of queen hurts her own people?”

  “A different queen than the one you'll be,” Tiernan kissed my cheek and held me tighter. “You will be the type of queen who would never hurt her own people. Nor would you ever hurt your own grandmother, no matter how angry you got.”

  He laid his hand over mine and I realized that I still had it raised... and it was pointing straight at Queen Iseabal. I lowered it immediately and turned to look up at Tiernan. The heat of magic drained away as I looked over his beautiful, silver-scarred face. He may have been right about me not hurting my own people but I wasn't sure about Iseabal. If she attacked me in the future, I would defend myself and I don't think I'd feel the least bit guilty about destroying her. But he thought I would. I could see the confidence in his face, the firm belief that I would always do the right thing. It was his faith, more than anything else, that calmed me and gave me back my control.

  “Thank you,” I laid a hand on his chest, right over his amazing heart, before I turned to face my grandmother once more. “And now he's saved your life,” I said quietly. “Remember that, the next time you lift your hand in anger. That the fairy you once tried to murder, saved your life. Goodnight, Queen Iseabal. It's been an... enlightening and very entertaining evening.”

  With that, I let Tiernan escort me through the throng of subdued fairies and out of the seelie castle with Cat at our side. Thankfully, Keir, Aideen, and all of our attendants, took the hint and followed after us. It would have been awkward to have to wait on the castle steps for them.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “So that went better than I expected,” I finally said into the silent carriage.

  “Better than you expected?” Keir exclaimed in horror. “Seren, you'll never be welcomed back. You've just insulted and threatened the Queen of the Seelie. You're supposed to be an ambassador! How do you think you'll fulfill those duties now?”

  “You're seriously taking her side?” I gaped at him. “Uncle Shane said you were blind when it came to your mother but, Dad, this is certifiable. The woman wanted me to kill a brownie and not in the delicious, I've-got-the-munchies kind of way.”

  “You wouldn't have killed her,” Keir scoffed. “She's immortal and there are several healers in the Seelie Court. She would most likely have recovered.”

  “Who the fuck are you?!” I screamed and both Tiernan and Aideen flinched. Cat got up from her place on the floor and looked back and forth between Keir and I, just waiting. “Do you just turn into another person when you're around your mother or what? Because the man I know would never have allowed an innocent fairy to be hurt while he was standing right there!”

  “Seren,” Keir growled and Cat growled back at him. The fur on her back lifted and her lips rolled up to show off her teeth.

  “You looked away!” I kept screaming and started pointing my finger into his face. “She ordered me to hurt that fairy and you looked away! Who are you? You're not my father. You're not the kind, brave, fair king of the neutral Twilight Court. You're a coward and a monster.”

  “I'm...” Keir swallowed hard, looking suddenly lost. “I don't know who I am. She's always had that affect on me. I don't see things clearly when I'm in her presence. I have no idea why.”

  “Could he be fairy-struck?” I glanced at Tiernan.

  “By his own mother?” Tiernan frowned and then considered it. “I don't know. Perhaps. If he was, the magic wouldn't fade with distance.”

  “I'm not struck,” Keir snarled.

  “Then what? Something happens to you because that was not you. Could she work some kind of enchantment over you without your knowing?” I was calm now that a rational possibility had presented itself and Keir had begun to speak like himself again. Cat responded to my calm and laid back down.

  “She's the Queen of the Seelie and my mother,” Keir sighed. “It's possible.”

  “Oh, Dad,” I shook my head. “I'm sorry but I hope so. I really hope so because if you're not under some kind of spell, you're bonkers and that would mean that I could go bonkers too.”

  “You're acting kind of crazy right now,” Aideen muttered.

  “Shut up, Aideen,” I whined. “I'm upset, not crazy.”

  “Sorry,” she sighed.

  “Your Majesty,” Tiernan said to Keir. “I think you should wear a protection amulet the next time you see your mother.”

  “A protection amulet?” Keir gaped.

  “Dad, you would have allowed me to hurt that fairy,” I said grimly. “Think about what I could have done to her.”

  “I see your point,” Keir deflated. “My own mother. Why?”

  “Maybe you spoke to her like I do,” I suggested.

  “Dear Danu,” Keir whispered. “I think you're right. I did stand up to her once. I remember it now.”

  “What about your father?” I asked as I recalled what Shane had said about King Dhoire.

  “My father?” Keir looked confused.

  “Do you think she may have done the same thing to him?” I asked gently.

  “No, my father was simply a man in love,” Keir gave a deep sigh. “I am the fool here.”

  “Lovers are fools,” Aideen shrugged. “They do the silliest things.”

  I glanced at Tiernan and smiled. “Maybe she's right but I don't care.”

  “Me either,” Tiernan took my hand and squeezed it, reminding me that we couldn't make out in front of my father. Now that would have been foolish indeed.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next morning, I was awoken by a pounding on my bedroom door.

  “Geez, is the sun even up?” I groaned and rolled over onto Tiernan's stomach. “Make them go away, Honey. Will ya? Just tell them the princess says the sun isn't up, they'll have to believe you.”

  “I'll go and see who it is, Your Highness,” Tiernan chuckled as he slid out from under me.

  He grabbed my silk robe, which had been discarded at the end of the bed, and slipped it on as he padded across the silver and cream carpets. Cat got up from her place at the foot of the bed and followed after him. I watched Tiernan with one eye open, smiling at how wonderful he looked, even in my feminine robe. Could that man never look bad? He wore the lavender silk like a sultan, shoulders back and head lifted proudly as he strode to the door. Every step showcased different muscles through the thin fabric, making me sigh and snuggle deeper into the covers... hoping that he'd come back soon.

  Then Tiernan opened the door and my father burst in, ruining the mood entir
ely.

  “Get up, Seren,” Keir called, “Uisdean is scrying us.”

  “What?” I sat up, holding the blankets to my chest. “What time is it?”

  I glanced up at the crystal dome set into my ceiling and saw that the sun was indeed up but it couldn't have been there for long because I was exhausted. Though that might have been from what Tiernan and I had done the night before. I started to smile groggily as I remembered the thing he'd done with his tongue.

  “Get dressed,” my father threw something in my face and jarred me out of my sweet memories. I looked down and saw that it was a gown. “Hurry up,” he snapped as he headed for the door. “You need to hear what Uisdean has to say. Oh, and Lord Tiernan?” He stopped to look Tiernan over.

  “Yes, Your Majesty?” Tiernan asked without even a hint of embarrassment.

  “You may join us as well,” a small smile stole over Keir's face. “As long as you don't wear that.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Tiernan bowed and closed the door behind my father.

  I giggled as I got out of bed. “You really should just move in here.”

  “That's not appropriate,” Tiernan shucked off the robe and went into the dressing room to get some clothes.

  “But it's appropriate for you to answer my door in my lavender robe?” I followed after him. “At least bring your bathrobe over. You already have half your wardrobe here.”

  “I don't actually own a robe,” he gave a small huff of laughter. “And I think we should be married before we start living together.”

  I swallowed hard. The M word. Did he just say it? I think he said it. Marriage was something that made me nervous. Partially because I'd been raised to believe it was something I'd have to do with another Extinguisher (so I could make powerful Extinguisher babies) and partially because it still felt like it was something I'd have to do. Except now it would be with the proper fairy (to make powerful fairy heirs). It was those restrictions; first the Extinguisher and then the fairy royalty, that raised my hackles. I didn't like restrictions. It made me want to rebel.

  On the other hand, Tiernan happened to be a fairy royal. He was also perfect for me in more ways than just his title. If I was to marry Tiernan, no one would oppose my choice. But I was a fairy now and that meant I'd live for a very long time... if someone didn't murder me. Which also meant that if I married Tiernan, it would be forever. Like literally. I just wasn't ready to make that kind of commitment.

  On the other, other hand, Keir had fooled around with a human woman and he would have married Mom if they hadn't been intent on protecting me. So maybe he'd be okay with a non-royal for a son-in-law. Which meant that I could marry someone other than Tiernan... though probably not a human. The question was; did I want to marry someone who wasn't Tiernan? I know I didn't want to go the open marriage route and have consorts. Sheesh, where would I put them all? Oh that didn't sound the way I'd intended. I meant in bed, where would you... no that still doesn't sound right. Forget it, you know what I meant; they'd take up a lot of space. Though I did have a huge bed.

  The point I'm trying to make is, I didn't know what I wanted. How could I? Tiernan was my first major relationship. I'd had boyfriends before but dating is complicated when you're an Extinguisher. Getting serious means you're getting married. So I didn't have a whole lot of romantic experience with men. Maybe I should get more experience before I settled on one. But I really loved Tiernan, did I really want any sexual experiences that didn't include him? And is it getting hot in here?

  “Seren?” Tiernan was suddenly standing beside me, his hand on my bare arm.

  I had been holding the dress Keir had thrown at me and staring off into the distant future, where Tiernan and I sat on the twilight thrones surrounded by little fairy babies. Super powerful fey-human babies who flew around setting things on fire and making thorn bushes appear in mid-air. OMG! Maybe commitment was the least of my worries.

  “Seren!” Tiernan shook me lightly. “What's wrong with you?”

  “Huh?” I blinked and refocused on him. “Oh, um, just reliving last night.”

  “Oh,” Tiernan frowned. “Yes. We'll need to be more careful with Queen Iseabal.”

  “You mean my father needs to be more careful around his mother,” I corrected as I pulled the dress over my head. “The fey take dysfunctional families to a whole new level.”

  “Yes, we do,” he grimaced and settled his sword belt into place.

  “Who was that woman by the way?” I slid my feet into some leather flats and then looked up at him.

  “What woman?” He was pulling on a pair of boots and giving them way more attention than they needed.

  “The one with the silly pink hair,” I swirled my finger up and over my head, to suggest her frothy hairdo, “who was molesting you on the dance floor.”

  “She was hardly molesting me,” he muttered and refused to meet my eyes.

  “Holy Zamboni,” I gaped at him. “You're evading my question. That means she's more important than I thought.”

  “She's not important,” he sighed and stood up. “At least not to me. Not anymore.”

  “Not anymore?” I exhaled roughly. “When was she important to you?”

  “When she was my wife,” he said tonelessly and finally met my stare.

  “You're what?” I blinked, sure I'd misheard him.

  “My wife,” he said that horrid word again.

  “But she's not your wife anymore?” I narrowed my eyes on him.

  “Of course not,” he huffed.

  “I didn't realize the fey had divorce,” I took a deep breath and tried to settle my racing heart.

  “We do,” he assured me. “It's not done often but it's not entirely unheard of either. We have rather long lives, sometimes things just don't work out.”

  “So when you left court, did you ask her to go with you?” I was finally starting to see the bigger picture.

  “No, I didn't,” Tiernan swallowed hard. “I knew it would be too hard on her. She loves being at court. I asked her once to move away, to build our own home in one of the seelie towns, and she laughed at me.”

  “But you were leaving for good,” I floundered. “Didn't she want to go with you?”

  “I told her I had to leave,” Tiernan looked away from me again, “and she barely waited for me to finish before declaring our marriage dissolved.”

  “That's all you have to do?” I gaped at him, “Just say; it's over, and bam; you're divorced?”

  “It's said with magical intention but yes,” Tiernan swallowed hard.

  “That supreme bitch!” I snapped, my heart breaking for him all over again. Betrayed by court and family and then finally, by his wife. The next time I saw that woman, I was going to burn that whipped cream hair right off her head.

  Tiernan's eyes snapped back to mine and he gave a surprised bark of laughter. “Yes, I guess she was a bit of a bitch.”

  “I'm so sorry,” I slid over and gave him a hug. “I would have left with you and I would have done it with my head held high, proud to be your wife. And I probably would have flipped a few people off as we left, mainly, your father.”

  “I know,” he whispered into my hair. “And that is one of the many reasons why I love you, Little Star. Indecent gestures and all.”

  “I love you too, Baby Hunter.”

  “Baby Hunter?” He pulled back so he could blink at me in surprise.

  “What; too demeaning for a big, bad ass, Lord of the Wild Hunt?” I teased.

  “Not at all,” he smiled slowly. “Lovers are fools after all.”

  “Yeah, it is kind of silly,” I admitted. “I'll work on it.”

  “I'll look forward to your endeavors,” he chuckled.

  “Oh damn it,” I sighed. “Keir is gonna be livid. We'd better go.”

  “Just one more thing before we do,” his hand slid up into my hair as he angled his face down to mine. “I'm glad she divorced me. If not for her, I'd have to live forever without this.” And he lowered
his mouth to mine.

  I breathed into his kiss, letting his warm, earthy scent surround me as his hands lifted me higher against him. My fingers dug into his muscled back as the touch of his tongue on mine sent delicious tingles through my body. What woman could let this go willingly? I would live in a grass hut in the middle of the woods... without real bathroom facilities, just to be kissed by Tiernan everyday. And evidently, he felt the same way about me. That's when I knew; I didn't need to have experiences with other men. What I needed was already mine. Did I want to marry him right that second? No. But I wasn't afraid of the possibility anymore either. I could finally relax and let things happen in their own time. Just as Keir had suggested.

  “Shall we go and hear what your Uncle has to say?” Tiernan held his hand out to me and I took it.

  “Sure. I can't wait,” I sighed and let him lead me from my suite with Cat at our heels. “My fairy family is fantastic, every one of them,” I grumbled. “Fantastic... and other F words.”

  Tiernan just shook his head and smiled contentedly.

  My father's rooms weren't very far from mine. They were within one of the towers as mine were. There was access to several towers from this top floor but we were the only two living up here, so the rest of the tower suites remained empty. All of the towers were connected by a central square area that held our family rooms; for when we wanted to spend some personal time together outside of our suites. The family rooms included a dining room, a library, and some sitting areas. Keir had placed me in the tower closest to his, so it was just a short walk down one of the connecting hallways to reach his rooms. I didn't even have to cross through the family area.

  We went in without knocking since the door was open and he was expecting us. We found my father in his meeting room. He was already in front of his crystal ball, staring down into it intently as Uisdean's voice floated eerily out of it. I walked up with Tiernan and waited for my father to notice us.