Killian

by E. A. Weston

  I look up to my father’s shining black eyes. “How so? I thought you met at the summer revelry.” He laughs, nodding his head.

  “We did, but I was not supposed to be there. I was passing through the Glen of oaks on my way to help train new guards for my father—it was after sunset and I was tired. I heard music and laughter carried on the wind so I followed it. I figured I could, at least, get some food and have fun before I spent three months training.

  As I crested the hill, I saw about five hundred fairies dancing, singing, and drinking. It was a fantastic sight. Walking through the fairies, I could feel my skin tingle. It was the strangest feeling I ever felt. I danced with many fairies that night, all beautiful, all willing to be my bride, but my skin still felt tingly. Every time I danced with a fairy it would happen. I made my way to the front of the celebration to where the fire was glowing. Sitting by the fire, the feeling grew. It felt like I was being electrocuted.” He laughs.

  “I sat there looking around when I saw her sitting across the fire. Our eyes met and that was it. I knew. I knew she was my true mate. When I went over to talk to her, I found out she was only eighteen, which kind of surprised me, but we talked for most of the night. We discovered both our skin felt tingly until we kissed.” Holding up my hands, I laugh.

  “Okay, okay—enough, father, I get it.” He laughs too, clapping my shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, son, your true fairy is out there just waiting for you to find her, but for now, go out and dance and have fun.” Smiling, I nod at him.

  “I best get changed. I am taking Ari to the revelry tonight and she will not forgive me I turn up in my training gear.” My father nods.

  “Okay, be safe. Take care of her and bring Connor.” He gives me a pointed look.

  “Okay.”

  The thought of having Connor hanging around us all night is quite annoying, but my father is right—two warriors are better than one. Walking up the stairs to my suite of rooms, I pass by Aurelia’s door. I can hear her singing, which makes me smile. My sister is beautiful and will make some fairy very lucky, but she is also fierce and naïve, which can be dangerous. I hope my father will not marry her off too soon.

  Arriving at my rooms, I feel tired from sparring today. Rolling my shoulders, I lay on my bed, wondering if I really do have a true mate waiting for me. I don’t think its Tatiana, but she is fun to spend an evening with. Maybe I will indulge tonight just to take my mind off all this true mate talk. Smiling to myself, I close my eyes and drift off into a light sleep.

  “Killian, wake up!”

  I hear a screech in my ear. Jumping up, I crouch in a reflexive move to ward off an attack. Aurelia laughs at me.

  “Get ready, Killian, we leave in an hour.”

  She turns on her heel and waltzes out of my room. Flopping back on my bed, I wait until my heart rate slows down before climbing into a bath. My sister is always on time and will no doubt be dressed to kill. Looking through my clothes, I decide on my darkest green pants. Arriving at my sister’s room, I knock hard on the heavy oak door.

  Running my fingers through my hair, I pace back and forth.

  “Just a minute,” she calls out.

  “Oh, come on, Ari, you’ve had hours.”

  A few minutes later, she appears in a flurry of reds and golds, then stops in her tracks, jaw slack.

  “Killian! What are you wearing?” she cries, waving her hands up and down.

  “What?” I look down at myself then shrug.

  “Go put a tunic on, brother. You are going for fun not to find a mate.”

  Laughing, I grab the tunic I left on the chair by her door, shrugging it on. “Better?” Rolling her eyes, she steps out on to the stairs.

  “Yes, now let’s go. I want to dance all night.”

  I follow her down the stairs only to find Connor waiting at the end for us. He looks my age but is well over fifty years. Fairies look like humans, but we age slower. Some of us stop aging altogether, like Connor.

  “Are you ready, princess?”

  He holds out his elbow for Ari, but she brushes past him. I can’t help the chuckle as I too walk by him.

  “Don’t try so hard, Connor.”

  I smile at him. As Aurelia and I make our way to the valley of oaks, many of the fairies stop to greet us and Ari is enjoying herself with all the attention.

  “Hi, Killian.”

  I hear a tinkle from beside me. Turning, I see Tatiana.

  “Hi.” She smiles at me, showing her bright white teeth, which only looking more blinding against her pink hair and pink wings.

  “Can I put my name down for a dance with you?” She tinkles again.

  “Of course; I would like that.”

  I smile back at her, walking on towards the bonfire and my parents. Ari and I take a seat on either side of our parents.

  “Nice to see you here, son.” My mother smiles at me.

  “Yes, mother. I am here for Ari and to keep an eye on any wayward fairies.”

  I wink at my sister, making her giggle.

  “Killian, please do not call your sister Ari, it sounds like a vessel.”

  She scolds me, but I know she is not serious by her smile. Connor stands behind Aurelia as my mother lights the fire. The sun descends the horizon, signaling the beginning of the summer revelry. All the fairies in attendance clap and shout as the fire takes hold. Food is served all around the valley, lying out on large banquet tables. The music begins and I watch as my parents, the king, and queen, start the first dance.

  “Aw, they are so cute,” Aurelia chirps from her chair. She is smiling as she watches.

  Her first fairy caller appears.

  “Princess Aurelia, may I have this dance?”

  I see a fairy bending in a bow in front of her with his hand outstretched towards her. As he rights himself, I see it is Avery, one of the warrior fairies I train with from the guard. Aurelia is beaming as she takes his hand, following him to dance around the fire. Connor, however, is scowling as he watches them. Tatiana is beside me, smiling. Getting up, I take her hand, leading her into the fray.

  We dance close to the music, twirling and jumping. Closing my hands around her waist, I throw her into the air, laughing, catching her effortlessly as she falls into my arms. We continue dancing together for a while until I am interrupted.

  “Prince Killian, may I dance with you?”

  I hear another singsong voice beside me. Turning, I notice a petite fairy that is looking very shy and embarrassed. I nod to Tatiana as I release her hand.

  “Of course, what is your name?”

  The young fairy smiles at me. She must be no more than sixteen.

  “Claudia.”

  Taking Claudia in my arms, I spin her around the fire, dancing and laughing. I feel my skin tingle a little but pay no attention as I am having too much fun dancing and singing. Claudia and I dance for hours before we decide to eat.

  “I am hungry, Claudia, how about you?”

  She nods and we make our way to a table. The food is plenty and delicious—we have fruit from the trees and meats from the farms, which are succulent.

  “So I haven’t seen you here before.”

  I look at her as she bites an apple. I watch her chew, and she has a glint in her eye.

  “Well, that is because I am not from here.”

  She laughs, a sound so light you probably wouldn’t hear it without being a fairy.

  “So where are you from?” I can’t help but stare at her silver eyes and silver hair. She is the most unusual fairy I have ever seen.

  “I am from a place far away, but I heard about the King and Queen’s summer revelry and just had to see it for myself.”

  I nod. “So how do you like it?”

  “It is wonderful, much better than I ever expected,” she says, throwing her hands into the air, making me laugh. She looks at the night sky for a few minutes, then nods before turning to face me again. Her eyes seem to shine more brightly now as she reaches to caress
my face.

  “Prince Killian, you have an interesting life ahead of you, but be careful. Things are not what they seem,” she tells me cryptically. I sit up straighter, watching her. I feel my body tense as she reaches around my neck, securing a leather string with a white pearl attached to it.

  “Never take this off until the time is right.”

  She pats the pearl then hides it beneath my shirt.

  “What do you mean? Who are you?” I ask. I reach for the pearl, but she slaps my hand away.

  “I told you who I am and never take it off, Killian. Oh and don’t let anyone see it.” She smiles, pulling me up to my feet.

  “Come, let us dance until we drop,” she sings to me. We continue dancing throughout the night my skin is sweaty and on fire.

  “Why does my skin tingle when I touch you?” I whisper to her. She answers with a smile.

  “Fate.” I can only look perplexed, which makes her laugh.

  As the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Claudia smiles at me.

  “It’s time for me to go, Killian. Be safe and well.”

  She leans into me, kissing my cheek, then disappears in a rush of silver, leaving me feeling a little empty and drained.

  “Brother, I am tired.”

  Aurelia sighs from beside me. Putting my arm around her shoulder, I smile at her.

  “Let’s go home, Ari.”

  She nods as we walk towards the castle. I can feel Connor’s presence behind us.

  “So did you have fun?” I ask my sister.

  “Oh yes, it was fantastic. I can’t wait until next year.” She sighs, making me laugh at her again.

  “Ari, you are indeed a summer fairy.”

  We walk back to our rooms, arm in arm, both yawning.

  “See you later, Killian,” she says, walking through her door.

  “Bye, Ari.”

  By the time I reach my bed, I am done for. Climbing on top of it, I instantly close my eyes and dream of a silver-haired fairy and her cryptic message. Was she talking about my true mate? Or was she just playing with my mind? Some fairies do that and think it is acceptable, but deep down, I don’t think she was untruthful with me. And besides, she gave me this pearl to wear. Now if only I knew what she was talking about.

  By early afternoon, I am awoken by the sound of screeching. Forcing my eyes open, I see Aurelia bouncing on my bed, babbling.

  “What are you doing?” I cover my ears to block the noise.

  “Oh, Killian! Guess what?” Sitting up rubbing my eyes, I yawn.

  “What?”

  She bounces on the bed again.

  “I am going to the human realm!” she exclaims, making me bolt off the bed.

  “What! With who?” I can’t believe she is saying this.

  “I am going with father. He promised me that I could go with him the next time he had business.”

  Frowning, I run my hands through my hair. “That is not a good idea, Ari.” She is beaming at me.

  “Of course, it is! Father will be with me, and plenty of guards.”

  I need to find my father to see if this is real if he is willing to put my sister’s life in danger. I know he travels between worlds often—that is how we learned about the humans and their way of life—but bringing Ari is not making any sense to me.

  “Let’s find Father, Aurelia,” I say, pulling her off the bed and out of my rooms.

  “Killian, stop. It is true and you are acting silly.”

  She slaps my hand off her wrist as we walk into my father’s conversing room. He looks up as I march in and Aurelia floats in, still smiling. I see him smirk and hold up his hand to ward me off.

  “Don’t, Killian. I know what you are going to say, but I am King and your father and only I get to make these decisions.”

  “Father, seriously. Are you taking her to the human world?”

  He nods.

  “Yes, son, I am. There is nothing to fear there. Humans are tricky but adaptable.” He smiles as I pace in front of him. “Would you like to join us?” he asks as Aurelia claps with giddy excitement.

  “Oh, Killian, say yes! Come with us it will be an adventure!” she sing-songs.

  “I don’t think so, Ari, I like my life too much.” Both Ari and my father start to laugh.

  “Come on now, son, humans are not going to hurt you. All you have to do is retract your wings,” my father announces like he is telling me to eat an apple.

  “How do I do that?” He smiles and winks.

  “Magic, of course.”

  Huh. Magic. He makes it sound so easy and simple. Aurelia watches me as I contemplate the situation. Letting out a long sigh, I agree to go with them.

  “Yes, Killian, this will be amazing!” she squeals at us, jumping up and down, fluttering her wings so she floats in the air.

  “Come down, sister.” I shake my head at her.

  Over the next few days, my father teaches us how to retract our wings and pull on a guise, known as glamor so the humans won’t know that we are different.

  “Ari, are you coming?”

  I knock on her door, letting myself inside to her seating room. “Yes, Killian,” she replies. Walking out of her room, she is dressed in her training gear as am I. We walk down to the kitchen, putting supplies into a sack. We make our way to the training rooms to take some weapons.

  “What is this. More training?” Connor asks, keeping pace with us.

  “Yes, Connor,” Aurelia answers as she browses the weapons. I just pull out two staffs and hand her a sword while I take my own.

  “Swords?” Connor questions me, looking unimpressed.

  “Yes, Connor,” I reply in the same dry tone Ari used with him. I know we should be nicer to him, not because he has served my father well, but because we are royalty and it does not do well for us to treat people poorly. Letting out a sigh, I turn to him.

  “Yes, Connor. I am teaching the princess how to sword fight today. Are you joining us?” He looks at me then nods.

  “Yes, my prince, thank you.”

  I just nod at him while Aurelia scowls at me behind his back. We walk to the east of the castle, following the trail into the training grounds where my fellow warrior fairies are training.

  I stay to the edge of the ground with Aurelia. As I lay my weapons down, I can feel someone approach. Spinning, I lift my foot to kick my target, finding a thigh. As I step back, I smile at my attacker, who has his sword drawn and pointed at me. He swipes as I jump, flipping over him so fast I have my arm around his throat before he can turn.

  “Brother, you are getting slow,” I say, releasing him. We both laugh as we grip each others forearm in a warrior’s handshake.

  “My prince, I believe you are getting faster.” Frowning, I look at him.

  “Why so formal, brother?” He nods at Connor and I shrug.

  “We are good. You may join us if you like. I am teaching my sister swordplay.”

  Avery smiles at me. “Thank you, I think I will.”

  Avery and I show Ari the basics of sword fighting. She watches for a while then I make her pick up a sword.

  “Killian, it’s dangerous. What if I cut you?”

  “Then I will heal, sister. These are training swords. Very dull, just like you.”

  I shake my head and she lunges. Stepping aside, she runs past me, turning and raising the sword.

  We move back and forth like the tide, our swords clashing and clinking against one another. I can see she is getting tired.

  “Are you tired, little sister?” I ask using our family bond, which no one knows about, not even Connor. My mother told us when we were children to never allow anyone, no matter who they were, to know about our bond. It is just the three of us—my poor father cannot join us so we rarely use it when we are with him.

  “Yes, brother, my arm hurts and I am hungry.”

  I nod and let her “kill me.” I laugh as she places her hands on her hips.

  “Don’t be mad, sister, next time I won’t allow y
ou to win.”

  We all sit under one of the trees to eat. Leaning my back against the rough bark, I close my eyes, feeling tired myself.

  “What is wrong, brother? You seem tired.”

  I can hear her giggling beside me. Opening my eyes, I look at her.

  “You are a mean sister, Ari,” I tease closing my eyes again.

  “I know, Killian, but someone has to keep you on your toes.”

  I snort a laugh at her and turn my face to the sun. By sunset, we start to walk back to the castle. Aurelia is weary and decided to fly the rest of the way home.

  “Come on, Killian, you haven’t used your wings for an age!”

  Hunching my shoulders, I allow my wings to spread to their fullest and watch as she gasps.

  “Killian, what happened to them?”

  Flapping them with a whoosh, I am up beside her. “Nothing, Ari. Why? What is wrong with them?”

  I look over my shoulder, not seeing anything wrong, but she shakes her head and flies away. I give chase and we both land in the courtyard of the castle. Laughing as I land, I watch my little sister run into the castle and frown. Tucking my wings against my back, I walk up to my rooms.

  “Killian,” I hear my father as I lay on the bed.

  “Yes, come in,” I call. Looking towards the door, I see my father, mother, and my sister.

  “Show them,” Aurelia says as she stands by my bed. I frown at her.

  “Show what?” Huffing, she puts her hand on her hips.

  “Your wings.”

  “No, Ari; you are talking silly.” My father walks beside me.

  “Show me, son.”

  He asks, but I can hear his royal command as an undertone. Scowling at my sister, I stand in the middle of my room and allow my wings to extend fully. Both my parents gasp and Aurelia says, “told you.”

  My father looks at my mother and she nods.

  “Leave us now.”

  He orders my mother and sister out of my room. I quickly pull my wings back and begin to worry. As soon as my mother and sister leave, I turn to my father.

  “What is wrong, Father?” I ask, allowing the fear to show in my voice. He looks at me then smiles.