Faerie Queen [Fae-Hunters #2]

by Yolanda Sfetsos

  Shay sighed, clicked her tongue and decided it was time to confide in the one faerie she considered her best friend. “Flee, I think I had my first vision this morning! At first, I thought I was having a nightmare, but then I realized it had to be a vision."

  "What makes you think that?"

  "I wasn't alone last night."

  "So you think that because you had company, you woke up with the ability to see?” Flee didn't sound convinced by the assumption.

  "He's the destined king, not just some guy I picked up in the middle of the night,” Shay said with a sigh. It was all too confusing already. She didn't want to add Flee's skepticism to the mix.

  "I know, I know. That came out the wrong way. I just didn't realize that's how it worked,” Flee said with a lopsided smile and a shrug.

  "I'm not so sure that is how it works, but for Glen and I, things seem to happen differently. I think our love and deep connection with each other is bouncing our gifts back and forth.” Shay felt like an idiot as she said it out loud, but it just felt so right. Everything with Glen had felt right from the first time she spotted him at a bus stop in Sydney, all the way until the time she had released her dust on him. Their connection was as deep-rooted as her bond to the earth below her feet.

  She'd always known she could call up small plants and flowers, but to raise that oak tree in the middle of the queen's castle had surpassed her wildest capabilities. Why couldn't sharing her body, mind and soul with a male who could ‘see', even when he thought he was a mere human, affect Shay this deeply?

  "That's amazing, do you know that? The possibilities could be endless, if what you're saying is right.” Flee paused to shake with excitement. “So what happened in your vision?"

  "That's the thing, I don't know for sure. All I saw were glimpses of Sydney and a splash of faerie blood.” Shay thought it wise to leave out all the other gory details. She'd seen her share of death and barbaric acts during her life, but somehow the thought of that poor, butchered faerie affected her more than it should.

  "You know the rumors claim goblins have almost breached our boundaries?” Flee's eyes were shiny with interest. “Maybe you had that vision because of the goblins."

  Goblins. The thought hadn't even occurred to her again until now. After Mai had mentioned goblins, she hadn't spoken or even considered the threat again. For some reason, Shay assumed Mai and the other elders would discuss that situation with Glen while he learned the ropes of royalty within their land. But what if this wasn't so? What would goblins be doing anywhere near Sydney?

  She voiced the question, “Why would I have a vision of goblins shedding our blood and Sydney together?"

  "I don't know—"

  "My Queen, you are required at the castle immediately,” one of the guards called as he barged into her apartment.

  "No, I can't do that.” She shook her head. Shay had to sneak out of the boundaries of Breena, not return to the castle.

  "My Queen...” the other haughty guard added as he trudged in behind the first. “...the notice has been read by the majority of the population, and there's a congregation waiting for you to address them at the castle."

  "No, I don't need to address them at all. That's the reason I had the notice placed on everyone's bulletin boards!” Shay said with a firm nod of her head.

  "What notice is this?” Flee asked, confused. She looked from the guards to Shay and back again.

  "The notice that allows love to be a part of faerie society again,” Shay answered with a proud smile.

  The smile faded from her companion as she shook her small head. “Oh no, tell me you didn't do that."

  "It's already done."

  "Shay, do you have any idea what you've done?” Flee buzzed around the living room so fast her wings weren't even visible. They were just a whirl of shimmery color behind her. “Did you discuss this with Mai, or any of the other elders?"

  "No, I talked about it with Glen."

  "Glen was a human until only a handful of moons ago."

  "No, Glen's always been faerie—"

  "Shay, that's technicalities and you know it!” Flee stopped her swaying long enough to point a frown her way. “He's a destined king, but can't be expected to make a decision as important as this."

  "I wanted to undo the hate Rhiannon had tried to embed into our society.” At the sound of the name, the two guards lowered their heads and a murmur escaped from their lips. They did that every time, as if mumbling a prayer for the faerie they had served for so long. None of them seemed to approve of Shay's new position. She'd expected that from them, but hadn't expected it from her companion and friend.

  "Rhiannon didn't make that rule up,” she continued, buzzing around like a large bee. “It was set in motion many centuries ago to keep the fae alert to their world. Faeries were too free-loving and laidback at one stage in our history, allowed humans and other less-than-friendly creatures to slip into our world without a second thought to the repercussions."

  "I know all that. I've been to the library, too, you know?” Shay didn't want to sound like a spoiled brat, but right now she wanted some answers, not a rehash of stuff she already knew.

  "Shay, don't you see what you've done?"

  She shook her head.

  "By undoing the love restriction within our world, you've also lowered our defenses."

  "What are you talking about?” Shay rose to her feet.

  "The love restriction can only be enforced or broken by the current queen."

  "But I'm only queen by title."

  "That is the only way to be queen, my Queen,” the guard closest to her whispered. “None of the Warrior Faerie Queens have ever had royal right to the throne."

  Shay's heart beat so fast she couldn't think straight.

  "And since you hold the title now, your word is able to break the defense spell,” Flee said.

  "What does lowering our defenses mean exactly?"

  "That if there truly are goblins ready to break through our boundaries, the shield that makes it almost impossible for them to slip in is now gone,” Flee answered with a somber look in her eyes. Her antennas entwined together at the top of her head.

  "Are you sure?” Shay looked at Flee first, then at each of the guards. They all nodded in agreement. “And no one told me this until now, until I'd already done it?"

  "You didn't ask,” the second guard answered with eyes downcast.

  "It is our job to be seen but not heard,” the first one added.

  "Okay then.” Shay paused to settle her shaky hands. “I'll just undo the notice I put up."

  "That won't change anything.” Flee avoided her eyes.

  "How long do we have?"

  "I served in one of the Goblin Wars that took place inside our world, and from my personal experience, I found the goblins to be very slow creatures,” the second guard said, raising a hand.

  "Shay, Shay Lee.” A small, blonde-haired faerie flew into her apartment. “Oh, I finally found you. I've been searching high and low for you."

  "What's wrong, Sen?” Shay asked one of her fellow fae-hunters.

  Sen's feet touched the floor. Her hair swayed as she looked with wide eyes at everyone around the room. “Oh, Shay, you have to come to Sydney. Something terrible is going on there."

  Her heart stopped for a second; panic swept beneath her skin, leaving cold sweat. Was this about her vision? No, she couldn't deal with that and the newfound knowledge of the trouble she'd possibly pushed Breena into. She loved Breena; how could she not have known that this would happen?

  "Are faeries dying?"

  Sen looked confused. Her amber eyes shimmered. “No, no one's died, but after reading the notice in the main square, several of the hunters have decided to permanently leave Breena and pursue humans they've fallen in love with."

  "This can't be happening.” Shay pressed both of her palms against her temples. What was going on here? How could it all fall apart so quickly because of her?

  "It is. You hav
e to come to Sydney and fetch them—"

  "My Queen, first you must address the population. They'll get rowdy if you don't appear soon,” the closest guard said.

  "But I can't allow them to fall in love with humans."

  "You allowed love, and faeries are known for losing their minds when love strikes,” Flee added with a frown.

  "But I fell in love, and I kept my sanity,” she whispered as she sunk back into her chair.

  "You are a rarity within our people.” Flee hovered in front of her at eye level. “You must fix this, Shay."

  "Which bit?"

  "All of it."

  "But I can't. I need Glen."

  "This wasn't Glen's doing,” she reminded her with a softer tone. “And by now, both the elders and Glen will know about the change. It's something they'd be able to feel. They probably felt it as soon as you spoke the order and put it on paper."

  "I have to get to Sydney. If these faeries approach human men unaware and get rejected ... I don't even want to think about the consequences.” Shay stared at Sen as she stood quietly, waiting for a decision.

  "We can address the crowd if you'd like us to, my Queen."

  Shay turned to look at the guard who'd called out the request. “You would do that?"

  "If that's what you wish us to do until you're able to take the situation under control.” He lowered his head in respect.

  "I would appreciate that, but please, call me Shay."

  "Okay.” The guard looked a little uncomfortable and still avoided her eyes. Both turned to leave.

  "What are your names?"

  "Gordo,” the one almost at the door answered.

  "And I'm Beun."

  "Thank you, Gordo and Beun.” The two left the apartment in a hurry, their large wings spread out behind them as soon as they hit the corridor.

  "I'll go to Mai."

  "Thank you, Flee."

  "Just hurry back, okay?” her friend said with a small, sympathetic smile. Her wings fluttered behind her. Flee was already heading toward the open living room window.

  Shay offered her a simple nod as she turned to follow her fellow fae-hunter out the front door, with visions of blood inside her mind.

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  Chapter Five

  "Put your weapon down now!” Shay said. She turned her head left and right, eyes narrowed to survey the area around Victoria Park. Grateful they were pretty much alone, Shay tightened the fingers of her left hand around the hilt of her sword. The slithery vines extended, wrapping around her hand and wrist as she spread her legs a little farther, blade held out in front of her. She hadn't wanted to draw her sword against one of her own. There was no need for anyone to get hurt, but the other faerie had refused to lower her own weapon.

  She looked dangerous. There were too many hard edges on her dainty facial features and dark shadows under her blue eyes. The strands of red hair were stuck to her sweaty face, but still Shay recognized her. She knew every single one of the fae-hunters by name.

  "I'm not going back to Breena,” the redheaded faerie said. She held out a dagger in front of her with a shaky hand.

  "Please, Kee, Shay's our superior and queen!” Sen stood beside Shay. Sen had led her to the park, and they'd found the faerie as she wept beside a tree.

  "I love him. I have for so long, but couldn't tell anyone until now. It's not a death sentence anymore.” The tears slid down her pale face, her dagger even shakier in her white-knuckled grip.

  Shay released a heavy breath. This wasn't what she'd envisioned when she thought the rest of Breena should be able to experience the emotions she did with Glen. In hindsight, she'd made the biggest mistake of her life with this reckless decision. But all Shay had wanted was for other faeries to know happiness like she felt. She'd never even considered that anyone of her kind would want to take the option of loving a human!

  "No, humans were never part of the plan,” Shay said with a small shake of her head. The buzz of traffic prickled her ears. This park was across the street from the Broadway Shopping Centre intersection. The University of Sydney was only a brisk walk away. It wasn't safe for them to stay here in this predicament for too long. Not during daylight hours.

  "The heart doesn't care about things like that.” Kee wept heavily. The large tears puffed her eyes further, the pain so obvious Shay found it hard to stay focused.

  "Put your weapon away and I'll forgive all this—"

  The redhead moved before Shay had a chance to register her intentions. The sting of the blade, as it sliced into the side of her waist, caused her breath to catch in her throat. Shay sucked in several quick breaths to regain composure. She pushed the pain that ignited from the cut deep down inside.

  Damn, it was near the same place Rhiannon had already injured. She'd healed the wound, but now two nasty scars would taint her skin. Reminders of confrontations with her own kind were not the best battle scars to parade.

  Without a moment's hesitation, Shay raised her forearm into the air. She swept it upwards, connecting against Kee's nose with a crunch.

  The faerie lost her grip on the dagger, and Sen was there to pick it up before it tumbled to the grass.

  Shay followed the first strike with an elbow to Kee's midsection and finished it off with a punch to the redhead's face. The faerie's eyes rolled back inside her sockets before she fell backwards, collapsing to the grass like a sack of potatoes. Sen was at her side to check Kee's pulse within seconds.

  "She's all right,” Shay called out between shallow breaths. Breathing too deeply hurt her side. The warmth of blood trailed down beneath her sheer, sleeveless top. She sheathed her sword, enjoying the cool glide of the vines as they slipped back into the hilt.

  At least she hadn't used a weapon.

  "Yes, she is, but what about the others?” Sen asked, her amber eyes burning bright with curiosity.

  "I wish to surrender,” a feminine voice called out as another faerie stepped out from behind a tree to their right.

  "Very well,” Shay said with a nod at the dark-haired faerie. “Is that all of them?” She directed the question at Sen, who was smoothing Kee's hair away from her face. Blood from the unconscious faerie's nostrils stained her palm.

  "There's one more out there."

  "Do you know where she is?” Shay asked the newcomer.

  Posie shook her head. “Miki took off as soon as she read the notice. She could be anywhere."

  "Damn.” One loose faerie wasn't an ideal situation to have to deal with, but it was better than three. Shay didn't want to leave Sydney just yet, was still haunted by the vision of blood ... but she had to get back to the turmoil no doubt stirring in Breena. She just hoped the guard's prediction of the goblins’ slow reaction to the lowered defenses was a sure thing. “Okay, let's head back to Breena."

  "What about Miki?” Sen asked.

  "We'll have to deal with her later. Right now I've got too much waiting for my attention back in Breena."

  Sen nodded knowingly. “You go ahead, Shay Lee. I'll take care of these two."

  "Make sure they're both restrained until I have a chance to speak to them."

  "You got it.” Sen offered her a wink.

  Shay nodded as she swept another gaze around Victoria Park. This park was in the middle of a human city, a patch of green situated on the corner of Parramatta and City Road, with a swimming pool within the boundaries and Lake Northam. Just like the Chinese Garden of Friendship, it had served as a place to clear her head when she came into this city to release male faeries unaware of what they really were. She wondered how many more were out there. How many slipped through the cracks and were never detected?

  Shay had let a lot slip away from her. Not long ago, the only duty that had mattered to her was the release and delivery of lost faeries back into Breena. Now she spent her days sitting on a throne bored, handing out instructions that would doom her kind. What had possessed her to make such a reckless decision? The fae meant everything to her; it was t
he reason she existed.

  But since love had struck her heart, she'd started to slip.

  Maybe Flee was wrong and Shay wasn't so different from the other faeries who'd lost their minds over the freedom to love. She'd been affected, too. After she got back to Breena and straightened this mess out, Shay would return to what she did best.

  Glen was the king; he could handle the throne. He'd know what to do now. The position he held amongst the humans had been in management within one of the many tall buildings in the city of Sydney. And the Circle of Elders seemed to have taken care of everything else. She had no doubt that if Glen could already control his wings, all other tasks would be easy, too.

  She took a deep breath.

  An eerie sensation raced over her skin. It roused goose flesh and the same cold sensation from her awful vision. Someone was watching her. But right now, she couldn't waste time to dwell on what that could mean.

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  Chapter Six

  Commotion didn't do justice to the scene Shay stepped into after she left Sydney. She was still edgy, unsure of what she'd left behind. She'd temporarily turned her back on a situation Shay knew was important. The vision of faerie blood and that horrid chuckle continued to ring through her brain. There was definitely something awful in the shadows of Sydney, and she'd consciously left a faerie behind to deal with it.

  She released a breath.

  The sound caught the attention of a fae who stood just in front of her. He nudged the female beside him and called out, “The queen, she returns to us!"

  Silence settled over the large hall that was the central piece of the castle. The wave of noise grew silent by the mere presence of her, Shay—a faerie who'd only wanted to continue the family tradition of being a warrior. She didn't want all of this attention, didn't need it. Yet when her eyes cut through as the crowd parted ahead of her, she met those familiar green eyes and knew why she had to bear this.

  For him, Shay would go to the ends of the world. But she refused to turn her back on what had always been a part of her. Somehow, Glen would have to understand that, just as Mai would. The old sprite stood at the base of the throne, frail hand pressed against his walking stick. His thin lips were tight, his beard bushy and white. Those dark eyes begged for her to meet them, but she couldn't look away from Glen's.