by Hannah West
‘How?’
Aric puts a finger to his lips, signalling for me to be quiet, and peers over my shoulder at Drew. I watch as my father presses a palm to his side of the mirror then meets my gaze with an expectant look. I don’t know what he expects me to do, but he nods when I lift my hand in response. He nods again when I move it towards him, aligning my hand with his. The warmth of his palm meets mine, his fingers gripping my hand, before pulling me towards him. I stumble forward, into my father’s waiting arms. He steadies me, while I look over my shoulder and gape through the glass into Drew’s bedroom.
‘Holy crap,’ I whisper.
Aric chuckles. ‘Your reaction to the mirror gateway surprises me,’ he says.
I turn to meet his gaze. ‘Why?’
‘Because you used it to travel to me before, then again to leave during your last visit,’ he answers.
I did?
‘I didn’t find or leave you on purpose the first time we met. Besides, there isn’t a mirror in Drew’s garden to do what we just did, so how would I know to use one?’
Aric nods in understanding. ‘I wondered why I couldn’t track your exit,’ he murmurs, as if a mystery has been solved. ‘You must’ve opened a gateway using a natural reflection. No wonder it took so long to find you.’
‘You do know I have no idea what you’re talking about?’ I tell him.
He gives an indulgent smile. ‘I have so much to teach you, my Primrose.’
I’m not sure I like the sound of that, but I nod. ‘Okay.’
‘Glass mirrors are traceable because they are constant,’ he tells me. ‘But any reflective surface can be used to open a portal, such as rivers, puddles-’
‘Ponds?’ I cut in thinking of the one in Drew’s garden.
‘Yes,’ Aric says. ‘Portals created from organic sources are harder to trace,’ he explains. ‘They fluctuate, flexing with the changing environment around them, and are easily lost.
‘And you were looking for me? Even though you thought I’d left on purpose.’
‘Of course,’ he answers, like it’s a stupid question. ‘I wish to know you.’
My eyes sting with the threat of tears. I’m an emotional wreck right now, and I’ve craved those words from him for a very long time. I’ve hated my father for years, for leaving Mum and breaking her heart. But there were times I dreamed of meeting him. I imagined what he’d look like, wondering if we shared any features other than our eyes.
‘You didn’t know I existed?’ I ask, needing to be sure.
‘If I’d known Christine carried my heir, things could’ve been different,’ he answers. ‘But I left for her protection.’
Okay, this is new.
‘You mean you didn’t want to leave Mum?’
‘I’ve lived a long time, Primrose,’ he murmurs. ‘Leaving your mother remains the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. And knowing she no longer lives-’ He closes his eyes and breathes deep, before fixing his raw gaze on me. ‘Part of me has died with her, and when my light fades I pray she’ll be waiting.’
‘Mum loved you so much she found it difficult to look at me, because my eyes reminded her of you,’ I admit.
He nods. ‘Your eyes are how I first recognised you as my offspring.’
‘You broke her heart, though’ I add struggling to ignore years of resentment. ‘And I hated you for it.’
Pain creases his features and pollutes the air around us. But he needs to know what it’s taking for me to be here. Aric might have meant well when he left, but he broke my mum when he did. I don’t doubt that she loved me, but part of her died when Aric left her, and she was a shade of the person she once was – a person I never got to know.
Aric takes my hand in his. ‘I know I’ve failed as a father, but I promise to make it up to you, Primrose.’
He takes me deeper into the room I woke in the last time I visited. I look behind me to see the doorway gone from the mirror and my wary expression staring back. Flowers bloom from the floor in my wake. I’ve discovered it only happens when I walk barefoot on organic surfaces, which is good news for my carpets at home I suppose.
‘Why do I leave a trail of flowers when I walk barefoot?’ I ask. ‘I’ve walked barefoot outside for years without this happening.’
‘Something woke your dormant fae genes,’ Aric answers.
‘But how do you know that? You weren’t there before it started happening, so it’s not like you can contrast and compare.’
‘You’re not the first Halfling, Primrose,’ he says.
I meet his gaze and purse my lips. I don’t like where this conversation is leading.
‘So there are others?’ When he doesn’t answer right away I ask, ‘Were any of them yours?’
Aric’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. ‘You’re my only heir.’
‘That you know of,’ I argue. ‘After all, you didn’t know about me until I showed up here.’
‘Your mother was the only human female I took to my bed,’ he answers.
Something inside settles, but I need more answers. ‘Don’t you mean, someone activated my fae genes?’ I say returning to our previous topic.
Aric’s anger prickles my skin, meaning I hit the nail on the head. Most of the weirdness in my life stemmed from Zephyr kissing me, triggering whatever had me bleeding out on the kitchen floor.
‘When Zephyr marked you, his light triggered the dormant light in you, activating your fae genetics,’ Aric explains.
‘Marked me?’
‘He put his mark on you,’ Aric clarifies. ‘It’s one of the ways fae claim something as theirs, so other fae will know not to try.’
‘Let’s get one thing straight,’ I grit out. ‘I do not belong to Zephyr! I don’t even know the guy, so he can shove whatever claim he tried to put on me where the sun doesn’t shine.’
‘Of course you don’t,’ Aric agrees, smirking at my tirade.
‘Explain the light you keep talking about,’ I say moving on now I have Aric’s agreement.
‘Our kind are beings of light, Primrose. It’s a part of us, and we a part of it.’
‘I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s definitely no light inside me,’ I tell him.
‘What do you think is making the flowers grow in your wake?’ he counters.
I glance at the flowers on the ground behind me, but can’t fathom his words. I’m a creature of darkness and always have been. I’ve seen my darkness since Zephyr changed me. I feel it even now, deep at my centre. I’m yet to witness any sort of light.
‘Your feet are bare,’ I argue. ‘There aren’t any flowers sprouting wherever you step.’
‘Flowers aren’t part of my gifts,’ he smirks.
‘I’m glad you find my confusion amusing,’ I mutter then glance around. ‘Where are you taking me?’
Aric’s smirk vanishes. ‘To remove Zephyr’s mark from you.’
Memories of the agony I suffered after Zephyr’s kiss surface and I swallow hard, hating that I’m showing my fear. ‘Will it hurt?’
Aric stops before a set of ornately carved doors and looks down at me. ‘None will inflict pain upon you, Primrose,’ he vows, a vicious edge to his tone.
He raises a hand to the doors and they swing open. Aric grins at my surprised expression and uses a finger to push my mouth shut.
‘Sorry,’ I mutter.
‘The simplest things surprise you,’ he smiles. ‘And I find myself eager to witness everything you’ve yet to discover.’
He sounds so excited that the sarcastic retort dies on my tongue. Instead, I offer him a smile and let him pull me through the doorway. My smile fades when I realise there are fae waiting for us. I inch closer to Aric as we move through the room, the hairs on my neck rising at the many stares I’m receiving. I’m acutely aware that I’m in my pyjamas, and everyone here looks dressed for an upmarket party. The room Aric’s pulling me through is huge. Trees line the walls, like pillars, branches reaching high into the vaulted ceiling. Everythin
g appears made from intricately carved wood, and the floor is the same organic substance in Aric’s room. I cringe, thinking of the flowers no doubt blooming in a trail behind me. I daren’t look back to check, but I see others staring at the ground behind my feet.
Everyone we pass is beautiful in a way that’s difficult to comprehend. There’s a sparkly quality to their skin, like they’re woven from a billion particles of light that shimmer when they move. I think of the purple dust Zephyr left on my skin. I haven’t been able to get it off, and for some stupid reason it makes me feel a little better. I’m sparkly like everyone here, which is one less difference between us. But we are different, in more ways than I can count. I start with the fact that everyone is taller than me. At five feet, five inches, I’ve never really been classed as short, but I get the feeling I will be here.
‘Who are all these people?’ I whisper to Aric as we reach the opposite end of the hall.
I frown at the way he doesn’t move around people. Maybe it’s because he’s pulling me along and they’re scared I’ll soil their pretty clothes, but everyone just moves out of his way.
‘They’re here to see the king,’ Aric answers.
‘What? I’m not exactly dressed to meet their king,’ I squeak.
Aric chuckles. ‘He doesn’t care what you’re wearing, Primrose,’ he says, as he guides me up a set of steps, leading to where a large throne sits.
‘Wait,’ I say, pulling against his hold on my hand but he doesn’t let go, and keeps dragging me towards the throne. ‘You can’t know what the king will do when he sees me,’ I argue.
‘Yes I can,’ he answers and pulls me up the last few steps.
‘Majesty,’ a male fae greets Aric as we reach the throne, then bows at the waist.
Oh crap.
I stare at the man then look at Aric, who has an indulgent smile on his face. ‘Malak,’ he greets the male. ‘I’d like you to meet my daughter, Primrose.’
‘It’s an honour, Princess,’ Malak says and sweeps into another bow.
Holy crap.
‘I, um-’ I look to Aric for help and he grins back at me. ‘You’re the king?’
Aric nods and a sinking sensation drops through my stomach. Laughter bubbles up my throat and I have to swallow it down. I’m guessing it will be of the hysterical variety, and I feel awkward enough in this moment. But seriously: a fairy princess? It’s like all my childhood fantasies are manifesting. I glance around the room. It’s less pink than my five-year-old self imagined, but still sparkly. All I need is for a unicorn to trot by and the fantasy is complete.
‘Where’s Darrak?’ Aric asks, drawing my focus.
‘Lord Darrak awaits you in the mediation chamber,’ Malak answers.
‘Very good,’ Aric murmurs and pulls me past Malak to a set of doors directly behind the throne.
The doors lead into a room with a large, wooden table in the centre. One wall is just a long mirror, reflecting my wary expression. Flowers are already blooming from the organic floor around my feet, making me wish I’d worn socks to bed. A male stands from a seat around the table. He’s blond and handsome, and it reminds me again that I’m wearing my pyjamas. Amber eyes rake over me as he strides in our direction. Other than Zephyr, he’s the hottest male I’ve ever seen.
‘Majesty,’ he greets Aric with a bow then looks at me. ‘And Lady-’
‘Princess,’ Aric corrects.
The hot guy glances between us. ‘My apologies, Princess.’
‘Primrose,’ I murmur. ‘Just call me Primrose.’
The title thing seems ridiculous. It doesn’t even seem real. I’m not princess material, so hearing people call me it is starting to freak me out.
‘I’d never deign-’ Hot Guy begins but Aric cuts him off.
‘It’s fine in a private situation such as this, Darrak. Primrose is the reason I requested your presence.’
Darrak looks me over. ‘How may I serve?’
‘Primrose has been marked without my permission,’ Aric answers. ‘I want it removed.’
Darrak’s gaze turns back to me, sweeping once more over my frame. ‘I will be honoured to remove the marking from you, Primrose.’
My face heats under the gleam in his gaze. The look he’s giving me suggests he’ll enjoy whatever it takes to remove Zephyr’s claim, and I don’t get it. Darrak’s like an Adonis, and I’m just me. Now I’ve seen Zephyr, I don’t understand his interest in me either. I’m not tall and statuesque, like most of the female fae I’ve seen. And I keep it modest in the clothes department, compared to the skimpy garments I’ve seen some of them wearing. Why would either male be interested in me when they can have a female fae? It makes me feel like I’m missing something and I don’t like it.
‘Do you consent for Darrak to remove Zephyr’s claim on you?’ Aric asks.
I nod my head. Insanely hot or not, I want Zephyr’s claim removed. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone and I can go back to grieving Mum.
Aric gives me a gentle push in Darrak’s direction. ‘You may proceed.’
Darrak takes my hand and leads me to the table. I suck in a breath, when he grabs my waist and lifts me to sit on the edge of the polished surface. He parts my knees before I know what’s happening and situates himself between them. Panic grips me at the compromising position. Darrak cups my face in both hands and brings his face close to mine.
‘I can smell his mark on you,’ he murmurs. ‘But I can fix that.’
‘What-’
He cuts my words off by pressing his lips to mine. My body goes painfully tight with shock. The last time I got kissed by a male this gorgeous, I almost died. But Darrak’s kiss isn’t forceful. His lips are a soft press against mine, and his hands on my face are gentle. He runs the tip of his tongue along the seam of my lips and my stomach flip-flops with desire. His tongue teases my mouth open then dips inside. He tastes like peaches and cream, and I moan in response.
Darrak slides a hand down the length of my spine then pulls me closer. Our bodies are so close I can feel the flex of muscle on his chest. A growl vibrates from inside him and he deepens the kiss. Something shifts in the centre of my chest and I flinch. I try to pull away, but Darrak holds me in place, his other hand weaving through my hair to stop my retreat. The thing in my chest heats up and uncoils. It snakes from my chest, until I gag when it lodges in my throat.
I rip my mouth from Darrak’s but he doesn’t let go. He uses his grip on my hair to pull down, forcing my face up, as a ball of violet light explodes from my throat. The light hovers above us for a moment, before shooting back towards me.
Aric appears at my side and snatches the ball of light from the air. He grips it in his palm and glares at it. His eyes grow wide and he looks at me, like he knows something. Then he snarls and throws the light at the mirrored wall. It passes through, sending ripples across the surface, as it disappears.
Darrak and Aric share a look, and I know something just happened that I don’t understand – Something they weren’t expecting. I open my mouth to voice my question but scream instead. Searing pain burns through my left wrist, and I stare down in horror, as a symbol appears in violet light on my skin. It circles my wrist, weaving around it, like a glimmering, amethyst bracelet.
Aric pushes Darrak aside and clasps my left hand to study the marking. My father’s eyes bleed to black and his rage boils through the air. My darkness bubbles up in response, fizzing just beneath my skin. It’s on the defensive again, waiting to see if it needs to attack. A growl vibrates the space around Aric and he leans forward to blow gently on my wrist. The burning eases, until there’s just a dull throbbing. My darkness settles a little but doesn’t relax.
‘I’m going to kill him,’ Aric murmurs.
‘You said removing Zephyr’s mark wouldn’t hurt,’ I pant, my heart still racing. I point to the shimmering mark around my wrist. ‘And what the hell is this? You didn’t tell me I’d get this as a result.’
How the hell am I supposed to hide a shini
ng, purple mark on my wrist back home? I finger the design, feeling that it’s raised against my flesh, and my eyes widen. It’s a brand. Zephyr branded me.
‘I didn’t realise the Zephyr that marked you, is the heir to the Light Realm,’ Aric growls.
I meet his furious gaze. ‘What? What the hell does that mean?’
‘This,’ he snarls gesturing to my branded wrist, ‘is a Mate Marking.’
Mate Marking? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what that means.
‘No,’ I hiss and shake my wrist at Aric. ‘Take it off. Please, I don’t want it.’
Aric shakes his head. ‘It cannot be removed, Primrose. You and Zephyr are connected-’
‘No!’ I shout and push from the table. ‘He can’t do this to me. He never asked!’ I claw at the marking, wincing at the raw flesh. ‘There has to be a way to get it off.’
Aric catches hold of my right hand when my left wrist starts to bleed against my clawing. He pulls me against him, holding me close when I try to push away. I fight him until I don’t have the strength anymore then curl into his embrace. A sob escapes and I can’t help the angry tears that follow.
‘Leave,’ Aric murmurs.
I open my eyes to see Darrak turn back as he reaches the exit. ‘I offer you my protection, Princess,’ he vows before leaving.
‘It appears you’ve captured another heart,’ Aric says. ‘Yet another of your gifts.’
I look up at his face. ‘Why did Zephyr do this?’
‘The spring equinox approaches and Oric’s light is fading,’ Aric answers. ‘Zephyr needs to mate before he takes the throne from his father, and it appears he’s chosen you.’
‘I don’t want to be mated to him,’ I argue. ‘Don’t I get a say?’
Aric tucks a length of hair behind my ear. ‘You won’t be uniting with Zephyr.’
