by Rebecca Grey
Ever so slowly, I chose to follow suit, peeling away my clothes from the day. The cool air left goosebumps over my skin as it brushed over what had once been covered.
Under the unhurried moon, we stood a few feet away from each other in our under clothes. My heart thudded in nervousness at the thoughts of what I might look like to him. I’d never willingly been this exposed to a male. I felt more blood rush up to my cheeks with the realization. Self-conscious, I wrapped my hands around my stomach. Could I just go hide now? This was a bad idea. I was stupid to agree to this.
Dace’s eyes crinkled with his smile, the moon dancing in those silver-blue eyes. With a small step forward he took my wrists to unwrap my arms from my body. “Don’t cover yourself. Ever. Be proud of your body. You are strong, and unbelievably beautiful.” He paused, his eyes searching for something in mine. Perhaps worry that I would get scared and run away into the night leaving him alone.
“Are you ready?” he whispered.
Using his strength he broke the tension of my waiting response as he tossed me forward into the water. Crests of the lake licked up around my body, surprisingly warm as I sunk under. Water enveloped me. Bubbles slithered over my skin from my quick entrance into the small lake. I kicked to the surface fuming and went to race onto the sandy beach to return the favor but he took off before I could get to him. Dace leapt from the edge curling into himself and landed at my side.
The water rose and fell in response to his weight. Rising over the wave, he shook the water out of his hair, sending droplets through the air. He swam towards where I waited, treading water.
“At what point am I supposed to be enjoying myself?” I said even as I could feel my body relaxing.
“What? You aren’t enjoying my half nakedness?” Dace cocked his head, waiting with lifted eyebrows.
“Does it strike you as odd that I don’t fawn over you or faint with excitement when you take your shirt off?”
“It does. Yet, it’s weirdly refreshing. Like a challenge.”
I tried to ignore the piece of me that believed he was beautiful. Because he was. But I was a nymph and he was fae and everything about his infatuation with making me want to drool over him was wrong. It was just another way for him to be bowed down to.
“It’s not a challenge.” I shrugged my shoulders with as much apathy as I could muster.
“Sure.” He said it so plainly it was clear he didn’t believe a word I said.
“Surprise isn’t over yet, there is still plenty of time for me to woo you,” he adds, taking an exaggerated breath only to disappear under the dark water.
What could he possibly be doing now?
I marveled at the sheen on the lake that reflected the glittering stars in the night waiting for his return. I swore I saw a light flicker for a second under the water. Surely it was just the reflection of the fireflies again.
But then there was another flicker and another and another. I swam backwards, my eyebrows furrowing as an urgency to create space between myself and the mystery sprung up inside me.
Dace emerged behind me. His strong hands gripped my shoulders to stop me, his voice buttery smooth. A tone I wanted to loathe even as a thread of excitement curled low in my abdomen. “Shhh... I woke them up. Just watch now. Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” I breathed.
The lights flickered and multiplied, illuminating the pool around us. The glowing shapes rose toward the surface bouncing beneath us on their way up. Water rippled and splashed when something jumped, flying through the air, sparkling and streaking color across the sky.
I gasped taking in the sight wanting to get a safe distance away but Dace’s firm presence held me. They looked like small dragons, a long slender fin to propel them forward stuck out behind them. Glowing wings of a pure white light sprouted from their backs sending them into the air in vast arches above the warm water.
“In all my years...what are these?” I questioned cocking my head to get a glimpse of him from behind me, hardly able to pull my eyes away from these creatures.
“Rare.” His reply was raspy as he stared at me, through me, into me.
A pleased sigh left my slightly parted lips. A noise I didn’t mean to make out loud. Dragons darted over the lake like shooting stars. I wished on every one that life could be more simple. That maybe for once I could just be a girl at a lake with a boy she thought was kind of cute. Instead I was a nymph training to fight a war and he was a fae prince who enslaved my people.
Dace edged closer, his chest grazing my back as he breathed. I thought about stopping him, but entertained the idea of... not.
Together we watched the art of these animals splashing and rising in the air before diving back under. A show put on just for us, Dace the conductor.
Eventually, I broke the peaceful quiet. “Thank you.” I twisted toward him, our bodies slick under the water.
A slow smile lifted his cheeks. “For… Come on, you can say it.”
“Thank you for what you did for me in the Heathern Court. And thank you for all of this.” My teeth raked against my lip.
Prince Dace, one. Ryker, zero.
“Gah, there it is. You know, I have a few other places I know that you would like.”
How many visions had he seen of our future?
“Care to enlighten me, or are they all going to be surprises?”
“Well...” He began swimming circles around me, his body floating to the surface as he quietly kicked his feet. He looked less like a prince now and more like a boy. His easy grin and relaxed stature making him less intimidating. “Back home I have a secret, I’m trusting that you’ll keep it.”
“Silly of you to trust someone you barely know.”
His smile faltered but only for a second before he plastered it back in place. “Me and my friend protect a place we call the refuge. I knew the Day of Ruin was coming and I gathered as many nymphs as I could find and hid them together. It isn’t like this place.” He stopped swimming to look around at the grandeur that was the Acture Court. “I don’t train them but I let them live there as free as they can be without being found.”
It did sound like my cup of tea. The thought of seeing another place where my people were living out of servanthood created a sense of awe within me. Perhaps I had been the unlucky one.
He grabbed my arms, squeezing them tight with a chuckle. “One day I’ll take you there.” My body went rigid as his touch made me nervous and excited all at once. His attention drifted from my eyes to my lips. They lingered there.
“Come on, let's get you back to bed. Hattie said we couldn’t take long.” His voice was rough, and gravelly. Through the crisp waves we swam back to shore and gathered our clothes. Water clung to us and soaked through our clothing. There wouldn’t be any trying to slip back into my pants or top, not when I was this damp.
“Here, for the meantime.” Dace handed me his shirt.
Carefully, I slid it over my head. The scent of him lingered.
Dace led the way but we ran back to our makeshift home. What trees I could manage to correctly use my powers on bent out of our path on the way. When we got back, I was uncertain but I followed Dace back to his room. My heart beat like a beast trying to break out of its cage.
“Aren’t I supposed to be the one walking you back to your room? Not the other way around?" he questioned.
“Maybe, you can do it next time.” I nudged him with my elbow, shyly. His eyebrows rose in surprise but he grinned.
When we reached his door, we stood shifting from foot to foot. The dread of not wanting the night to end reared its ugly head. Rising and falling, my chest felt weighed down by the pressure.
“Well, thank you for walking me back and for letting me steal you.”
“You could kidnap me more if you would like.” I felt heat rose up to my cheeks from the words I just spoke. I was surprised at my own words. Immediately, I felt the need to take them back.
Dace reached up and pulled at a wet c
url that hung by my face, watching it spiral and bounce back up. His thumb brushed against my blush, sweeping a line of fire through my body before he dropped his hand.
“Get some rest, Ryker. I’ll see you in the morning. This surely isn't our last adventure together.”
Seemingly with reluctance, he stepped back and opened his door, waving one hand slowly, before he closed it behind him. I stood in the hall in his shirt still dripping slightly. I felt like a child running off for my room at this late hour. The sound of my wet toes tapping through the halls followed me back to my room where I hurriedly threw myself in shutting the door behind me.
This thing between Dace and I, oh, it hung heavy in the air. It pushed against my chest just wanting release. It was new and exciting but scary and nerve wracking all at the same time. Was I ready to risk it all? He was handsome, I’d always known that. The hard question was, was I seriously attracted to him? Could I be attracted to a fae? Male attention in this way was new to me, there just wasn’t time for romance in the Heathern Court.
It’s like everything within me had been cloaked in fog under the magic that subdued my powers but now it was clear and thriving with life. This thing pecked at my heart and mind.
We had other things we should be worrying about. I had people I needed to fight for. I had a war to win. I needed to concentrate on that. However, I wanted to concentrate on his body. The curve of his muscles, the steel wall I felt every time my fingers brushed against his chest.
Lost in my thought, I had been leaning against my door and was startled by Hattie when she spoke.
“You look... sexy,” she said into the dark, the room lit only by the moon shining in from the balcony. My hand fluttered to my chest as I jumped up, dropping the clothes I was holding.
“Well, did you have fun?" she asked.
“Yes, I did. Thanks for letting me out for the night, Mom,” I shot at her, sticking my tongue out.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, get to bed...” Her tone was heavy with sarcasm. Behind that we both knew there was a sting. The bitter sadness of missing a mother we would never see again.
Hiding my smirk, I tiptoed to my bed wondering what I was going to do with the seed of romance that threatened to plant itself in my heart.
NINETEEN
Ryker
The next day my hazy early morning gaze lazily slid from nymph to fae, few of which I recognized, as they were milling about. There was a low hum of quiet chatter and the occasional outburst of laughter as the two races ate together. It made me wonder if there could be peace like this in all the courts one day.
It was an amazing act of the Mother that such kindness could exist here. At times I still found myself pushing my boiling rage down when I spoke to a fae, particularly a male. Somehow in their face I saw Ganglin and all I wanted to do was reach down their throats and pull their organs out of their mouths.
Gross, I’m aware. But anger wants what it wants.
Politely, I waved at the few I did happen to know as I walked over the glossy tile floor that covered the large open room. Training should be the priority here, not my social life. Finding balance was the hard part. Maybe a few more of us could focus more on becoming the warriors that the nymphs needed and less on the fact that we could be friends and party all the time.
Windre had made peace and joy a reality to a disheartened people here in his home. We might forever be in his debt. I knew deep down he would never let the parties and joy get out of hand, this place had a mission.
Leaving behind the room where everyone seemed to gather I continued to aimlessly wander.
I had yet to see Hattie, Daethian, Graceson, Randsin, or Windre. Dace had already left. In passing, I had heard a few girls chatting about how sad they were that the handsome prince had left so soon. The strange feeling that was trudged up in me was unwelcomed.
I passed many rooms and climbed up and down stairs before I found myself wandering back to the small office where I’d met them all the first day I woke up here. Once again they stood around the desk their faces puckered with worry and thought. They didn’t look up as I entered but continued on with their discussion.
“Ottack has moved his troops along the western border, he looks like he is preparing to fight. We haven't received word of why he has this border prepared yet,” Jerydin said, his large eyes washing over Windre before he looked back down at the crinkled and worn map set before them. “Our spies are watching them closely but have not found anything other than the camps filled with men.”
Windre sat against the desk twirling a piece of his braid in his hand in thought. “Ottack is greedy. I can imagine he is trying to push for more land. Nonetheless, see if you can get a spy to infiltrate his ranks and get some real insight. I think I may have sway with the Twinity Court, they treat the nymphs with the most respect of the other courts, not to mention we know Prince Dace is on our side. I think they would be willing to side with us. Perhaps we go about gaining some allies?” He paused, chewing on the end of his braid before he spit it from his mouth with a frown.
Soundlessly, I stepped farther into the room, hovering behind Hattie and Daethian. Though I had no doubt they knew I was there.
“I think it might be time we show our hand in this war.” Windre continued, “Graceson, can you gather our troops and prepare them to march, should we need?”
Graceson nodded once in response from where he stood relaxed in his usual spot against the wall. Hattie leaned toward me speaking softly. “It seems Ganglin has given up his own search for you and Randsin and has instead sent word out to all the courts offering a large sum of riches for you both to be returned.”
Interesting.
Panic swept through my heart. Deep down I knew Hattie wouldn’t let the fae trade me off for coin, but there was still a seed of distrust between the nymphs and the fae.
“Is Ottack sending out troops to look for us in hopes of gaining those riches?" I whispered.
Hattie snorted. “You think you are so special another king is going to send an army just for some coin from another court. Doubtful.”
Windre didn’t look up from his hard and level stare at the map before him. “Jerydin, how is your little formula going? How quickly do you think it can be done?” Windre placed his hand along the border of his court within the old map as he waited on a response.
“It’s almost perfected. I believe the effects of the dark magic wears off within a few hours now. Just give me a little longer and I could get it strong enough to work in an instant.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have any longer for you to keep working your mad voodoo skills in your dungeon looking kitchen,” Graceson blurted, receiving an annoyed glare from Jerydin.
“Why don’t you send me?” I interrupted. The room stilled and many eyes shifted to rest upon my face. Randsin twisted to look at me around Daethian, his lips stretched out in a slow knowing smirk.
Graceson leaned forward skeptical as he said, “Send you where? You have barely been trained.”
I forced myself to stand taller under their scrutiny holding my tongue to keep back my bitter response. “Send me back to the Heathern Court, with the formula, and I can find a way to get it distributed to my people.”
“No, nope, no.” Daethian shook his head dramatically. “Ryker, have you lost your mind? He wants you back to torture you, not welcome you back with open arms, balloons, and a band. That’s suicide. Plus, how does that solve anything?”
“Daethian, I’m well aware of the current situation. But that is an easy way to get the magic from suppressing their powers any longer, sneaking it in under his nose. He won't hesitate to take me back in.” I glanced at Graceson then at Windre. “I have enough training to make a difference at least. Look, you want to show your hand, show the other courts exactly where you stand, this is a start. Let me free the Heathern Court and you can send aid to help us when the news gets around. Why react when you can be the first to act.”
Randsin brought his hand over his face draggin
g his features down in dread. He rolled his eyes before throwing his hand in the air as if in argument with himself.
To my right Hattie cleared her throat drawing attention to my beloved and only sibling. “If I may suggest, I go in her place. I am plenty trained.” She patted my hand as if to soften the blow. “We are identical, Ganglin will know no difference. Randsin could join me even.”
“Hattie, no. Please, let me. You don’t know what Ganglin does there,” I pleaded with her.
“You’ve lived through him for five years. I think I can make it a few weeks to distribute the formula and get away. Randsin should know some of his guards and weaker points, I will be fine.”
“If Randsin survives!” I said as my voice broke. “You don’t think Ganglin will have his head for this?”
Hattie squared her shoulders, her hands defensively balancing against her hips. “Then we say that Randsin was chasing me. Someone else got me out, and Randsin was hunting me down. He is returning triumphant.”
Windre stood looking at Hattie with a fondness and maybe even a little bit of sadness. “You all make very fine points. Graceson, send word to our troops get them poised to guard against any surprises from Ottack. Randsin, Hattie you work together, I want a solid plan of action against Ganglin, by tomorrow. Very little guesswork, you hear me?” They nodded their agreement. “Ryker, once Graceson is done messaging the groups. I’m sending you and him to the Twinity Court to sort out what agreement you can. You have first hand experience of what Ganglin has done. Jerydin, ready what you can to send with Randsin & Hattie. Daethian, you will take Graceson’s place in training and working with the people here.”
The room shuffled for a second thinking over the commands. Daethian shook his head. “One problem, with the reward money on Ryker’s head, who is to say that the Twinity Court isn’t going to try and hand her over anyway?”
“They have little concern for small quarrels. They won't give a flying hoot who she is,” Graceson spoke, shrugging from the side of the room.
