by Godiva Glenn
He gave her a confused look. “It’s not cootchy. It’s cu sidhe. Coo. Shee.”
“Cu sidhe,” she said carefully. “Sorry. But still, can I see it? We’re all alone and I promise not to fall to my knees like a crazed fan.”
He arched a brow. “I’m not sure promising not to get on your knees for me is incentive.”
“You know what I mean.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “I’d really appreciate it. It’s not fair to tell me you have a spirit form, then leave it up to my imagination.”
Without a word, he yanked off his shirt and handed it to her, then stepped out of his boots and pants. As usual, he wore nothing underneath, a habit that absolutely delighted her. By the time he’d kicked his boots out of the way, his eyes were entirely consumed with the green fire she’d seen the night before.
She took a step back, not afraid but unsure of what to expect. He paced for a moment, then his form shimmered. The odor of soot filled the air and a whooshing giant flame encased him for a split-second before dying away and leaving a massive, shaggy, green hound-like creature where Kerren once stood. The glowing emerald eyes stared at her, and she stumbled further back, knees weak from the shock of witnessing his change.
“Kerren?”
He padded to her and circled her, sniffing the air. She reached out tentatively and stroked his head. He whined and shook his coat as he turned away. A strange bald patch decorated his left flank and she tried to make it out. It appeared to be a brand, like a crude twist of vines.
She started to ask about it but changed her mind. The mark could have been intentional, but she couldn’t imagine what purpose. More likely it was an old injury.
He walked away, and with another flash of fire was returned to his fae form. He took his shirt from her shaking hands and offered her a smile.
“You may be the only human in the last hundred or so years to have seen a cu sidhe,” he commented.
“That’s…” She shook her head. “Wow.”
“As I said, few know that I have this ability.”
“Your secret is safe with me, of course,” she promised.
* * * *
A tall fae woman with jet black hair to her knees led Brook through the winding garden and to a white gazebo in the clearing. Queen Catriona sat waiting, and upon seeing Brook’s approach, held out her hand in a welcoming gesture.
“There you are. I was worried that Kerren had forgotten all protocol. I’m sure most have forgotten when high tea is held.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty,” Brook said while seating herself across from Catriona. She kept a smile on her face, but inside she was panicking and wondering if there was a certain way to speak to a queen.
“I’m sure you must be excited, as are we all, truly. It’s been quite some time since we introduced another human to the court. The last was long before my time,” Catriona said.
Her voice had the same gentle accent as Kerren’s, something that made each word sound more musical and formal, and her eyes had a familiar warmth in their green depths.
Brook smoothed her hands nervously over her skirt and admired Catriona’s gown. It was like many of the dresses she’d seen on the other fae women, simple in cut and style, except that Catriona’s had long draping sleeves embroidered with the same swirling emblem she’d seen on the floor of the throne room.
Catriona lifted the teapot and poured Brook a small amount, then pushed a tray of various condiments that appeared to be sweeteners like honey. Her sleeves shifted color in the light, from deep violet to olive green and gold.
“What has Kerren explained to you, dear?”
“Not too much. He showed me around the Barrows.” Brook picked a random honey and stirred it into her tea, causing the scent of spices and flowers to waft in the air, tickling her nose. “I had some concern… I have a job and responsibilities on Earth. It’s not so easy for a working human to just up and leave,” she said carefully.
“Lorelei will take care of that. You should look forward, not back.”
“But my job…”
“I’m sure whatever you did on Earth was beneath you,” the Queen countered politely.
Brook straightened in her chair. “What I did on Earth was something I’d earned through arduous work, regardless of how it may appear to the outside world.”
“Yes. And Prism is in need of such a clever mind as yours. Do you think your talents would go to waste?”
“I’ve just never been a fan of handouts,” Brook said firmly.
The Queen arched a brow and took a slow sip of her tea. Placing her cup down on its saucer, she pulled a tray of cookies from the side of the table to the center. They looked scrumptious, but Brook wasn’t going to be distracted from her goal.
“Ms. Donovan, I have never been one to tolerate ‘handouts’ and I wonder if perhaps you are taking for granted the debt we owe you. You saved a life.”
“Any human would have—” Brook bit her tongue. “Okay, many humans would have done the same.”
“Perhaps. But it was you.” Catriona looked Brook over. “In my long life, I’ve gotten adept at reading people. You are a firecracker, yes? You are here, arguing with me over something written in fae law. Gutsy.”
“I wasn’t really arguing, Your Majesty” Brook offered, worried she’d come across too harsh. Catriona wasn’t just any fae, but it was hard to know exactly how blunt she could be.
“Splitting hairs, dear. And speaking of hair, that gorgeous mane of yours is likely to start a new trend, if not your daring fashion,” Catriona said with a mischievous grin. She patted her own golden blonde hair, which was braided at the sides and sat in a high bun decorated with tiny gems. “The life you can have here will be far more fascinating than what Earth could have offered, and just by looking at you, it seems this is fate. Don’t tell me you didn’t hate your job. Don’t tell me you didn’t wish for something new and exciting to come along.”
“That’s not the point. I didn’t choose this.”
“No. You earned it. Isn’t that better?”
Brook’s polite smile faltered. Kerren was right. The other fae couldn’t comprehend how her ‘award’ might not be what every human desired.
“I know that look,” Catriona said with a sigh. “Free will and all that, yes?”
“Yes,” Brook said enthusiastically.
“If you’d been invited to live on Prism, would you have said yes?”
Brook nodded and stirred her tea some more. She didn’t know how to say it to the Queen, but tea was literally not her cup of tea. There was nothing pleasant about drowned dead leaves.
“Probably,” she admitted.
“Your entire internal conflict is based on not having a choice. But it looks like the world chose for you, because you weren’t going to make an effort to get what you wanted. How long have you stayed with that job of yours, the one you hate?”
“About three years too long,” Brook confessed.
“And the rest of your dreams? How long have you been settling for less than you deserved?”
The words struck too close for Brook to dodge. She had been squelching her interest in staying in Prism because it wasn’t her choice, but there was no denying that she could easily make the best of things and be happy.
Except that entire part about Kerren not being in Prism much longer.
“Could there be a compromise?”
“That depends. What compromise do you have in mind?”
“Kerren seemed to think you’d just… bestow things on me. A home. A job. I’d like to be involved in seeing what I’d be comfortable with. I’m not exactly used to a life of luxury.”
“We can’t have our human nobility living in squalor,” the Queen pointed out. “Of course, we could negotiate the details… but I must admit I have a job in mind.”
“Which is?”
“Well, I was going to wait bu—”
A large dark form crashed through the nearest hedge and skidded to a stop. Its dar
k green paws padded around the grass while Brook stared in horror. She couldn’t imagine why Kerren would crash her tea with the Queen, but there was no way he wasn’t going to be in serious trouble.
The burn on his flank seemed more pronounced, as if his fur had gotten shorter, but regardless, she wasn’t forgetting the cu sidhe form any time soon.
“Kerren,” she hissed. “What are you doing?”
“Kerren?” the Queen asked, standing. She scanned the empty courtyard. “I don’t see him.”
The hound retreated to hide behind the corner of the pavilion, and she heard the roar of a flame burning and instantsly.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t informed that my wife would have company,” a deep voice said sheepishly.
Brook looked away at realizing the naked man behind the railing was not Kerren. Catriona clucked her tongue. “Two hundred and he acts like he’s fifty.”
“Oh, but, you…” Brook sputtered. “I’m sorry Your Majesty.”
“No, no. In this instance, the fault is all mine, and I offer my sincerest apologies,” he insisted, appearing beside the Queen. He’d donned a robe and appeared at ease with his informal attire.
“Why were you speaking of Kerren?” Catriona asked.
“The…” Brook stared at the ground. “The cu sidhe.”
“Ah. Yes, Kerren… that’s right. I always forget he has the hunter spirit. Not many of us left,” the King said with a deep expression. “A symbol of the old days.”
“Yes, and I suppose the burn is part of the spirit then. I was worried Kerren had an injury,” she said breathing a sigh of relief.
“Burn?” Artur asked curiously.
“The patch… the twist. On your flank. It’s just like Kerren’s. I thought maybe he’d been in a fight.”
Catriona laughed softly. “Oh. Dear, I’m sure you’re mistaken. Every shifter carries their clan mark…” she narrowed her eyes at her husband. “Though usually it is kept well hidden. It is a sign of honor, but then again, it singles the individual out.”
“There are no wars, Catriona. There is no longer a need to hide the clan ties or royal blessing,” he reasoned.
“I’m quite certain Kerren had that same one, though. Is he of your clan?”
Catriona’s smile faltered, and she glanced to Artur. “No. Distant cousins on his mother’s side, but he should have the mark of the Barrows.”
“The Barrows mark is a circle, though. His was that same twist…” Brook peered off into the distance, trying to recall it again. “Yes, and I thought perhaps it was from a strange magical duel… my imagination can be wild.”
“In any case, you’re mistaken,” Artur said sternly. He turned to Brook with a serious line to his brow. “If you don’t mind, I think high tea may be over.”
“Oh…” Brook glanced at her untouched drink. She had come close to forcing it down, so she wasn’t sad about that, but she still had more questions for the Queen.
“We’ll reschedule,” the Queen said, glancing at her husband.
“Of course,” Brook said, rising from her seat. “Thank you for having me, Your Majesties.”
The same maid from earlier appeared out of nowhere and gestured for Brook to follow her. As she walked beside the quiet fae, she tried to recall Kerren’s form again.
She’d seen the vines, but perhaps they were right. His fur was long and shaggy. Maybe it had been parted oddly in that spot. There was no other explanation.
Chapter Ten
Kerren sat at his kitchen table, bent over the cold sandwich he’d made for lunch. An hour had passed, and he’d stared at it, not hungry and not sure what he would do for the rest of the day.
He could show Brook around some more, if that’s what she wished. Anything she wanted, he wanted to give to her. It was his own needs that confused him. Keeping her happy was easy to devote himself to, for now.
Once she became a full-fledged member of the court, he had to go. Even if it tore at him, he knew the odds of their relationship ever being approved were dismal.
He’d once been smitten with the Duchess of Lugh Isle, and Catriona had disapproved. The Duchess was as equal to his station as possible, yet they’d been deemed an incompatible match. With those odds, he’d never be allowed to be with a human.
And there was no way he would stick around to see who they would approve of for Brook.
Before he met Brook, he had a plan. He had to stick to that plan, even if it threatened to rip a hole in his chest. Sticking around wouldn’t be good for either of them.
The front door creaked open and closed, and he hopped up to see how Brook’s tea went with the queen.
Instead of his curvy redheaded delight, he found Vevina skulking around the living room.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Thought of another way to meddle in our lives?”
“Kerren…” She paused where she stood and turned sorrowful eyes at him.
Deep blue waves pulsed through her white hair. Regret. Sadness. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d appeared this distraught. She was his family’s servant by birth, but they’d always been more like friends.
It had been his decision to elevate her status. He made her his assistant and let her do mostly as she pleased. They did almost everything together, really. Up until her betrayal, he’d thought they were nearly family.
Now, he felt no pity for her.
“I asked you a question.”
“I came to see you. I wanted to explain—”
“There’s no excusing your actions, Vevina. What did I do to you that made you bitter enough to run off and spout your story? What did Brook do to you?”
Vevina hung her head. “I came to seek your forgiveness, but I’d still appreciate it if you’d allow me to speak.”
“Then speak,” he said, waving a hand. “Please, tell me why you think you deserve my time.”
She took a step toward him, then hesitated and shifted on her feet. “You can’t leave, Kerren. Don’t you see? You belong here. Your people love you.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Brook fits in well, doesn’t she? I knew the moment I saw her. She would’ve been so happy if you would’ve brought her back home.”
“Vevina…” he warned. “Make your point so you can leave.”
“Why do you hate us all so much?” she demanded.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t hate Prism. I’m just bored. I’m stifled. There’s no future for me here.”
“Because you say so, but for no real reason. You’re barely even here!” she exclaimed. “You spend most of your time exploring the other planets. Why can’t you just say what you mean? You’re lonely.”
“So what if I am?”
“Brook is perfect,” she said, worrying her hands on her dress. “Don’t you see? This was supposed to make you happy—both of you happy. She wanted this. I have an entire profile for her. She wants someone just like you, and you need someone just like her.”
“You’re not making sense—we just met. And you spent what… half a day with her? You know nothing.”
Certainly, he knew his feelings for Brook, but there was no evidence she felt the same. It’s not like she’d asked him to stay.
“I lied about Brook,” Vevina said carefully. “I didn’t find her from an agency. I… made a dating profile for you with a paranormal matchmaking specialist.”
The absurdity made him want to laugh, and he did. He walked to his couch and fell upon it. “That’s ridiculous, even for you. This isn’t one of your best games, Vevina. You can’t play with Brook’s future and expect me to laugh it off.”
“I’m not joking. This… Gerri Wilder has made so many happy endings come true, her reputation is known across the damn galaxy. And she matched Brook with you.”
“She’s gorgeous. But chemistry isn’t love, Vevina.” He leaned forward and pulled a decanter of dark liquor towards him on the coffee table. Pouring a serving into a crystal gl
ass, he sighed. “Brook and I may have had a future had you not interfered. But now? Even if I wanted to pursue her, I’d be denied.”
“Never. Brook is your future.”
Somehow, hearing Vevina make such a statement was like a punch to the gut. “You’re right about one thing,” he admitted. “I was lonely. I wanted a wife and a family. But you don’t get to choose that for me, and some woman I’ve never met—matchmaker or no—doesn’t get to choose that for me either.”
“But… Don’t you feel it?”
He took a sip of the amber liquid and closed his eyes as it burned and slid down his throat. Once the fire subsided, he looked at her. “Do you think that relationship would ever be approved? Don’t you remember the last time I tried?”
“That selkie whore? Of course it wasn’t approved. Every cock North of the Fade has petitioned to court Mira, Duchess of Lust Isle,” Vevina shrieked. “No one will ever get approved for her. She has no class, paltry manners, and her territory will be dissolved within the next two centuries.”
“We are equal—”
“You are so far above Mira she’d need a wisp to find the soles of your feet, Kerren. Besides, all of fae knows the love of selkies is the waters. You deserve more than to come second to water.”
“And if Artur and Catriona don’t agree? Brook is having a hard enough time accepting this. If I tell her how I feel, only to have our relationship disapproved, what then?”
“Catriona is descended from a deity of love. She isn’t inept. You keep assuming she’ll say no just because it’s you, and just because she kept you from making a mistake decades ago.”
“Yet she and Artur approved my parents.”
Vevina pursed her lips and her eyes trailed away. “That was different.”
“How?” he asked.
He truly never understood his parents’ relationship. His mother was sweet and free-spirited. His father was a drunken bully.
Vevina shifted on her feet. “You should ask your mother.”
“I can’t ask her. You know she hates speaking of him. She’s happy now, and I won’t dredge up old memories and make her upset.” He turned to fully face Vevina. “But you know everything.”
