by Liddie Cain
“That’s lovely, Gwina. I wish I could do something like that.”
“I have eleven children and all of them had long hair. I’ve had a lot of practice.”
“Well I don't wish I could do it that much,” I quipped.
She laughed loudly, giving a bow to Conall while still laughing and headed back to the Brownie filled table from where she had come. Treda walked in and crossed the room to stand in front of Conall. She dipped into a quick curtsey before asking, “Ready for the banquet to begin?”
“Yes, thank you Treda.” She turned and left the room again. I looked at him with my eyebrows lifted.
“What is the occasion?”
“You are an honored guest. It is for you.” He smiled and I shook my head at him when I smiled back. He did know how to impress a girl.
Several large doors opened along the wall at the end of the large banquet hall. The doors needed to be big because of the large figures that passed through them. Trows walked out carrying huge platters of food. They towered over everyone, most of them being between nine and ten feet tall, and dressed in all black. Some Trows could take a human size form with an even smaller elf like form a rare ability among them.
There were a dozen of the giant Trows and they walked to the front of the banquet room and started laying out the six foot long platters of steaming food on the tables. They turned and went back for another tray after they had made their delivery.
A team of serving staff came out with drink and table setting carts. There was a mix of different kinds of denizens of the lesser fae that made up the serving staff, but every cart had a small elf perched on one of the handles that was using magic to levitate the drink choices over the tables. The room grew loud as everyone started talking to each other and calling out which drink pitcher they wanted. It would levitate to their hand so that they could pour it into their cup, then they let it go and allowed it to rise back up into the air and float further down the table.
Conversation and laughter flowed across the room. It was not what I had pictured the Unseelie Court to be like even as an angel. I had not seen many of the Fae, only a few pixies here and there. This was supposed to be their version of the demonic as I had learned in my mortal life. Some of the types of Fae here definitely looked scary and I was certain they could do evil things, but here in this large room tonight it looked like a happy community.
“It isn’t what I imagined,” I finally admitted to Conall.
“There have been centuries worth of myth and legends to be turned and twisted. There are evil beings among my people. I am the Host of the Sluagh, the creatures of nightmares. I can call the fairy wind that brings them pouring from the sky. Nothing good comes from the touch of the Sluagh. But I also have a court full of families and kind hearted fae like Gwina. There is good and bad here just as there is anywhere else.”
“Do you have family here?” I asked, it suddenly occurring to me that Conall could be centuries old.
“Of course. I have had two Queens in my time as ruler and have two daughters from the first and one son from the second.”
“You are married?”
“No, the sithen stopped answering to Enid’s voice and she was uncrowned almost thirty years ago. There has not been another suitable choice,” He responded.
“Oh. So marriage is by power and not love?”
“We don’t have the same concept of marriage that humans or the heavens do. I have had favored consorts over the years but not currently.”
Then he shot me a meaningful look and I instantly grinned. “Consort? Any side benefits to that gig?”
Amusement lit his face. “Quite a long list.”
I laughed then pointed down at where my dad was talking with his hands at the table in front of us. “Thank you for bringing them for a visit. Dad will love it and Mom has started looking more comfortable with the idea.”
“You know that a thank you is not needed in Fairy unless you are in my debt and you are indeed not.”
“Okay, then I appreciate it a lot.”
“It makes me happy to have your appreciation,” he responded warmly.
One of the male Brownies walked up on the dais carrying a small table that he sat down in front of us. Gwina carried two plates of food and sat them on the table, then went down to one of the drink carts and came back with two glasses of a honey colored drink. I started to say thank you three or four different times. Finally, I caught her hand and squeezed it, giving her a thankful smile.
She squeezed my hand back and smiled broadly. “I hope you enjoy your meal.”
“It looks delicious, I’m sure I will,” I replied. The plate held glazed carrots, smoked corned beef, boiled new potatoes and a dark fluffy bread roll. I picked up the glass and held it toward Conall to ask, “What is this?”
“Brown lemonade. Sweetened with brown sugar. I think you’ll like it.”
I raised it to my lips and took a sip then nodded in approval of the sweet tangy taste. We both watched everyone in front of us as we ate. Darby looked over her shoulder at me and raised her eyebrows. I realized that she was paying attention to the flirtatious way I was feeling about Conall and I felt a blush rise across my cheeks.
He glanced between the two of us and chuckled, but laid his hand over my arm. “When the timing is right, I would like for you to come as my guest under more pleasant circumstances.”
“I would like that.”
“Barden and Iona will be ready for your journey to begin when you are done eating. They wish to make it to the last settlement on Unseelie lands for the night. You will enter the Neodrach in the morning. Travel can be done from the sithen to the village through enchantment, but travel in the Neodrach must be done on foot or by horseback.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I haven’t ridden a horse since I was a kid.”
“That has been anticipated and fairy horses have been arranged at the village. They will take direction from the lead rider when put in a group. Iona is very talented with being the lead in a hunt or raid.”
That nervous feeling trickled back through me and I pushed my plate away from me. With a gesture from Conall, the serving staff came and took the plates and table away again. He stood and held out his hand for mine. I laid my hand in his and followed him off of the dais. He stopped to get Darby and my parents, then led us back out of the large banquet room.
The room had grown mostly quiet before we left. When I glanced back, all of the Sidhe nobles were standing. All bowed their heads to me. The lesser fae around them curtsied if they were standing, bowed their heads if they were sitting. I lifted my hand up and halfway waved to acknowledge them. Conall had stopped and turned back to watch as all of his people, small to giant, waved back at me.
***
We went back to his private sitting room. Treda, Barden and Iona were waiting on us. Barden was dressed in clothing that was the same color of night as he was. He looked like a panther standing there looking at me, a figure in unrelieved black except for those amber colored eyes. Iona was all golden. Her skin, clothes, hair and even eyes were all different shades of gold.
They were both Baobhan Síth, blood drinking fae, but both of noble enough blood to be Sidhe. I had met them when the donation program was first being organized because they utilized the program. They only needed the blood in the season around Halloween, or Samhain.
I had actually had sex with Barden on the night that I was kidnapped by Monroe, but it had been caused by an enchantment. I could clearly remember it though so it made it a little awkward every time I saw him.
“Good to see you, Roz, Darby and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt,” Barden spoke with his soft but friendly tone.
Iona was more quiet, but she nodded at everyone and wasn’t dismissive. She was just all business usually. “We will give you a moment alone with your parents. When you are ready, Roz and Darby, step into the study.” Her voice was kind as she spoke. They, along with Conall, walked into the study and left the four of us alone.
>
Mom and Dad tucked me and Darby into their arms in a family group hug. “We will be right here waiting on you,” Mom whispered.
“Take care of each other,” Dad said before giving us both kisses on top of our heads.
Darby kissed them both on the cheek after I did. I took her hand and we knew that both of us would rather not drag the goodbye out. Mom would start crying then I would start crying and it would be a lot more difficult.
“Ready?” Darby asked me.
“Yeah. It’s time for Felix to come back home.” I replied.
“Then let’s go find his stupid ass.”
We both laughed and were still smiling when we walked into the study. The smoke from the roving candle was already thickening the air in the room. We moved over to stand with Barden and Iona.
Conall stepped in my path before I reached them. He hesitated a moment. Then his hands were cupping my face and he leaned down and brought his mouth to mine. A slow brush of soft lips made my skin tingle and goosebumps rise. His warm breath swept across my face as he pulled back from the kiss. My eyes took a moment to focus through my suddenly arousal fogged brain.
He laid one more kiss against my forehead then straightened and looked at Barden. “You will not lose her this time.”
“No, my King. I will protect her with my life. You have my word.”
“Iona?”
“What she has helped return to the Unseelie Court is precious and I will protect her.”
“Then go and find Felix. He does not belong in this world.”
Before we walked away, Conall stopped Darby by touching her arm. “The court seer told me to tell you that you will need to protect your heart on this journey.”
“What do you think that means?” she asked.
“It is for you, so I can’t say. Logic suggests it is because you are angry with Felix and it might hinder his rescue.”
I could feel the emotions clashing within her. She frowned intently but nodded at Conall. He stepped out of our way and we stood beside Barden and Iona. Smoke poured across us as the Unseelie King held my gaze with his own. I was still feeling the butterflies from the kiss he had surprised me with. A blush rose across my face, but I smiled at him. His answering smile was full of a delicious heat that made me blush even harder. The smoke thickened to where I could no longer see him. That weightless nothingness swept my body away from me again. Our journey to bring Felix home had begun.
Outside of the Unseelie Sithen, the sky is always night in the Unseelie lands. The village was made up of different Baobhan Síth families who used it during the blood taking season since it made other fae nervous to be around them at this time of year. The nobles were all a monochrome color like Barden and Iona. One of the houses belonged to Iona’s cousin and that is where we would stay for the night.
Helitha, Iona’s cousin, was purple. We had only passed other nobles that were tones of browns, whites or silver. The purple took me by surprise. The light lavender hue of her skin was kissed by a glittering overlay like Barden’s, but much more apparent against the lavender. I realized that the glitter was more like a fine layer of freckles in all the different skin tones we had seen. Barden did have pink and purple dots along that sheen on his black skin.
Her hair was slightly darker than her skin. As Barden, the only departure of color was the golden hue of her eyes. All of the Baobhan Síth had gold or amber colored eyes. Helitha was enthusiastic as she welcomed us into her home.
“I am so pleased you are here. I cannot pass for human so I have rarely been in the human realm. So have a seat, have a seat. Tell me everything.”
Darby laughed as Helitha plopped down on the couch beside her. Iona sat down on the ottomon that was placed in front of the chair that I sat in. Barden had dropped us off and went to see about the horses and supplies. Iona shook her head at her cousin.
“It isn’t as if you have no idea what the human world is like.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t like to hear about it!” She looked at Darby and asked, “What do you do for your job?”
“I’m a masseuse and assistant manager at Roz’s day spa.”
“Oh that sounds lovely. Well, actually that sounds boring. Don’t you get tired of doing the same thing all the time?”
“Helitha…” Iona said her name in warning.
“I wasn’t trying to be offensive, cousin. You can’t sit there and act like you don’t think it’s boring.”
Darby patted the woman’s knee. “I am not offended. Yes, sometimes it gets boring. I think that’s true of many human jobs though.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” Helitha replied.
“But I do get to have good conversations with the people in the town we live in. That part makes it fun and I sort of drift off into my own thoughts if a client would rather be quiet and relax.”
“Okay that makes it sound a little better. Do you have a special fellow at home?”
I felt and saw the blush on Darby’s cheeks. “A special lady.”
“Even better! What is she like?”
“She’s a vampire. Very caring. Smart, supportive.”
“Oh, but, my dear you don’t love her.”
Darby froze. Helitha took her hand and patted the back of it. There was only shock that I felt from Darby in that moment. No denial. My heart rate shot up because hers did.
“Why would you say that?” she finally whispered.
Iona made an angry growl. “Helitha!”
“Cousin, I am only trying to help her. She cares for this woman but she is not in love with her.” She looked back at Darby and tapped herself on the forehead. “Just a little magic ability my dear. We Baobhan Síth were once the readers of hearts, it made hunting wayward fornicators easier.”
Darby looked at me with wide eyes. I got up and squeezed in beside her on the couch.
“Look,” I told her quietly, “the two of you have only been together for a couple of months. It makes sense that you aren’t in love with her yet.”
Helitha took a breath to speak and Iona firmly said, “No.”
“But cousin--”
“No, Helitha.”
Darby held a hand up. “It’s okay. She means well. I think it has been drifting around in my head but I haven’t wanted to face it yet.”
“Oh, Darby,” I whispered.
She gave me a sad smile. “It was exciting and the first time I ever admitted to myself that I liked girls. Then she was just living with me all of a sudden. And feeding from me. It was so much so fast. I honestly care about Sylvie, I do. But I’ve been feeling like something was missing.”
I didn’t want either of them to be hurt. Sylvia obviously loved Darby and she had become a good friend of mine since the vampires moved into town. But if love just wasn’t there for Darby, then it just wasn’t there. I hugged her tightly.
“I wanted it to work,” she whispered as she hugged me back.
“Don’t worry about it now. We will figure it out when we get home. There’s been a lot of crazy things happening in our lives lately.”
It occurred to be that Darby and Sylvia had gotten together before the memory of our past lives had been returned to us. Darby would have had this whole other personality in her head. It had changed the way I felt about Jason, made his goodness so much more meaningful to me. The opposite could have happened for her.
When we lived as angels, Darby had just never dated. Sylvia had been the first serious attempt at a relationship that I had ever known her to try. But now knowing what Darby was thinking, with how close we had always been, sweet Sylvia wasn’t exactly the personality type I would have guessed Darby would be into. She had lost that wild streak she had in our past life and it made sense that she would look for it in her love life. Sylvia was protective and brave, but careful and organized. Methodical.
Iona sighed. “It grows late and the day will be long tomorrow. You two should get some rest.”
Helitha patted the back of Darby’s hand again. “Hope you d
on’t mind sharing a room?” We both shook our heads. “Good. This way, my sweets, I’ll show you to your room.” She led the way up the stairs and to a small but comfortable guest room that had its own bathroom and a view of the meadow behind the house from the window.
Then she paused before leaving the room, looking back at Darby. “I am sorry that I caused you distress. You have a great capacity to love, but what is the hurry when you already have your soulmate?” She gestured, indicating me.
“Oh--” I started at the same time Darby spoke.
“No, Roz and I aren’t--”
She waved off our protests. “I know the two of you aren’t a romantic couple. Who ever said that soulmates had to be romantic?”
Darby softly laughed and then looked at me to say, “She has a point.”
“Very true,” I said as I smiled before looking at Helitha. “Thank you. And thank you for letting us stay in your home.”
“Thrilled to have you, dearies!” she said brightly before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. I knew Darby well enough to know that she needed a few minutes to herself to digest what had happened downstairs and grabbed my bag on my way into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
After I had gotten changed into pajamas and washed my face, Darby came into the bathroom also in her pajamas when she heard me brushing my teeth. “Share a sink soulmate,” she said with a grin.
I chuckled and stepped over to allow her room to brush her teeth beside me. Watching her in the mirror, I thought how very right the soulmate comment was. Darby and I had shared two lives together and gravitated to each other in both of them. I just wouldn’t work without her.
I rinsed my mouth and sat down on the edge of the tub while she moved on to washing her face. “I love you, you know.”
