Grey Magic and Binding Deceptions (Grey Witch Book 3)

by Cece Rose

  “Why did you bring a witch with you? How could you bring her here of all places? And why now, during my fucking engagement party? Do you really just want to make the rest of us as miserable as you are now?” she hisses.

  Engagement party? Is she even old enough to get married?

  I try to guess her age and settle on her being somewhere between sixteen and eighteen. Seeing as fae don’t slow their aging until they hit around their mid-twenties, she must actually be around that age too. I glance at Rhydian. Could he really just be trying to help his sister?

  “She’s my date to your party, I’d say engagement party, but that would be impossible because you’re not engaged. You’re not marrying that sociopath sitting next to you,” Rhydian grinds out his words, glaring at the man sitting in the seat next to her.

  Is that…?

  “This again?” she demands furiously. “I’ve already told you where you can take your horrid lies and shove them, Rhydian. I don’t believe you, and I never will.”

  “Yes, you’ve already made that abundantly clear.” Rhydian rolls his eyes at his sister.

  “Rhydian, do you always need to make such a scene?” a woman asks from beside me, causing me to jump. I swear I hear someone snigger as I do, and cringe. “Sorry, dear, what was your name?” the woman asks sweetly.

  “Kayla,” I answer, a little dumbfounded as I look at the woman who moved to stand across from me. She looks to be in her mid to late thirties, which probably means she’s more than double that. Hell, maybe even triple that age with fae genetics.

  “Kayla, I’m very sorry that my son here has seen fit to drag you into this. Please, allow me to get someone to take you home now, so you’re not further inconvenienced by my son’s actions,” the woman, Rhydian’s mother it seems, offers in a pleasant tone.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Rhydian cuts in before I can respond. A part of me wanted to take her offer, get the hell out of here and whatever this drama is, but the other part of me does want to help Rhydian with his sister, if that’s what we’re really doing.

  “She shouldn’t be here. Just let the poor girl go home,” his mother insists, giving her son a sharp look, her lips pressing together into a thin frown once she’s finished speaking.

  “Kayla is staying. She has every right to be here,” Rhydian argues. I’m surprised when he gives my hand a squeeze. I’ve been so caught up watching them argue, I barely noticed the fact he hasn’t let go of my hand. I slip my hand free from his grip, feeling more than a little awkward.

  “Not this again.” The woman shares a sideward glance with her daughter before turning back to us. “Rhydian, your sister is right, this isn’t the time or the place for this discussion. Whatever you may think of your sister’s choice, she’s marrying him at the end of the month, and that is final.”

  “I don’t think it’s going to be possible, and I’m pretty sure Aven knows that too, don’t you?” Rhydian questions him, raising an eyebrow as he smirks at the other man.

  “I knew it was you, you sneaky—

  “Aven!” Cia snaps, turning to glare at her fiancé, who promptly shuts up, scowling at her.

  Oh goddess, no. This cannot be happening…

  Pieces of a puzzle start to put themselves together in my head as I tune out all the sound from the conversation, lost in thought. Aven’s Halloween party from two years ago. Rhydian telling them they can’t get married. The ring sitting in my drawer at home. Unconsciously, I wring my hands together. I freeze as I feel a ring resting on my left hand. I turn to look at Rhydian, and he catches my stare and grimaces. Nervously, I glance down at the hand, noticing that stupid fae ring resting on my finger. I’m going to kill him when we get out of here. He’s deader than dead. Maybe I’ll find a way to bring him back to life, just to kill him again for putting me through this.

  Rhydian doesn’t just want me to pretend to be his date, or his girlfriend, he wants me to pretend we’re freaking engaged!

  “She’s got my ring!” Cia’s voice accuses, drawing all the attention to me, as she holds out her own hand in confusion in front of her. A matching ring resting on her own ring finger. A fake.

  “No, actually, Kayla has the real ring. The one I gave her over two years ago, on Halloween. Yours is a fake Aven had made, I assume.” He shrugs, before continuing, “But as everyone here knows, there can only be one royal fae engagement at a time. So you’ll just have to wait your turn.” Rhydian wraps an arm around my shoulders.

  I force myself not to pull away from his touch, but I can’t look in anyone’s eyes, staring blankly instead at the weird-looking food on the table. Why the hell is he doing this? Why me, how did I manage to be the unlucky witch caught up in this mess?

  “You’re lying! There’s no way you could make a relationship last for two hours let alone two years!” Cia protests loudly.

  Whispered murmurs spread along the table, and a glance behind me confirms that much of the room has wandered closer in our direction, looking at us curiously as well. I can’t help but wonder how many of them agree with what Cia is saying. Knowing what I do about Rhydian, I can’t say that I’d disagree.

  “Use a truth charm on me, little sister. I have nothing to hide,” Rhydian offers.

  Her eyes widen a little at his willingness to let her verify his honesty. “You’re not serious. You wouldn’t. You’d never agree to that.”

  “To prove the validity of my engagement to Kayla, of course I would,” he responds in a smooth voice. A perfect bluff considering the reality of our relationship. He played the long game perfectly, though. If they asked him while under a truth charm if he gave me the ring two years ago or not, he’d have them all in shock when the answer would be an honest yes.

  Cia turns her furious gaze on me. ”Do you speak then, witch? Or does Rhydian just like you to stand there silently and look pretty?”

  “Don’t speak to Kayla like that,” Rhydian snaps back at his younger sister, taking me by surprise by defending me so quickly.

  “You cannot seriously think that anyone here believes this?” Cia questions, the pitch of her voice going up an octave as she gestures around at everyone sitting around the table.

  “It doesn’t matter what anyone wishes to believe, little sister. When your fake ring fails to let the marriage ceremony commence, you’ll know the truth, I guess.” Rhydian shrugs, looking not at all concerned or bothered by the lack of belief from his surrounding family.

  A ring allowing a ceremony to commence? I’ve got to ask Rhydian some questions about this ridiculous thing.

  Cia turns to her mother, with a look in her eyes that I’m pretty sure could actually kill some weaker-minded people. “You cannot seriously be allowing this.”

  “Show me her hand,” Rhydian’s mother orders him. He sighs and gently takes my left hand, holding it out for her to inspect. She examines my hand closely and attempts to pull the ring from my finger. She curses in an old tongue I don’t recognise, pulling her hand away. “It’s real, and so is their engagement,” she announces in an almost remorseful tone.

  A tall, imposing man stands up, and it’s as if he suddenly roared for everyone’s attention, despite not saying a single word as he strides towards us. “You insult us, our family, by degrading yourself to marry this?” he questions in a low, oddly murderous, voice.

  “This?” I echo, an edge twinging into my voice. How dare he?

  “A witch,” he corrects himself, giving me a truly dark look.

  “I haven’t degraded myself in any way. I came here to inform my sister of her mistake, but I can clearly see that we’re not welcome here, so we’re going to be leaving now,” Rhydian declares, not backing down from the man’s furious gaze.

  “I know that you will not go through with this,” The King insists. “Even if this is real, you’re incapable of following through. We’ve been trying to convince you for years. It’s why we had to have a second child! All because of your stubborn nature.”

  “You’re going to
be sorely disappointed then,” Rhydian says quietly, before sliding his hand back into mine. “Are you ready to go, love?” he asks more loudly, tugging me closer.

  “But I was having so much fun,” I mutter sarcastically, regretting it when a laugh from elsewhere confirms that fae hearing is sensitive enough to catch that from further away than I expected.

  Rhydian smirks, giving his family a mocking wave with one hand, as he keeps hold of mine with the other and phases us out of the palace before anyone can subject us to further questioning or object to our leaving so soon.

  Seven

  All Out of Options

  “What the hell was that?” I demand, pulling away from Rhydian the moment we materialise into my kitchen. The familiar surroundings comfort me, helping me feel more grounded, even if I do still sway a little.

  “You helped me save my sister from marrying that asshole and dooming herself to death or worse,” Rhydian replies, acting casual, as if this is all normal conversation. He walks over and helps himself to the remainder of the wine in my fridge. Instead of searching for glasses, he conjures two with just a wave of his hand. He fills them with the wine before sliding one across the counter towards me.

  “Death or worse? Really, Rhydian?” I question. “All you’ve done is delay it until they figure out that this engagement of ours you’ve come up with is a total fake sham.”

  “About that...” Rhydian begins, his voice wavering and sounding nervous for the first time since I’ve known him.

  “What?” I prompt, taking a sip of the wine before putting the glass back down, but I keep it within reach, sure I’m going to need it.

  “In terms of fae law, technically the engagement is real.” He stares at me once he finishes speaking, body tense and a wince on his face as he waits for my reaction. Stunned, I just stand there, shaking and trying to steady my breathing. I can’t.

  “Tell me this is a fucking joke. This was all just a big trick to mess with me, right?” I demand, stepping towards him.

  “I wouldn’t joke about this, Kayla. But it’s okay, I don’t expect you to actually go through with it and marry me. We just have to stay engaged long enough for my sister to give up on Aven. Or for him to realise his game won’t work and give up himself,” Rhydian explains calmly, though I notice the way he taps his fingers against his leg repeatedly.

  “This isn’t a joke,” I say aloud, needing to hear myself say it. “How the hell did this happen?”

  “I didn’t think the ring would work with a witch, that’s why I planned to use your friend to assist me. Then you ended up in the room instead of her, so I tucked it into your clothes while I had you distracted. I knew that if I was seen, and recognised for who I was, I would be searched. Having someone else smuggle it out of the building once I’d taken it was the easiest way to accomplish my plan.” He pauses, giving me an apologetic look. “I’m truly sorry, Kayla. I didn’t know there was any risk when I planted the ring on you. I swear to you. But now, this mistake is the only way I can save my sister, so I’m going to use it.”

  “What if I refuse?” I question.

  “Fae engagements can only be broken off if both parties consent. That’s why I had to make sure everyone could see my sister’s engagement wasn’t valid, so that she can’t be forced into it later,” he answers without hesitation. It’s obvious he’s thought about this a lot.

  “So you’re intending to force me to stay engaged to you?” I glare at him.

  “We don’t actually have to get married, so what’s the big deal?”

  “What’s the big deal? Are you fucking kidding me, Rhydian? I’m in a relationship! I can’t just be engaged to someone else!” I snap, beginning to pace back and forth across the kitchen.

  How the hell am I going to explain this to Darren?

  “Darren will know it’s fake and understand. He knows some of what the fae culture is like, a lot for an outsider. He’ll know it doesn’t mean anything.” His words cut right into me. I swallow, trying to keep frustrated tears at bay. Stupid fucking angry tears.

  “I’m not doing this.”

  “You have to do this. I’m sorry, if there was another way, I’d do it. I’d kill him and be done with it if that was an option, trust me,” he says, as if that should reassure me.

  “This is insane. This isn’t happening.”

  “I’m sorry.” A hand rests on my shoulder, halting my furious pacing. “Kayla, talk to me.”

  “You can’t just manipulate someone into a fake engagement!” I screech, turning around to look at him. How he can be so relaxed is beyond me, I’m furious.

  “Kayla, please help me?” he asks softly. “Please. That’s twice I’ve said please, and I never do that. Don’t make me beg you.”

  “I can’t—I won’t. You can’t trick me into doing this for you too,” I protest, crossing my arms over my body as I try and hold myself together.

  “No tricks. No games. I’m asking you to help me... please.” He pauses, seeming to struggle to get the next words out. “I’m begging you here. Help me out.”

  I sigh, my anger dispelling with my breath. “Why is this so important? Give me something here, Rhydian,” I request. I need to know whether this stems from a personal grudge or from actual concern for his sister’s wellbeing.

  “Aven is a monster. Whatever you think of me, times that by a hundred, and he’s still worse. He started moving in on my sister just after she turned sixteen, and I knew then what he planned to do. So, I took the ring. Well, we took it.” He gives me a small smile. “I thought maybe that without the ring, it would be enough to dissuade him. He tried searching for it at first, and I left it with you as it was the perfect hiding place. He’d never think to look in some random witch’s bedroom drawer. And for a while, that plan worked...” he trails off.

  “Until it didn’t,” I finish for him bitterly, and then ask, “Why does he want your sister so badly?”

  “I hate to sound arrogant, but you are aware that my family is royalty, right?” he asks me in a humourless tone. “They would be the first marriage across the two sides where both parties carry some royal blood. Cia is much closer to sitting on a throne than he is, though.”

  “So he’s using her for a throne? Why does that put her life in danger? Surely your kind are used to dealing with these kinds of dangers?” I question, trying to understand exactly what it is he’s so agitated about when it comes to Aven.

  “He’s a sociopath. Trust me, you don’t want the details,” Rhydian answers, brushing me off.

  “You don’t get to decide whether I want them or not,” I argue.

  “Yes, I do. We’re not talking about this anymore; I’ve told you enough. Now I’ve asked, I’ve even begged, but the question remains, are you going to help me or not? Not to sound cliché or anything, but lives depend on it,” Rhydian implores, staring at me intently.

  “I can’t... you can’t just expect me to give you an answer this second. I have to think about it, I need to—”

  “Talk it over with Darren, so that he can convince you not to do it?” Rhydian supplies for me, giving me a frustrated look as he sighs.

  “I need to talk to him. You have to understand that this affects him too.” I move back to the counter and grab the wine. I sip at it, keeping the glass in my hand this time.

  “But you’re willing to do it? Keep our fake-real engagement going until my sister is safe?” he asks

  “I don’t know... I’m sorry, Rhydian, I just don’t. I’m so fucking angry with you right now. I mistakenly thought that we were maybe, sort-of, friends, but you’ve manipulated me from the day I met you.” I take a deep breath before continuing, “But I know you did all this crazy-insane-manipulation-plotting-fake-engagement-mess out of love for your bratty sister. Who is most definitely a brat by the way, oh, and your dad is a total jerk too,” I mutter the last part, still annoyed and insulted by how his father spoke about me.

  “Trust me, I know,” Rhydian agrees with me. He comes closer an
d tilts my chin up with his finger. “I’m sorry for what they said to you, about you. That was out of line. They shouldn’t think less of you for what you are.”

  “Well, they clearly do,” I huff, pulling away from his touch when it starts making my magic feel uneasy again. He looks a little too good when I stare up at his face like that.

  “My entire family is a little backwards. My mother isn’t so much usually, but she’s blinded by her desire to see Cia marry Aven,” he explains.

  “Why would she want that if he’s such a monster?”

  “Because the needs of the family come before the needs of the one,” he recites as if it’s something he’s heard numerous times before. “It helps that she doesn’t want to believe any of the bad things she’s heard. Easier for her to ignore the possibility of truth in those things, than accept the reality it could be Cia suffering.”

  “I need some time alone to think,” I tell him quietly, looking away from him and staring down at the wine instead

  “I understand. Call me when you’re ready to give me an answer,” he responds, matching my low volume. I turn to face him and say goodbye, but he’s already gone, leaving me alone with nothing but the sound of my own breathing and thudding heart.

  The now familiar prickling sensation rushes over my skin, objecting to the departure of one of the vessels holding my magic. I grit my teeth and wait for the sensation to pass, almost gasping in relief when it finally does. I lean against the counter and close my eyes, still breathing a little harshly.

  How the hell am I meant to help Rhydian and get my magic back, all while trying not to hurt Darren, with this just getting worse? I let the tears I’d held back before escape, feeling them trail down my cheeks as I continue to try and calm down my breathing.

  Eventually, I calm enough to grab the bottle of wine, and stumble my way to the front room in my heels. I let myself just fall back into one of the comfy chairs, closing my eyes for a few moments as I try to block out all of the thoughts and fears rushing into my brain. But it’s no use. I wish Lizzy was here to talk about this with. She’d know what to do, she’d know exactly what to say to make me feel better about this mess. I sigh. I really need to start making some friends.