by C. J. Anaya
“You really have been keeping your friend here up to date on everything, haven’t you?”
Graul took a step forward to get Nuallan’s attention.
“Kheelan have agenda. Not trust him.”
Nuallan nodded. “I understand that, Graul, but I’m hoping the love he professes to have for our Princess will induce him to help since she was almost killed today. I hardly doubt he’d be willing to pit her life against her hand in marriage. Even Kheelan isn’t that reckless when it comes to getting what he wants most.”
“No,” Jareth said again. “I agree that my brother is the best candidate for this type of subterfuge, but he wants Crysta too much. I don’t trust him to follow through on his end of an agreement once he is released. If anything, he will become the very threat we’re hoping to avoid. There’s no stopping him from abducting Crysta once he’s free.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I’d personally been witness to, and victim of, the lengths Kheelan went to when he set his mind on getting what he wanted most.
Nuallan relented even though he didn’t seem too happy about it.
“I’ll continue to look for someone who fits the criteria. Until then, I wouldn’t allow Crysta to sleep alone in her quarters. She’ll need to be under constant surveillance.”
“She will be,” Jareth said in a tone of voice that actually sent a jolt of longing through me. He was getting all high-handed and I was drooling like an idiot. I tried to work up some kind of indignant response to this caveman ultimatum, but I didn’t have it in me, and I was tired of feeling like I had to handle everything by myself.
So he was going to watch me like a hawk and protect me from anyone or anything that might do me harm. How was this any different than our current arrangement?
What else is new?
After this evening’s ordeal that sounded pretty damn good to me.
“I’m a little tired,” I said as the conversation dwindled.
“I’ll take you to your room,” Jareth said. He gingerly got to his feet while cradling me in his arms. Chuck snorted and adjusted his position on my lap.
“I want to stay in yours,” I said before I could stop myself.
Geez. Needy much?
“I mean, I really don’t want to go back to the room where I was kidnapped.” My backpedaling sounded lame even to my own ears.
Jareth’s satisfied smile almost made me retract my statement, until I realized that I’d just made him supremely happy, and if he was happy then I was happy.
Weird.
My near death experience had made me all soft and less defensive around him. I couldn’t tell if I liked that or not.
I’d just chalk it up to my head injury and examine my motives later.
Yep. I certainly wasn’t falling in love with him.
“As you wish, Princess.”
“I suppose there’s no need to reiterate that there will be sleeping only. As usual,” Roderick said in a firm tone.
I ignored the chuckles from Nuallan and Jareth, feeling too tired to be mortified that dear old dad was weighing in on my non-existent sex life.
Yeah right. Like I was even remotely interested in committing myself to Jareth with something so profound as the ultimate level of physical intimacy.
I still wasn’t willing to acknowledge our fated mate status so sex was most definitely off the table.
Baby steps, folks.
“The assembly is tomorrow?” I asked.
I already knew the answer, but I guess I hoped Jareth might tell me I had the dates all wrong.
“Yes,” he said. He held me close to him on his soft bed, continuing to allow his healing magic to not only soothe the rest of the bumps and bruises on my body, but soothe a bit of my spirit as well.
“There are too many royals who have been infected with griesha. Your father had no choice but to meet with the royals as soon as possible.”
“We’ve run out of time. We have no idea what my mother hid within my memory. We have no idea how to gain access to it without Kheelan’s cooperation.”
“I don’t want you to worry about that right now. There’s no need to tell the delegation we don’t have the source of King Moridan’s destruction, only that it exists and that it will assist us in overthrowing him. We need a majority vote to go to war, and I’m fairly certain we can make that happen.”
“I hope so.”
Chuck made a soft snoring noise between us.
“I suppose this little guy is serving as chaperon?”
I nodded. “Why? That anxious to have him out of the way?”
“You have no idea.” Jareth’s words were rough with emotion, but he softened them with a teasing smile.
I laced my fingers with his and brought them to my lips for a soft kiss. I felt like an honest discussion was in order, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.
Diving right in, I guess.
“I know I don’t remember you, or us, or how we were together,” I began. “I’m not saying I’m ready for this, whatever this is between us, to escalate into marriage in a day, because I’m not, but I do care for you, and I do feel connected to you. I just…I wanted you to know that I’m grateful for the way you worry about me. For how you want to protect me. Thank you for caring so much.”
I’d kept my eyes averted through my little speech, but now that I’d allowed myself some vulnerability I had to know how he would take it. I lifted my eyes to meet his and waited for his response.
His gorgeous blue eyes beckoned me closer, but there was a sadness in his gaze that made my heart ache.
“You’ll remember me someday, but until then I will take whatever feeling you may have developed for me and relish it, enjoy every moment of it, every chance I get. I don’t blame you for not remembering, and I don’t blame you for being hesitant to let go and trust me completely. I’m sorry if my forcefulness has scared you or pushed you away.” He let out a tired sigh. “I’ve just been so frustrated and impatient to have things return to the way they once were between us. It hurts to have you look at me, waiting for me do something unforgivable so you can write me off, so to speak, and never have a reason to care about me, especially when your eyes used to hold such a different type of emotion.”
I nodded, finally seeing things from his perspective, and it really had to suck loving someone who didn’t remember you.
“I just want us to start over. Try again to love this new version of us. Can we do that?” he asked.
I was still afraid of being hurt, of simply trusting people I didn’t remember, but my feelings for Jareth were undeniable and so was this fated mate connection we shared. I had to try. I would never know for certain if I shied away from him.
“Yeah. I think I can get on board with starting over.”
“Good. Now I know the king said sleep only, but can I please kiss you before you fall asleep?”
I chuckled to cover up my nervousness even though I’d already experienced several toe-curling kisses from Jareth. The difference now being he’d never asked before. Never given me warning. Now that he’d prepped me for it, I had time to be nervous.
“Yes. You can kiss—”
He leaned forward and captured my mouth with his, wrapping his arm around my waist and gently crushing Chuck in the process. I ignored Chuck’s annoyed grunt as he wiggled out of our way, too caught up in the warmth spreading from my lips, to my chest, to the rest of my body.
I’m convinced a kiss has the power to bind a person’s soul to another, and in that moment I wondered if Jareth frantically tried to bind my soul to his with the passionate way his lips drank from mine. He finally pulled away and planted a chaste kiss on my forehead before sinking back on his pillow and waving an arm to turn off the light.
“I think we better get some sleep since tomorrow is going to be a very stressful day.”
“Agreed,” I said in a hoarse voice, not completely recovered from his delicious kisses. Maybe my own room would have been a better choice. I was in a completely different kind
of danger now. As if reading my thoughts, or maybe because he was struggling with the same dilemma, Jareth quickly rolled off the bed, grabbed a pillow, and made himself comfortable on the floor.
“Seriously?” I said, holding back a laugh.
“You have no idea how much control this is taking, Crysta. Be grateful I have so much of it because I know you’re not ready to take this beyond an impassioned kiss.”
“That’s very true. Good night, Jareth.”
“Good night, love.”
I slowly drifted away with a happy smile on my face despite the unknowns we faced tomorrow. At least we would face it together.
“That’s an Asrai,” Jareth said, pointing out a faerie walking to the raised platform who looked much like a mermaid with legs. Her cotton candy blue hair flowed from the crown of her head to just below her waist, and the rest of her body was covered in light blue scales that glistened as she moved, forming a type of design that looked like a dress, but was really her skin. I took note of her webbed hands and feet, realizing she probably did have something in common with the mermaids of the Lake of Beatha, but her scaly blue wings threw me off a bit.
“She is the ambassador for her particular sea folk species. Not quite a mermaid like your mother’s friend Chantara, but similar in powers and gifts.”
“Interesting,” I said.
Chantara had already introduced herself with a heartfelt hug that smacked of familiarity before anyone else had arrived.
“So glad you are well, Princess. Jareth and your father were very worried when you disappeared. I searched for you as best I could.”
“You were looking for me?”
Her eyes studied me with keen interest. I wasn’t sure what she had picked up on, but it seemed important.
“There are ways to hide and imprison Fae within the waters of our world. I spent weeks searching those waters in hopes I would find you alive and well.”
“Thank you, Chantara. I…that must have been very difficult for you.”
“Not in the way you might think. You are my oldest friend’s daughter. The thought of losing you again was most…disagreeable.”
She studied me again and shook her head.
“Something is different. Your mind is not well, and your magic feels…overused?”
I remained silent for a moment, uncertain how to explain the events of the past two months.
She looked behind her as more royals filed in.
“We will discuss the problems later, you and I.”
I nodded and gave her a fierce hug before she left to seat herself.
Then ordered chaos ensued.
The royal ambassadors from each Unseelie race were introduced on the raised platform and then took their assigned seats. The delegation room within the palace was absolutely enormous. It was constructed in a wide oval shape toward the rear to accommodate three very long, curved rows of ornately decorated chairs made of crystal and tinged in a frosty blue color. Swirls of snowflakes in varying sizes and shapes were carved into the legs, arms, and backs of the chairs. Each row was elevated just above the row in front much like a movie theater, though that particular thought felt a little random since I couldn’t remember ever actually going to the movies.
The mind is a funny thing.
On the floor in the middle of the room, a crystal podium sat on the raised platform where yet another interesting looking royal was being introduced as Lady Lorine of the race of Formage. The faerie shimmered between two different forms, creating a mirage-like image that overlapped the other.
“Why does the Formage do that?” I asked Jareth.
“It’s a defense mechanism meant to catch opponents off-guard. I believe Lady Lorine is a bit agitated at the moment and can’t help herself. She’s not a fan of heavily crowded areas.”
I raised my eyebrows in disbelief.
“Sounds like the role of queen must be very trying for her.”
The corner of Jareth’s mouth quirked up, distracting me for a moment.
Would it be inappropriate for me to lean over and kiss him? Probably.
We were starting over and taking things slow. Public displays of affection seemed a bit much at the moment.
Bummer.
Lots of pomp and ceremony surrounded the initial opening of the assembly. It felt like a monumental waste of time considering the urgent reason why we were all here. Couldn’t everyone just file in and take a seat?
Jareth seemed to note my frustration because he placed a hand on mine where it rested on the arm of my own beautifully decorated chair and gave it a squeeze. Our seats were situated in a separate area to the side, slanted at an angle to face the rows of delegates. Apparently, this distinguished us from all lesser nobles, which left me feeling a little uncomfortable.
King Roderick assured me it was tradition, and I had nothing to feel self-conscious about. Since I was sandwiched between him and Jareth, facing hundreds of delegates who were all kings and queens of their own races, I couldn’t help but feel conspicuous, especially with the curious and sometimes hostile stares from several of the royals now seated before us.
I could hardly keep the many races straight. There were Barbegazi, a type of mountain gnome known for burrowing through heavy snow falls and avalanches. Handy, I supposed.
The Goblin King had made a special note of coming, no doubt on behalf of his daughter who I still hadn’t figured out how to save.
On my to-do list.
Then there was the Boggart King and Queen seated directly next to two Dwarves who were as hairy as all get out.
Whatever keeps you warm, right? One of them was supposed to be female, though.
Right.
Getting used to everyone’s outward appearance was a little hard to handle. The creatures of the Unseelie Court looked like a mismatch of every little child’s worst nightmare despite some of the more beautiful faeries such as Water Nymphs, Mermaids, and Elves being present. Although, these particular Elves looked a bit evil. Their blood red eyes and pointed fangs kind of off-set their otherworldly beauty. Plus, their skin was dark gray in color. I didn’t quite know what to make of them.
“The Drow,” Jareth said, noticing where my focus had gone.
These guys were members of the other bloodline of elven folk who were the best match for Land Dwellers.
I didn’t see any females present.
I thought I didn’t, anyway.
I scolded myself for being so judgy. Hell, I probably looked just as grotesque to them as they did to me.
Graul took his seat as one of the delegates. There was quite the stir with that one since no one had been aware of his father’s death. Of course, they had no idea that I was supposed to be sitting there in Graul’s place, but we all thought it better to slowly divulge shocking information in bite-sized, easy-to-swallow pieces.
The Saytr King and his wife Mira arrived and were introduced accordingly. Mira created a bit of a stir when she suddenly turned from the stand after being introduced and fearlessly made her way over to me. I immediately stood as she approached with a friendly smile on her face, the first one I had seen since greeting Chantara.
The Saytr King seemed a bit befuddled until we embraced, then he shook his head in amusement and waited for her to return to him before taking their seats front and center. The faerie behind him had to lean back a little to avoid getting stabbed in the eyes with those massive horns of his.
For the next few minutes, surprised murmurs could be heard throughout the room as members from the Seelie Court arrived, including someone who Jareth proclaimed was an important noble. Lord Elsly of such and such a place. I kind of failed to pick up on the faerie location since it was long and garbled sounding. King Vargis had mentioned the possibility of some faeries within the Seelie Court taking special interest in this assembly.
“I’m impressed with how many Seelie Royals showed,” Jareth said. “This meeting has been kept secret at great cost to everyone. If my father discovers their involvement, h
e’s within his rights to execute them for treason.”
I studied him for a moment, wondering how he was going to hold up under the strain of this assembly’s decision. We were going to war against his own father and anyone within the Seelie Court who supported the man, and the only way to fix this was to end his father’s life.
“If we succeed in doing this, you’ll lose your father,” I said.
Jareth’s eyes rested on me for a moment, his expression inscrutable.
“I lost him a long time ago, Crysta. Long before I met you. He was never the same after my mother passed away, and his madness threatens everyone and everything I hold dear. I’ve already mourned the man he once was. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Words.
Words layered with truths, I was certain, but no one can really say they’ll be unaffected by the death of a parent. I worried that this might become more difficult for him than he’d be willing to admit. I wanted to press the issue further, but Jareth changed the subject, diverting my attention to the new arrivals from the Seelie Court.
Flower faeries of varying races came to join the cause. Jareth pointed out Bluebell, Buttercup, Daisy, Heather, Gorse, Daffodil…and the list continued on until I thought my head would spin. I didn’t mind it much. At barely a foot tall, they smelled divine, fluttered harmlessly above the rows of chairs, and occasionally gifted little blossoms to some of the delegates who requested them.
“The petals from a flower faerie are considered aphrodisiacs when ingested,” Jareth said with a smirk and a raised brow.
I gave him my best eye roll and then stared straight ahead while he had a good laugh at my discomfort.
Yeah, I really could have lived without that knowledge.
Despite Jareth’s teasing, his knowledge of the races and social orders was invaluable to me. He continued to coach me on who was who and what was what with each new arrival.
There were some faeries I found a little more difficult to look at than others. Gremlins, Imps, Knockers (that was a trip, considering they were in spirit form. What the hell?) Phookas, and Bookas which were shapeshifting faeries who liked to kidnap humans. I was really interested in putting a stop to that nonsense. Salamanders, Spriggans, the Mine Sprites (nice to finally see those elusive little guys), Bluecap, Cluricaun, and the list just kept on and on.
