I stared at him with wide eyes, trying to understand what he was saying. “You were going to … kidnap me?”
His eyes widened. “No, no. That’s not exactly what I meant.” He grimaced and stood up. He paced the length of the bed in long strides. “I mean, I was hoping you’d agree to come with me to Lasair.” He stopped in front of me, mouth creased. Was it my imagination or was his neck turning red?
Would I, if he asked? Mama talked about leaving Deaglan Ranch after the wedding, but I never gave a thought to where. I never thought a Fae city would be an option. But if Aeden asked, I doubt I’d have the will to say no. Still, there were more important things to talk about.
“Why do the Red Caps want me? Mama said I was special. How? What is it about me that they want so badly? What would make them tear apart layers of Fae charms and even hire a human slaver to get me?”
Aeden sighed. “Your mother was born on the first day of the fourth month?” He asked the question, but his tone indicated he already knew the answer was yes.
I nodded.
“And you have the same birthday?” Again, he already knew the answer.
I nodded. My stomach tightened, anticipating what he was going to say.
“That day is a holy day to Red Caps, called Fool’s Day by other Fae.” He paused before going on. “Once every twenty years, nature’s magic naturally lines with their Nectar Pools and gives them added strength for a time. A century ago, they discovered a way to use black magic and the blood of a child born on Fool’s Day to make their Nectar stronger and for a longer time, which gives them more power. If they get ahold of you, that power might even be permanent.”
His handsome face tightened, showing the hard lines of a warrior. “They’d be able to overthrow the Frost Fae and the Sun Fae. The forest balances would tip, and many Fae would be injured. Red Caps, and their cousins, the Far Darrig, are fond of making slaves.” He shook his head. “I can’t allow that to happen. Especially now that I know,” he paused and finished in a small whisper, “how it feels.”
My hands covered my mouth, eyes wide and heart skittering in panic. They can do that with me? “You said a child?”
He nodded. “When you turn eighteen, they can’t use your blood anymore. Your mother had an impressive amount of protection around your house, but I can’t help but think the Red Caps waited this long for a specific reason.”
“But my eighteenth birthday is only a week away—"
The door across the room flung open.
I jumped, almost knocking the platter off the bed. All other thoughts vanished as I took in the Fae that entered.
She was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen in my life. A Frost Fae, her long silvery white hair fluttered in an invisible wind around her clear wings, which sparkled like diamonds as she flitted into the room. Her Fae Silk gown, only a few shades darker than her white skin, was adorned with diamonds on her bodice while the long skirt shifted in layers as she moved. Her large, almond-shaped eyes, the color of silver, locked onto Aeden.
“Aeden!” she gasped in a voice like a bell and threw her arms around him. She closed her eyes, crystal tears on her pale lashes. “I was so scared when the messenger told me what happened. Are you okay?”
“Alana!” Aeden sighed and folded her in a hug.
Chapter 11
It was obvious, from the close hug and the smiles on their faces, there was a strong bond between them. A pit formed in my stomach, something deep and dark. It never occurred to me that Aeden might already have someone special in his life. A wife or lover.
I bit my lips and looked at my hands clasped in my lap. As casually as I could, I pulled them apart and smoothed them over my skirt. I was in the nicest dress I’d ever worn in my life, but it was rags compared to Alana’s gown.
She opened her eyes and stepped back. Finally, she noticed me. She gasped and stepped out of his arms. “Aeden, there’s a … human? On your bed?” She gaped up at him, then back down to me. “She is human, right?”
He rested a hand on her slender shoulder. “Yes, this is Kyna.” He motioned to me with his free hand. “She’s actually the main reason why I wanted you to come here.” He smiled at me, eyes bright with pride. “Kyna, this is my younger sister, Alana.”
I was left speechless again. Sister? He had a Frost Fae for a sister? Then again, I guess his mother was a Frost Fae and his father was a Sun Fae. “Ah, hello, your highness.” Should I curtsy? There wasn’t enough room for me to stand up without bumping into them.
“How polite. It’s nice to meet you too.” Alana stared at me, holding my eyes with her large, silver ones. “Amazing. I’d always heard humans were cut off from nature, unable to circulate its magic through their bodies. But you are different.” Her head tilted to the side. “I was shocked when I heard that my brother brought a human to the Summer Palace. I can kinda see why.” She stood up, folded her arms, and gave her brother a sly smile. “So, why exactly were you alone with her in your room?”
My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. “This is his room?” I glanced around, cheeks flaming. I was sleeping in his bed? The blanket I clutched around my shoulders was his?
Aeden’s lips pressed together and he looked to the side, his cheeks pinked. “This manor is rather small. It didn’t feel right to put her in one of the outer rooms.”
Alana smirked. “Well, I’m sure you know exactly what it looks like, finding a pretty girl on the bed, with you standing over her. Very princely.”
“You make it sound so —” Aeden made an annoyed sound and scrubbed a hand over his neck. Scowling and red as a beet, he turned and paced away.
I couldn’t seem to form any thoughts. All I could do was stare at the ground, cheeks hot as the sun. It’s true, it was scandalous to be in a room alone with him. Yet it felt so natural. But there was something reassuring about how he reacted when Alana teased him. It meant that he wasn’t used to women in his bedroom, right? I fisted the blanket and lifted it, hoping I was hiding enough of my blush to save face.
Aeden folded his arms and scowled at her. “For your information, Alana, we were talking about something very important.”
Alana gave a satisfied smile. “Talking, I’m sure. There’s a pretty …” She trailed off mid-sentence. Her eyes widened and she gaped at me. “You’re human,” she gasped, as if it was some shocking revelation.
My brow wrinkled, puzzled. “Yes.” I thought we already established that?
Alana turned sharply at Aeden. “I think it’s time for your … friend to leave.” She paused. “Now.” There was a sense of urgency in her stiff tone.
“What?” Aeden asked, taken aback.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you.” What could I have done anyway? She just got here. I heard that Frost Fae weren’t friendly to humans, but this girl seemed perfectly fine with my species. She even went so far as to tease Aeden about me. So, what was wrong?
Alana shook her head. “No, it’s just that —” She paused, flicked a glance at me then back up to Aeden. “I didn’t come alone.”
Aeden’s eyes widened and he glanced to the door. His wings twitched on his back, flashed gold across the white room. “Oh. We need to go.”
He took a quick breath and spun around. He hurried to a wardrobe and threw it open. With focused urgency, he pulled out a cream-colored cape. He threw it around his shoulders, clasped it together with quick hands, and pulled out another one.
“Put this on.” Aeden held out the cape.
I stood up, still confused. “Why? What’s going on?” I let go of the blanket around my shoulders. Goosebumps erupted over my arms, and I shivered. Under that thin Fae Silk blanket, I’d forgotten how cold it was here. I didn’t even feel it in my feet, bare as they were. The chill of the air nipped at my arms, then Aeden draped the cloak around me. It fell to the ground, the last foot wrinkling around my feet, obviously cut for his height. As soon as the material touched my skin, it warmed up, banishing the cold in seconds.
Instead of answering me, Alana spoke to Aeden. “Mother was really paranoid, so she closed the barrier around the villa. You’ll have to take the front door.”
Aeden scowled and let out a low Fae curse. “Wonderful.”
I reached for the clasp just under my chin. He gently brushed my fingers out of the way and did up the clasp himself.
“Thanks,” I whispered, standing there in a cape that smelled like him with his fingers so close to the skin on my neck I could feel his heat.
He reached down and took my hand.
My eyes widened but I didn’t pull away. The feel of his hand on mine was warm and reassuring. My heart fluttered like pixie wings in my chest just feeling his skin on mine.
Aeden paused, as if he just realized what he did. He glanced at our joined hands then into my eyes, waiting for me to pull away. When I didn’t, he gave a wobbly smile and turned, leading me to the door.
I bit my lip and looked at the cool dirt floor under my feet. The cream and gold cape swished around my feet, giving only tiny glimpses of my toes as I kicked the material out of the way with each step. It dragged behind me, almost as long as Alana’s dress.
Alana trailed beside me. She glanced at our hands and lifted a brow. “You’re really going to have to tell me what’s going on, you know.”
“Later,” Aeden brushed her off and opened the door. He looked both ways before hurrying into the hall, sneaking like a thief, and towing me behind. Alana caught up and strolled beside us.
“I’d like to know what’s going on now,” I whispered to him. “Why are we leaving like this?”
“Shh!” He hushed over his shoulder.
We crept around a corner and into a large entry room. To the right was a grand wooden staircase, sweeping up the curved walls to a second floor visible through open double doors. Ice hung on the stairs, glittering in the sun, reflecting rainbows on the walls. To the left were large, white double doors decorated with crystals carved into roses. The ceiling was easily four times my height. Six beams arched together to create a dome, while the rest of the ceiling was open, with only green leaves for cover. At the apex of the arch, a crystal chandelier sparkled.
“Oh,” I whispered, awed by the grandeur. Aeden lived here?
He looked to the top of the stairs, then to the front door. “We’re lucky.” He hurried forward, still pulling me from behind. “When we get out, we’ll go to Lasair. We can talk there. There’s someone —”
Delicate silver knobs on the front doors turned from the outside.
Aeden skidded to a halt and I bumped into his back. He let out a curse and looked around for refuge, but we were in the middle of the room. There was nowhere to hide.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Was it the person Aeden was trying to sneak away from? And why were we sneaking? Aeden had always done things so blatantly. Who could worry him this much?
“Aeden, is that you? I was so worried, child.” A low, melodious female voice rang out from behind us.
I nearly jumped out of my skin, not expecting someone to be behind us too. We were trapped. I wanted to peek behind me, but a silly part of my brain whispered that if I didn’t move, she couldn’t see me.
Aeden’s whole body froze like ice. His hand tightened on mine, as if telling me to be still.
“Aeden, Alana?” The woman behind us piqued with curiosity. “Who is that with you?”
Slowly, Aeden turned, tucking his hand behind his back and pulling me around behind him. “Mother,” he greeted her. The air about him was calm and welcoming, but his fingers tightened around mine.
I turned to look up to where the voice was coming from. A Frost Fae stood on the top of sweeping stairs. My jaw slackened. When I first saw Alana, I thought she was the most beautiful person I’d ever met. Now I knew where her looks came from.
The Frost Queen was stunning, a mature and sensual version of Alana. There was no charm glittering around her, but a cool dignity that radiated from her like a gust of wind. While Alana’s hair was silvery, the queen’s hair and eyes were like blue ice, shimmering in the sun like diamonds. A long white gown flowed over her curves.
Her eyes met mine. The curiosity in her cool blue gaze broke as shock took over. Her lips parted and her face paled, if that was even possible. Her lips tightened and her eyes narrowed to slivers. A dark flush colored her cheeks as hate radiated from her, all aimed at me.
I stepped back, shocked. I might be human, but what had I done to warrant that reaction?
“Mother?” Aeden asked and shifted.
Her frigid eyes landed on our linked hands, now visible. “Vile creature!” she hissed. Icicles like spears formed around her, floating in the air, as beautiful as they were frightening.
“Mother!” Alana gasped.
The queen thrust out her palm and ice shot at me, fast as arrows.
Fire exploded from the ground, making a perfect ring around the three of us, rising ten feet tall. Instant heat seared from every side.
Aeden spun and pulled Alana and me down under him, using his body as a shield. Alana moaned and hugged her arms around her chest, panting in the heat. I flinched as the heat hit my face, but the cape around my shoulders prevented the heat from touching my body. Hisses echoed through the air as the ice hit the flames and evaporated.
The fire died out, leaving a completely silent room. Nothing moved. Even Aeden and Alana seemed to be holding their breath.
What was that? The words were on the tip of my tongue as I looked at Aeden, needing answers. But he looked as shocked as me, staring at something over my shoulder.
I shifted to see.
There was a Sun Fae standing in the doorway, his hand stretched out and engulfed in flames. He looked just like Aeden. This older man’s face was a bit narrower, his eyes a brighter shade of orange-ish gold, but they were obviously cut from the same cloth. This had to be Aeden’s father, the Sun King.
Chapter 12
The Sun King’s bright eyes assessed us quickly. When his gaze landed on me, his brows lifted and shock etched his features. Then his eyes narrowed and hard lines formed around his face. He looked back up, over our heads.
The queen hissed out a breath that echoed through the room.
Aeden let us up. We all turned, facing the Frost Fae on the stairs.
“You,” she seethed at the Sun King. “What are you doing here? You have no right —”
“I am still king here.” His commanding voice rose high, like a fire over dry grass. “This land is still shared between our kingdoms, Aysla. Or have you forgotten? Have you gone so mad as to attack our children?”
The pressure building between them was almost palpable. It was like two gods facing each other, smothering everything between with their presence.
Her face twisted until she was barely even beautiful anymore. If she hated me, she loathed the Sun King. “No harm would have come to them. They weren’t my target.”
“Mother!” Aeden gasped as Alana put her hand to her mouth.
The fire went out of the Sun King’s hand, and his brows rose high on his forehead. Slowly, he walked towards us. “Yet you’re fine with murdering an innocent girl?”
The queen scoffed. “Innocent? Look at her. I know whose filthy blood runs through her veins.”
My eyes widened, finally breaking from the spell I was under. No one was going to talk about my mother that way. How did she even know my mother? I shot to my feet and faced the Frost queen, fists so tight they shook under the cloak. “Take it back!”
“You dare speak to me!” The air around her glittered as ice specks formed around her, slowly growing bigger.
My knees wanted to buckle under her rage, but I stood my ground.
Aeden stepped in front of me. “Enough, Mother. I owe this human my life, and I will repay that debt to its end.”
She stilled, emotions conflicting on her face. Then her chin lifted as she glared daggers at me. “So, the cycle repeats? How miraculous.”
The Sun
King stopped next to his son and faced the queen. “Even so, Aysla, this girl is under Sun Fae protection.”
“Under Sun Fae protection?” Queen Aysla laughed. “No, her mother is. This child should have nothing to do with Fae. Especially my son.” She turned cold eyes to Aeden.
Aeden looked away. He swallowed hard, and his hands fisted at his side.
My teeth ground together. How could she say that? Did she even know what I do every day to help Fae? “What do you have against my mother?” I demanded.
“She ruined everything!” the queen yelled, her voice echoing through the hall.
My eyes widened, shocked. Ruined what? What did Mama have to do with a Sun King and Frost Queen? Two powerful people who were married. Why were they fighting like this? I glanced at Aeden, expecting him to be distraught. But he wasn’t squirming the way I was, in fact, he and Alana were watching like this was a common occurrence.
Quietly, the Sun King spoke up. “No, you ruined everything.” Pain etched his face.
She flinched. “How is it my fault? You could never let her go!”
I looked between them, confused. Let go of who? Were they still talking about my mother?
“You never let me!” the king yelled back, his voice rising like the sun with each word. “Every chance you had, you threw it in my face! I tried to let go, I did. But you couldn’t. And in the end, you got everything you wanted. Everything! Don’t pretend like I don’t know about the lovers that warm your bed.” Her face blanched. But if the Sun King felt anything more than mildly insulted, it didn’t show on his face. “Yet, every time I get the slightest ray of happiness, you dash it. You’ve even tried your hardest to turn my own children against me. Luckily, they’ve seen through most of your tricks.” He put his hands on the shoulders of his children.
Alana peeked a smile at him. Aeden looked back at him, a conflicted sort of hope on his face. But they didn’t try to stop their parents fighting. It was as if they were too used to it to try anymore.
Fae Flower Page 8
