Fae Flower

by Michelle R. Reid

  Weren’t they supposed to be married? I’d never seen married people act like this to each other. Like enemies at war. It was such a stark contrast to my parents’ harmonious and sweet interactions.

  Queen Aysla lifted her chin. “I am a queen, you have no right to talk to me like that.”

  The king scowled and waved his hand. “Right now, you’re acting like a jealous, crazed simpleton. And I don’t have the time to deal with it. My son has been acting odd for weeks, then disappears. Next thing I know, I hear he’s hiding here with an injured human after escaping a slaver. Unlike you, the matters of my son are more important to me than the shadows of the past.”

  “Father,” Aeden looked at him, light in his eyes. “I was going to tell you. I mean, I think it’s happening again. The Red Caps and the Fool’s Day —”

  The Sun King hissed in a breath, his eyes wide with alarm. His body stilled, barely breathing. His eyes flicked over to me, concern wrinkling his brows.

  “Red Caps?” Alana muttered. “I thought they were all gone?”

  I shook my head. “The Red Caps hired the slaver to catch us.”

  “Impossible!” the queen insisted.

  “It’s not,” the king challenged. “We need to rally our forces immediately. We need to stamp out the rebellion now, before events repeat like twenty years ago.”

  “I will not panic my people just because you are so determined to live in your fantasy!” She stamped her foot.

  He made an annoyed sound in his throat. He ran his hand softly down Alana’s hair and tapped Aeden’s shoulder. “Be patient while I talk to your mother.” He then glanced at me. A slight emotion — pain? — flickered in his eyes. “There is more we need to discuss.” He leapt up in the air and flew up to the balcony.

  Queen Aysla stepped back as he landed in front of her, shoulders tall and looking like a warrior ready for battle.

  Aeden took my hand and pulled me to the side, toward a pair of double doors on the opposite side of the entry hall. Alana followed close behind and shut the doors just as the king and queen’s voices rose to shouts again. It didn’t completely deafen the noise, but it was easier to ignore.

  “What’s going on, Aeden?” Alana demanded.

  I looked at up at him. “Yes, what’s going on? How does she know my mama? And what did my mama do to make a Fae Queen hate her like that?”

  Aeden took a deep breath and flinched when a particularly loud female screech echoed from the neighboring room. He put his hands together and tapped his fingers to his nose as if thinking. “Do you remember that old Sun Fae nanny we had as children?” he asked Alana. “The one who used to tell us the legends of the Sun King and the Fae Eyes? How a human helped return the Sun King back to his people?”

  Lightning zipped down my back. Fae Eyes? Hadn’t I heard that term recently?

  Alana’s brows wrinkled, and she tapped her finger on her lower lip. “Vaguely. I was so young when she left.”

  Aeden nodded. “Yes. Mother made her leave when she found out about the stories.”

  “But what does that have to do with all this?”

  “Because those aren’t just legends,” Aeden said, his voice urgent. “They really happened. The Sun King in the stories was our father. The human, Fae Eyes, was Kyna’s mother.”

  Alana gasped. “What?”

  “What?” I echoed her, completely lost. “What is this legend?”

  Alana frowned at me, assessing me like never before. As if she was looking at something entirely new. “In the story, the Sun King was attacked by Red Caps and sold as a slave to humans. A girl bought him. A girl with eyes like a Fae,” Alana looked me in the eyes, taking a moment, “and a curse — a Red Cap curse. She helped return the Sun King home and he was able to vanquish the Red Caps and free her from her curse.” Alana licked her lips and glanced to the door.

  “And the Sun Fae will forever be grateful to the Fae Eyes,” Aeden finished.

  I shook my head, trying to absorb what I’d just heard. No, that couldn’t have happened to Mama. She made tonics and helped Fae, but that was it. She couldn’t have done something that fantastical.

  “You really think that Father is the Sun King in that story?” Alana sounded doubtful. “Then why haven’t I heard about it before?”

  “Or me?” I muttered, still trying to wrap my mind around the idea.

  From the room on the other side of the wall, Queen Aysla’s voice echoed like a banshee’s. “If her blood could do that much damage, then I can clear up the problem right now! It’s just one human.”

  Aeden’s mouth wrinkled in a frown and he sighed. “It seems like Mother did her best to make sure it was never talked about. She pretty much erased any talk of the Fae Eyes, until she became nothing but a legend.”

  I was quiet for a moment, trying to put my thoughts in order. What do I ask first? How could that have happened, yet Mama be in the position she’s in? Was she still friends with the Sun King?

  “What happened after the story ended?” I looked at Aeden. “Between the Fae Eyes and the Sun King?”

  Aeden rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, frowning at the door. “In the end, even though they were important to each other, they chose their own people over their relationship. Granted, I heard about all this from Lasair’s gardeners, since our old nanny was too scared to tell any more. The gardeners were the only ones brave enough to disobey Mother and talk about the Fae Eyes. Even so, I couldn’t get the whole story because they didn’t know it all.”

  I nodded, barely able to absorb the information. It still sounded too far-fetched to me. That Mama had been in love with somebody else, other than Papa? With a Fae king? That couldn’t be possible. Could it? I looked at Aeden, doubt creeping into my argument. It hurt my head too much to think about anymore.

  But I had enough information to accept what he said for now. And there was something more important to talk about. Something that affected me right now.

  “What was the Red Cap curse that the Fae Eyes had?” My voice was quieter than I meant. Probably because the very thought of curses and Red Caps scared me. Was that the reason they wanted me? To put a curse on me?

  Aeden frowned, noticing the change in me. He reached out and adjusted the cape on my shoulders, as if double checking that I wasn’t cold. Honestly, the chill in the air was the last thing on my mind. I was so warm, it was easy to forget the walls had a thick layer of ice on them.

  Alana watched his actions with clear eyes, curiously accepting his actions without a word.

  “It’s a bit of a history lesson,” he said, obviously thinking about what to say. He glanced at the door where the yelling still came from. “But it looks like we have the time.” He sighed and stepped back, folding his arms. “I told you how Red Caps can use a child’s blood to strengthen their Fae Nectar and themselves, remember? That’s done by infusing the child with forbidden black magic then draining the child’s blood into their Nectar. It grants them unbelievable power. The first time it happened, the Red Caps nearly wiped out the Sun and Frost Fae before their power finally waned enough for us to regain control. All the surrounding Fae communities suffered.”

  Alana perked up, as if remembering the story too. “We still haven’t recovered from that damage,” she whispered.

  Aeden nodded. “And in the process, they sold their prisoners of war to humans, establishing the idea of Fae slaves to humans.” His lips pressed together tightly and he swallowed, a haunted look fleeting past his eyes.

  My heart ached, remembering what we’d gone through just yesterday. I reached out and rested my hand on his arm.

  He focused on me. An almost smile reached the corner of his lips. “Ah, right. The Sun Fae were finally able to put an end to the Red Caps’ terror, but they couldn’t wipe them out completely. And like rats, they reproduce too quickly for us. Well, a little over twenty years ago, they tried to repeat that ritual. Using your mother.”

  I could hear Alana’s quick intake of air, but I coul
dn’t seem to tear my gaze away from Aeden’s.

  Is that what Mama meant when she said they could use my life-force to throw the Fae world into chaos? This was the reason they kept attacking us, ruined the garden, approached a human slaver to buy me.

  “But it would be ten times worse if the Red Caps got ahold of you, Kyna.” Aeden put his hand over mine and spoke softly, like he didn’t want to scare me too much. “Because there’s magic in you. Unlike any human they could have gotten before, I can’t even fathom the damage that would happen if they were able to use your blood.”

  Chapter 13

  My hands were shaking, but not because of the cold air. It was ironic, truly. Just yesterday I was so angry at Mama for not telling me everything. For always hiding everything. But now that I’d heard it, a part of me wished I hadn’t. How different would my childhood have been if I’d grown up looking at the trees that I loved so much and always imagining a malicious Fae waiting for me behind every leaf?

  I stepped back. “I don’t understand it. I’m just a normal human. How can I have magic?”

  Aeden shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “But it’s there,” Alana finished. She walked over to me and held out her hands. “Give me your hand.”

  I glanced at Aeden.

  He gave an encouraging nod. “She’s a lot better at this than me. Someone was going to have to teach you. Alana is the best here, outside of Father.”

  I put my hand on hers. Her skin was cool and soft, like the chill of a fall morning. She placed her other hand over mine, palm to palm. I blinked, recognizing this from when Aeden did it to me days ago. It didn’t feel quite the same because my heart didn’t go crazy like with him, but now my hand started to tingle and feel warm. She slowly lifted her hand in the air. A shining cord connected our palms, shimmering and sparkling through the air. Toward her hand it was silver, but the closer it got to me, the more gold it became.

  I gasped, shocked that such a beautiful thing could come from me.

  “Magic. Sun Fae magic?” Alana peered close at the shimmering cord, then up at Aeden. “Right? No wonder Father said you were under Sun Fae protection. Of course, he could see it in a glance. But it’s not completely Sun Fae. It’s more — plant influenced than fire. How is that possible?” She looked at me, confused. “I’ve never met a human before. And to meet one with magic, well, that’s something special.”

  I shook my head. I glanced at the Sun Fae on my right and the Frost Fae on my left. A prince and a princess. Here she was calling me special? I was a peasant to them.

  Yesterday I’d been a normal, albeit slightly odd, human girl. Now I was a human with magic in her. That I didn’t even know how to use. I was wearing Fae Silk, sleeping in a Fae bed, and surrounded by the strongest Fae in the world. And other, evil Fae wanted me to turn them super powerful, so they could hurt everyone else. I still felt like me, but I wasn’t really me anymore. I was different, more than I ever thought possible. The daughter of a woman who was a legend in the Sun Fae world.

  I wanted to know more about what was happening to me. But I couldn’t lie, there was a part of me that didn’t want to know any more.

  Alana looked at Aeden. “How much should I teach her?”

  Aeden frowned. “She should at least know how to see magic right now. The rest can be taught later.”

  “The rest?” I gasped. “Are you saying I can … use magic?” That was impossible. Too impossible.

  He nodded. “Yes, you can if you learn how. You’ve already been using it unconsciously, for years I’m guessing. All I had to do was look at your garden to know. Every inch of it is influenced by your magic, encouraging the plants to grow and help the people who will one day use them in your tonics.”

  My garden — the image of it in tatters, the earth grey and barren, flashed in my mind and a sharp pain stabbed at my heart. I swallowed the swell in my throat. It was just a reminder that my world was changing. Everything I knew was different. I didn’t even really have a home anymore. Maybe I could go back to the ranch — my family would welcome me with open arms. But I would be putting them in danger.

  “Kyna?” Aeden asked. “Are you okay?”

  He glanced at my hand, where the magic cord still connected me to Alana’s magic. The golden magic on my side had changed from a bright gold to a dingy brass color. As if the magic could understand my conflicting emotions.

  I gasped, my hand closing by reflex. “I’m just … confused. I don’t know even what to believe anymore. My home is gone, Mama seems like a different person. I feel like a different person. And now I have magic? I don’t even know how.”

  Someone knocked on the door behind me.

  I jumped and turned, surprised to find the Sun King standing in the open doorway. When had he come?

  He walked in, piercing eyes locked on me. He stopped and placed a hand over his heart and nodded his head. “Hello, I’m King Helios of the Sun Fae.”

  My eyes widened, surprised at the gracious way a king just greeted me. I gripped my skirt and curtsied as gracefully as I could. “Ah, hello. I’m Kyna.” I realized he wouldn’t be able to see me holding my skirt, with the large cape covering me chin to toe. Heat seared my cheeks. What if he was offended by half a curtsy?

  He smiled softly, his eyes turning kind. “Ah, what a noble name. As expected of Maira.”

  It was a like a punch to the chest, hearing the way he said my mother’s name — the subtle softening of his tone. I might not have even noticed it, if it hadn’t been the same way Papa used to say her name. With that one name, Aeden’s story became truth to me. As impossible as it seemed, it was true.

  “How is your mother doing?” King Helios asked, his voice strained as if he was trying to act casual.

  I bit my lips. What should I say? The last time I saw her, she’d been running down the lane, chasing after the carriage I was in. “It’s been a while since I saw her. I’m a bit worried.”

  His eyes narrowed and he nodded, pressing his lips together.

  “Father.” Alana smiled and wrapped her arms around him. Her wings fluttered, flashing in the light beaming from above.

  He hugged her back. “Hello, my diamond.” He ran a hand down her hair. “These long months have been lonely without you. Have you figured out how to beat me in chess yet?”

  She pouted and looked away. “I will one day.”

  He laughed. “That you will.” He turned his attention to Aeden. “You gave me quite a fright, Aeden, when you disappeared like that. Why didn’t you tell me? About any of this?” King Helios’s voice held the disappointed tone only a parent could have.

  Aeden scowled and looked to the side. “I’m not a child. I can handle this. You were the same age as me when you went through this, weren’t you?” He glared at his father. “It’s true, isn’t it? About the Fae Eyes and the Red Cap curse? Why didn’t you tell me — us — about any of that?”

  King Helios sighed and looked up at the swaying treetops. “It’s not that I didn’t want you to know about it. It’s just … complicated. I thought nothing like that would happen again, and it wouldn’t matter if you knew. It would be easier for you if you didn’t know.” He glanced over his shoulder at the direction of the balcony on the other side of the wall.

  Aeden scowled, though he nodded as if he understood exactly what his father meant. “Alright. But what do we do now? I was going to take Kyna to Lasair before we were attacked. I thought it would be the safest place for her.”

  “Would it?” I piped in. “Would I really be safe there? What about the people in Lasair? Wouldn’t they be in danger? It seems these Red Caps keep following me wherever I go.” Mama had layers of magic barriers around my home, and the Red Caps still almost dug through them. My hands clenched together on my skirt, thankfully unseen by everyone.

  Aeden rested his hand on my shoulder, a warm comfort. “No Red Cap would dare attack the Sun Fae stronghold. No Fae could overpower us.”

  His pride in his people was
reassuring.

  The king watched Aeden’s hand on my shoulder, an unreadable expression on his face. “Yes, that would be the best place for Miss Kyna. I’m sure my people would welcome you with open arms.”

  Because of Mama? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t have the guts to. I just wasn’t ready to hear about it yet. Instead, I nodded, accepting his words.

  King Helios gave a quick nod. “We must hurry. We don’t know if a Red Cap followed you here or not, and the Summer Palace is not heavily guarded. We would be at their mercy if they attacked now. And it seems that we won’t have the help of the Frost Fae at this moment.”

  Alana gasped and stepped away from her father. “What? Mother won’t help? But this, this could affect all of us, couldn’t it?” Her hand fisted and rested on her heart.

  King Helios nodded. “Yes. But she won’t see reason.”

  Aeden scowled and turned on his heels. “I’ll go talk to her.”

  I bit my lips, not wanting him to go. I was sure, given all the praise Aeden gave his father, that I was just as safe with King Helios. But it was different.

  Alana grabbed Aeden’s arm and tugged him to a stop. “Wait, Brother. You should stay with Kyna. I’ll go talk to Mother.”

  “She’s already preparing to leave,” King Helios warned. “And she’s taking the entire staff with her. Ever her charming self.”

  “Then I’d best hurry.” She looked at her father for a moment, then her sharp silvery eyes landed on me. “The Frost Fae will help. I promise you that.” She held her chin high and strode out.

  There was a small, proud smile on the king’s face as he stared at the door after her.

  “So, we’re just going to wait for her?” I asked.

  “I don’t know how I feel about Kyna staying here,” Aeden said.

  “No, we shouldn’t stay here. It’s too vulnerable. But we have two of the three strongest Sun Fae in the nation here.” King Helios rested his hand on Aeden’s shoulder. “I think if we hurry and use the canopy as cover, we should be able to get to Lasair before the Red Caps track Miss Kyna down. Then we’ll wait for the Frost Fae forces to join us there.”