CHAPTER 13
Lynne
THE UNSEELIE QUEEN HAD been right. Her court was far different from my own. And even more dangerous.
When I first arrived, Dorian had wanted to show me his realm but was very hesitant to show me anything that might scare me away. Everywhere he had taken me was tame.
A flower garden that sang. A nest of opalaughts that were the cutest creatures I had ever laid eyes on. Mainly places that were in the direct vicinity of the palace.
But today was different. Today he was going to take me out of the palace area and into the heart of the UnSeelie Court. My excitement kept me up almost all night and had me up before the first light hit my bedroom.
“You are in a good mood this morning.” Dorian smiled at me as we walked through the gardens.
“I’m with the man I love and about to go on an adventure, how could I not be anything other than happy?” My face hurt from how much I was smiling.
“I could think of something that would make you even happier.” Dorian’s hand slipped into mine and I curled my fingers around his, holding him tight. Ever since the first time we made love, we had not been able to stop touching each other, a caress here, and a stolen moment in the hallway there. I could live forever in his embrace and die a happy princess.
“Oh no you don’t,” I giggled and bumped shoulders with him, “You aren’t going to distract me today. Today we are going out into your realm. I want to see everything. No more trying to shelter me.” My lips curved down in a frown. “I got enough of that from my mother.”
Dorian stopped and pulled me to him. “I am sorry. I do not mean to coddle you.” He stroked the side of my face and I leaned into his touch. “I just know how dangerous my realm can be, and I do not want you to get hurt.”
“When we marry I’ll have to rule this realm too,” I grabbed his hand in mine, “how can I be a good ruler if I don’t know the people?”
“Very well,” Dorian sighed and then smiled, “if you insist upon learning about the people then I will take you to see the craziest creatures that I know. That will keep your expectations low for the future.”
Laughing, I let him drag me out of the garden and into the UnSeelie World. This would be an interesting day indeed.
* * *
WHEN WE STEPPED OUT of the queen’s garden, I expected to end up back in the graveyard with the nasty faeries, but instead, we were at the edge of a forest.
“Wow, you weren’t joking when you said your world changes a lot.” My eyes took in the surroundings.
The tall walls of the hedge maze were at our backs and to the front of us were dark trees with rolling mist along the ground. I couldn’t see much more than a foot into the dense forest and it gave me an unsettling feeling.
“This is why you should not wander on your own until she is used to you.”
My eyes snapped to Dorian. “She? The UnSeelie Court is a woman?”
Dorian’s lips curved up, his eyes twinkling. “Not in the physical sense of the word. But we refer to her as such because of her temperamental moods. One day she might be kind enough to let you get to where you wish to go and other days she’ll move your house right out from under your nose. Quite irritating actually.” His eyes narrowed at the tree line as if it were the very being he was talking about.
“Hmm, I could see how it would be difficult for someone new to your world.”
“But it is an excellent defense mechanism.” Dorian winked at me before taking my hand. “In any case, we better get going or we will be late for tea.”
“Tea?” I asked as I let Dorian lead me over the forest line and into the dense fog. The sounds coming from the forest were not like anything I had ever heard before. I would have imagined there would be animal noises and maybe leaves brushing against the branches of the trees but each step I took further into its depth the more it felt like I was in a moving breathing being.
“Yes,” Dorian answered unaffected by the world around us. Did he not feel the brush of the wind against him, the way it pulled at you almost trying to keep you in place? Or maybe it was just me? Was it the UnSeelie Court trying to warn me away?
I sent a silent message to the mercurial being that I meant no harm. It did cause the pull to lessen. It was less aggressive and more curious. I suppose she had decided to watch me until she could figure out if I was friend or foe. I certainly didn’t want to be the latter.
“So who are we having tea with?”
“Hatter, naturally.” Dorian helped me over a fallen limb so that my gown did not catch on the branches. If I had known we would be traipsing through the forest, I would have chosen to wear breeches instead of a gown.
“Naturally,” I replied back, my lips twisting down.
Dorian laughed at my expression and he drew me to him, rubbing his nose against mine. “Do not look so worried, my peach. Hatter is a good friend of mine, you have nothing to fear.”
“But your mother said I had everything to fear here,” I countered.
My prince’s lips turned down in a frown. “That may be true but only in certain company. But since you are with me, you should be well enough.” He kissed my knuckles, and we were off again.
Somehow his words did not reassure me, and as we moved further into the forest, my wary feeling got worse. The pulsating sounds I had heard before had dissipated and in its place was laughter. High pitched maniacal laughter.
“What is that?” My footsteps slowed the closer we got to the boisterous sound.
“It is just a bunch of Fae having a good time.” He shot me a wicked grin before he upped our pace until we were almost running.
My breathing increased as I tried to keep up with his long strides. I had lived my life caged. My body wasn’t ready for such excitement, no matter how much my heart yearned for it.
I kept up with Dorian as best as I could. Embarrassingly, he had to pick me up when I tripped over my own two feet until eventually he finally stopped.
“Are you ready for this?” Dorian asked, his hand poised and ready to push back the brush that separated us from a noisy gathering on the other side.
As the laughter increased to a frightening level, I wasn’t so certain I wanted to know what was on the other side. That was until I heard a familiar voice. One of a Ms. Liddell.
What was she doing here?