Chapter Thirty-Three

 

 

The next morning, Drostan and I had breakfast in bed. He had the meal delivered to our room. Then he filled our plates himself and brought them to bed on a tray, along with some hot tea. As I munched happily on my fairy breakfast pastry, Drostan started telling me about all the time he'd spent on Earth.

“Why were you there so often?” I finally asked.

“I was sent—” he cleared his throat. “I was sent messages from fairies we have stationed on Earth. We like to keep an eye on the humans since our realms are connected.”

“They are?”

“There are several paths between the realms.” He nodded. “Sometimes humans slip through accidentally.”

“You said that I couldn't return without the help of a fairy.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“You can't,” he confirmed. “Generally speaking, it would go poorly for you if you don't know the way. Those humans who made it through were very lucky. Anyway, I often went to check on those soldiers who guard the pathways.”

“Is that part of your job as King?” I asked in surprise.

“It can be if I so choose.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I wouldn't have returned so often if I hadn't come across you.”

“Me and my lonely life,” I huffed.

“What?” Drostan frowned.

“You told me that you chose me because I had a tedious existence,” I reminded him.

“I did?”

“You don't remember?” I blinked in surprise. “My first night here, you said that my life was as tedious as yours, and you brought me here to save both of us.”

“Yes,” he murmured. “That's partially true.”

“Partially?”

“I wasn't ready to tell you how much I had watched you before I decided to offer you a bargain,” he admitted. “I didn't choose you just because you had a tedious life.”

“No; it was that and my lack of loved ones,” I huffed.

“That does make it easier for a human to disappear.” Drostan nodded. “But again; that's not all of it. I watched you care for people; people you didn't know. You are a kind woman, Riley, and an intuitive one. I remember a particular incident when I saw you help a filthy man who had fallen in the street. Cars were zooming past him; none of them stopped to help this beggar. But you—”

“I ran out and stopped traffic,” I whispered; remembering the day well. “That was Alex. He was a homeless veteran with a bad leg; an injury from Afghanistan. He had tripped and couldn't get back to his feet, and no one seemed to care. This man had given his physical and mental health to defend America, and then America turned its back on him.”

“But you didn't,” Drostan said gently. “And even if someone had cared enough to stop for him, they wouldn't have taken him to a hospital and listened to his story as they waited with him for the physician to see him.”

“How do you know all that?” I gaped at him.

“We have this trick.” Drostan smirked and then went invisible.

“Holy shit!” I jolted up.

“I'm still here,” Drostan said as he reappeared. “It's just a bit of magic. Relax, Riley.”

“Drostan!” I growled. “People could be in this room with us, and we wouldn't know it! How can you ever feel safe?”

“I would know,” he assured me. “Every spell generates an energy field that fairies can feel. It's difficult for us to deceive each other with invisibility; mostly we use it on animals or humans.”

“Lovely.” I rolled my eyes.

“Most of your people aren't sensitive to magic; that's all,” he explained. “I wasn't trying to be insulting.”

“Yeah; okay.”

“The point I was trying to make is that I asked you to come here because I was attracted to who you are; not just how you look or how lonely you were,” Drostan said. “You're beautiful, but we have beauty in abundance on Tirne. It ceases to impress after awhile. But it does teach us to look past the surface, to the character of a person. You are breathtaking, Riley; both on the surface and below it. Not only are you kind, but you're also strong and sensible. You've endured a lot of pain and loneliness, and yet you keep smiling.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“I wanted you in my life,” he said. “I wanted that kindness and spirit, and I especially wanted that happiness. There isn't a lot of those things here.”

“It seems to be rare,” I agreed. “But it's worth looking for. You shouldn't have given up on your people.”

“I'm glad that I did,” Drostan declared. “If I hadn't, I'd never have seen you; never have brought you here.”

I went quiet.

“Do you wish that I had never seen you?” Drostan asked hesitantly.

If I had allowed myself to answer immediately, I would have said yes. But then I thought about it; really thought about all I had been through on Tirne. There had been some rough bits, but even the worst parts hadn't been so bad. Even sex with Conall had been fun if I disregarded the way he'd tricked me. It had only been my first few days in Tirne and those days when I had believed that Drostan had abandoned me that had been rough. Still; I had found love along the way, and I possibly could again... if I was open to it. I looked over Drostan thoughtfully. What kind of man desired a woman because of her character? Only a man of equally good character.

“No,” I finally said. “I don't wish that you had never seen me. If for no other reason than my sister would be dead.”

“Yes; that,” Drostan murmured. “So, is there no other reason?”

“There may be one or two.” I smiled softly.

Drostan smiled back.

We finished our breakfast with small talk and a few sweet caresses. We were edging back to the relationship we'd been in before Conall had abducted me. To foster our affection further, Drostan took me for a stroll through the castle gardens. Alien flowers in vivid colors bloomed on towering stalks around the gemstone path. More flowers speckled bushes and twining vines, and their scent perfumed the lazy air with a heady fragrance. Drostan led me to a golden bench set beneath a tree with draping branches, and we sat there together; holding hands and enjoying the speckled sunshine in peace.

We were only able to enjoy that peace for a few minutes before a goblin came running over to us.

“Your Majesty,” the goblin panted, “Prince Trenton is here.”

I tensed, and Drostan glanced from the goblin to me.

“I'll receive him in the throne room,” Drostan said.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The goblin waddled off.

“You're going to speak with him?” I asked in surprise.

“Refusing to do so would be an act of war,” Drostan said simply.

“Oh; good.”

“Good?”

“Well, I don't want you starting a war.”

Drostan narrowed his eyes at me as he stood. “But I will go to war if he starts it.”

My hands began to tremble, but I clenched them into fists and forced myself to act.

“May I speak to him first?” I asked softly.

“Absolutely not,” Drostan growled.

“I want to tell him that I don't love him anymore,” I whispered.

“What?” Drostan gaped at me. “Why would you do that?”

“So that he doesn't start a war.” I lifted my gaze to his steadily.

Drostan stared at me for a few minutes and then nodded crisply. He escorted me back into the castle and through the halls, to a room I hadn't been in before. It was long and narrow, with a single throne set upon a dais at the end of it. The walls were black, high, and imposing with their glossy polish and wide arches. Trenton stood with a few of his knights before the throne; his bright looks making him stand out against all that black like a beacon in the night. He turned when the doors were opened for Drostan and me, and set his gaze unerringly on me. I wasn't prepared for that amethyst stare, and I didn't school my expression in time. Trenton got a glimpse of my true feelings, but I was hoping it wasn't enough to give me away. I settled my face into a blank stare and walked slowly beside Drostan down the hall.

Drostan went to the dais, took his seat, and gestured for me to stand behind the throne. Trenton sought my stare again, but I lowered mine quickly; staring determinedly at the hem of my crimson, velvet gown.

“Prince Trenton,” Drostan said, “welcome to the Dark Court.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Trenton said stiffly. “You may not be so amicable after you hear what I have to say.”

“Before you continue,” Drostan stopped him, “my concubine has requested an audience with you if you would permit it?”

“Your...” Trenton looked over at me in shock. “Yes; I would permit it.”

“Good.” Drostan nodded and waved his hand to a door to the left of the throne. “You may use my private sitting room to converse.”

Trenton nodded crisply and stepped up the dais stairs; straight to me. He bowed to me and held out his hand. I glanced at Drostan before I took Trenton's hand, and Drostan narrowed his eyes on that chaste touch. I pulled away quickly, and Trenton inhaled sharply but calmly followed me into the sitting room.

Trenton closed the door behind us, and immediately pulled me into an embrace. He was kissing me before I could react, and I couldn't help responding to it. I wrapped my arms around Trenton and pressed myself into the hard angles of his chest; fitting my body perfectly to his. I kissed him with all of the emotions I'd been storing up for him; threading my fingers through his hair and moaning into the passion that always rose between us. But then I remembered what I had to do, and I pulled away.

“Riley, what's happened to you?” Trenton cried. “I searched for you, but I lost your trail. Finally, a messenger found me in the forest and informed me that Drostan had you again. I immediately headed to Unseelie.”

“Thank you for coming for me,” I whispered. “But I can't leave with you, Prince Trenton.”

“Riley.” Trenton took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you can't walk out of here with me now, but we can form a plan. If you can get out of the castle, I can take you somewhere safe. We could—”

“No; we can't,” I said crisply.

“Yes, we can!” Trenton snarled. “I'm not leaving here without you, Riley! I won't! I'll—”

“I don't love you, Trenton!”

Trenton stopped and stared at me in horror. I tried to keep my expression stern, but I could feel it cracking around the edges. My eyes were wincing and my lips were trembling. I was going to cry if I had to stare at his hurt expression much longer. I needed to say something else; something to convince him to leave before I broke down and fucked this all up.

“I never loved you,” I whispered. “I just wanted to be safe, and you offered me the best option.”

“That's a fucking lie!” Trenton growled. “Remember when I told you that I've never seen lies in your eyes? Well, I see them now, Riley. You can't deceive a prince of Tirne!”

I lifted my chin stubbornly. Maybe not, but I was going to damn well try.

“You don't have to do this,” Trenton softened. “We can figure this out. We can still be together.”

“It's the truth, Your Highness,” I said firmly. “I'm sorry that I deceived you. I wanted to tell you before you made a fool of yourself in front of the Unseelie.”

“If it's true that you never cared for me, I've already made a fool of myself in front of my own court; and that is far worse,” he snarled. “But I don't believe it's true; not for one fucking second.”

“It is.”

“No, it isn't,” he said simply. “You want to stop a war. I know you, Riley. I know your mind, and I know your heart... and that heart is mine.”

“Trenton, please just go,” I whispered brokenly.

“No, my love.” He pulled me into his arms. “I cannot. I refuse to live without you. I will tear this castle down with my bare hands before I allow it to keep you from me.”

I closed my eyes and held him tightly for one brief moment.

“Drostan saved my sister's life.” I played my last card. “He bargained for my life in exchange for my sister's health. I am bound to him, Trenton.”

“What?” Trenton's face fell.

“I cannot break the bargain, or he might kill my sister.”

“Riley,” Trenton whispered. “We can go to Earth and protect your sister. There are ways around this.”

“Around an Unseelie Understanding?” I lifted a brow.

Trenton blanched. I had suspected as much. The bargain I had made with Drostan was unbreakable.

“I do love you,” I admitted. “And if you love me, you won't make this any harder for me. Please go, Trenton. Please. You know your own heart now too, and you'll find someone else that you can be yourself with.”

“All right, Riley.” Trenton swallowed roughly and nodded. “I'll go, but I'm not giving up on us. I'll find a way to break this bargain and protect your sister; I swear it.”

I nodded; I couldn't speak.

Trenton pulled me against his chest and kissed me passionately. He held my face between his palms as he eased out of our kiss, and stared at me for a long moment.

“You're wrong; there is no one else I can share my true self with, and no one who could ever replace you,” he said. “I have eternity to get you back, and I swear to the Goddess that I will. Keep your heart full of hope, Riley, and guard it well because it belongs to me.”