Beyond the Iron Gate (The Faery Meadow Book 1)

At last, her back had stopped feeling itchy and sore. Lorcan had made them walk for at least two hours. The woods were thinning out and Elaine could tell they would be out of there soon.

“Lorcan where are we going?”

“We are going-”

They both froze hearing the sharp snapping of twigs drawing closer and closer. A deep laugh echoed around them. Lorcan flinched and looked down at her with worry.

“Brother!” a man shouted while flying out of the bushes ahead of them.

He appeared to be taller than Lorcan. His face was tan, his hair black and shaggy. The man’s piercing green eyes meet Elaine’s. Immediately, she looked away from the stranger. Lorcan never mentioned his family, but at this point she guessed she shouldn’t be surprised.

The faery man grabbed Lorcan by the shoulders shaking him.

“Lorcan, who is this?”

“Nothing of your concern -- a mere human I found,” Lorcan laughed.

Something told her these brothers had had a rough past. The friendly demeanor of the dark-haired man was completely gone.

“Well, it’s nice to meet such a fine lady. Surely you must be special. So sorry you had to meet him before me,” the man murmured while turning toward Elaine with a wide smile.

She glanced at Lorcan to see him clenching his jaw.

Lorcan gave his brother a cheeky smile. “Save the introductions for later, Bray. I’m sure you know by now that we’re being followed.”

“Right then, follow me,” he grunted.

Elaine huffed in annoyance and took off after Lorcan with a jog behind Bray.

He ran surprisingly fast, she struggled to keep up with Lorcan as they ran around trees. After a while, they made it out of the forest. The ground was surprisingly flat with a few hills and not many trees. At last, they reached what she assumed to be Bray’s house.

“We are on the border of Aeringdal,” Lorcan told her.

Brayden snorted. “Home, sweet home.”

The house seemed rather nice. Elaine thought It looked to be like an older farmhouse. It was made of fine gray stones and the shudders were painted a light faded green. No other houses were in her line of sight. She concluded not many fae people live out this far.

“Well, I’m going to put a field up. Give me a couple minutes. Might be a while,” Brayden yawned while walking off toward the edge of the forest.

She followed Lorcan inside the house.

The house’s furniture was mostly wooden as they passed the staircase and into the kitchen. A single old sofa sat in the living room. The walls were painted a gold color. She brushed her foot against the old hardwood floor wondering this brother of Lorcan’s would his brother live all the way out there.

“Listen, I should have told you this earlier, but don’t trust my brother.”

“Why?”

“He’s very...immature.”

“Uh, okay,” Elaine sighed.

Lorcan looked down at her and Elaine watched the way his red hair seemed lighter today, “I’m afraid we’re going to be here longer than I intended.”

Elaine wondered if he could see Bray from the window. After all, he was able to see the pixies watching them from so far away. Elaine decided to use the bathroom.

She looked at her face, inwardly groaning at the dirt on her forehead and the tangled knots in her hair. She did her best to wash up, but she stepped out of the bathroom hearing a door slam loudly.

She walked back into the kitchen to find Lorcan and Bray in deep conversation. She caught on that they were talking about the field Brayden put up.

“...guards shouldn’t get through until at least next Monday,” Bray mumbled.

They both looked up at her.

“I’m going to bed. Bray where may I sleep?” Elaine asked.

Her back was feeling her sore again and her body felt achy.

“You can take the room on the left.”

Lorcan got up and followed her upstairs. They reached the top then crossed the short hallway on the left. She opened the door to find a twin sized bed in a small cozy looking room. A nice quilt laid on top of the bed. A tiny dark wooden dresser sat across from it.

She turned to Lorcan wondering why he was lingering around in the room with her. “I’m just going to take a nap.”

Lorcan walked over to the window and shut it.

“Alright,” he replied while shutting the door behind him on his way.

Elaine felt a little more at ease now that she finally had somewhat of a space to herself to relax...even if just for a little bit.

***

Elaine woke up with a start. The room around her was covered in darkness. Sighing, she leaned Movement caught her eye. She froze in terror as her bedroom door creaked open.

It was so dark she couldn’t make out if it was just a draft or an actual person. She gulped clenching the quilt tightly against her. The door opened inch by inch. When it finally stilled, she took a deep breath.

I can’t be a baby. I just have to get up and shut it then go back to bed, she thought.

Quickly, she hopped out of the bed and grabbed the doorknob. Curiosity got the better of her. Instead of closing the door, she opened it all the way and took a step out of her room. She thought the silence of the house was unnerving.

Slam

Her bedroom door abruptly shut behind her making her jump in the hall. She let out a nervous gasp walking toward the first door she saw. She lifted a shaky hand knocking on the closed door closest to her own room.

The door was yanked open.

“What?” Lorcan grumbled. She thought she probably shouldn’t have woken him up.

“M-m-my door...opened,” Elaine stuttered talking to the ground.

When she finally decided to look at him she saw Lorcan looking over her head. Something flashed across his face, but it was quickly gone.

“Alright,” he said surprisingly gently.

He walked back into his room while waving for her to come in. Then he closed the door behind her and walked over to his bed and sat on the edge. Elaine thought she could leave now and go back to her room, but she was too afraid to go back into the hallway again though.

“Well are you going to bed or not?” Lorcan grumbled.

She could feel a blush grow on her face, he was right she thought -- she should just go back to bed. Elaine turned back to the door and took a shaky breath. Then she reached for the doorknob.

“I meant with me,” Lorcan whispered.

She turned around facing him as a not so innocent smile formed on his face.