SWNOVELS Prince of Then: Chapter 10
Holly
rescuers, I elbow past Gade, jerking to a halt when my eyes adjust to the smoky darkness of the hut. Gade’s chest slams into my back, and I grunt, then gape at the new arrivals as if I’ve never seen a faery before.
The girl, who I assume is Gade’s sister, is busy roasting a green-skinned bird on a spit over the fire. She turns to us wearing a trouble-maker’s grin, and I gasp a little too loudly at the sight of her and her travel companion, a male who flashes me a bawdy smile from where he sits on the floor.
The female fae is shorter than me and waif-thin with long black horns that curve high above her head. In the poor light, her eyes glow a rich hazel-green, a mesmerizing contrast to the gold tones of her shimmering skin. She’s beautiful and difficult to look away from.
“What took you so long?” My grumpy companion asks her. As he speaks, I catch him lifting a finger to his lips in a gesture that looks suspiciously like a keep-quiet signal, directed at her, not me.
What secret is Gade hiding?
“Brother.” The sister swaggers over. “It’s splendid to see you alive, but I expected you might be a little more grateful.”
“Of course I’m grateful.” Gade crosses his arms. “Thank you for coming.”
“Lleu returned yesterday morning,” continues the fae, “and from that moment, we worked tirelessly, combined our stores of magic, and drove our horses at reckless speeds to arrive before you perished. Perhaps we should have struck a more leisurely pace.”
Gade laughs. “I appreciate your efforts, Sister. I only thought Lleu might have been swifter.”
“Lleu did his best, and if he hadn’t returned,” she lifts her chin toward me, “at least you wouldn’t have died alone. That is some comfort to me.” She nods at Gade’s hand. “You couldn’t contact Ether?”
His gaze slides from his sister’s, and he twists the garnet ring on his finger. “It likely wasn’t working.”
Frowning, Mern opens her mouth to speak, and Gade silences her with a shake of his raven head.
Outside, a bird of prey calls, the sound eerie in the hut’s smoky gloom. Gade ducks his head through the door and whistles. A moment later, Lleu glides onto his bare shoulder, and they greet each other with obvious pleasure—pats and low murmurs from the fae and trilling squawks from the eagle.
I stare at the bird’s razor-sharp talons, wondering why they don’t seem to cause Gade pain. Points of blood bead around his shoulder, but he keeps smiling and stroking the eagle’s head, oblivious to the injuries.
The ways of faeries are baffling indeed.
“Lleu, I knew you wouldn’t fail me,” says Gade. “But the next time you disobey me and chase that brainless boar halfway across the land, I’ll lock you in a cage for a sennight and cut off your goldfish treats. That beast will be the death of you one day.”
“He couldn’t wait to return to you, Cousin,” says the fae sitting cross-legged on the floor. He pulls a large water bladder from a satchel and drinks deeply, then coughs and wipes his mouth. “He flew too high and too fast and kept showing Mern gruesome images of your wound. We knew speed was critical.” He gives me a lewd grin. “But we didn’t realize you had such interesting company.”
Gade glares at his cousin, and the fae takes another swig from the bladder, somehow nodding to me at the same time. “You’ve found yourself a stray mortal. I’ve never seen one in the flesh. It’s quite a curious looking creature. I expected something a little more disgusting, such as no teeth in the mouth, only gums. Lord Serain told me they have pink skin, like a young hog’s, but this one contradicts my assumptions. Call me fascinated. May I touch her?”
“Certainly,” says Gade. “If you’re comfortable with my knife embedded in your neck, go right ahead.”
Shocked, I snort out a nervous laugh.
“Behave,” Gade whispers near my ear, as if I’m the one saying outrageous things, and shoves me farther into the room. “Human, this is my sister, Mernia, known to all as Mern, and my cousin, Elden. They won’t help you escape, so don’t bother appealing to their better natures, for like me, they do not possess them.”
“Speak for yourself.” Elden laughs, his yellow hair ruffling like a lion’s mane around his angular features. With needle-sharp ears and eyes that tilt dramatically upward, his appearance isn’t quite as startling as Mern’s, but near enough. “So… is it safe to call you Gade in her presence? If I’ve erred by mentioning it, allow me to wipe her mind of the memory.”
Gade shifts his weight and nods, cutting me a furtive glance. “That name is fine.”
So, it seems Gade’s secret has something to do with his true name, the one the annlagh mentioned he wasn’t allowed to use in the Above Realm.
I force a smile and a teasing tone of voice. “Your cousin doesn’t seem to trust me, Gade, even though I’ve spent days tending your wound, hunting for you, and cooking for you. I’ve had ample opportunity to slip a poisonous herb in your stew and haven’t taken it. I’ve even promised to comply and return to the castle where you work as a guard and—”
Water spurts from Elden’s mouth, the pouch flopping on the floor as he narrows his feline eyes. “Human, your knowledge of my cousin surprises me. And what you say is true—he does guard the palace extremely well. And the safety and happiness of every fae within its walls are always foremost in his mind.”
“Do shut up, Elden.” Mern turns to her brother. “Does your human have a name, Gade?”
“It’s Holly.” He spits the word out like it’s bitter medicine on his tongue. “She may be mine, but doesn’t yet know it.”
“I’m definitely not yours,” I say, my statement making Elden cackle. “People don’t own each other. That’s called slavery.”
A shudder racks my body. Why does Gade think he has a claim on me?
“I haven’t decided what purpose you’ll serve. But I have no need for a human slave or lover with an irritating, quarrelsome temperament like yours.” Gade rubs his forehead and curses.
Watching him closely, Mern laughs. “And yet… finders keepers. You are stuck with each other.” She directs green and gold eyes and a warm smile on me. “Hello, Holly. I’ve never met a mortal before. Heard stories, of course. If you find me staring at you at times, please don’t be alarmed. I’m merely curious.”
“Likewise,” I say. “I’ve only seen the rare sheep or cow with horns as beautiful as yours…” I let my words trail off, realizing how rude they sound.
Gade may be happy to regularly offend everyone around him, but I’m not.
“Sorry,” I say. “I meant that in the nicest possible way. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” Except for your brother, I think to myself. “I’m glad to meet you. You mentioned you have magic. Can you use it to get us out of here quickly?”
“Unfortunately not,” she replies. “My magic is elemental, earth based and depleted at present. My power involves transmuting stones and glass into other crystals and forms. I can manipulate plants and trees and sometimes see fragmented visions of the future.”
“Sister, the girl will not benefit from hearing the entire Book of Mern and a detailed inventory of your numerous skills.” Gade crosses the floor and bends to kiss Mern’s cheek. “Granted, you do love to boast.”
“As you well know, there is no harm in it.” She points the fire poker at me. “Given our circumstances, I’ve never been more envious of the Merits’ power to transfer, but I’m afraid riding faster than the wind is the best we can do for the return journey.”
“What does transfer mean?” I ask.
Gade frowns. “The ability to disappear and reassemble your body in a location you set your mind to.”
“A very useful power,” I admit. “What are the Merits?”
“You mean who?” Mern grins. “The less you know about the Unseelie fae whose kingdom lies in the south of this land, the better. Best you forget their name.”
Unseelie fae. I’ve heard that term used to describe the dark fae, those like the annlagh who are even more monstrous than the creatures I share this room with.
“So, who’s hungry?” Mern asks. “We’ve brought your favorite rosemary bread, Gade.”
We all agree we’re famished and huddle around the table to eat a tasty pheasant stew. The atmosphere is jovial as the fae update Gade on news of their court and tease each other mercilessly. Despite Gade’s grumpy greeting, he appears to be rather fond of them.
While they talk, I find my gaze lingering on this smiling version of my abductor and patient, especially on his luminous chest, highlighted by the flickering flames. Before dinner, I was pleased to see him throw on a shirt, but now I sorely wish he’d fasten the buttons. Rather than the protector of a kingdom, he looks like a marauding pirate, and it’s putting me off my food.
At one point, I feel his attention on me as I lick my spoon, and Mern says something strange. “That’s right, Gade, if your heart’s wish is to be as bald as a newborn chick, keep staring at the girl.”
I glance up to see him leaning forward, rotating a lit candle between his fingers, a lock of black hair about to burst into flames.
“Son of a troll!” He lurches out of his slouch, shoves the candle into the clay holder, and thumps it back on the table.
Mern and Elden laugh, but Gade doesn’t. He just scowls and asks to hear good news from home.
Stories of a newly built falcon mews and of the cook’s puff dumplings exploding in the earth mage’s face during a recent dinner return a smile to his handsome face.
The conversation turns to matters of a kingdom in decline, weakened by the deaths of its rulers. As they speak of a magical sea, tribes of forest creatures, and court politics, curiosity grips me, and I long to view the city of Talamh Cúig with my own eyes.
“Why hasn’t a new king been chosen yet?” I ask, chewing a tougher piece of meat.
The fae fidget with their cutlery, and Gade’s knee bounces at the corner of my vision, a sure sign he finds the subject uncomfortable.
Mern clears her throat. “We Elementals already have an heir, a prince, but before he can be crowned king, he must meet his foretold mate and marry her.”
“Oh.” I mop up stew with a hunk of Gade’s favorite bread. “Why is that?”
“It’s complicated.” Her gaze slides away. “When the prince came of age, he offended a powerful mage, and she laid a curse on him, its sole purpose to torture him cruelly. It dictates that he needs this mate to rule, but it also makes the chosen girl hard to find.”
I sigh. “Really? Another curse? Your brother told me he’s also afflicted with one. Is that all the fae do? Run around cursing each other?” I push my empty bowl away, knocking a mug of water over.
“You seem overwrought,” proclaims my abductor, passing me a cloth. “In Faery, curses are ordinary things—small ones, large ones, hilarious, and heinous. We’re quite accustomed to them. Besides, these things are not your concern.”
Gade jumps up to stoke the fire, then settles himself on the edge of the bed, prodding at his wound.
“With all this talk about curses, I wouldn’t be surprised if a vampire attacked us in the night. I think I have good reasons to be overwrought.”
“No one mentioned a vampire, human,” says Gade. “Whatever that is.”
“Holly,” I say. “My name is Holly.”
“Yes, yes. I’m well aware. I don’t know why you’re so proud of the name. There are better ones to possess.” He winces and palms his bandaged side.
“Are you still in pain?” Mern asks. “Let me try easing it.” With graceful movements, she rises from the table and sits beside him.
White light pulses from her hands, dissolving into Gade’s stomach. After a few moments, she leans back and scrapes hair behind her horns. “Any better?”
“Well, it tickled,” Gade says, straight-faced.
Mern huffs. “And?”
He fights a grin. “It feels quite warm.”
“That’s not funny. I’m worried. If my magic has no effect on your wound, it won’t do much to boost your power. You’ll be an easy target on the journey home.”
Gade picks at a stitch on his sword belt. “Do not fret. I’ve found another power source.”
Mern’s jaw drops. “You have? What is it?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” Gade says, sliding under the bedcovers and lying down. “For now, we should get some sleep. We need to leave at first light.”
“Fine. Elden and I will take the floor by the fire. There’s not enough room for three, so you and Holly can…” Mern sweeps her arm toward the bed, her forearm’s golden bracer flashing in the firelight.
“We can what?” I say.
Gade remains silent, his hands curling into fists on his thighs.
Mern sighs. “Do I really need to spell it out?”
The fair-haired cousin snickers as he shakes out a bedroll in front of the hearth.
“Yes,” I say. “Please do.”
“Holly, you’ll need to share the bed with Gade.”
“No.” Gade stands, rolling his shoulders. “I’ll sleep in the stable and keep Wren company.”
“Sit down.” Mern pushes his chest, and he slumps back onto the bed. “Have you been allowing the girl to sleep on the floor?” She points at my blanket and makeshift pillow of bundled rags folded to the side of the fire. “Our parents raised you better, and it’s too cold in the stable for you to get a good night’s sleep. Grow up. The bed is big enough for two, so get in, Holly.”
Gade grumbles as he moves closer to the wall, making room for me.
Sparks leap from the fireplace as Mern lays a blanket over her still-clothed body. Perhaps she’s anticipating trouble tonight because she doesn’t even remove her boots.
Shuffling toward the bed, I remember Gade asking me to sleep beside him last night. He seemed quite enthused by the idea. What has changed to make him so reluctant now?
I stare at him lying on his side, his head resting on his forearm and ink-black hair spread over the pillow that he has pushed to the edge of the bed for my use.
I swallow hard.
Long lashes flick up, indigo blue flashing as his eyes fix on me. “Stop sulking, human, and get in.” He pats the pillow and makes a show of wriggling closer to the wall, as if a few inches between us will protect me—from what I hate to imagine.
When his lids fall closed, I slip my boots off, flip the covers back, and slide beneath them. Heat engulfs me. The fae is as hot as a furnace, yet I shiver as if I lie next to a block of ice.
Gade’s eyes crack open.
They’re too close. Much too close.
He clicks his tongue as if I’ve displeased him and rolls over, facing the wall.
“Goodnight,” I whisper to the room’s inhabitants.
Only Gade answers with a grunt.
I force my breathing into a steady rhythm and pray that the dreamworld takes me quickly. I’m exhausted but unlikely to get much sleep tonight with my senses on high alert.
Because of him—the fae who I have to kiss all the way back to his home.