Fae's Fate: Fated Mates of the Fae Royals (Summer Court Book 7)

16. Ciara

Hauling in a centering breath, I stepped into the house. The door closed behind me, and I jumped involuntarily. Golden light shone through the ceiling of glass through the misty haze of the fog and lit the welcoming interior in an ethereal light. Plants grew in deep greens throughout the room and made the atmosphere more at ease as though it catered to the elemental magic inside me. Two circular chairs were the focal point of the room and the only furniture apart from the plants.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs, and I lifted my gaze to the man walking down the timber slats who seemed to float in midair. His chest was bare, and his bronzed skin was a tantalizing sight. My gaze followed the lines of his body as though hypnotized by the tight black leather pants hugging his hips and not covering the bulge in his pants at all. My cheeks heated, and I lifted my chin, determined to meet with the Water Sprite Master. To ask for his help. His looks didn’t matter.

Not at all.

“Ah,” he said, stepping off the last slat and gliding across the room. “You’re even more lovely than your mother.”

I cocked my head to the side. “You’ve met my mother?”

“Yes, your father too.” He swept his arm toward the chairs. “Shall we sit?”

“As you wish, this is your house and kingdom.” I kept my chin high and perched on the edge of a chair.

“I see your parents’ ingrained manners in you.” He sat on the other circular chair opposite me and spread his thick thighs.

With a substantial force of will I stopped my gaze from dropping to his masculine display.

“How are your parents?”

“I’m not here for idle chit-chat.” I tugged on the skirts of my damp dress.

“I imagine not.” He placed his hands on his knees and curled his fingers into fists.

“So, you realize what is happening?”

He stood so fast that I had no time to adjust my line of sight, and I faced the bulge between his legs.

“This will not do,” he tutted. “Where are my manners? You’re uncomfortable in those clothes. Please allow me to show you to a room and I’ll have more suitable attire fetched to you.”

I jumped to my feet. “I don’t need a room or another dress.”

His hand snapped out and touched the material on the sleeve of my dress. “Human material is horrendous. A princess should not be wearing it. I won’t stand for it. And I won’t talk to you while you’re wearing those clothes.”

“You’re being unreasonable,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “I am not, and you will treat me with respect while you’re in my kingdom.”

The air crackled with his power. It rolled over every inch of my skin making me even more aware he was a man, and I was a woman. At any other time, I would have stuck to my opinion, but I needed to ask him for help. And by the way, his power buzzed, he had enough to make my request happen.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“That’s more like it.” He smiled with his shiny white teeth showing all predator like he was about to devour his prey and happy about the upcoming meal. “Come with me.”

He walked up the stairs, and I hurried to follow him. I didn’t want to anger him in his kingdom, but I should have brought my guards with me. What was I thinking leaving them behind?

Each step up the floating slats made it seem like I was walking into the sky. The glass ceiling grew closer until the sight of the sky became clearer. The fog had lightened in its intensity and the sun had set leaving the sky with a twinkling array of stars. It was pretty but I couldn’t appreciate it, not when everything hinged on me getting Sir Axis to help us.

He paused outside an open doorway. “Here we are, gorgeous.”

I firmed my lips. “Why couldn’t my friend come inside with me?”

“My rules. He’ll be fine. Nerita will give him the same treatment as you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“A room to refresh yourself and a change of clothes,” he said. “Whatever else do you think I mean?”

His eyes glittered with mischievousness making my chest tighten even more at being away from Malachi. I hoped he was all right, but the jealous pit of despair welled inside me again.

Sir Axis’s lips stretched into an all-knowing smile. I brushed past him and into the room then without further ado shut the door in his face. His deep chuckle reverberated through the timber door. I spun into the room and stomped over to the window. Outside the stars reflected on the great expanse of water surrounding the house in dozens upon dozens of white lights. A light fog hovered in the distance still covering the rest of the buildings we’d seen briefly. The water rippled as a tail breeched the surface. I flung open the windowpanes and leaned over the edge trying to glimpse the creature who’d swam past me. The unusual tail didn’t breech the surface again, and I slumped against the window wishing I’d escape into the night with Malachi and didn’t have to worry about anything at all.

A knock clanged on the door, and I rushed over to fling it open. A small girl stood before me holding a dress draped over her arms. The material shone as though powered by magic itself. Hues of blues glistened from the folded material, she shifted, revealing layers of material that glistened in hues of purples and greens much like the tail I’d seen disappear into the water. As she walked further into the room and laid the dress on the bed, sparkling silver material fluffed from the mountains of fabric underneath the top skirts. Each layer of fabric appeared to hold a different color but there was also a magical quality to the dress that suggested the material was also shifting colors. It was an exquisite dress and nothing like I’d pick for myself to wear.

The girl hurried from the room as though I might harm her. I closed the door behind her, flicked the lock, and walked to the bed. For the first time since I’d stepped into the room, I noticed how beautiful it was. The bed appeared to float above the floor. They’d decorated it in swaths of luxurious fabric. When I touched it, the material was like living liquid running between my fingers. Behind the bed sat a wall made of water. The turquoise-blue water was so clear if there hadn’t been a wall on the other side, I’d have peered through it.

I wished Malachi was with me to see the beauty of the room, but he was probably in a similar room in another house with Nerita. Why did I care so much if he’d found what we all wanted? I crossed to the window and shut it again sealing myself into the fate of dressing up for the Water Sprite Master. If this was his kingdom, then why didn’t they call him King?

And how did he know my parents?

If I had to wear a dress to get the answers to my questions, then that’s what I’d do. Besides, I couldn’t stand the human material on my skin any longer. It itched and chafed. I found a door leading to a bathroom and gasped at the giant bathtub. It was already full of steaming water. I guess Sir Axis had phenomenal power over water and could easily fill a bathtub in seconds. The pretty floral scent coming from the water didn’t make me question it too much. As though lured by the call of the water, I stripped my clothes and climbed into the bathtub. Bottles of creamy liquids lined the edge. I popped the cork and sniffed the contents one by one and found them all to be a lovely flowery aroma that I was eager to wash with. I lathered and rinsed until every inch of my skin smelled as good as the bath water.

The water was so decadent I thought I might stay in it all night and sleep, but there was too much to do. I surged out of the water. Time to get Sir Axis to help us. I dried myself with the baby blue towel I found folded on the shelves. There was an assortment of glass bottles on another shelf. Curious, I opened the lid to one and sniffed the contents. An exotic aroma wafted from the jar. The notes teased my senses and made my head surge with the exquisite loveliness. I dipped my finger into the jar and rubbed the cream over every inch of my body. My head swam even more with the scent.

Feeling relaxed, I pranced out of the bathing room and fingered the material of the dress. It was as exotic as the scent permeating from my skin. I shimmied the dress over my head, letting the material fall over my naked body. It brushed against my skin in a sensual slide that made every inch of my body inflamed. I flicked the skirts out and spun around letting the fabric fall back against my legs.

Some part of my mind realized I shouldn’t be acting so happy in this dress, but the scent and the material were so luxurious. It was like all my problems had floated away once I had put them on. With an airiness I’d never experienced before, I flung open the door and sashayed down the stairs. The floating slats made it seem like I was flying, or swimming since they made some walls with the same panel of water as the bedroom.

Sir Axis stood at the bottom of the stairs. He’d changed clothes and was now dressed in a floaty cobalt blue shirt that was unbuttoned to his waist and left the broad expanse of his bronzed chest on display. A medallion hung from his neck, and he twirled it around with his fingers, keeping my gaze fixed on his flesh. Each spin of the disc drew me closer until I stopped on the step above him.

“You’re exquisite,” he said.

I lifted my hand and touched the medallion. A spark shot into my fingertips, and I dropped it against his chest.

“What was that?”

“Hmm, this old thing?” He lifted the sparkling medallion again. “It was a gift from a friend.”

“It zapped me.”

He cocked his eyebrow. “Fascinating.”

“What does it mean?”

He shrugged, dropped the medallion, and held out his hand. “Beats me. It’s never zapped me or any of my other lovers.”

“Lovers?” I curled my hands into fists and stepped past him onto the floor.

“No one else gets close enough to touch it.”

Did he mean he wanted us to be lovers? I peered over my shoulder. He was strikingly attractive, I had to admit to myself even though I wouldn’t tell him I thought he was good looking. Sir Axis seemed cocky enough without me adding to his ego. His gaze caught mine, and he winked. The weird vibe I had from him had vanished after the bath. I flung my head around, my mind swam, and the edges of my eyes blurred into a delightful haze as I swayed on my feet.

His hands caught me and steadied me until the swaying sensation passed.

I touched a hand to my head. “I don’t understand what’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing at all. The perfumed delights of the bath helped ease your worries.” He tucked my arm through his. “Allow me to escort you to the festivities.”

“Festivities?” I frowned. Worries? What was I supposed to be worried about? The perfumed lotion filled my senses with every inhale. Wasn’t I meant to be doing something?

“Yes, the party has already started. It’s not every day we get visitors, and not every day we get visitors with as much beauty as you and your friend.”

Malachi! How had I forgotten him?

Sir Axis led me to the door. It opened before we arrived at it, and I noticed the young girl holding it open.

“Who is she?” I asked as we stepped through the door.

“Young Vanya.”

“She looks different.”

“Because she is.”

“You don’t like giving information, do you?”

He smiled and the effect on me made my legs wobble, but his arm kept me upright and moving toward the lights and sounds coming from a building in the distance. Our footsteps were soft on the timber walkway as though the water surrounding us muted the noise. The gentle swish of water lapped at the posts holding us up.

“Not to strangers who enter my kingdom when it should be impenetrable. Yet here you are.”

“Why don’t you want anyone in? Did humans kill your people too?”

That’s right I was here to ask for his help to save our Spring of Life. The fresh air outside had eased the perfumed delights filling my head.

“More questions.” He tutted.

“And more no answers.” I shook my head.

Perhaps I’d wasted my time coming here if he was only willing to go around in circles whenever I asked a question.

“Sir Axis,” I said grinding my feet to a stop. “I, we, need your help to fix our spring.”

“Interesting,” he said.

“What is?”

“You.” He drew me closer toward him and for a moment my pulse spiked. Nerves ran through me. Did he want us to be lovers? Would this be the only way he’d help us? I don’t think I had it in me to sell my body. He wasn’t bad looking.

He wasn’t Malachi.

Even though Malachi was only my friend.

I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable kiss. One other Fae back home had kissed me. Curiosity had gotten the better of me, but I’d never experienced a great deal in that kiss. I didn’t see what the fuss was about.

“Ciara, Ciara.” He sighed. “What am I to do?”

I snapped my eyes open.

“Help us. You can, can’t you?”