Chapter One
W hen you are an epic hero and you defeat the big baddie, there are a few things you tend to expect.
Some expect the start of their ‘happily ever after.’ Whatever the fuck that means.
Others expect rewards and riches of seismic proportions, in quantities more than they can ever hope to spend in their lifetime, with a fancy title to carry them along.
Me?
I just want some fucking sleep.
None of that hard ground and no pillow nonsense. No collapsing from exhaustion into the dirt with grime in places any woman would cringe at. And most importantly, no being startled awake by urgency.
Do I get any of that?
Fuck no.
Sleep took us quickly once we reached the house in the merfolk village, we hoped to make our home. We made quick work of cleaning up and then diving into the soft bed and curling into each other.
But no matter how hard I tried, my sleep was far from restful. Almost like something kept trying to get my attention.
At the start, I kept waking up and repositioning myself as if I just couldn’t get comfortable, which frustrated me even more. Then, I kept waking up because one of the guys would shift and knock into me, or they were being blanket hoarders. That resulted in me being chilled, but as soon as I started grumbling about that, I started feeling warm again and fell right back to sleep.
And now…
It’s like a flock of fucking birds are singing death metal into my ears.
“Would you shut the fuck up!?”
Yes. I yelled at the birds.
No. I don’t feel guilty about it.
I know I slept all night, but I’m still so fucking tired, and oddly enough, I don’t think I have ever felt so damn tired in my life.
“I’m sorry, Miss.” The soft feminine voice scares the ever-loving shit out of me and I nearly topple right out of the bed.
The soft white bed, in an equally delicate white room.
“Oh fuck. I died! Again ! Blake is going to kill me.“ I bury my head in my hands and try to wrack my brain to figure out just how I managed to die this time around. Hopefully, it wasn’t too painful. I already have a headache so…
A soft tinkling laughter fills the space, and my hair stands on end. “You aren’t dead, Miss.”
The woman with a petite frame and wide eyes walks through an open doorway. She has pale skin, although it is mostly covered by a lovely plain charcoal-colored dress. Her long strawberry blonde hair hangs straight, covering a little of the right side of her face, but is tucked back on the left. Showing off her predominantly pointed ear.
Elf.
A million questions hurtle through my mind at breakneck speed. I latch onto one, and it flies from my mouth instantly. “Where the fuck am I!?”
“Oh, right. You have been asleep for a few days, so I am sure you missed all of that. You are at the castle, Miss. Welcome to the fae realm.”
Ice cold floods my system, and all of my thoughts vanish instantly, and while her words are in my language, none of them want to make any sort of sense to my ears.
“What the actual fuck?”
The fairy woman’s words ring like a gong struck by an angry monk inside my ears.
The fae realm .
This isn’t possible. I must be having some kind of super fucking weird lucid dream. I mean, I have never been to the fae realm. Nor did I really have any intentions of visiting. And, if my dearest grandmother–
Wait a fucking minute…
“Did my grandmother seriously kidnap me?!”
The elven woman tilts her head a little. Reminding me more of a curious puppy rather than an asshole abductor. Looks can be so deceiving.
“I’m afraid I do not know your grandmother, Miss. I work for the nobles of Castle Taruil.”
“This is complete bull– wait… Taruil ? As in… ‘tough seaweed’? That’s the name of the royal elvish family currently in rule?”
I may not remember all of my mother’s teachings, but I always found the bits of elvish she knew and shared completely fascinating.
The elf looks horrified at my words, but I can’t help buckling over in laughter. Partly at the absurdity of the translation for a family that is supposed to be regal and prim– and partly because I’m losing my absolute shit here.
Why yes, I’m more than fully aware that right now is not the most opportune time for a mental breakdown, but one cannot simply plan these things. I also know that mocking the ruling family’s surname, no matter how absurd the Elvish-to-English translation may be, is not the wisest choice when you are being held by them in a strange and unfamiliar realm.
Alright, deep breaths, Forsythia. Get yourself under control. Put the crazy away.
Deep breath in… and let it out.
This is not the time to freak out. I can do that later when I’m with the guys–
Standing up quickly, I instantly regret the sudden change in elevation as my vision blurs slightly and my stomach lurches.
“Easy, Miss.” The elvish woman is within reach but still keeping a slight distance. “You really should be careful. Maybe you should sit down for a little while longer?”
Taking the opportunity that presents itself, I lunge at her.
Except my face smacks right into an invisible wall. Bouncing backward, I thankfully land on the bed with a thump.
She sighs in exasperation before spinning her hands around in front of her several times. They give off a faint green glow before she presses them against her side of my prison bubble. A small tickle begins to work its way up my body as the magick she sent through begins to take hold.
“This should help you rest now. We don’t want you hurting yourself.”
I’m not sure if she says anything more as the words become a jumble, and the room begins to fade. My eyes are impossibly heavy, and I couldn’t do a thing to stop them from closing, if I even had the energy to try.
I have to ask her, though. I need to know about– something?
What was I going to ask her again?
Maybe one of my guys would be able to help.
Oh right!
That’s what I was going to ask her about.
Where the fuck are my guys??