Chapter 15
15
CAT
M aeve and I climbed back into the carriage with the warlock and rode up to the border of Faelight Forest. Its entrance was on the west side of the Southern District, just below the Northern District lines. I gaped at the drastic change in scenery as the three worlds seemed to collide: one side that resembled the ritzy suburbs, one side looking like a flea market, and then a dense forest that seemed straight out of a dark fairy tale.
During the carriage ride, we came up with a plan. I would enter the forest and try to find the fae while Garrick and Maeve waited for me outside the border. It was close to two in the afternoon and although the sun was high, its rays didn’t pierce beneath the forest’s dense canopy. Along with all the other rules I had to remember, Garrick gave me another one:
Be back by sunset.
I peered over my shoulder as Maeve paid the carriage driver a little extra to keep our little side quest a secret from Lord Zacharia. We didn’t have much money, but the little bit we did have was dwindling.
“Are you sure about this, my lady?” Garrick asked as he gazed at the eerie woods up ahead.
I nodded and fought the unease that tried to undo my courage. “Hurry and put the protection spell on me.”
Facing me, Garrick raised his first two fingers on each hand and made the sign of a cross, then mumbled a few words I couldn’t make out. A flicker of light exploded from his fingertips and I startled. Pale yellow light covered me and slowly roamed all over me before settling like a cloak. Then Garrick dropped his hands and the light disappeared.
“Done,” he said. “Remember, it’s a one-time use. So if they try anything, get out right away. Do not linger. You won’t be safe.”
Just then, Maeve stepped to my side with something in her hand. “My lady?” she murmured. She’d stopped calling me Lady Arya after learning I wasn’t her. “Here.” She handed me a bangle bracelet. “Put this on.”
“What is this?”
“Iron,” she nonchalantly replied. “It’s cheap; not worth much and not made of the fine material that your family produces, but it might help in a pinch.”
I frowned. “Is this yours?”
She nodded. “I bought it in the Southern District for protection a long time ago,” she admitted. “Maybe it can protect you now.”
I clasped her hand. “Thank you, Maeve.”
“Go, my lady. We’ll wait for you here. If you don’t return by sunset, I will go to Lord Zacharia, but please… don’t make me go to him,” she whispered.
“I won’t,” I agreed. “Wait for me. I’ll return safely.”
She patted my hand and nodded as a tear slipped down her cheek, then turned around so she didn’t have to watch me walk into the forest. That was my cue to leave.
I turned to Garrick. “Take care of her for me, please.”
“Will do, my lady.”
With a deep breath, I turned toward the forest and started my trek. Once I crossed the threshold into Faelight Forest, there was a tangible shift in the atmosphere. The temperature dropped several degrees and a chill skittered over my skin.
Despite the mid-afternoon sun, the forest's dense canopy plunged the environment into a dusky twilight. Shafts of light struggled through the tangle of branches, casting fragmented shadows and creating a tumbling mosaic of light and dark on the forest floor.
The ground was strewn with rocks of iron, their dull metallic glint contrasting sharply against the rich, dark soil. Each step was announced by snapping twigs and dry leaves crunching underfoot. There was no silent walking. I was loud and obvious. I wish I could be as stealthy as Damien, but alas, I wasn’t.
Damien .
Why was I thinking about Damien? Just the thought of his touch sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t even like the bastard… right? Right.
Even a child could tell I was trying to convince myself more than anything, but that was a conversation for another day.
“No more thoughts about the psychotic third prince, Cat,” I muttered to myself. “Get your head in the game.”
Life teemed in the forest. A chorus of birds chirped from hidden perches and small creatures scurried through the underbrush. A sweet, unfamiliar fragrance hung in the air, mingling with the earthy scent of moss and damp wood. It was a tantalizing aroma I couldn’t quite place, which only added to the forest's mystique and allure. As I ventured deeper, the natural sounds of the forest enveloped me, creating a sense of isolation from the world I left behind.
Garrick had suggested I walk in a straight line so I could easily find my way back to the entrance. He also gave me a pocketknife, claiming that while it wouldn’t be much help in fighting off the fae, it could help in other ways. I marked an X on a few of the trees as a guide just in case my straight walking idea didn’t pan out. I didn’t trust my sense of direction in this new world in which I’d found myself.
My sense of time eked away as the sun disappeared completely. I couldn’t tell if it was day or night. After what felt like hours of walking, I still hadn’t encountered any fae and started to doubt whether they lived in this forest, after all. But I really started to worry when I stumbled across my X’d trees.
That was when I realized I was walking in a circle.
“What the hell?” I spun around on my heels. “I just came from here!”
Narrowing my eyes at the seemingly never-ending forest around me, I carved another X below the first one and continued on my way. This time, I headed in a different direction, attempting to avoid the tree altogether, when I came upon the tree with two X’s again.
“Fuck!” I shouted. Someone was playing a trick on me. “Come out! Whoever you are, come out!”
No sounds. Dead silence.
That was what gave them away. I no longer heard rustling leaves or chirping birds. There was nothing but stillness. I didn’t know much about fae, but even from the storybooks in my world, they were known as tricksters. This had to be an illusion.
Hiking up the skirt of my dress, I plopped down on the ground and sat cross legged. “I’m not moving until you come out!” I yelled. “I can stay here all day,” I lied. “I have the patience of a saint.” Another lie.
I closed my eyes, placed my hands on my knees, and took deep, calming breaths. I really couldn’t sit there all day, and I did not, in fact, have the patience of a saint, but I hoped that whoever was trying to fool me would blink first. I could play along for a while.
Half an hour passed with no movement as I sat and continued my meditative yoga. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound on my left. I stayed perfectly still and waited, knowing they would make themselves known soon.
“What’s a human doing in my forest?” a male said, sounding much closer than I was comfortable with. Like, literally a hair’s breadth away from my left ear.
It took everything within me not to flinch. I did, however, wiggle my nose. “I’ve been waiting for you,” I whispered.
He chuckled, the sound husky and deep. “Well, that’s a first. Your kind usually runs from mine. Tell me, little human, what is it that you seek from me?”
I slowly opened my eyes, but didn’t turn in his direction. From my peripheral vision, I saw he was squatted beside me a little too close for comfort. “Information.”
He tilted his head. “Oh?” he said curiously. “The fae are bound within these lands. What sort of information could we possibly have that you may need, little human?”
“A song,” I calmly answered. “About travelers from another world.”
There was a lengthy pause and I was tempted to look at him, but I resisted.
“Well?” I pushed after the quiet had stretched on.
“Let’s make a deal,” he offered quietly.
I turned to face him, not realizing how close our faces were. “No!” I exclaimed. Leaning back on my hands, my eyes widened and I gasped.
His beauty struck me like a physical force that momentarily rendered me speechless. The fae before me was an embodiment of otherworldly allure, blending exquisite features with an unmistakably masculine air. His skin was flawless, pale as moonlight and emitting a soft luminescence that highlighted the sharp contours of his chiseled face. His cheekbones were high and well-defined, leading to a strong jawline that spoke of subtle strength, not just grace.
His eyes, a rare and startling shade of violet, held depths like twilight skies, shimmering with specks of silver that danced with the shifting light. He regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, his gaze so intense, it felt as though he could pluck every thought I dared to entertain directly from my mind.
But it was his hair that ensnared my attention. Gossamer strands flowed like a cascade of pure white silk, long and unbound, over his shoulders and down to his hips. Each movement caused it to shift, catching light and shadow in a mesmerizing dance. His ears, slightly pointed at the tips, peeked through the strands, completing the ethereal image.
He was dressed entirely in white, his clothes made of what appeared to be finely woven spider silk that subtly shimmered in the forest’s filtered light. The fabric moved fluidly as if it was a second skin, tailored to accentuate the precise grace of his movements.
As I pulled away, my hands pressing into the soft earth to steady myself, I realized how close we were—his presence surrounding, almost overwhelming. His scent was a mix of earth and something sweetly floral, as natural and heady as the forest itself.
His lips twitched into a slight, knowing smile, as if he was accustomed to such reactions and perhaps even amused by them. “No deals?” he queried, his voice a smooth, deep timbre that resonated each of my nerve endings.
“No deals,” I repeated, slightly out of breath. My heart pumped a bit too fast for my liking. “There’s a song… about travelers that come to Elaria from a different world. Do you know it?”
He tilted his head and smirked. “Possibly.”
“I’m told the song originates from your people… and that you may know more about these… travelers ,” I inquired. “Could you tell me more?”
He arched a pale brow. “Now why would I tell you , little human? What do I get in return?”
I gulped. “You’d be doing a good deed,” I mumbled. “And, I mean, your people need all the good PR they can get. I’ve been out in these streets and the things they be saying about y’all… Well, let’s just say a few good deeds might go a long way,” I remarked casually.
“PR?” he parroted the foreign word.
“Yes, as in public relations,” I said slowly. “You could use some.”
“You’re an odd one, little human.” He stood and held out a hand to help me stand.
I wasn’t sure if taking his hand would indebt me to him or not, so I ignored it and quickly stood on my own. Dusting the soil from the back of my dress, I placed some much-needed distance between us.
His hypnotic eyes stared deeply into mine. “What is your name?” he asked curiously.
“Cat,” I answered. “And yours?”
“Klaus.” He smirked and held out a hand for me to shake. “A pleasure.”
I looked down at his delicate, slender hand and shook my head. “Um…” I stepped backwards, away from his hand. “So… Klaus, do you know anything about the song I mentioned?”
He bit back a smile and shrugged, dropping his hand to his side. “Possibly. We fae love music. We’re constantly coming up with songs that tell tales,” he sighed dramatically. “I just don’t know what could possibly jog my memory about your particular song.”
I narrowed my eyes. He was toying with me. He knew exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted, but he wanted something in return. Maeve was right. The fae were tricky. I was about to apologize when I remembered Garrick’s advice and bit my tongue. “There’s nothing I can offer you,” I said carefully. “I don’t have much.”
In the blink of an eye, he took two long strides toward me until we were mere inches away from one another. Klaus wrapped an arm around my waist and brought me flush against him. My palms fell onto his chest as I pushed away and gaped up at him in shock. The fae brought his face to the crook of my neck and shoulder and inhaled deeply in a super invasive, creepy way.
“What the hell are you doing?” I stood stock still, trying not to make any sudden moves.
“You smell of… the Shadow Prince,” he murmured into the crook of my neck.
His breath sent goosebumps skittering down my body. “The who?” I gasped in mild horror.
“The Shadow Prince,” he repeated, then pulled back and looked down at me with a grin. “I see you two are close.”
The Shadow Prince, the Shadow Prince, the Shadow Prince, I repeated in my head, trying to place who the hell he was talking about. With a start, I realized he was talking about Damien. How the hell could he smell him on me? I’d bathed since the last time I saw him. There was no way I could still have his scent on me! This was beyond weird.
“I-I don’t know who that is,” I fibbed.
Klaus chuckled. “You’re a horrible liar, kitty cat.”
I would have kneed him in the balls if I wasn’t so afraid of him. From everything Maeve had told me about the fae, I didn’t want to risk my life any more than I already had since stepping foot into this cursed forest. I offered an awkward chuckle. “Yeah, well, it takes one to know one, I guess,” I mumbled under my breath.
He frowned and his eyes sharpened. “Did you just call me a liar?”
“What?” I gasped. “Me? No way! I would never!”
He tightened his hold around my waist and I flinched. “I’ve eaten humans for less,” he growled in my ear.
The sound sent a shiver down my spine. “Duly noted.”
His mouth remained tantalizingly close to the sensitive shell of my ear. “You’re not from here, are you?”
I felt his velvety soft lips on my earlobe. I shook my head but kept quiet, too scared to answer, much less breathe.
“Interesting.” He finally released me and took a step back.
I figured he was asking if I was from a neighboring nation or whatnot, so I played along, unwilling to show my hand just yet. “I, uh… am visiting with nearby friends who—”
“Don’t lie to me, little human,” he interrupted, his lip curling in disgust. “I do not like being lied to, especially when I myself cannot lie.” He peered down at me with a knowing look. “Are you from the place they call Earth ?”
My eyes widened and I gasped. “You know?”
He chuckled. “Of course I know. We fae have lived for thousands of years. There’s hardly anything we do not know.”
“So the song…” I prodded.
“It is about a traveler from your world,” he confirmed. “She came here over two hundred years ago… and one day she vanished and was never heard from again. We assumed she returned to her world.”
“So you don’t know how or if she returned?”
He tsked. “Now now, little human. Information comes at a price. What are you willing to pay for your ride home?”
My mouth fell open when I realized I’d just fallen into his crafty trap. Like a drug dealer, the first taste was always free. He’d hooked me, but now I needed to pay for the real deal. Asshole.
I peered up at the canopy-covered skies and squinted to see if the sun had set. Unfortunately the leaves were too dense and they refused to let any sunlight scatter to the ground. In any event, I needed to hurry before Maeve freaked out and went to Lord Zacharia for help.
I sized up Klaus and crossed my arms over my chest. He was really testing my patience. I was scared, yes, but I also wasn’t one to fuck with. I might be stuck in a supernatural world where I was the weakest link, but that didn’t mean I was completely helpless. I had skills. I would have to put them to the test.
“Listen here, Legolas. I’m getting real tired of your word play, so allow me to set the record straight. I’m not going to barter with you, I don’t have a pot to piss in and can’t pay you anything, and as you already pointed out, I’m not from around here. So either give me the information I need or tell me to kick rocks barefoot, because I’m done with the games.” I pushed past him with all the bravado I could muster, fully prepared to find my way out of Faelight Forest on my own. I didn’t know how the hell I’d find the way out, but I’d be damned if I was going to let Lord of the Rings here continue playing games with me.
“I said my name was Klaus, not Legolas,” he stiffly clarified as he matched my steps, following me.
“Same diff,” I muttered. Ignoring him, I searched for the X’s on the trees to guide me back to the clearing.
“You’re extremely bold, kitty cat, coming into my territory and speaking to me in that manner. Were you not warned prior to entering Faelight Forest?”
I was probably going the wrong direction. As a matter of fact, I was certain of it, which only infuriated me further. “Of course I was warned. Does it look like I care right now?” I deadpanned and turned to look at him.
He bit back a smile. “I see,” he quipped. “Well, little human, I’m going to have to stop you because as I can imagine you already know, you’re walking in circles.”
I stopped and glared at him. “What?”
He shrugged. “You fell into my maze. I thought you would ask me to help you out, but instead you asked me about the song.” He narrowed his violet eyes. “You’re an odd one.”
I scoffed. “ I’m the odd one? Right. That’s just… whatever. So how the hell do I get out of here?” I spun around and looked at my surroundings, but all I saw were identical trees that grew in an unending forest.
A crafty smile slid across his annoyingly handsome face. “Why don’t we make a… beneficial deal for the both of us—”
I gaped. “Absolutely n—”
He held up his hand. “Before you dismiss me, hear me out.” He stepped forward and invaded my personal space again. “Let me put my mark on you and—”
“Hell to the nah!” I exclaimed and pushed him away.
His mouth fell open, shocked that I’d pushed him. But seriously. Mark me? Was he insane?
“Let me finish, little human,” he growled, his patience obviously wearing thin. “This mark will notify me if you are ever in trouble, and I will come to your aid.”
I frowned. “So… you’re like the 5-0 on speed dial?” He tilted his head, confused by my twenty-first century lingo. “You just magically show up?” I clarified and he nodded. I twisted my mouth to the side, understandably skeptical. “How is this beneficial for you ?”
He shrugged. “It just is. You don’t need to know the details.”
“Will the details hurt me in any kind of way?” I asked, trying to reduce the number of ways this deal could come back and bite me in the ass.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Are you lying?”
He shook his head again. “The fae cannot lie.”
“The truth can be subjective.” I narrowed my eyes. “If I do this, will you tell me more about the song?”
“This deal will only get you out of the forest. If you want more information, you must make another deal, little human,” he answered with a grin.
I gritted my teeth. “God, you’re such a shithead.”
He tilted his head. “I do not know what it is you called me, but I sense it was not very nice.”
“No,” I said dryly. “It wasn’t.”
“Hurry, little human. My offer will only last for a limited time.” He began to walk circles around me, closing in ever tightening rings.
I didn’t know why the hell I would need his protection. What good would he do me? I could protect myself fairly well… but then again, I struggled to handle the vampires. They possessed supernatural strength and speed. I could fight humans, but I learned how pitifully matched I was against non-humans.
“Am I in some sort of danger that I need your help from?” I asked warily.
He shrugged. “I do not know, but I smell the Shadow Prince on you, and that, little human, cannot be good.”
“He’s just a… friend?” I said as more of a question than a statement and wanted to slap my forehead for showing my cards.
“Is he now?” Klaus smirked. “I did not know that the Shadow Prince had friends other than his uncle.”
“It’s a… recent development.” I smiled nervously. “He won’t hurt me… I think .” I muttered the last part to myself. “Either way, I don’t see myself getting into any danger.”
Klaus tilted his head to the side and his curtain of snowy white hair cascaded down his broad chest. “Are you sure about that, kitty cat? I can’t imagine it’s been easy for you here in Elaria.” He wore a knowing look as he stepped toward me, forcing me to take a step back. “All these different beasts and creatures of the night that can hurt you with just their pinky. And here you are, a frail human.”
I snorted. “I’m anything but frail.”
He took another step toward me and I took another step back, and we continued this dance until my back hit a tree. “Oh, but you are, my little human.” He trailed a slender finger across my collarbone. “With the tiniest bit of pressure, I could snap you like a twig. And that is the case for many of those that roam Elaria. If you were smart, you’d take me up on my offer. A fae’s power is quite formidable.”
I furrowed my brows and peered up at the stunning creature before me. “I thought the fae couldn’t leave Faelight Forest?” My heart raced at his proximity.
Klaus smirked and tipped my chin. “You’re a smart one, aren’t you kitty cat?”
“I’d like to think so.” I looked up at him, relishing his cool touch on my skin.
“The fae cannot leave Faelight Forest; you are correct. But with my mark on you… Well, it’s sort of a loophole in the system.” He grinned devilishly.
I chuckled. “So that’s how you benefit from our deal? You want out of the forest?”
He nodded but didn’t say a word.
If I freed him, would I get in trouble? Whether intentional or not, he had lied to me. I would get hurt for doing this. Then again, there was a loophole in his answer. If I had his protection, I wouldn’t be hurt. So technically he didn’t lie. Damn, these fae were sneaky.
The big question was this: Was the risk worth the benefit?
“We need a time limit on this deal.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at Klaus, proud of my savvy wheeling and dealing skills. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be here, and I don’t want to be attached to you forever. What if you follow me into my world? Hell nah. We need limits.” I tapped my right foot.
Klaus chuckled. “You’re a smart little human indeed. Very well… Ten years.”
I choked on my spit. “Are you kidding me? I don’t expect to be here even a month, buddy!”
He smirked. “Now, kitty cat, I need you to be more realistic. You won’t be able to leave here that quickly.”
My stomach bottomed and the blood drained from my face. “What do you mean?”
He sighed and narrowed his eyes. “Fine. You drive a hard bargain, kitty cat. Five years.”
I frowned, suddenly nervous. “Am I really going to be stuck here that long?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know.”
No. No way. That was impossible! There was no way I could be stuck in this world for years. I couldn’t. I would go crazy.
“One year,” I said, my voice ringing clearly. That was the longest I would consider staying in Elaria. If I didn’t find a way to leave by then… Well, I didn’t want to think about what I’d do if I went past the year mark.
“Deal,” Klaus quickly answered. He stuck out his hand to shake and seal our bargain.
I bit my lower lip and stared at his delicate hand, wondering if I should shake it. If I was going to be stuck in Elaria, I would need some protection of sorts. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad deal, after all.
Hesitantly, I reached out and slipped my hand into his. I expected him to shake it, but instead he pulled me toward him. My chest slammed into his as his free hand snaked into my hair and grabbed the back of my head. Before I could process what was happening, the bastard kissed me.
His lips were soft yet insistent, molding perfectly to mine as if they were made to fit together. His kiss wasn’t just a brush of lips; it was an assertion, a statement, a melding of warmth and coolness that matched his enigmatic presence. His tongue sought permission at the seam of my lips, teasing them apart gently but confidently, exploring my mouth with an expert mix of exploration and familiarity.
The world seemed to still, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and our mingled breaths. My initial shock melted away as I found myself responding to his kiss. My body relaxed and my hands moved of their own accord to grip his shirt, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened and Klaus’ flavor—a mix of mint and something wild, like the forest itself—made my head spin.
And it all felt wrong.
Like I was cheating, but the only person I would be cheating on was Fernando’s duplicitous ass, so honestly, screw him. But still, it felt wrong in so many ways. Suddenly, a pair of obsidian eyes crossed my mind. Damien’s eyes.
What the fuck?
I had to stop myself from snorting, because that would totally ruin the moment. Why did I feel like I was cheating on Damien, of all people? What the hell did he have to do with any of this… with me? Fuck. Why was my life so damn complicated, even in this world?
When we finally broke apart, breathless, a cheeky grin played across Klaus’ lips. His eyes sparkled with delight and a touch of arrogance, as if he knew just how disarming he could be and relished it.
“There! Now we’ve properly sealed the deal,” Klaus murmured, his voice low and husky. His breath mingled with mine, creating a shared space that was intensely intimate.
I frowned and touched my lips with trembling fingers. A zap of electricity shocked me when I felt my lower lip. “What did you just do?”
Klaus smirked. “That is how we fae make deals with you humans.”
“Even if I was a man?” I gasped. I mean, I wasn’t opposed, but the whole ordeal was quite bizarre.
He shrugged. “Does it matter whether you’re a man or a woman? Only humans care about those labels.” I went to slap his face, but he quickly grabbed my wrist before I struck him. “Easy there, kitty cat. I just did you a favor.”
“You just kissed me without my consent!” I screamed. “Now my lips are all tingly and shit, and I feel like something is seriously wrong with me!”
Klaus grinned. “Nothing is wrong with you, little human. The deal is merely taking effect. Relax. You’ll be fine in a few seconds. As for the kiss… well, you’re welcome. It was simply an added benefit.” He winked. He actually winked!
I scoffed. “You really think you did me a favor? You’re a real bastard!” I ripped my arm out of his grasp. “I swear, if we were in my world, I’d… I’d… sue you!”
He nodded. “I’m sure you would, little human.”
His condescending tone only infuriated me. In my impotent rage, I pulled at the roots of my hair and screamed into the void of the forest until I was hoarse. Not only was I mad at him for kissing me, but I was mad at Damien for intruding into my thoughts while Klaus kissed me. I was a complicated woman.
“You’re quite odd.” He gazed up at the canopy-covered skies. “The daylight hours are dwindling, kitty cat. You might want to go before it gets too late. You don’t want to get caught in here by other fae,” he said, his tone more serious than I’d heard since meeting him.
I looked over at him dryly. “Who could be worse than you?”
His expression grew cold. “There are worse things than me in this forest, little human. Much worse. It’s best if you leave and don’t come back. But we’ll see each other real soon.”