Chapter 6 #3
“My first thought is that it could be a temporary portal that someone was only able to open tonight because of Samhain. Honestly, that’s my best guess at the moment, but the reagents necessary to create a temporary portal are heavily controlled by the palace so it’s highly unlikely anyone would’ve been able to get their hands on them…
” He trails off and I can see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks.
“Tell me how you found the portal on your side? You said it was accidental?”
“It was. Well, falling through was an accident. But I also didn’t know it was a portal when I found it.
” I twist the ring, trying to decide if it’s worth mentioning the floating orbs.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.” He raises an eyebrow that reminds me I'm a human in a magical realm full of Fae.
“Okay, maybe not crazy, but most definitely stupid.”
“You’re a human who somehow found her way into our realm. It’s safe to say I already assume you lack intelligence. Or at the very least, basic common sense,” he deadpans.
The comment stings, but I can’t entirely refute it. I let out a resigned sigh. “I still don’t entirely know how it started, but something woke me up and I saw this glowing through the window. When I looked closer it looked like little floating orbs.”
His eyes widen. “And you decided to follow them?” he asks, sounding borderline distressed.
I dip my head as if to hide from his judgment. “Um, yes.”
“Gods, fuck. You’ve really just confirmed your lack of intelligence for me.” He stalks a few steps away tugging at his hair before pacing back. “Those were the will-o’-the-wisps.”
“You say that as if I should know what those are. I thought we covered that my knowledge of the Fae was lacking?”
He sighs. “The wisps are pixie lights that tend to be the more mischievous of faerie creatures. They often lead travelers astray… typically to their death.” He pins me with narrowed eyes at his last point.
I swallow around the lump that seems to have formed in my throat.
“Other times, they can be manifested by the Fates to lead someone down their chosen path. They can also be summoned by the more nefarious Fae wanting to cause some trouble.” He flicks his eyes over me.
“Knowing you as I’ve come to over our time together, I’d say you’ve received the misfortune of the former or the latter.
Although, knowing how hard it is for someone to open their own portal, summoning the wisps to lure you here doesn’t quite track for the latter.
Leaving us with, the wisps were messing with you. ”
I huff a sigh, blowing stray hairs out of my eyes.
“Great. I’ve fallen prey to the whims of mischievous Fae.
” I let myself collapse onto the ground at the edge of the pool, staring into it.
“When I tried to see if I could get back through it wasn’t working, so is it safe to assume that it’s not able to take me home?
” I drag a finger along the surface, watching as it ripples at the disruption.
“This one is most definitely closed,” his voice says from behind me. I can feel him pacing back and forth as he thinks. He’s beginning to remind me of a caged animal with the way he appears so on edge over this situation.
What’s his problem? I should be the one climbing the walls with anxiety, stuck in this place.
“I can usually feel the hum of the energy, but I feel nothing,” he continues. Feel the hum of energy? This Fae magic is strange.
“So…” I say, drawing out the word and turning my upper body to look at him. “Now what?”
He stops his pacing to look at me, his brows are still furrowed, and he has a crease in his forehead. My fingers twitch to smooth out the lines.
Where the hell did that thought come from? No, absolutely not.
“Well, I suppose we’ll have to go find another one.”
Wait. We? He’s going to help me?
His eyes drop to my hands, where I’m still fiddling with my ring.
His eyes widen slightly before he drops to his knees beside me and his hand shoots out to grab my ring adorned one.
“Where did you get this?” His tone suddenly more urgent.
With the movement, I finally get a better look at the mark on his wrist. It looks like a… sun? That’s an odd sort of birthmark.
“Uhm, it’s a family heirloom I’m not entirely sure of where it came from, but I’ve had it all my life.” He looks at it for a second more before dropping my hand so fast it was almost as if it would burn him to hold it for any longer. “Do you… recognize it?”
“I’m not sure… But it certainly has Fae magic infused into it.”
“It has what now?” I gape at him. This is news to me. Where in the world would Aunt Fleur or my parents have gotten hold of a magical Fae ring?
“It might be a family heirloom, but it’s certainly of Fae origin.”
“What… does it do?” I ask.
“Again, I’m not sure. Give it here and I can take a closer look.” He holds out his hand, waiting.
“Oh,” I hesitate. “I’m not supposed to take it off. My aunt made that point abundantly clear. I used to think she was afraid of me losing it, but now…”
His eyes shoot from the ring up to meet mine.
“That actually might help narrow down some possible options. It’s likely a simple protection charm.
Those are fairly common, especially in the Seelie Court.
And the vine motif of the band looks horrendously Seelie,” he says with the slightest hint of disgust.
“The Seelie Court? Why would my aunt have an heirloom with a Seelie protection charm? And how? And protection from what?”
His expression takes on a gleam of amusement. “It would seem your inquisitiveness has returned.” He quickly takes a look around the clearing before turning back to me. “It’s getting late, we should get out of here. There are creatures that aren’t nearly as kind as me lurking in these forests.”
“I thought you said you weren’t kind?”
“I never said I was. I just said they weren’t as kind as me. Which is really saying something.”
I shiver and not from the chill in the air. “Are we going to find another portal?” I ask, trying to shift the topic of conversation.
“No.” He must notice how the simple answer causes my entire demeanor to simultaneously deflate and be set on edge, because he continues after the smallest hesitation.
“The closest one is too far to safely reach this evening. I’ll take you back to my cottage where you’ll be safe for the night, and we can determine the next course of action to locate a portal to send you home. ”
His cottage? “Oh, are you sure? There’s no way I can get back tonight? I’m sure my aunt must be worried sick about me.” I chew on my bottom lip nervously.
“I’m positive. Now, unless you’d like to sleep in the forest with the monsters, you’re coming with me.” He says it so matter-of-factly that I don’t argue. I just trail behind him as we head back into the direction of the palace and the festivities.