5. The Princes
CHAPTER FIVE
THE PRINCES
The stories and fan art flitting around the Internet really didn’t do the whole “ethereal beauty” thing justice. Apparently, it was a trait that all fae possessed, including the males. The one that helped us with our boat appeared to be middle-aged, while the two Luenki had indicated to be the princes looked to be in their late twenties or early thirties.
Both were tall, built like athletes, and as fair as Luenki, if not fairer. They were both clothed in deep gray tunics and pants. The tunics were loose around the upper arms, chest, and shoulders but hugged the midsection, with a fine silver piece worn about the middle like an underbust corset. It was impossible to tell if that served a purpose or was purely decorative.
The one in front, whom Luenki had indicated to be the crown prince, had short, pale blond hair with a jagged pattern shaved into the sides. Hooded sapphire eyes glared at me from under thick brows, one of which had a silver piercing on the outer edge. His model-punk good looks were only mildly impeded by the petulant expression he wore, like this was the last place he wanted to be.
The one in back had a dutifully blank expression, but there was a spark of interest in his upturned eyes, which were the color of clear Caribbean waters. His platinum blond hair went past his chin but was tucked behind his ears, leaving the gracefully pointed tips on display. Both were pierced—one side had simple silver hoops at various intervals from the lobe to the tip, the other an earring and cuff with a fine chain dangling between them. He appeared more youthful than his brother, with features that were less harsh and more androgynous: a heart-shaped face, button nose, and fuller bottom lip.
Hel lo , hot and hotter.
Focus, Avery. Organs failing. People relying on me. Not the time .
Vivian inclined her head respectfully toward the scowling prince. “A pleasure to see you again, Prince Solois. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Fine,” he responded. “You are welcome to return now. We’ll take it from here.”
I blinked at his brusque tone. Was that what George had meant by guarded?
Vivian didn’t appear to take any offense to the dismissal, instead responding with all the grace of an experienced elected official. “I’ll be out of your hair shortly. We’ve taken the liberty of compiling a copy of Ms. Nelson’s medical records for your doctors.”
The crown prince looked past us and jerked his chin at the fae who had helped with our boat. He had collected my things from the sergeant, but at the prince’s unspoken order, he set them down and approached us.
“Are you on the medical staff?” Vivian queried, offering him a folder I hadn’t noticed she held. The man hesitated, looking from her to Solois, who made no move to interrupt.
“I am well-versed in mending magic,” he hedged as he accepted the folder.
“Please do not worry.” The second prince spoke for the first time, addressing me directly. My heart skipped a beat as I met his gaze head-on, finding myself captivated by a pair of fae eyes twice in what seemed like as many minutes. “Farisen is a trusted member of our House, and he has a strong affinity for the healing arts. If your malady is indeed what we suspect, it is easily treated. You will be in good hands.”
“I have complete faith, Prince…” I trailed off, mortified. Oh, my god, this had to be a nightmare. How could I not remember his name?
“Riel,” he supplied. “Please call me Riel.”
“Riel,” I finished on a mumble, face burning. He shot me a heart-stopping grin, and I was forced to look away. Seriously, that was some kind of magic all on its own.
“If there is nothing else?” Solois interjected none-too-kindly.
“That will be all,” Vivian confirmed. “Please keep us updated as much as you can, and let us know if there is anything we can do, at any point. Ms. Nelson is a highly valued member of our society.”
“We will be in touch,” Luenki promised. Vivian gave a sharp nod and turned back toward the boat, inclining her head my way as she passed. I tried to keep the uncertainty out of my expression as I nodded back. She was in the boat and making for the open Rift in no time, leaving me alone with four gorgeous beings, two of whom were high-ranking royalty. Farisen was busy loading my bags on his mount, but Luenki and the princes still surrounded me. My nerves were like a solid lump in my throat.
“I-I look forward to getting to know you all,” I stammered, trying to think of something, anything to start a conversation and make a good impression. “It’s handy you all speak English, huh?” I tried, giving a laugh that sounded awkward even to my ears.
Solois’s brows drew together. I could only imagine how much my face paled.
“Things are a lot simpler with magic,” Riel remarked, something an awful lot like mirth sparkling in his seafoam-green eyes.
My stomach dropped. “Oh! Of course.” Stupid !
“Translation magic would certainly come in handy,” he continued, his tone taking on a playful note, “if it existed.”
At first, I thought I must have misunderstood him. Was the existence of a translation magic not what he implied? For all I knew, they did everything with magic here. Was… was he teasing me?
“At least, it would have saved me the six months I spent learning your language after The Rift opened,” he finished.
“Six months?” I blurted in disbelief. “You learned fluent English in six months?”
“I have had many years to become fluent,” Riel corrected me. “But yes, I was proficient by six months. It’s a relatively simple language.”
“Wow, that’s…” I trailed off, and my mouth snapped shut. He wasn’t asking for validation, for heaven’s sake. Could I say anything that didn’t sound like pandering? Maybe ask something about their language or the area? Shit, I was making a massive fool of myself.
“Shall we take this dazzling conversation back home?” Solois remarked without humor.
Luenki spoke a musical mess of syllables that I didn’t catch—I assumed in their native language—but her tone was sweet and inoffensive. Solois shot a bland glance her way before turning back to his mount. Luenki offered a gentle smile at my puzzled look.
“The princes have had a long day,” she said by way of apology. “So long as your condition allows for it, we will make haste for home. We should return well before supper.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. Riel said something brief in their language, gesturing to the steeds. Surprise flitted across Luenki’s face, but she inclined her head without protest.
“You will ride with Astonriel,” she murmured. I blinked, turning my attention to the beasts that awaited us. One, two, three… ah. I should have noticed earlier that I’d be sharing with someone. Well, that was probably for the best, considering I’d ne ver even been on a horse. At least it looked like Riel didn’t mind.
He hovered by the female lavender mount. I hurried forward so as not to keep him waiting, taking in the creature as I went. Up close, they seemed even larger, if that was possible. Her fur was much thicker than a horse’s, downy and plush like a luxurious carpet. To my surprise, she had no saddle, only a thick strap running around her chest and underneath her front legs to create a handhold at the base of her long neck.
I became aware of a presence behind me just as strong arms attached themselves to my hips. Before I could react, I was in the air. Apparently, plucking people off their feet as though they were lap dogs was just something the fae did. In a rare moment of wisdom, I swung my outside leg up and around as I was deposited atop the creature’s broad back. I managed to land in the proper position, albeit with the wind knocked out of me.
The prince alighted behind me and reached around my body to slide his hand into the loop of the saddle strap, fitting me against his chest.
“Comfortable?” his voice came from right beside my ear. My arms broke out in goosebumps.
“Yes,” I squeaked in reply. In truth, my position was precarious at best; my legs were stretched too far apart to be comfortable, and the heat of an unfamiliar but very attractive man against my back was borderline painful, but manners prevented me from saying so.
Farisen, Luenki, and Solois had already mounted and started toward the forest.
“Relax,” Riel instructed me, as if my nerves ever paid any attention to my personal feelings. With a brief, gentle squeeze of his legs, the beast underneath us surged forward. I bit down an unfeminine squeal at the jerk of momentum and quickly found a handhold to provide some semblance of security.
But as we rode, my discomfort was forgotten. If this was anything like riding a horse, I suddenly understood horse girls. The adrenaline boost aside, there was something incredible about being so tall, feeling such strength underneath you, and having the wind in your face. It was the same brand of exhilaration as being on a rollercoaster, as though touching the ground was optional.
Unfortunately, the novelty wore off some thirty or forty-five minutes into the ride. By that point, we had slowed to a less grueling pace, but my knees were screaming, my hips were stiff, and I could no longer ignore the constant undertone of nausea that had been tormenting me for the past three weeks.
The woods looked the same as they had upon first glance, all stone and dirt and magnificent greenery, but surely, we had covered several miles by now? How much farther could it be? And how in the heck were these beasts not showing any signs of fatigue? Despite their large size, they stepped with delicate precision, as though picking each foothold individually.
It registered that my hand squeezed the strap so tightly, it was painful. I switched hands so that I could shake it out, letting blood flow back into my fingers. “Is it much farther?” I ventured to ask, raising my voice to be heard over the wind and footfalls around us.
“An hour or so,” came the response. I managed to stifle a groan of distress and instead gritted my teeth in determination, reminding myself why I was here. Even if it hurt, I wasn’t about to complain or demand a break—I needed to make a positive impression on my hosts.
By the time signs of civilization came into view, my legs and backside had grown numb, and I grappled with a lingering ache in my kneecaps. We finally reached a proper road, with signposts covered in scratched symbols marking the way and the outline of a city in the distance. Instead of continuing toward the city, we turned right to travel parallel to it.
“Miderrum.”
I jumped at the prince’s voice—somehow, I’d managed to forget he was there. “Excuse me? ”
“The city. Miderrum. It won’t be much farther now.”
Sure enough, a misty shape in the distance started to take the form of a great manor. Perhaps “castle” was a better term for it, given the height of the hill it was on and the intimidating stone wall surrounding it. Images sprang to mind of an elegant king and queen in all their finery overseeing a magnificent throne room full of lords and ladies. I’d be horribly out of place, but hopefully, most of the fae would be welcoming.
As we neared the castle wall, we slowed from a brisk lope to a lively walk. There were no guards visible on the ramparts, but the portcullis glided open as though sensing our arrival. Even though the entire gate was covered by some kind of climbing plant, I could see that the intricate details of the metalwork showed exceptional craftsmanship.
I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but I wasn’t prepared for the sprawling courtyard just within the walls. On one side of us were petite structures, perhaps sheds for storage or some type of temporary housing, surrounded by gardens. On the other side was an expansive field dotted with various animals, including more riding beasts. The path we were on led straight to the castle entrance. The building itself was made up of several connected sections, including a tower sticking out from the back, and appeared larger than the White House, though not by much.
Solois brought his beast to a halt ahead of us, and we all followed suit. Riel alighted without a problem and stepped forward to help me off. I fumbled before leaning over and putting my hands on his shoulders. When he lifted me, the pain returned in my legs and back all at once, and I was unsteady on my feet when he set me down.
Solois and Luenki had dismounted and allowed their animals to join the ones grazing in the field while Farisen retrieved my bags from his steed. Facing the palace, I was surprised that there was no one else in sight, not even a footman. I’d expected… more fanfare, perhaps? But maybe that wa sn’t how the fae did things. Not knowing what to expect unnerved me, but I had to get used to it. That was probably going to be my life for the next few days.
Solois headed up the stone steps, tossing words casually over one shoulder. Luenki turned to me with a strained smile.
“The first prince will inform the king and queen of your arrival. In the meantime, I will show you to your room.”
“Okay, thank you,” I said, wincing at the thought of a walk.
“I’ll take her,” Riel interjected. “Rest and recover, Luenki.” Luenki and the older fae man both seemed surprised as Riel scooped up my bags and gestured for me to follow.
“I can at least get my own bags!” I scurried forward despite the discomfort in my lower half to relieve the prince of his burden, but he dodged my reaching hands.
“Nonsense,” he declared. “Come along, eseri .”
Although baffled by the situation, I obeyed.
“Well, it seems that the prince has things in hand.” Luenki appeared flustered, if it was possible to fluster her. “Then, rest well. Until our next greeting.” She inclined her head in farewell as we passed by, and I quickly did the same, then focused on scrambling after Riel in spite of my protesting thigh muscles.
The front door was a single piece of polished wood the height of two men that, like the portcullis, opened automatically as we approached. A brief examination revealed no pulley system, so I had to assume that some invisible magic was involved. Before I could consider it further, my attention was stolen by the entrance hall we stepped into. It was beyond grandiose, with a polished stone floor, evenly spaced pillars, and stained-glass windows lining the walls.
I didn’t have time to appreciate it, though. Jeez, the prince walked fast.
He led me to one side, up a wide flight of stairs, then down another expansive hallway, and took a series of turns that had me struggling to keep up. Eventually, he stopped at a nondescript dark door, one of several that lined that particular corridor.
“What’s ours is yours, as you say,” he commented as he set down my bags and opened the door for me. He stepped aside so that I could enter.
I first noticed that the room was modest compared to the opulence I’d witnessed thus far. It did have a window, which I could appreciate, but the walls were wood and bare stone. A modest bed with a metal frame took up one corner, a massive armoire beside it. There was also a little bedside table with what looked like an old-fashioned gas lamp, but the room was otherwise empty.
“Thank you, it’s lovely,” I said quickly, remembering my manners. The bed looked comfortable, at least. “Although… shouldn’t I be in a medical wing or something?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Riel responded. I anticipated that he would elaborate further, but no explanation came. Instead, he bent to gather my bags. I shifted my position to provide enough space for him to bring them inside.
“I see. All right, then.” I had to assume they knew best; after all, that was why I was here.
“I’m not sure what you’re used to,” Riel began as he set the bags down by the bed, “but we rise with the sun and eat four meals a day. They’ll be brought to your room for the time being.” He hesitated a moment before adding, “I don’t recommend that you walk about freely. There are those who are… displeased by your presence here.”
I hadn’t expected to hear it put so plainly. “Why? I mean, if it’s not… I’d like to know, did I do something wrong?”
“Not exactly.” Riel shrugged and made his way to the exit. “Some things just are.”
While I attempted to digest his cryptic words, a thought occurred to me. “Oh, wait!”
Riel paused in the doorway.
“Where is the bathroom?” I asked meekly .
“The what?” He gave a perplexed frown.
“Bathroom? Uh, water closet? For like, cleaning and… relieving oneself?”
“Ah. We don’t have rooms for that, but a bucket has been provided. You’ll find it under the bed. I’ll have some leaves delivered for you to clean with.”
A lengthy moment of silence followed his words. “Oh,” I managed finally, trying my hardest not to let the dismay show on my face. “Great. Thank you.”
Riel watched me for another moment before the corner of his mouth quirked upward. Striding into the room, he stopped at a panel I’d thought was part of the wall design and tapped it with a knuckle. The sound was hollow.
“It slides,” he disclosed with a wink. And with that, he was gone.
Well, then. Apparently, one of the only people around here who didn’t hate my guts liked to make fun of me. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about . I hobbled to the bed, wincing as I went. They weren’t kidding about those horse things being rough on new riders. I didn’t even do any of the work, and I was sure I’d be feeling it for days.
With a deep sigh, I collapsed face-first on top of the bed and focused on getting my thoughts in order. The best course of action was to lie low, I figured. Do what they say, get my powers sorted out, and go home without pissing anybody off. It was a pretty solid plan. With any luck, my problem wasn’t that serious, and I’d be right as rain in no time.
I flipped myself over and studied the pattern of the ceiling, which resembled the underside of a tree canopy. The room wasn’t that small, but something about it was stifling. It could have been the silence, without a TV to have on in the background or Chris and Devon to chat with. Maybe it was the stone wall, which reminded me of a cellar. Specifically, a dark, dank cellar full of stale air and dirt?—
Before I could continue down that line of thinking, I leapt to my feet and dashed to the window. Gulping in the fresh air, I closed my eyes. No good—I’d almost returned to that place.
I snapped my thoughts back to the present instead. “Lie low,” I said aloud, nodding to myself. “Be polite, get well, and go home.”
I nodded again, but with more conviction.
Lie low. Get well. Go home. Simple enough.