6. Timas
Chapter 6
Timas
I had come into the gardens to get away from everyone. The constant barrage of questions from the council about the humans only angered me, and the never-ending reports of some of the nobles’ requests were beyond irritating. I just need a few minutes alone to compose myself before I eviscerate someone. That only happened once, and it wasn’t actually a person–it was a chair, but the person in the chair wasn’t very happy about being flung across the room. Some days, I wonder if my being the King is a good idea. I know I am powerful, but sometimes I think about how heavy the crown can be. I admired my father for his dedication to the crown, and I can only hope that I will live up to the example that he showed.
As a child, I often used my power to keep people at a distance. Milori was the only one who wasn’t scared of me and would come around and even spend time with me. He thinks I am dramatic, I think he has a death wish. As I got older and took the required royal classes, I was taught the proper behaviour of being a prince and what it would take to be a king. Apparently, I have to be pleasant and talk to everyone .
Sighing, I go and sit on the bench under the willow tree. It’s one of my favourite places to retreat. I feel hidden behind the tree’s long, swaying branches. Maybe some quiet will help me handle these demanding humans and the council’s expectations. Not ten minutes into my peaceful moment, the doors to the garden open, and in walks my friend and captain of the guard, Milori. He is supposed to be arranging patrols for the upcoming dinner, not shirking his duties and coming into the gardens. The irony that this is exactly what I’m doing currently is not lost on me; however, as King, I am allowed this freedom. I hear him speaking to someone else as I stand to talk to him. I didn’t initially hear what he said, but as I got closer, I could hear this voice calling to me like a siren calling its prey. It’s like a beautiful song pulling me in, a strong current running through me. All I know is that I need to get closer–I need to see the face of the woman with such a magical voice.
“I can’t thank you enough for letting me come here. You are the saviour of vases and poor lady’s maids. You have been so very kind to me and…I don’t even know your name?”
“My name is Milori, and it has been my pleasure to help you. And your name is?”
“Yes, of course! My name is Emilia.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” A growl escapes my throat after hearing him call her beautiful. It’s completely irrational, but I can’t seem to control the anger that comes over me. All I can think of is that I am supposed to call her beautiful, not Milori. I try to shake off whatever is possessing me and focus back on what they are saying. The way I am acting doesn’t make sense, and Milori lifts his head, slowly turning to look directly at me. He is tall enough to see me over the bushes that surround the tree. It also helps that the Fae people have excellent eyesight, so it’s not difficult for him to see where I am standing. The small human can’t see me, which explains her next question.
“Wha-what was that noise? Is there an animal in here? Because if there is, I will face the wrath of my mistress and not pick any flowers.” Milori doubles over, holding his stomach and laughing at her comment, knowing full well that the animal she is referring to is none other than the King of the Day Court.
“My dear Emilia, he can be an animal sometimes, but nothing for you to worry about. You pick your flowers.”
“‘Okay…?” I can hear the hesitation in her voice, like she doesn’t believe him, but this mistress of hers must be scarier if she is worried about this ‘animal’ but still stays to pick some flowers. An intense need comes over me–I need to see her. I move as quietly as I can to the other side to get a glimpse of the woman who has been quickly ruining my senses. I finally see her leaning over and collecting some flowers on the other side of a hibiscus bush.
The sight nearly knocks me off my feet. Can the beauty of a woman make you feel lightheaded? I feel like I am being swallowed up by her stunning allure. Never in my two hundred and fifty years have I ever seen such beauty. She is taller than an average female human but still significantly shorter than me. Her beautiful brown hair falls out of the bun she must have put up this morning. The dress she is wearing is not at all flattering, but somehow, she still looks like she is wearing the finest silk. I immediately decide that I will buy her the finest of fabrics, she won’t need to wear those terrible clothes anymore. I can’t see the colour of her eyes, which irritates me, but I mostly want to find out what she smells like. This overwhelming feeling of rightness hits me straight in the heart. Is this my spirit bond? Could she really be right in front of me, completely oblivious to my presence? I have an uncontrollable urge to scoop her up and lock her in my room until she agrees to be my bonded.
That urge strikes me like a heavyweight–what is wrong with me? My magic pulses just under my skin like it is trying to leave me and get to her. This has to be my spirit bond… a human spirit bond. What am I going to do?
I must speak to her. Milori notices me standing and staring at the beauty in my garden and folds his arms over his chest. His smirk is exceptionally aggravating and makes me want to do irrational things, like tossing him into the rose bush. Still, I don’t want to scare my precious flower, so I raise an eyebrow, indicating he should introduce me.
“Emilia, you know how I told you about my boss?”
“Hmm? Oh, you mean the irrational one who threw you off the balcony? I hope he pays you well, by the way. I’m not sure even I would put up with that, even if I did have wings.”
My shock isn’t hidden on my face–he did not tell her I did that! Milori barks out a laugh while staring right at me, and I’m convinced he needs another flight lesson off my balcony .
“The very one. Well, it’s your lucky day. You get to meet him.”
“What?! No, I don’t want to be thrown off a balcony! I don’t even have wings!”
“I don’t think he will throw you off a balcony, but I suspect he will want to… you know what, never mind.”
I am going to do more than throw him off a balcony. At this point, he is scaring my precious flower. I walk out from behind the bush, and she whips around to stare at me wide-eyed. Her eyes are this pale blue that I could get lost in forever. The closer I get to her, the stronger her sweet scent becomes. I put on my most charming smile as I bow just slightly. This is my spirit bond. I found her, and I won’t ever be letting her go.
“Emilia, this is King Timas of the Day Court. Timas, this is Emilia.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my flower.”
She mouths the word flower, likely thinking I’m a bit crazy for giving her a nickname, but I can’t help it. She realizes she is staring and bows deeply, nearly dropping her flowers as she speaks.
“Your Highness, or Majesty, um, yes, a pleasure to meet you.” She is adorable. I step closer to her because I have to, something compels me to. I’m so close I could reach out and touch her, which I desperately long to do, and in a moment, my whole world comes together. This is the woman I have been waiting for for so long. She is everything to me. A Fae person is lucky to find their spirit bond, and here I am standing in front of her. I’ve truly found her .
I guess I will have to thank the seer and possibly apologize for my poor attitude. I reach out to help her stand up straight. She still looks frightened, but the pink on her cheeks tells me I might be affecting her just as she is affecting me. I slip my hand along her jaw and look into her gorgeous eyes.
“You are beautiful, my flower.”
“I um…well…uh…what?” she stutters out.
“I said you are beautiful and will be my queen.”
“I hit my head and am dreaming. This can’t be real. I’m just going to close my eyes and open them again, and I will be in that horrible palace serving the dreadful Lady Dahlia. Yes, that’s what’s happening.” The tingles that erupt down my fingers through my arm are like a newfound addiction, an insatiable craving that can only be sated by her. She doesn’t believe me, but I will prove to her that this is real. I don’t know how the bond will work on a human, but I will show her I am worthy of her time. Her eyes snap open again, and I smile at her antics. She seems to find her words as disbelief crosses her face, and she mumbles out,
“This can’t be real.”
“It is, darling, very real.”
“You are very kind, but um, I should go. My mistress will already be upset with me for taking so long. I- I need to go.” She starts backing up and nearly falls over a bush. I rush forward, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close, feeling her breathing heavily. Our eyes meet, and I swear I hear her suck in her breath .
“You do not need to return to this mistress of yours, I will take care of you now. You don’t need to work anymore.”
“WHAAA!? No! No, I must!”
She pushes herself out of my arms and runs out of the garden, leaving me standing there in complete shock. Not just from her sudden absence, but no one has ever run from me when I’ve wanted their attention. I’ve never experienced someone literally fleeing from me. Never experienced the sting of rejection. Never heard ‘no’ to any request. So many firsts in such a short period of time. My feet are stuck to the floor, even though I want to run after her.
“Well, nice going, Timas–swept her right off her feet.”
Power pulses through me suddenly. I shoot my hand out and send Milori into the rose bushes.
“Ugh, Timas, come on! Why the rose bush? There are so many thorns! Ouch!”
Turning on him, I walk over to his tangled body in the rose bush.
“Just be glad I am so forgiving right now.”
“We need to talk about your understanding of forgiving.”
“That’s my spirit bond, Milori!”
“Yes, I assumed as much from the growl and all-around lovesick look on your face. My congratulations, friend.”
“She ran away!”
“I mean, have you looked at yourself? I would, too. You’re ugly.” He had just exited the bush, so I sent him into the one beside it. He is so very annoying, but he is my only friend, so I can’t kill him. The gardener is going to have to work a miracle on those plants, though.
“Where is she going?”
“Ouch! You know, part of me doesn’t want to help you. I have thorns in unnatural places, Timas. Unnatural! I will have to go to the healer to remove these thorns. The things I put up with working for you.” I glare at him with everything I have as he continues his disgruntled mumbling. “But seeing as you’re the King, I suppose it is my duty to help.” He stands, trying to pluck the thorns out of his pant leg. “She is a lady’s maid to one of the nobles that arrived today. I don’t know exactly where she is going, just that her mistress is Lady Dahlia. If I am not mistaken, Lady Dahlia is the daughter of Duke Hemmet, one of the High King’s advisors.”
“I don’t want her working as a lady’s maid. She is going to be the Queen of the Day Court! You must go get her and bring her to me.”
“I will try, but I think this will take her time to adjust to. She knows nothing about our people or our culture, and who knows if she even knows anything about the spirit bond.”
He’s right–this is likely very overwhelming to her. Perhaps I should give her a night to digest everything. I turn my gaze pointedly on Milori.
“You will watch her. Make the arrangements so you can watch her all evening and through the night. I don’t trust anyone else until I can talk to her tomorrow.” I say through clenched teeth .
“Of course, Timas. I truly am happy for you–you deserve happiness.” He offers me a sincere grin.
“Thank you, my friend. Now I must attend to this ridiculous dinner for what will surely be the longest night of my life.”