Chapter 8
The next morning, I was sent out into the nearby woods to collect fresh burdock. Apparently, alfar females liked to bathe in the herb to prevent signs of aging. I laughed at the thought of an elf ever looking older than thirty, but I was not there to question their methods, only to serve. The silence of the woods was refreshing. Though most of the alfar and humans never spoke a word to me, the hustle and bustle of the city was overbearing.
I took my time, going from clearing to clearing, collecting what I needed. I ran across a patch of wild lavender and picked some for myself. The plant was rare back in The Frey, but it had always been my favorite. The scent reminded me of my mother, one of the few memories I had of her before she died.
I knelt by a fresh spring, taking a small handful of water and splashing it on my neck. The sound of metal clanking together off in the distance caught my attention. I slowly rose, looking around for any signs that would indicate danger. These woods were protected by the light alfar. Levos assured me no one else was allowed through here.
I walked slowly towards the noise, placing my basket on the ground, and picked up a large wooden stick. The sound grew louder. I could hear someone grunting and struggling in pain as metal rattled. Pushing aside a low hanging branch I saw a female humanoid caught in some type of metal trap. Her skin was white as the clouds. She had long blue hair that trailed down her back and eyes black as night. The teeth of the trap had snapped just above her knee, rendering her helpless.
She stopped moving as her eyes locked onto me. I lowered the stick to my side and walked towards her with my free hand up. Her eyes went deadly as she tried to move away from me, but the trap held her. She gasped in pain, reaching for her leg.
“I’m not going to hurt you, I promise,” I said. I took another step closer.
“And why would I trust you, elf? Your race only cares about your own,” she snapped.
“I am no elf, and I guess you’re just going to have to trust me, since I’m not the one stuck in the trap.” I gave her a small smile. I walked towards her with caution, trying not to make any threatening movements. Black blood oozed from her wound. I wasn’t sure what type of creature she was, but I knew if I didn’t get her out of the trap soon, she would die, based on the amount of blood she had already lost. That was if the being who set the trap didn’t find her first.
“I’m going to help free you from the trap,” I said.
“And why would you do such a selfless thing for a stranger?” she asked in a low sarcastic tone.
“Because I hope someone would do the same for me if I were in your position,” I replied. I saw a moment of confusion in her eyes as she looked down at her wounded leg. “Just promise me you won’t eat me after I free you.”
A laugh that was deep and sensual caught in her throat. “Don’t worry, your kind doesn’t taste all that good, contrary to what the other creatures of this world think.”
“I’ll take that as assurance I’m going to walk out of this alive.”
“Now little elf, I didn’t say that.”
I stopped what I was doing and locked my eyes onto hers.
She rolled her eyes and exhaled in frustration. “Fine, you have my word I will not harm you if you help me get out of this thing.”
I wedged the stick in between the teeth of the trap, using my own body weight to pry it from her leg. She yelped as the teeth unhinged themselves from her flesh. I grunted, using all the strength I had to hold the trap open long enough for her to pull her leg free. She slid back away from the metal contraption. I let go of the tension and the metal snapped back together with force.
I stood, unsure of what to expect from the creature. I backed away towards the castle, making sure not to take my eyes off her. She stood tall, a creature of dominance. Her leg began to heal itself instantly.
She raised her head with a devious look on her face and smiled at me. “A deal is a deal, little elf. I owe you a life debt for your selfless act, something I don’t give lightly. I am sure we will be seeing each other again,” she said, before disappearing into thin air, leaving a blue puff of smoke in her wake.
I turned frantically around, trying to catch where she had gone, but she was gone.
I ran back to the castle and went to the library, knowing only Levos would be there. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it was going to explode. Levos saw me enter and stood from the table of books he had been poring over. He looked excited.
“I think I have it all figured out, but you’re—” he stopped, taking in my current state. “Did you go for a run or something? You smell awful.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to catch my breath. “What…what are those traps? Out there in the woods…supposed to catch?” I asked in between breaths.
“Yeah, about those. Do you remember that pest problem that I told you about the first time we met? Well, those are meant to catch the pests.”
“And how big are these pests?”
“Big, like really big,” he said, making a dramatic face.
“Levos, what is out there? What is going on?”
He exhaled, taking a seat on one of the couches. “About three years ago we noticed a surge of new creatures that kept showing up around our territory. We killed them and then studied them, but we couldn’t match their origin. Around the same time the dark court contacted us with the same inquiry. We discovered that a rift or a portal kept opening around our territories, allowing creatures and beasts of all shapes and sizes to enter our world. We don’t know why they’re here or what they want. We never know where the rift will end up opening next, so it is hard to figure out where it all is coming from.”
“And those traps are supposed to catch them?”
“Yes. They are spelled to catch a number of things since we don’t understand what they are. When the trap is activated, only an alfar can release the creature it has captured. Nothing has ever gotten close to the castle, but we are still taking precautions.”
I felt sick as I dropped to the couch next to him. I had just freed one of those things.
“Why do you ask?”
I was still stunned, trying to figure out what I had just unleashed into our world.
“Gen?”
“Oh, I just saw one when I was out looking for some herbs. Thought it was a bit aggressive for a fairy trap.”
“Ah, well, I’d advise staying away from them from now on. Don’t want you to lose a leg. Gaelin won’t be too happy about that. Now, as I was saying, I think I have found a way to check up on your little friend, but you aren’t going to like what you’ll have to do.”
My attention snapped to Levos. My heart pumped faster at the thought of Lily. “I’m listening.”
“Gaelin and a group of warriors are leaving tomorrow to go to the dark court to assist in one of their pest problems. You can ask Gaelin to inquire about your friend while he is there.”
“Won’t it look suspicious if he is asking about a human?”
“Yes, but he is the next king. They won’t question him. But this means you have to tell him about Lilian and why you really offered yourself to the light court.” I stood up, weighing the options.
“Do you think he will help?”
“I think he wants to make you happy, so yes, he will help.”
I nodded, thinking of how I was going to approach the subject. “Thank you for letting me know about the dealings with the dark court. I will take it from here.”
“What? You’re not going to pour me a drink and invite me to stay awhile?” said Levos. I smacked him on the back of the head playfully. “Watch it now, you could lose a hand for striking an alfar. Actually, I don’t know what the punishment is for a half-breed…oh wait, yes, I do. Never mind.” He snickered before I smacked him again.
“Don’t even play like that. This isn’t a game.”
He stood from the chair, taking my arms in his hands. “No, it is not, but I am glad I know your secret,” he said softly, looking into my eyes.
“We should probably keep our one-on-one interaction to a minimum. Gaelin is worried about our relationship developing further,” I admitted.
Levos laughed as he stepped away from me, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. My own cousin thinks I would bed his mistress?”
“Apparently. He was even sniffing the air to make sure my maidenhood was still intact last night.”
“Now I would have paid gold to see that for myself. Understandable all the same. He most likely is worried you’ve fallen for someone else, since you still refuse his bed. By the way, I’m very impressed you’ve lasted this long.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most women, alfar or human, beg to be invited to his bed, yet here you are sharing a room with him and refusing him each night. That must be doing wonders for his inflated ego.”
“You’re not making me feel better about the situation, Levos. I am not going to be pressured into this decision.”
“And I am not trying to sway you either way. On that note, I will take my leave and leave you to your scheming. Maybe if you offered to bed him as payment it would sweeten the deal,” he said, moving towards the door.
I took off my shoe and threw it at his head.
He ducked, laughing as he opened the door. “Alright, alright, I get the hint. Good luck, sweet Genevieve. I will check on you tomorrow.”
I sat down in a chair and worked out the details of how I was going to ask Gaelin for his help. It was just a simple inquiry. I wasn’t asking him to kill anyone. He could just simply ask about her, right? I wasn’t going to use sex to further my agenda with him. I wasn’t that type of person, but I knew I was playing with fire. The closer I got to him, the more he wanted me and if I was being honest, it was getting harder for me to talk myself out of giving in. If I were to sleep with him, the act would guarantee my safety and survival.
That night I readied the room and waited for him to enter. I sat on the edge of the bed already in my nightgown. The white sheer fabric clung to my body, and a cotton robe covered some of my exposed skin. I wasn’t going to use sex against him, but a small visual couldn’t hurt. The door opened and I sprung to my feet, more alert than I had been in a long time.
“Good evening, how was your day?” I asked anxiously.
“Same as most days. We are preparing a short trip to the dark court tomorrow so I will be gone until the end of the week.” He took off his weapons and placed them by the door.
I made my way over to him and began to unlatch his jacket, trying to act normal. I could feel his eyes trailing over my face. After I hung his jacket and he removed his boots, I went back to the bed and sat patiently, waiting for him to finish in the bathroom. He stopped at the threshold of the door, peering at me perched on the edge of his bed.
“I would like to discuss something with you if that is okay,” I said.
He made his way over to me and sat softly on the mattress. “Of course, anything.”
I took a deep breath, knowing I was putting my own life at risk. If I was going to tell him the truth it had to be all of it. If he found out I was lying about a single detail Lilian’s life could be at risk, and I couldn’t have that.
“I want to preface that whatever you chose to do with the information, I understand and will not fight you on the matter, as long as you promise me you will find my sister.”
He straightened and furrowed his brow in confusion. “And who is your sister?”
“The family I told you about that I left back in The Frey…there is a member I purposefully left out. She is a young girl named Lilian Thomas. For three years, she has been the most important person in my life. Six weeks ago, she was taken by the dark alfar. I offered myself to your court to get close enough to find out if she is still alive. Levos told me that you were going to the dark court.” I shifted on the bed uncomfortably, trying to remain strong. Gaelin continued to study me, not saying a word.
I took a deep breath and continued. “I was wondering if you could inquire about her. Just to see if she is still alive or if she is hurt or being tortured. I love her more than my own life, Gaelin. That is why I am about to tell you something that you could have me killed for.”
His face went pale with shock and concern. “I would never hurt you. Inquiring about your sister is not something you would be killed over.” His face filled with concern as he reached for me, but I flinched away, feeling lightheaded as the panic and fear began to sink in.
I dropped my eyes to my lap. My hands shook as I brought them to the scarf that covered my ears. “No, it’s not,” I said, fighting my tears. “But this is.” I slowly pulled the piece of fabric away from my head, revealing my true identity. I felt him pull away. I didn’t dare look at him. I kneaded the scarf in my hands, waiting for his response.
“As I said, do what you want with what you now know, but please, find Lilian and get her out if you can,” I begged.
“Who else knows?” he asked coldly.
“Levos found out last night. That’s what you walked in on. I didn’t tell him freely; it was an accident that he saw my ears.”
“And he said nothing to me.”
I lifted my face, still shaking. A single tear escaped my eye and fell down my face. “Please don’t punish him. He wanted to tell you, but I convinced him not to. If you’re going to punish anyone it should be me.”
He turned slowly towards me, taking in each ear. “Part alfar, part human. A half-breed.”
“Yes,” I whispered shamefully. I waited for his response. He held the fate of my life in his hands. I knew this was a risk, but somewhere, deep down inside of myself, I thought the connection we were making would be strong enough to overcome anything. At least a small part of me hoped it was.
Gaelin stood up from the bed, still refusing to look me in the face. His breathing was heavy, and his lips strained in a sharp line as his eyes flickered from side to side as if they were searching for the answer to our problem.
I stood, extending my hand out to touch his arm but he pulled away from me so suddenly I jumped back.
“Half-breeds are against the law,” he said, in a tone I didn’t recognize.
“I know,” I whispered.
“You should never have been born.” He paused, running a hand through his hair. “How are you still alive? Why did the humans not turn you in?”
My heart broke a little at his disappointment that I was not disposed of the moment my mother discovered I had been conceived. I realized that I had begun to care for Gaelin, regardless of our circumstances. It hurt like hell that he wished me dead. That he didn’t seem to care enough for me to overlook my DNA.
“My village loved my mother,” I finally replied, willing myself to speak. “She was a healer. I suppose as a tribute to her, they overlooked my paternal side. I don’t believe my father knew about me. My mother never told me about him.”
Gaelin stood silently for another moment, processing my situation. Without taking another look at me he headed for the door. I rushed after him, stopping a few feet away from him as he reaches for the doorknob.
“Gaelin!” I shouted.
He stopped, but did not turn around.
I search for something to say that would make this better. That would save my neck and get me out of this, but all I could manage to say was, “I’m sorry.”
Gaelin’s head tilted, but he did not turn around, nor did he say a word. He flung the door open and was gone a moment later.
I didn’t sleep that night. I waited, listening for any sound of the guards coming to take me away. I had failed. I failed Lily, my family, and myself. I was foolish to think an alfar could ever come to care for a half-bread like me.
Somewhere in the early hours of the morning I must have dozed off from sheer exhaustion. I awoke to the door latch snapping shut. I sprung to my feet, reaching for the iron poker near the fire place. I turned, ready to fight my way to my own execution when I saw Gaelin, standing at the door. No guards, no weapons in sight. He assessed me, looking at the iron poker and then to my face.
“I’ll help your friend,” he said without feeling.
Relief slammed through me as I lowered the poker. “Thank you,” I whispered. I looked at the door and back to him, unsure of what he had decided to do with my life.
“You would sacrifice yourself for a human? Why? What makes her so important?” he hissed more assertively than I had ever seen him.
I took a few moments to clear my throat and then my head. “Because I love her. Because I am all she has,” I whispered. I waited, but he didn’t reply. I was tired of waiting. I needed to know what was going happen next. “Are we going to the king so he can dispose of me?”
His eyes snapped to mine. The hard, stern alfar soldier slowly melted away. His eyes filled with pain as he shook his head.
“No, you’re not going anywhere. And no one else is to know of this,” he said, taking a step towards me.
Uncontrollable tears began to run down my face. My breath shuttered as I tried to hold my emotions back. I gasped for a breath to help calm me. “I don’t understand,” I was able to get out. “Why?”
In another breath, he was in front of me, staring down at me with those beautiful golden eyes. “This,” he said gesturing between himself and me. “I have never experienced anything like this before in my long and lonely life. I have been with both alfar and human females, but I have never longed to know someone, to be near someone like I do you.”
I smiled and a laughter erupted from deep inside of me. I felt relief and even happiness to know that he didn’t want me dead. He wanted me to live.
“Gen,” Gaelin said, in a serious tone, reaching down and taking my hands into his. “This game that you are playing. This position you are now in is dangerous. And by me not saying anything, I am going against my vow. Against everything I am.” I could see the conflict in his eyes. I reached up taking his face in my hands.
“I am so sorry that I have put you in this position,” I said, and honestly meant it.
“This isn’t your fault. You did not ask for any of this and you can’t control who your parents are. And if I am being honest, I find you absolutely perfect, just the way you are. I wouldn’t change a thing about you, including these,” he said with a smile as he gently stroked the edge of my ears.
A smile erupted across my face as my body eased into his. I felt peace, for the first time since I could remember. I also felt safe. He watched me, running his fingers through my hair and exploring my face with small grazes and strokes. Something inside of my chest swelled as I took him in. Every path his fingers explored left a warmth across my skin I had never experienced before. I wanted this moment to last. I wanted to stay here, with him, just like this.
“May I…may I kiss you?” I asked nervously.
His eyes dropped from my gaze as if ashamed. “I’m not going to force you to bed me so that I will keep your secret,” he said, beginning to pull away.
I tightened my grip on him. “I know that. I would like to kiss you because… because I want to.”
He peered down at me, still unsure of my motives. I moved in closer to him, running my fingertips along his lips. I could feel his warm breath against my skin. I stretched up on my tiptoes and softly brushed my lips against his, testing the waters.
His arms latched around my waist, preventing me from pulling away. We gently glided our lips across one another. The taste of him electrified every nerve in my body. I let out a moan of satisfaction. He pressed me against the wall taking my mouth harder as his tongue thrusted in and out with each passing. His body sealed me to the surface as his hands roamed over the thin fabric of my nightgown.
He pulled away, breathing in deeply from the passion we had just shared. I couldn’t help but smile up at him. He let out a small laugh before pulling me away from the wall. He kissed me again softly, stopping only to admire my face.
“See, I told you I wanted to,” I said playfully. He grinned fully, his smile stretching to his eyes. So, this is what Gaelin looked like truly happy.
“Did you sleep last night?” He asked, not taking his hands from me.
“An hour or so,” I admitted.
He took my hand and lead me to the bed. My heart fluttered as excitement and nervousness slammed through me at the same time. I hesitated, stopping in the middle of the room as Gaelin tried to pull me forward. He turned back towards me, noting the hesitation on my face. A mischievous smile crept across his face as he looked from me to the bed and back again.
“We’re going to sleep. Nothing more,” he said, reassuring me.
I let out an awkward giggle as oxygen returned to my lungs again. “Oh,” I replied, still planted in the middle of the room.
Gaelin arched his eyebrow and moved slowly towards me. “Unless,” he said in a deep sultry voice, “you had something else in mind.”
I froze, looking up at him. His sensual smile turned playful, followed by a laugh. I pushed him back, shaking my head.
“My emotions can’t take any more uncertainty,” I admitted. His laughter continued as he reached for me. I let out another laugh of relief, allowing him to pull my body into his. I relaxed my head against his strong and toned chest, relishing in our contact.
“We’re just going to sleep. I promise,” he whispered. I felt his lips brush against the top of my head.
“I can’t, I have too many chores to do,” I admitted, already feeling the exhaustion settling in my bones.
“I leave for the dark court soon, and I want to spend the next few hours with you. So, therefore, I am relieving you of some of the chores until I see that you are well rested,” he said, pulling away and leading us to the bed. I smiled at the sight of a bed. A real bed.
I slid in between the soft, crisp sheets as Gaelin pulled them over my body. He went around the other side and crawled into the bed, taking off his shoes and belt. We turned towards each other, staring at one another in complete contentment for a few moments until he reached his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. His fingers tangled through my hair in a calm caressing motion. Though every nerve in my body was heightened from being this close to him and from the passionate kiss we had shared, exhaustion took over, forcing me into a deep sleep.