Chapter 1 #2
When the forest finally opened up, it revealed what could only be the fae court.
A vast, open area as far as the eye could see ringed by the wild forest, with an island in the middle floating not on water, but in the air. Shimmering silver steps led up to the island, but as I watched, they winked in and out of existence, flashing away as quickly as they’d come.
This didn’t deter leaf man, who strode forward as if the absence of a way up was no problem. And who knew, maybe all the greater fae could fly? I didn’t know. I knew so little about the other side of my heritage, I was excited to learn more.
Granted, if none of them would speak, we wouldn’t learn much. It would be disappointing, but as long as we left with the stone, I would deal.
Leaf man stopped just outside the shadow of the floating island, lifted one foot, and the silver steps materialized beneath his foot.
He cast a pointed look back at us as if to say, Did you see what I did, numbskulls?
Then, in a blazing burst of white light, wings expanded from his back, and he lifted off, flying onto the island and leaving us to stare after him.
Dirge and I exchanged shocked glances.
You didn’t really see a lot of greater fae on Earth. Lesser fae, sure. They traded their low status on the totem pole here for being pretty powerful compared to most supes back on earth. But people who could just sprout wings like it was nothing? No, that was new to both of us.
Dirge tested out the steps first, and after he’d made it up five and they held, he gestured for me to follow. Half our entourage waited on the ground, while those who could fly up to the island did so.
By the time we made it to the top, I’d forgotten about the chilly, silent reception we’d received.
Everything here was so beautiful and otherworldly, it was almost too much to take in.
Half-naked fae were draped over every surface, many of them laughing, eating, drinking, or dancing languidly to music I couldn’t hear.
But for every dancer, there was a pair—or larger group—engaged in more carnal activities. Quite openly, many with crowds of enthusiastic watchers. I kept my eyes averted, not interested in offending anyone before we’d achieved what we came for.
Besides, there was plenty else to see. The island itself sparkled, both with the oversized lightning bugs and with little floating balls of light.
One hovered close by, and I couldn’t resist tapping it with a fingertip.
It seemed to dance under the tiny touch, then shot up high into the air out of reach.
Even the stones the furniture was made of had bits of shiny material woven through them, and the trees overhead swayed and shone with the plush magic of the realm.
I found it utterly delightful, and if everything in faerie was as interesting and magical as the lights, I could see why there were so many legends of people getting distracted and trapped here.
But we’re not going to do that, Dirge said. We know why we’re here, and we’re going to get it, and get out.
Right, I agreed, appreciating his resolve. He was my rock, and the longer we’d been bonded, the more I appreciated his steadiness.
Our entourage re-formed around us before I could bop any more of the pretty lights and ushered us silently to the middle of the island, where a giant, polished marble slab served as the court floor. A raised dais stood at one end of it, and we were led to a stop there.
“Is the leader in? Should we just wait, or…”
Leaf man shot me a haughty look that clearly said “shut up” without a single word being spoken.
Alrighty, then.
So, we waited. Within minutes, fae from all over the island had started to crowd into the court, taking seats on stone pedestals and carved chairs, some looking bored, while others resumed their lovemaking for all to see.
Dirge and I were no prudes, but it was apparently true what the legends said about the fae court. Debauchery was the norm, not the exception.
No one batted an eye at their antics, though, so we just kept waiting. Once fae had stopped pouring into the court, things grew suddenly still, almost as if everyone held their breath.
And then the soft string music I’d heard before began again, and I caught the first glimpse of the fae queen.
To my surprise, she had a completely human form as she climbed the steps to the dais.
An iridescent silver gown slowly swept along with her every step, making soft shh shh shh sounds as the hem swept over the marble.
She had rich, twilight skin, a dark, curly halo of hair, eyes sparkling with magnificent power, and a demure smile as she surveyed her court.
A brilliant white-gold crown was nestled atop her hair, rich rubies winking back the light with every step she took.
She was the most utterly breathtaking female I’d ever seen.
A man in a golden coronet trailed behind her, and while I was sure he was dressed in equal finery, I couldn’t begin to take any of it in. Because I knew him, and the realization struck me speechless.
Brand, Dirge whispered into my mind, also recognizing the man who’d saved me when my wolf had gone feral as a child. The same one who’d later given me the Etruscan coin I now wore around my neck as a talisman of sorts.
But what was he doing here, and with… the fae queen?
It wasn’t until the queen stopped in the middle of the dais, taking a gracious bow to the uproarious cheers from her people, that I realized that the man at her side was the king.