13. The Fae King
Istepped onto the terrace and pulled my finest glamours tight around me—ones that made me seem taller, stronger, and virtually flawless. They were like an old, familiar cloak, worn often and well.
Georgia was seated at one end of a beautifully dressed table, and her eyes darted to me immediately. Her silken, aquamarine gown brought out her large, innocent eyes.
I moved forward and took her hand in mine, pressing it briefly to my lips. ”Good evening, my beautiful bride,” I purred.
To my surprise, she looked up at me and frowned.
What could she possibly see to dislike? My glamours were perfect.
Ignoring this setback, I took my seat directly across the table from her. The brownies, the fantastic little creatures, had dutifully prepared us an extravagant meal out on the terrace. The table was dressed to amaze, and will-o”-the-wisps lit up a large, overhanging tree, creating a warm, romantic ambience.
Despite the efforts of the brownies, wisps, and myself, she remained silent. I was almost certain she was angry, but why? Was it about our bargain, or was it something smaller, like the food? I breathed deeply, and the warm ocean air gave me strength. I needed this to go well. ”How are you settling in?” I asked, flashing her a charming smile.
”How am I settling in?” she asked, her voice rising on each word. ”Do you often steal women from their ancestral homes, nearly drown them, and then neglect them for days?” She clutched her fork as if she might brandish it as a weapon against me.
”Do you often steal women?” Was she serious? It took a lot of effort for me to come here with my glamours. My staff had prepared a beautiful meal. Now, she was accusing me of infidelity? The human woman I didn’t even really want to marry. ”Do you see any other women around?” I asked pointedly.
She gaped. ”Excuse me?”
”Then you have your answer,” I said smoothly. ”Have you tried the rolls? They’re very good.”
Her brow furrowed as she worked through my words. Her glare didn’t soften. Apparently, it would take more than a bit of food to improve our acquaintance. Humans were so fickle. Had I not already saved the wretched woman’s life?
A smaller part of me whispered, Weren’t you the one who endangered it?
Still, I soldiered on. I needed this woman to love me. My crown and kingdom were counting on it. Humans were often beguiled by the fae. So, I pulled more energy into my glamours, hiding my fatigue and emotions behind an impenetrable wall of perfection. ”Since you are here, why not just fall hopelessly in love with me? You’ll find me a most dutiful husband.” I let the last part trail over my tongue languidly, suggestively.
She snorted. ”Dutiful? The man who forced me to leave my family?”
”Isn’t that to be expected? Don”t all brides leave their families one day? From what I understand, your days were already numbered. Would you have truly preferred the icy lands of the North?”
A mix of emotions raced across her face, too rapidly concealed for me to discern. I was surprised. I never expected a human to be difficult to read. Perhaps, it was because she was a princess. Masking would be a politically advantageous skill.
Still, her anger and resentment toward me were plain enough as she said, ”My prior entanglements do not concern you.”
”Oh, indeed they do,” I whispered. ”I am interested in everything about you.”
”I am interested in why you dragged me across your treacherous waters. I could have died. Even now, I remain in danger as a human in the fae realm.”
”Life is dangerous, little sparrow. Have you been hidden behind closed doors and gilded gates for so long that you no longer remember how to fly?”
A small growl escaped her lips, and one of her tiny hands clenched into a fist around her cloth napkin.
Adorable. Like an angry kitten.
I wanted to stay and argue with her. I needed to stay and woo her, but my glamours had taken their toll. My body was too exhausted to hold this form any longer. My limbs were beginning to shake, and I would be a frog at any moment.
It seemed my body still needed rest.
So, I stood and bowed. ”Little sparrow, I would gladly sit and fight with you for many hours, if my time permitted, but I have matters I must attend to. Please enjoy your dinner.”
As I made a hasty exit, I heard her mutter, ”You have to be kidding.”
So much for making her love me. This was not going well.
I lay flat on my bed, trembling and hoping to put off the change by resting. The silk sheets just didn’t feel the same when I was in my frog form. But what did?
Not an hour later, there was a knock at my chamber door. ”Come in,” I called.
The door swung open, revealing Harry.
I turned my head to look at him but didn’t bother to sit up. ”I know what you want.”
”Then get moving,” he urged.
”Not tonight, Harry. Please.”
”The council will be expecting you.”
”I’d rather just lie here. I’m too tired to get up. I just, I just can’t. Make excuses.”
”Is that an order from my king or a request from my friend?” he asked.
I rolled over and reached for a goblet of faerie wine. I brought it messily to my lips, dripping some of its contents onto my black silk sheets. ”Whichever will make you leave me alone.”
He frowned. ”I’ll make your excuses, Forrest, but I’m worried about you and those marks around your heart. Are they darkening?”
I gave him a hollow grin. ”My dear Harry, worrying without a solution is like drinking without a stomach. Pointless.”
”We drink to taste, to feel, to experience. Not unlike why we live our lives, wouldn’t you say?”
”Mine has been tasteless for a long time.”
”Perhaps, you will find something to tempt your palette yet, my friend. At least, I very much hope so,” he said softly.
I downed the rest of my goblet’s contents, dropped it lazily onto the floor, and closed my eyes. I didn’t open them again until I heard the soft click of the door and knew Harry was gone. Gone to make my excuses. Gone to fulfill my tasks.
He was a good friend, better than I deserved.
Soon, the will-o”-the-wisps floated in the window and danced above my head, just like they did every evening. ”Ah,” I cracked a slight smile. ”Good evening, my little friends.”
”Good king,” they chorused.
”What tales do you have for me? What juicy gossip? Political machinations or debauchery? Any with both?”
The female landed on my shoulder and nuzzled me affectionately. ”Why, we will tell you whatever you desire. Tales of courts near and far.”
And so they did.
I lost track of time, and the first light of the sun streamed through my window. Instantly and with no warning, I turned into a large bullfrog.
I hadn’t intended for anyone to see this sudden display, not now or ever. I had imbibed too much wine. I had been careless.
But I quickly masked by laughing and calling out, ”How do you like my little trick?”
The will-o”-the-wisps gasped, and a few began to clap and cheer. ”How clever,” called one.
”Do it again,” cried another.
A will-o”-the-wisp with a bright blue glow squinted his tiny eyes in suspicion. ”Why are you a frog?”
I let out a regal croak and glared at him. ”I am the king of the isle, the marsh, and the beaches. Do you not think I can take any form I wish at any time?”
”Perhaps,” he mumbled.
The wisp next to him elbowed him hard in the stomach. ”Of course, king. A fine trick. Show us more.”
A female wisp yawned. ”Daylight is here. We mustn”t tarry.”
”Goodnight, sweet king,” a chorus of wisps called out as they flew out the window and away to sleep in the hidden hollows of trees and the darkness of curled leaves.
The blue, male hung behind and circled me.
My long, frog tongue shot out and I swallowed the wisp whole. ”Perhaps,” the wisp had said. That was no way to speak to your king.
Two long days passed, and other than our brief dinner, I remained a bullfrog for nearly all of them. The physical and magical strain of my travel weakened me greatly. I could do nothing but rest and wait for my body to recover.
It was agonizing.
What were Hawthorne and my council up to?
I hated myself for hiding away in my chambers. I hated my body for being so weak. I hated my mind for not seeing a way out. Most of all, I hated the witch who had done this to me.
But she was dead. And her clueless daughter was in the other room. I would have gone out and demanded answers from her, but I wasn’t sure I should reveal my weakness. What if she truly didn’t know I couldn’t control the changes from man to frog? I would be giving her leverage. And I didn’t need anyone else to have leverage over me.
Finally, on the third day, I was able to hold my form as a man. Despite that, I was exhausted and depressed. I slept for what felt like ages.
Later, Harry stopped in with a dinner tray. ”Oh, good. You’re awake.”
He set the tray down on my bed, and I quickly appraised it. There was a slice of homemade bread, butter, roasted pheasant, a side of caramelized pears, and a goblet of milk. I frowned at Harry. I was not a child, and I knew when I was being cut off. Blighted milk.
I took an annoyed bite from my bread and decided to ignore that particular argument. ”How is she? The girl?” I couldn’t bring myself to say bride. It was all too real.
His brows crinkled. ”I didn’t see her at lunch. Maybe we should check with Rosie.”
I rang my bell, and a small brown rabbit hopped in.
”Where is she?” I demanded.
”Out in the forest again, I’m afraid,” answered the rabbit fae.
I set my bread back on the tray, no longer hungry. ”After dark?” I asked.
Her nose twitched. ”I’ve warned her, but you gave strict instructions not to confine her.”
I sighed and rose from my bed. ”Very well.” I grabbed my riding cloak and moved swiftly to the door. Along the way, I wondered, had I taken a wife or a ward?