41
After days of waiting for Castor’s decision, I grow entirely bored of the castle. I walk up the stairs that lead to her room and knock on Maeve’s door, hoping for a distraction.
Maeve opens her door almost the next second, like she’s waiting for something to happen as well.
I take in the sight of her standing before me, she’s dressed in a white ruffled top that I noticed folds over her shoulders.
Covering the scars I know are hiding just beneath the material.
Across her stomach, she has a brown corset to match her pants and boots. I’d never seen her wear anything like it, never really seen her out of her black combat pants, save for the dress she wore those few nights ago.
Maeve catches me looking at her clothes. “I went to my old room here and found some of my clothes from when I was at the Agency.”
Her casual mention of the Agency sends a bitter taste to my mouth but I don’t let it show, not wanting her to stop telling me things because of it.
“It suits you, love.” Is all I say.
The colour of her cheeks deepen slightly and I smile at the reason for it.
Maeve notices and changes the subject immediately.
“To what do I owe the please, your highness.”
I smirk at her. “I was hoping to show you something.”
“Oh?” Is all she replies before stepping out of her room and closing the door behind her. “Now?”
“Ideally.”
“Well then, this something better involve food.” Maeve says, gesturing for me to lead the way.
“That can be arranged.” I reply with a smile.
We walk out of the castle and in the opposite direction of the stairs that lead us to the beach, where we walked that morning a few days prior. One of my favourite mornings, the memory brings a smile to my face.
“Where are we going?” Maeve asks, crossing her arms as we walk along the stone path that wraps around the castle above us. The torches on the wall next to us have just been lit as the sun starts to set, highlighting Maeve’s freckles as we walk on.
“To one of the towns below, I thought you might want a moment away.”
Maeve looks across to me pointedly. “I think it’s you who needs a moment away.”
“You see right through me, love.”
We walk down the path that leads to a small town below. Its houses are made of the same sandstone as the castle and the street that runs up the middle is filled with a mix of gravel and sand. Looking around, I can see fae everywhere, walking up and down the street and pouring in and out of taverns.
I redirect my gaze to Maeve and see her looking nervous as we walk down the street.
“You’ve been here before.” I guess and I needn’t guess who with.
Maeve nods slowly, not looking at me.
“Well I promise this time, will be much better.”
She snorts at me. “You don’t even know what it was like last time.”
“If it’s with the company I’m imagining it was love, I’m sure this place would be better under any other
circumstance.”
Maeve laughs. “He wasn’t all that bad, not back then.”
My stomach knots, I definitely do not want to hear this.
“I’m sure.” I reply, with a bite in each word.
“You don’t like him.” Maeve states.
“I was under the impression that you didn’t either.”
“I don’t.” She says immediately, “he broke my trust, it’s not something that I forgive easily.”
“Nor do I.” I reply, thinking of my parents, how it was trust broken that brought them to their deaths. How I certainly didn’t forgive those who invited Hidale’s men in. Maybe a bit different to Maeve’s broken trust with Raylin but trust is trust all the same.
“Where are we going?” Maeve asks, changing the subject and I’m thankful for it.
I look sidelong at her, smiling as I offer my hand.
“I promised you food.”
To my surprise, Maeve takes my hand and I try not to still at the calluses that brush against my own.
I walk her down the sandy gravel path, spotting a tavern just ahead, the warm candle light from within pouring out as the street darkens.
I drag Maeve inside to find us a table.
“Tell me you haven’t been to this tavern?” I beg.
Maeve laughs softly but shakes her head. I let go of her hand and place my own by the small of her back, leading her to a table at the back of the tavern.
“Should have brought Cole along, he probably feels left out.” Maeve says jokingly as we sit down.
I snort. “He’ll live.”
Maeve looks me over, from where she’s sitting opposite me. Her eyes flickering with curiosity and I wonder what’s ticking through her head.
“Why did you take me, all those weeks ago?” Maeve asks me and I stare blankly across at her. Utterly surprised by the sudden and very specific question.
That’s the last thing I thought would be on her mind.
“What? You said I could ask you anything.”
I smile softly. “I didn’t expect you to take me up on that.”
She smiles back, her face lighting up behind the candle that’s on our table.
“So?” She questions, waiting for an answer that I’m not entirely ready to give her.
“Ever so impatient, love.” I mock.
She stares at me pointedly, waiting for me to answer. No room for argument in her eyes.
I sigh. “I told you—you have a skill set that I thought would be useful and it has proven useful so far. Especially when it came to getting the real prophecy."
“That’s not the only reason, I can tell.”
I get up from the table, so abruptly she stares. “I’ll be back.” I say as I leave, partially because I need some time to think of my answer. I want to be honest with her, just as I want her to share more with me. But I think we need to build up to some answers.
I watch her sitting at the table waiting as I walk back after grabbing us food and drinks. I opted for fish and vegetables as I had noticed at dinner that tends to be what she goes for.
“Don’t think that plying me with food will be enough to distract me.” Maeve says as I return.
I smirk. “Of course not, love”
“What’s the reason you’re not telling me?”
I sigh and take a sip of my drink. “I was curious.”
“About what?”
“Why I can’t read your mind.”
Maeve’s green eyes stare at me from across the table, she narrows them at me and I can tell she’s annoyed, it takes me only a second to realise why.
“I don’t want to–not now.” I reply honestly, “my power is useful to help me run a Kingdom but you’ll notice I never flick through Cole’s mind. I don’t do it to those I—” Stopping myself, I take another sip of my drink, trying to find the right word.
“I only do it to those I don’t personally know. Those that aren’t close to me.”
Maeve looks away for a second, eyes flickering to the side, watching the other fae sitting in the tavern.
“Did you find out why you can’t read my mind?”
“No.” I reply, almost too quickly as I look down at my food. The knot in my stomach twists in response. It wasn’t entirely a lie but I feel guilty all the same.
“Is there anyone else’s mind you can’t read?” Maeve asks softly after taking another sip of her drink, before digging into the food in front of her.
“There’s no other fae in Aressor that I haven’t been able to read.”
Maeve scoffs. “You haven’t tested them all.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, of the ones I have tested, you are the outlier.”
She smiles slightly, returning back to eating.
“Did your parents have powers?” Maeve asks suddenly.
My heart flutters, I’m thrilled that she’s wanting to
know more but I am ever so scared she’ll ask the wrong question. One that I can’t give the answer to yet.
I swallow my food before answering.
“My father did, my mother had nothing beyond that of a normal fae.”
She studies me for a moment. “What powers did your father have?”
I chuckle into my drink. “So many questions tonight, love.”
“Just curious.” She replies, throwing my words from a couple of days ago back at me.
I smile softly and answer her question. “My father had the ability to levitate objects, much like Resson.”
She nods, taking another sip of her drink.
I hesitate before asking my next question, hoping she doesn’t shut down. I need to know the answer to see whether I should share what I’ve been wanting to and not wanting to for so long.
“Do you remember your parents powers, if any?”
Her green eyes flick towards me, something akin to pain flickering through them and I almost regret my question.
“No.”
“Would you like to know? If you could, I mean?”
Maeve looks down at her plate, face twisting slightly, like there’s a battle in her mind.
“I don’t know.” Is all she says, her voice so soft it hurts.
I have to tell her, I can’t bear this any longer. But by the gods I’m so terrified that she’ll hate me for not telling her sooner.
“Maeve I have to—”
My voice stops abruptly as I’m pulled away from my admission by the tavern doors flying open, casting a loud bang across the room.
I see a flash of red in the corner of my eyes.
Maeve grabs my arm quickly and I turn my eyes to look at her, to ask what’s wrong but she’s gone.
Maeve’s gone, yet I can still feel her holding my arm.
I look down at where I can feel the pressure of her small hand and see that my own arm is gone too.
Maeve’s turned us invisible.
I immediately turn my gaze towards the door to see why.
Three of Hidale’s men have walked into the tavern, the flash of red I saw being from their maroon uniforms.
The man at the front of the three, sporting what I assume to be a full metal arm.
The sleeve from his uniform covers most but I can see the metal hand sticking out below.
“That’s him?” I whisper to the air, my voice drowned out from the chatter of the tavern around us. The other fae here don’t seem to be all that bothered by Hidale’s soldiers.
“Yes.” Maeve breathes.
I’m not sure this soldier would be overly pleased to see Maeve after what she did to his arm.
I’d rather not stick around to find out, or cause a disruption that would piss Castor off.
“Let’s go.” I say, sliding my arm out from under hers and holding her hand instead.
It’s odd, I’d expected to feel different being invisible. But I don’t notice a difference at all. I can’t even feel Maeve’s magic run through me. If it wasn’t for not being able to see my body, I wouldn’t know.