Chapter Six
Rhea received the exact response Rowan had anticipated once they reached Vale. People stopped and stared at the fairy as they rode through the village. Men grinned at her as she passed and women balked at her state of undress, especially in the cold mountain weather.
Rhea didn’t notice the onlookers as she was solely concerned with holding onto Rowan and staying upright on the horse.
This was only the second time she had ridden a horse this way and had barely gotten a feel for it.
Her captors had kept her in a birdcage when they rode.
She would never want to be inside that cage again, but could admit it was more comfortable that this saddle.
Rowan pulled Dragon’s reins and stopped to wait for the castle courtyard gate to open, then he climbed down and helped Rhea dismount.
His father was the first to greet them. When Nick tried to take her hand, Rhea quickly stepped behind Rowan.
Even when Rowan introduced this knight as his father, the fairy stayed put.
Nick smiled anyway and gave a nod, then turned and led them to the library. Rowan chuckled. He should have guessed that Bree would be found in the library, no matter what kingdom they currently inhabited. It was her favorite place in her own castle as well.
Bree looked up and smiled when Nick opened the door and Rowan entered. Her smile grew larger when the fairy stepped into view. Their plan had worked! Delighted, she sat her book down and moved closer to greet them as Rowan bowed before his queen and introduced the fairy.
“Rhea, this is Queen Breestlin, the ruler of Junacave. And the lovely ladies beside her are Queen Mother Cicilly, Breestlin’s mother, and Princess Celeste of Vale. Ladies and Your Majesty,” he said, winking at Bree, “this is Rhea, Princess Fairy of Anestas.”
Bree knew of the beauty of the fairies, mostly from her books, but actually seeing one firsthand was something very few people could boast. Rhea was tall and slim but still managed to be voluptuous at the same time.
Her long golden hair was partially pinned back and the rest allowed to fall in loose curls around her.
She was wearing a metal ring around her neck, which looked out of place, but even that could not detract from how lovely she was.
“I am so thrilled to see the fairies have decided to assist the pixies,” Bree said.
“Well, not exactly,” Rowan replied, causing confusion to flash across the ladies’ faces. “The fairies refused. However, just as I was about to leave, Rhea volunteered to help us. She’s the fairy I rescued years ago.”
“We are grateful for your help, Rhea,” Bree said. “I’m sure you are exhausted from traveling and would like to rest. Sir Nicholas will show you to the guest chambers, and I will fetch someone to bring your supper, if you’d like.”
Nick opened the door and waited, but the fairy didn’t budge. Rowan knew why. Rhea didn’t trust Nick. Rowan frowned at Bree, then offered, “Perhaps, I should escort her to the chambers, myself.”
“Of course,” Bree replied. She could certainly understand a level of mistrust of strangers—men in particular. After the ordeal Rhea had suffered in the past, it was understandable.
Nick led the way while chatting with Rowan about his trip. Rhea followed closely behind as they traveled up a flight of stairs and down a long hallway. When they reached the guest chambers, she followed Rowan inside and Nick left to fetch a chambermaid.
Rhea got a good look at her surroundings.
The room was magnificent in purple and white.
There was an enormous plush bed with over a dozen feather-filled pillows atop the quilts.
It smelled faintly of lavender, one of her favorite scents, and she felt herself relax a little as she studied the rest of the space.
Shiny purple silk hung from the banisters.
Two large chairs sat in the middle of the room beside a small round table completely covered by a vase of purple and white flowers.
How any human could grow flowers in the mountains during winter was a mystery to her.
The kingdom must have a wizard in its service.
Rowan finished lighting a fire and turned to see Rhea frozen in place near the doorway.
She looked confused and bewildered. He imagined this would be an adjustment for her.
He wasn’t sure she would reply since she’d only said a few words to him during the trip, but he asked anyway, “Have you ever been inside a castle before?”
“No,” she replied, walking around the room to get a better look. “This is nothing like our homes in Anestas. I share a room with my sisters there.” She ran her fingers along the soft quilt. She’d never seen a bed so large before. Was it only for her?
“Do you have many sisters?”
“Yes, thirteen.”
“Thirteen?” Rowan didn’t even try to hide his surprise. He couldn’t imagine living in one home with thirteen other women, let alone a single room.
“Yes, all fairy mothers must have many daughters. It is our tradition.” Rhea stopped speaking when a chambermaid entered with a small tray of food, setting it on the table between the chairs and hurrying back out again. Once alone again, she asked, “Is this how you live? In a castle?”
“Well, at times. I lived in the castle in Junacave since I was a young boy, but my chambers were never as luxurious as this. Then for a while, I traveled the realm, living in the forest, mostly. Now, I do live in the castle again.”
“And you enjoy it? Living in a castle? With many strangers?”
“They’re not all strangers. I enjoy kingdom life now, but I also spent several years alone. To be honest, I do find myself needing to get away from the castle at times. Everything moves quicker there. It can be tedious.”
“I understand,” she said, giving him a small smile.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you. I’m sure you’d like to rest, so I’ll leave you to it.” He turned to go but only made it a few steps before she stopped him.
“No!” she nearly shouted. “I would rather not be alone.” She could sense he was about to refuse and added, “This place and these people… they’re all strangers.”
“I understand, but wouldn’t you prefer a female to accompany you through the night? I can find a maid to sit with y—” She quickly shook her head.
He couldn’t help but feel guilt, both for refusing her hand and now abandoning her when he knew how untrustworthy she was toward people. His request was the reason she was there and not safely in Anestas after all.
“Alright,” he conceded, “but I will need to leave to make arrangements. There are nightgowns in the wardrobe if you’d like to change before I return.” Then he slipped out before she could reply.
Bree greeted him with a kiss when he returned to the library, but she could tell right away that something was wrong. “Is everything alright? Did she find her chambers to be suitable?”
“Yes, but she’s requested that I stay through the night. She’s nervous about being alone with strangers.”
“You? Are you sure she wouldn’t prefer a woman?”
He sighed. “I tried to suggest that, but she refused.”
“Rowan, don’t you think it would be inappropriate?” Bree couldn’t help but frown. Fairies were well known for their natural abilities of seduction. How would a man be able to spend the night with a fairy without feeling lust for her? Even Rowan?
“I do. However, if she decided to leave…”
Bree realized how delicate the situation really was. If the fairy left, the pixie leader would continue to be ill and eventually he would die. Cyrus suspected several of the other older pixies were already becoming ill now also. Since the other fairies had refused to help, Rhea was their only hope.
“I understand.” She forced a smile and kissed him again before he turned to go.
If Sidonie were there, she would have comforted Bree, telling her not to worry.
Rowan loved her and wouldn’t be swayed by the beauty of a fairy.
But Sid wasn’t there and Bree couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy for the woman who would be spending the night with the man she loved.
When Rowan returned to Rhea’s chambers, he knocked and waited.
When he didn’t hear a reply, he called out to her, hoping she would recognize his voice.
Still no answer. Fearing she may have fled, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He closed the door quietly and looked around the room.
The wardrobe was open, but Rhea wasn’t there.
“Rhea? Are you in here?”
Without saying a word, the fairy slipped out from behind the open door of the wardrobe.
She was naked, her long hair down around her shoulders and breasts, though it did nothing to cover them.
Her face lit up when she saw him. He tried to look away, but her figure was alluring.
Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle at him, and he felt his mouth begin to water.
She picked up a nightgown that was draped over a chair in the middle of the room and carried it over, stopping right in front of him. Her nipples were just inches away from his chest.
“I’m glad you’ve returned,” she said, holding up the nightgown. “I can’t figure out which way this is supposed to go. Could you help me?” She thrust the gown into his hand and spun around.
Rowan blinked, trying to regain focus. He lifted the gown and spread it over her head, hoping that once she was covered, this feeling of helplessness would go away. After the gown was on, however, he still wasn’t sure what to say or do.
“I’ve never worn clothing like this before. How does it look?” she asked as she turned around and smiled at him.
The fabric was thin and even though it covered her, it still showed the outline of her body underneath. He nodded, which was the best response he could muster at the moment. She seemed to be in higher spirits than before as she walked over to look at the fire.