Happy to be normal and not have to deal with any of that, I continued my blade work. Well, as normal as anyone raised by a commander of the Wild Hunt could be, anyway. I was a loner on my best day, and I preferred it to be that way.
“You’re not shifting your weight properly for that stance, Ara. I know that sword doesn’t weigh enough to prohibit your ability to lean backward. Something on your mind, dear? You’re home sooner than we expected.”
I turned to see my father leaning against the doorframe of our training arena. The casual way he stood, with his hand in his pocket and his head tipped against the frame, tricked my mind into believing nothing was really bothering him. I played along, choosing my words of truth and deceit as carefully as possible. “Hey there. No, nothing on my mind. Just wanted to work on the balance with the new blade, that’s all.”
“Well, you won’t do it correctly if you can’t remember where your feet are supposed to be.” He crossed the room and pulled a sword from the wall. Not his personal sword, of course. We could never train with that one. He shifted the hilt back and forth between hands and stood before me. I knew this trick. He was doing what I was doing. Trying to take his mind off what was bothering him. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
As we sparred, he refused to hold back, and it took everything I had and everything that male had ever taught me to just stay on my feet. I was good, but he was better.
Later that evening, at the dinner table, my mother watched us both carefully. “Ara, why are you home so early?”
I pushed the food around my plate with my fork and said casually, “Well, I went to the castle, but the Prince of the Flame Court allowed me to leave early.”
As my mother’s fork hit the table, I realized I said something to surprise her. I looked up, and her wide eyes were staring directly into my father’s. My eyes shifted between them as I replayed exactly the words I had said to them. I hadn’t even mentioned the strange part.
“So, the Flame Court has indeed come to the Marsh Court?” Father asked. It was rhetorical, but told me exactly where his mind was.
“And you’re sure it was the prince?”
“He didn’t come right out and tell me he was the prince. He wasn’t wearing a crown, but his skin was tanned, and his hair was dark, and I’ve never seen him before.” He also had the most beautiful face and heated eyes I had ever seen, and before he spoke a word, I probably would have done anything that pretty mouth asked me. I spared my parents the details. Being beautiful was not uncommon. Being an arrogant asshole wasn’t, either. Unfortunately, based on my encounter, he was both.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions then,” Father said. “It’s possible, but not certain.”
My mother nodded her head and stood to leave the table. Her chocolate eyes were glued to the kitchen floor as she walked away. I think we’d just had two entirely different conversations at that table. The one I was a part of, and the one I wasn’t.
Chapter 5
Ara
It took ten days before I was, once again, invited to the castle. This time, it was for a luncheon for all the unwed high fae of the Marsh Court. I could visibly see the hesitation on my father’s face when I asked if I really had to go. It was still a yes, but he did tell me that I could come home as soon as it seemed appropriate to leave.
He also informed me that he wanted Huntagh to come as well. He worked on our land sometimes, but my father had used him as a guard in the past. He was also unwed, so I supposed he was also invited. I wasn’t sure how great of a guard he really would have been for me, considering I could best him every day of the week. I didn’t anticipate a mass murder, though, so I was sure it was just for my father’s peace of mind. Which was fine, I guess.
As we arrived at the palace, I was reminded of how long the days were. It was about a two day ride, so I stopped in the city before so I could make a casual attempt at freshening up. We were to have lunch outside, then who knew what would happen as the evening unfolded. I was hoping to be on my way home after the meal. Maybe I could piss off the prince again? That seemed to work well enough the last time, and I only had to breathe in his general direction to set him off. Not that I’d been thinking of him or anything, because I hadn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t even be here? One could hope. Maybe he could steal away Morwena and solve all the world’s problems in one shot? I shuddered at the thought.
“Do you mind if we split up?” I asked Huntagh. “I don’t think anyone else has a guard and, no offense, but I don’t really see the need.” I was basically asking him to get lost, but seriously, there was a reason I didn’t have many friends. I kept to myself.
He grunted and walked away.
The entire lawn was full, and as I looked around, I noticed it was mostly high fae, as the invitation depicted. There was a single long banquet table lining the grass in the castle bailey. I had to admit the centerpieces were lovely and I could never fault whoever decorated these stupid things. The massive candelabras and the cascading flowers down the entire table really were beautiful. I guess I would have enjoyed it more if there weren’t so many folk here. As I realized I was going to have to sit at a table full of people I didn’t care to know, I scanned the crowd for prospects. I had ditched Huntagh a little too soon, but maybe I could find Nadra.
I strolled around, hoping that bright red hair would pop out at me, when I slammed right into someone. I looked up to see Prince Fenlas. Of course, because that was just my luck. I held in my breath and tried really hard not to scowl at him, reminding myself pretty was not akin to kind. I tried for a quick curtsy and apology, but the stupid annoyance on his royal face made my blood boil.
“I should have known you would be here.” He actually rolled his eyes and shook his head in indignation.
“Excuse me? What the hell is your problem? I wasn’t aware we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” I dipped the word pleasure in so much sarcasm, there was no way in Alewyn he missed the point. “So sorry I offended you by simply breathing your air space.”
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm. He was seething, and I wasn’t even mad about it. My face was inches from his and, as he looked down into my eyes, I could feel the fire there. I’m not sure if it was his or mine, but it was thrumming all the same. Teeth clenched, jaw set with only inches between us, he whispered, “Well, if you have to be here, you could at least do me the honor of sitting at the end of the table so I don’t have to look at you.”
I jerked my arm out of his hold, and it took every bit of self-control I had not to pull my knife and put it to his throat. I’d absolutely be murdered, though, and that sounded awful. I narrowed my eyes and hissed back, “With pleasure.” I turned and stomped off before he had a chance to respond with anything.
What a cruel, nasty fae he was. Still reeling, I was inclined to go back to my carriage and wait until I could go home. Instead, a lanky female high fae stepped into my path, spilling a full glass of scarlet wine down the front of my Gods damned dress.
“Oops,” she said, smiling at the cackle of girls with her as she pointed. “Looks like you’ll have to go way over there, away from my prince to clean that.”