Peter hums, but he doesn’t say much else, just rakes his fingers through my hair. Yet, judging by the way he studies me, I know he’s deep in his thoughts.
Why won’t he talk to me?
Tell me what’s on his mind?
I would never have known it right then in that moment, but one day I’ll finally have the answer, and the answer will be more than I can bear.
Some secrets are better left in the dark.
Peter
The look in her eyes as she leaves…
It fucking kills me.
I stand there mute at the threshold of my front door as she pads to the middle of the bridge and expels her wings. They glisten in the moonlight, golden flecks of that ethereal pixie dust billowing around her. One more longing, sideways glance and then she’s gone.
No “I love you” or “Until tomorrow.” She simply takes off in the night, leaving me with nothing but the company of my own guilt.
It’s probably better this way.
Tinks wants the world, but all I’ll ever be able to give her is this…
A life of secrecy and a love built on lies.
♫ Duality - Set It Off ♫
“Captain,” a delicate voice coaxes. “It’s time to wake up.”
The curtains swish across the rods, one window at a time.
Peeling my lids apart, I squint through the bright rays now pouring into my chamber and stretch my limbs with a sleepy groan.
“Good morning,” the same delicate voice says.
It’s Violet, my housekeeper. Well, the head of many around here. She delegates the workload amongst the others and sees to it that she attends to me personally. “Attends” is only putting it lightly. She fusses over me quite a bit. It’s amusing, yet heartwarming and, as a result, the woman has come to be a second mother of sorts. I care for her dearly, more than I let on at times or ever admit aloud.
“Good morning.” I offer her a crooked smile. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Council meeting in approximately one hour. The rest of your day is clear, unless Samuel failed to mention something.”
“No, that sounds about right. I may head into town after the fact, but it’s nothing of importance.”
Violet nods her silver head dutifully and goes about setting my garments on the recamier before the bed. “I’ll keep that in mind in case the boys go looking for you. Will any of them be accompanying you?”
“That I’m aware of? No. Just getting the mane trimmed before the gala.”
“Ah, yes—the gala. I almost forgot about that. Find yourself a date yet?” The amusement in her voice utterly palpable.
Rising to my feet, I cut my eyes in her direction—where she’s clearly stifling a smile—and shake my head. “I did not. I’ve decided to go stag.”
“And why is that? A Captain should never be unaccompanied, much less a King.”
“No one fits the bill,” I counter with seemingly great nonchalance, striding to the end of the bed. “And for the record, I prefer Captain.”
I may rule this land, one I stumbled upon and saved from sheer pandemonium, but I detest the title. I’m the Captain, end of story.
Violet nods, but she doesn’t utter a single word after the fact. The only tell-tale sign that she thinks my response is rubbish is the smile she’s still attempting to subdue, her lips thinned and all.
She’s not wrong. I’m absolutely, one-hundred percent full of shit because there is one that fits the bill. From head to toe.
But we all know whose arm she’ll be hanging on...if she decides to brave the questioning stares, that is.
“She’s clearly in love with him,” Marlena, head of the sirens, states around the circular table of the drawing room, as she rakes a hand through her flaming red locks. “And if she isn’t yet, she will be quite soon.”
“Oh, she is,” Beatrix confirms, grand wings sparkling behind her. “I can assure you she is. My motherly instincts are through the roof and her constant lies only confirm them.”
“Lies about?” I hedge, though I already have a clear idea based off my...findings.
I just want to hear her say it.
Beatrix flicks her familiar aquamarine gaze my way. “Her whereabouts. She rarely admits she’s off to spend the day with him, and recently, she’s been sneaking him into the house late at night.”
“She what?!” Phillipe roars, honeyed eyes flashing with instant rage. “Why haven’t you shared this with me?”
Beatrix sets a hand to the Fae Lord’s arm. “Nothing to worry about, dear. Our daughter knows better than to—”
“Sleep with him?” Marlena interjects on a chuckle. “I hate to break it to you, Beatrix, but if she’s lying about simply going off to see him, what do you think is happening when she sneaks him in? Especially if she is, in fact, in love with him as you claim.”
Tinksley’s mother doesn’t respond.
Her mouth remains ajar, but she doesn’t make a sound, eyeing the fiery siren with wide eyes. I’m not sure how she didn’t think this was a possibility prior to this moment, but beside her, Phillipe grows more enraged by the second.
As he should be, for multiple reasons.
Some of which are unbeknownst to his wife.
We exchange a look, one to which I nod right as Chief Natano chimes in, his voice even and serene as always, “Whether they’re sleeping together or not, I’d say this means the plan is right on schedule.”
Persia hums and reaches for her glass of water. “It is, but we need to get this moving again. We’ve been in phase two for too long.”
“Two years is hardly that long considering how quickly fairies age. Besides, we knew this wouldn’t be an overnight process. To execute this properly, we must have patience,” Natano counters.
“Exactly my point. Her lifespan is a concern. ”
“All in due time,” I cut in, because the plan is not what we congregated for today, and if I let it go on any longer, it’ll get out of hand rather quickly. “We’ll discuss how to move forward during our next meeting. As Natano said, we knew this wouldn’t be an overnight process nearly a decade ago and that’s not about to change any time soon. For now, let us turn our attention back to the task at hand—little N’Isabelle’s grand celebration.”
Silence.
Persia’s chocolate brown eyes meet mine at the mention of her daughter’s name, as does everyone at the table. She and the Sacred Six may be the most powerful witches on our island, but in a few short years, N’Isabelle will be able to trump them on her own, without batting a single lash. Bred from two legendary, sovereign bloodlines, the girl’s existence is well known, not only on our land, but those far, far away as well. Her magic, though not yet developed, is already a highly coveted weapon...and a massive threat. It’s no secret she’ll always be in some sort of imminent danger, and Persia realizes that, especially with N’Isabelle’s father overseas, proudly ruling over the island of Tempeste.
So the witches and all of Rosewood take great care in seeing to the little witch’s safety, myself included, and as we protect her, we celebrate her greatness, too.