Becoming Fae

It’s been a week. A week.

Mal’s been at the court of the Fairy Queen for a week and every day feels like I’m hurting a little more than before.

My body has, more or less, recovered. I still tire quicker than usual, but that, too, is fading. I’ve even started working with Harmon to learn how to move my wings in a fight so I don’t end up a hindrance to myself and a danger to others. Turns out, the feathers are, like most anything magical, connected to my will. It explains why they were such effective shields from falling debris when I was held by Grim.

One of Naz’s people, Haggar, had started teaching the other demons how to fight and, after annoying the heck out of him for two days straight, he caved and is now teaching me how to fight better. He’s angry and bitter and in a lot of pain, which I can understand. His wife and two children were killed in the attack launched on Naz’s House.

The imps were completely free to do as they wished but not one of them wanted to leave. They were more than happy to start helping in the tunnels and thanks to them, and the sheer number of them, most of the demons were now living in dwellings under the ground.

Mom has been helping me with my magic as much as she can, but our differing duties meant Rollie was the one doing most of the lessons. Between us, we had made the water pipes and the heating ducts as planned shortly after arriving here.

Today, however, I was finding it increasingly difficult to focus on anything with the ache in my chest. As much as I needed a distraction, I knew the time for that had expired. Thus, the reason I left the underground home I spent more and more time in before dawn to fly to the palace.

I landed and was greeted by the guards before the head maid went to inform my parents that I was here for breakfast. I had just popped a couple of grapes into my mouth when Mom threw the doors to the private dining suite open and skipped in to hug me tightly.

“You could have gotten dressed,” I laughed when she let me go and I noticed she was still in her pajamas.

“Why waste the precious time we have with something so trivial?” she waved me off. “Your father will be here in a moment, but let’s not wait on him.”

I laughed again and sat down to start eating.

“As much as I enjoy our time, you’re not here this early for just a social call,” she said as she chewed a strawberry while putting flaky pastry and some eggs on her plate.

“No, but I do miss you both,” I said.

“Leading any number of people comes with challenges, dear. Personal sacrifices are one of the many things that comes along with the territory, I’m afraid,” she sighed. “Why do you think it took your father and I so long to have you?”

“I don’t need to know that,” I held up my hand and my wings rustled with my discomfort.

“Rotten,” she scoffed and threw the strawberry stem at me. “I mean it’s because there’s only so much time in the day and only so much energy in yourself. It takes time to find the right balance. As much as I would like it to be otherwise, you’re starting your rule with a war, just like I did.”

“Yes, but your war was already in full swing. I’ll be starting the war as soon as I so much as look at the Demon Lands, much less the Hell Pits or the Throne itself,” I pointed out.

“In that, you’re going to find the largest challenge,” she nodded. “When I arrived on the scene, I already had a trained army at my disposal.”

“So far, it would be optimistic to say I have a militia at best. Farmers with pitchforks,” I said, grabbing some of the seared ham and some toast. “A marked improvement, but not nearly close to standing a chance against a troll having a bad day, much less the Legions.”

“Nasty brutes,” Mom shuddered. “But so sweet when not angered.”

“Which is rarely,” I smirked. “I’m actually here to ask for advice.”

“On which matter?”

“Mal,” I said and she paused in her buttering her pastry to look at me through her eyelashes. “I need him back, but withdrawing him from the Fairy Queen’s court will be a setback we most likely can’t afford.”

“Also likely to be seen as an insult. That woman is so sensitive about things like that,” Mom rolled her eyes as she finished her task. “She also holds a grudge like none other.”

“Who are we talking about?” Dad asked, as he entered.

“Melina,” Mom answered and snickered.

“Oh boy,” Dad rolled his eyes. “That woman is a real piece of work.”

“How so?” I asked.

“She has a thing for your father,” Mom giggled and shot her a look.

“Gross,” I made a face.

“Hey,” Dad said, offended before sitting beside Mom and making his own plate. “I’m an attractive male, thank you.”

“You’re my dad and that’s still gross,” I stated.

“I agree that you need Mal back,” Mom said and pointed to my chest. “You’re wearing a mark on yourself and that usually means the real pain will begin soon.”

“It gets worse?” I balked.

“Much,” they both said in the same flat tone.

“Perfect,” I huffed.

“I also think withdrawing from the court would be a mistake. I’m not sure what it is exactly you’re needing, but Melina is nothing if not petty when slighted, even if it’s only within her own mind,” Mom said. “You could send a different emissary, but sending a demon might not be wise.”

“Harmon would be the next best option, but he’s still not quite up to speed on customs around here,” I agreed.

“The only other solution I can think of would be to go there yourself,” Mom said, then looked at me over her glass of juice. “But you already knew that.”

“I need to know how to deal with her so I can get back as soon as possible,” I said.

“There’s no one way to deal with her, unfortunately,” Dad said. “You just have to tread carefully and go with the flow, play her game, to a degree.”

“Your father’s right. Melina isn’t going to be easy to deal with, but you’ll probably find more resistance than most since you’re our daughter,” Mom pointed out.

“She wanted me to be in her harem before I met your mother. She persisted for decades and still drops not-so-subtle hints that she’d gladly still welcome me, not that I have ever led the woman on,” Dad glowered. “She and your mother have been barbing each other since the very beginning.”

“I always get the last word, though, because you belong to me, Butterfly,” she pointed a fork at him.

I faked gagged and shuddered, making my feathers prickle before I shook them out.

“So, just play it by ear?” I said after I settled again.

“Pretty much,” Mom shrugged. “If it were me, things would be different, because of the whole... Queen of the whole Sidhe, including her kingdom. But you’re a new queen of a realm she’s not at all fond of. And my daughter.”

“Right. I was afraid you were going to say that,” I muttered and leaned back in the chair.

“Her consort, Ty, is much more agreeable, and he’s the only person that can talk sense to her, but he’s pretty much an ornament at this point. I suggest speaking to him,” Mom said. “If you’re lucky, he’ll be amiable.”

“Wait. She’s married and has a harem?” I made a face.

“Arranged marriage and not a happy one,” Dad shrugged. “He has his own harem and spends more time there than not, so good luck finding him outside of it.”

“Divorce is a thing, you know,” I shook my head.

“Not for in the royal circles,” Mom said. “When a royal marries, it only ends when one of them dies. The only reason Melina hasn’t killed him is because he doesn’t care what she gets up to so long as he gets to do the same.”

“It’s terrible, but it works for them,” Dad shrugged.

“Yikes. Talk about toxic, but whatever. I’m not a marriage counselor,” I said. “And... Um...”

“You don’t know where to go, do you?” Dad said flatly.

“Not a clue,” I smiled. “Got a map?”

Mom giggled and Dad groaned.

-----

Mal

As much as I liked being a fairy, these guys were flying around like they had sticks up their butts. Why did I never notice how snobby and pretentious other fairies were until now? I guess living with Fae and all of those demons has changed how I see things.

I rubbed my chest where the ache had been getting worse since the second I flew away from Fae a week ago. It was nearly noon and I had returned to the room I had been given when I got here for lunch, but I don’t really feel like eating right now. The balcony, though, looked like a good idea. Fresh air was always a good idea.

I pushed the door open and stepped out. It wasn’t a great spot. I looked right at the front gates and was over what I guessed was a stable of some sort. Still, it was an improvement on the rancid smell of the place where the demons had been shunned to. Terrible.

I shuddered and looked at the front gates where there was some kind of commotion going on. That was unusual, since most fairies around here were pretty passive unless provoked. I kept watching until I saw something that made me lean over the railing and squint to see better. The flash of black wasn’t uncommon for dark fairies, though there were few enough of them wandering around the palace. Sure enough, I saw a dark fairy and let out a heavy breath.

“I’m seeing Fae everywhere now,” I muttered and shook my head.

I kept watching, curious about the scene like driving by an accident on the highway. You just couldn’t help but look.

“Oh my gods!” I cried out, seeing huge, black, feathered wings extend from behind the dark fairy and I jumped off the balcony, zipping over to Fae.

“...proof enough as to who the heck I am, so either run along and inform your queen I’ve arrived or so help me-.”

“Fae!”

She jumped up with a beat of her wings and slammed right into me, encasing us in feathers as she kissed me hard enough to make me see stars. She snapped her wings open and beat them once, to slow our fall to the ground and landed softly.

“Missed you,” she said before kissing me again, her wings shaking and feathers brushing together and sounding like chimes in a breeze.

There was a loud clearing of a throat and Fae’s wings snapped out before she put them against her back and glared over at...

“Hey, Quinn,” I waved.

“I’m aware your Bonded, but can you not maul my daughter in front of me?”

“I was mauling him and I still would be if you didn’t interfere, old man,” Fae glowered.

“What is going on?” one of the guards asked, drawing Fae’s ire towards him.

“I told you. The only reason I didn’t go right to my Bonded is because it would have caused more problems than I care to deal with, but your idiocy and inability to pay attention has really pissed me off,” she snapped.

“Fae, my love? You’re sparking,” I held our hands up to show her the static dancing over our hands.

“You see what you’ve done!?” she glared.

“Just like your mother,” Quinn chuckled. “Would you inform Queen Melina that King Quinn of the Sidhe and Queen Fae of the Demon Lands are here? And it might do you well to inform the master of the staff to improve the rooming situation for King Mal. Clearly, my daughter needs space.”

“Clearly,” she said, extending her wings again. “But I wouldn’t expect either of them to know about that too well.”

I coughed to hide the laughter at the veiled insult and Quinn looked like he was going to bite through his tongue. Fae folded her wings and put her arms around my neck, smiling at me.

“Gods, I missed you,” I kissed her deeply. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she sighed and closed her eyes. “Much, much better.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Just landed,” she shook her head and leaned into me, putting her head on my shoulder.

“Okay, kids,” Quinn clapped his hands. “Inside. I’m off to see General Cairn. Enjoy lunch.”

He took off and I took Fae’s hand and took off with her. This was going to be a million times more bearable now that she was here.