Becoming Fae

“I’m sorry. What?” I blinked, then started laughing. “You can’t be serious.”

The very serious look on his face, however, made the laughter die in my throat as my hands started shaking.

“What is it that they’re saying he did?” I asked as Mal took my cup before I broke it then held my hands in his.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m sure it’s completely false,” Farngrath scoffed. “Never I’d say that about a fairy.”

“Tell me what she’s saying he did,” I demanded, my back straightening.

“Espionage,” he sighed.

“Spying? You have to be joking. Mal isn’t a sneaky or devious person,” I shook my head with a frown.

“I don’t joke about things like this,” he said.

“I hardly left the room and when I did, it was in the presence of hundreds of other people,” Mal defended.

“Again, it doesn’t matter. Any witnesses they might have are likely paid off,” the pushy prince shrugged.

“That’s insane,” I huffed. “Mal’s not the sneaky, devious type. Ben, I could see. Blaine, to an extent. Naz for sure. But Mal? That’s like saying cats bark or dogs climb trees.”

“Nice to know you regard your companions so highly,” Farngrath scoffed.

“Questionable characteristics aside, I trust my family completely,” I said defensively. “A lot more than some in this conversation, that’s for sure.”

“You can trust the elves,” he stiffened.

“Perhaps, but I refuse to trust you. Cooperate, sure. Fine. Whatever, but trust? That ship sailed when you decided to be a royal dick drip,” I scowled. “Unfortunately, there’s no medication for an overinflated sense of importance and complete lack of manners.”

“Fae,” Mom sighed.

“I don’t envy him,” Dad muttered, taking a drink of his tea.

“I almost feel sorry for him,” Mal scoffed.

“Since I feel that the attacks on your people are in direct relation to me and my Bonded showing up in your father’s kingdom, I’ll see what I can do about the situation,” I said stiffly.

“If they’ve already moved into military action, I doubt it can be solved easily,” Mom said. “The fairies, especially their queen, are singularly minded when they have a goal.”

“And that goal is what, exactly?” I asked. “Mal? The elves?”

“All of the above, plus you, I’d wager,” Dad mused. “Punishment for spies is pretty much the same in every kingdom in every realm.”

“As if I would let that horrid woman harm my daughter, much less execute her Bonded and kill her in the process,” Mom snapped, her hair blowing in a wind that was too strong to be explained by a drafty castle.

“She’s not getting close to him,” I snapped, electricity dancing over my whole body. “I should have zapped her when I had the chance.”

“No zapping,” Dad sat his cup down and took Mom’s hand. “Mary, dear. Calm down before you break windows again.”

“I don’t care about windows,” she hissed.

“I don’t either, but the glass can hurt innocents,” he patted her hand.

“Fine,” she huffed, and her hair stopped moving in the breeze that didn’t belong inside.

“I’ll still zap her,” I muttered.

“No zapping,” Mal held my hand and laced our fingers together, kissing the back tenderly. “I do appreciate the gesture, though.”

“So, what can be done to stop the attacks?” I asked.

“Don’t worry. I’m queen for a reason, dear,” Mom smiled sweetly, a complete switch from the fury she just displayed. “I’ll take care of Melina.”

And there it was.

“I’m slightly concerned,” I stated.

“As am I,” Farngrath muttered. “Elves are very strong in magic. It flows through our veins as thick as our blood does, if not more. I think I’m beginning to grasp just how much the two of you hold back.”

“Ha!” Mal blurted comically. “You have no idea.”

“This is just residual,” Dad chuckled, shaking his head. “And, if she had the practice and experience as her mother, Fae would be far more powerful. You have no idea how lucky you are she prefers not hurting people.”

“That comes into question at present,” I glared at the prince who had the sense to swallow hard and look scared.

-----

Ben

My nose twitched in the breeze, and I tilted my head.

There was a scent that I knew in the breeze, but I couldn’t remember where I knew it from. It was faint, likely a full day away still, judging by how strong the wind was blowing. Something teased at the back of my mind, and it was frustrating and annoying that I couldn’t pin it down.

There was a chuff and I sneezed, shaking my head at Blaine. We might be different species, incapable of communicating when we were in our alternate skins, but we’d figured out a way over the years. It only grew since we met Fae.

He turned his nose to the breeze, licking the end to help catch whatever scent that was teasing me. His already vicious, natural scowl deepened as he tilted his head slightly. He was just as confused as I was, though I think the familiar scent was a little more familiar for him than me. I bet that whatever the scent was, it had something to do with Fae. The odds weren’t good that the visitor was friendly, though I’d be more than glad to accept a happy reunion.

Not able to do anything about it right now, we went back to the underground fortress, transforming and dressing quickly.

“I have no idea,” Blaine said immediately.

“We need to tell the others,” I nodded.

“I can’t remember where I know that scent, though,” he frowned as we walked deeper into the earthen apartments.

“My nose isn’t as good as yours,” I shrugged. “The foxes are coming along in their conjuring magics. They’ll delay who- or whatever is coming.”

“It’ll give us more time if we need to get Fae and Mal out,” he nodded.

“You know she won’t leave, right?” I snorted.

“Who won’t leave?”

We turned and stared at Harmon and Ambrosia, who looked like they were going for a casual stroll.

“Fae,” I answered.

“Why would she leave?” Ambrosia frowned.

“She won’t, is what we were saying,” Blaine answered.

“Why should she?” Harmon clarified.

“Evacuation procedures,” Blaine supplied with a smile. “She and Mal are on one of the lower levels. We’re discussing if we should make an emergency tunnel to get them out quicker. They’re too important to risk.”

“Oh,” Ambrosia tilted her head, looking thoughtful. “I guess putting her closer to the surface doesn’t make any sense, either. Doesn’t she have an imp? Glitter, was it?”

“That’s not how things work here,” Harmon looked at her softly. “Fae believes in proving your own intentions and freedom to choose how you live. That includes the lesser demons, like imps. And a former enemy.”

“Now she calls you a friend,” she smiled at him.

“I’m not sure she meant it like that,” Harmon frowned.

“Trust me,” I held up a hand. “If she said it, she means it. Her whole life was a lie, so she very much dislikes them.”

“Even half-truths make her do that thing with her mouth that’s almost as bad as the disapproval look my mom uses,” Blaine shuddered.

“Yes, my mother did the same,” Harmon chuckled.

“I don’t ever remember my mother,” Ambrosia said. “I’m taken from her before I can form memories.”

“I’m... Well, I can’t imagine any of what you’ve been through,” I said. “I would say I’m sorry, but that usually means you understand on some level. How many lifetimes of... well, abuse, basically.”

“And slavery,” Blaine growled.

“Unnamable tragedy. But,” I smiled. “That’s different this time, right? Well, some of it, anyhow.”

“Yes, it’s different this time,” she smiled. “Your queen is truly a wonderful person. I don’t meet many of them.”

“There aren’t nearly as many as there should be,” Blaine nodded. “Excuse us. We need to be going.”

We left them behind and I lifted an eyebrow at Blaine.

“Shut up,” he growled softly. “No need to cause panic just yet. We don’t even know if this... whatever is coming this way.”

“Think Naz or Rollie will have it checked out?” I asked, feeling my face pinch in another frown. I’d been doing that a lot lately.

“Possible,” he shrugged. “They’re still on Fae’s list.”

“As they should be,” I growled softly, knowing my glamour slipped for a moment.

“Should we find Fae first?” he said then quickly shook his head. “Hell no. She’d go out there herself.”

“Yeah, I think it’s best of someone else checks it out first,” I said slowly. “Enemies aside, we don’t need her getting zap happy with any potential allies.”

“She enjoys that entirely too much,” he laughed.