“Hey wait. I didn’t mean to scare you. Just thought I’d go down and get you something. Here,” He held out a shiny red jewel, it gleamed in the moonlight, glowing in his palm. “There are thousands at the bottom of the lake, but it’s hundreds of feet down, so only I know about them.”
This had caught her attention and she turned back, staring at the rough ruby held out before her. That was when she noticed his webbed feet and a webbing retracting from his fingers. What was he?
“What are you?” She gasped, afraid to move from her spot. He approached her, still smiling and holding out the jewel. Taking her hand, he slipped it into her fingers and curled them around the cold stone.
“My name is Nautilus and I’m a Teleen, but I’m also part Mer, from the Merfolk lines. I can swim into the deep and never need a breath. I’m the only one here that can do that, princess.” His face was calm now, serious and still. His eyes were grey, shiny but speckled with amber hazel coloring. She could see it now with him so close. He was slender, but well-built and reminded her of Dylan, in a way. “.I’m also the current Captain of the Guard, chosen after Dylan’s departure. I hope to see more of you around, Shade. Keep the ruby, as my gift to the Queen of the Scren Seelie Court. It will keep you safe.”
With that, he flashed her a brilliant smile before he dove back into the water, disappearing into its black inky depths. She was left stunned but knew he wouldn’t come back up until she was gone.
Well, that was different, she thought. She had to give him points in originality for approaching her in such a manner. She sighed, studying the blood red ruby in her grasp. Clutching it to her chest, she knew she had to choose someone now, or face more and more suitors.
The towel was soft against her skin as she wrapped it around her body. Making her way back to her room. She felt ready now to speak with Dylan. Somehow, Nautilus’ presence had pushed her to make the decision to talk about the suitors with him. Maybe he could help her with this problem. If not, she was pretty sure she could get Soap or even this Nautilus to end this ridiculous courting crap.
“You needed me, Shade?”
Dylan waited just outside her door as she peered at him through the opening. She nodded and opened it wider for him to slip in.
“Yes, thanks for coming.”
Dylan looked around the room, finding them alone. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, couldn’t be better.” She chuckled, but stifled it as she cleared her throat. “I had to ask you something.” She motioned him to sit on the edge of her bed with her. He complied, giving her a warm smile.
“Go for it, anything you need.”
She sighed, hoping she didn’t run out of courage before she could ask him what she wanted.
“Remember what you told me about getting courted by the Teleen men?”
He nodded, his face growing dark as he took in her face. “Yes.”
“You told me I had to choose someone, someone to be ‘engaged’ with, right?”
Again he nodded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Yes. It’s the only way to stop the onslaught of suitors. What’s the matter, Shade? Why do you look so nervous?”
“Do you love me?”
His eyes softened, his fingers reaching up to caress the softness of her cheeks. “Yes, Shade. I love you more than I can ever tell you.”
Shade let out a breath, relief flooding her insides. “You do?”
“Yes. More than anything.” Suddenly, he slipped down before her, grasping her fingers in his hands bringing them to his lips. They were warm and soft, sending her heart racing as they sent a pleasurable tingle upper her arms. “Which is why I must say right now, before I lose my nerve.” He took a deep breath, inching closer to her. She could feel his heat radiating across her skin.
“Would you choose me, Shade? Choose me to be your husband, to marry, to love so I can love you back and cherish you with every part of my being.”
Whoa.
She hadn’t expected that. She was going to ask him to be engaged with her to throw the other suitors off her. But, this…this was more than anything she’d dreamed of and her heart fluttered in her chest, elated at his words.
“You want me to choose you?” Her voice came out soft and almost whispered. Could he really have asked her to be his like that?
“Yes, I love you. Choose me. I want to make you happy, to make your days full of life and love. I want to be the one to be there for you, always, forever.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“I choose you.”
He stood up and pulled her closer to him, embracing her with every cell of his body. “You have no idea how happy you made me, just now.”
“As happy as I feel, I hope.” She traced his jawline with her fingers, cherishing the warmth of his skin.
“Even more! Here…” He held out a silver ring, with dark, blue sapphire embedded in the middle, surrounded by two topaz diamond cut gems. It was brilliant and she stared in awe at it. “It was my mother’s wedding ring. I want you to have it, to represent our promise.” He took her right hand and slipped the ring onto her first finger. She stared at it, a little confused at the placement on a different finger.
Dylan didn’t miss a beat. He pointed to her first finger and explained. “In Faerie, this is the most powerful of fingers, one on each hand. Only on this finger, do we place promises of love, for it is the first you look upon each day.” With that he pulled out another ring, matching the one she was wearing but with the topaz embedded in the silver instead of set as a jewel. “This was my father’s wedding ring. Rings of promise pass down to the oldest child of a Faerie couple. So I get to give my mother’s ring to you and my father’s ring is the one I wear.” He placed it in her palm.
She studied the larger ring, feeling its metallic magic vibrating on her skin. It felt good and matched the magic swirling from its mate on her finger. She took Dylan’s right hand and slipped it onto his first finger too.
“You have to say this after I do, to complete our promise.” He stated. “Our love, as witnessed by the Land of Faerie, now bonded with a promise forged of metal, jewels and blood. We are one.”
Shade nodded, shaking as the words formed on her lips. “Our love, as witnessed by the Land of Faerie, now bonded with a promise forged of metal, jewels and blood. We are one.” With that, Dylan pulled out his dagger, sheathed on his belt, and pricked the same finger. A droplet of blood oozed out as he did the same to her finger. Linking hands, their fingers touched to each other.
“It’s done.”
Shade gasped, feeling the metal on her finger tighten slightly. Letting go of Dylan, she went to pull the ring off, but it would not budge.
“It will remain there, to show all of Faerie that we are promised. Only breaking the promise will release it.” Dylan watched her, his face turning stoic as he waited for her to speak.
“Oh, okay. I just wasn’t expecting that.” She sighed in relief, glancing down at her finger, now weaving the cut together and healing fast.
“Do you want to turn back?” He asked, his voice cracking at the question.
“Wh−what? No! Of course not. I love you, this is the happiest I’ve felt in a long time.” She fell into his arms again and snuggled into his chest. They could finally be happy. Finally.
“Me too, Shade, me too.”
Chapter Twenty
WITHOUT CAMULUS TO teleport them everywhere, there were few options to get places quickly in Faerie. This time, they were using horses. Jade wasn’t fond of being out in the open, especially with Anna and James in tow, but they had no other options. Shade brushed the horse she’d selected, a beautiful tan chocolate female who had the softest looking brown eyes she’d ever seen. She’d chosen Shade actually, in the Teleen stables, the horse had nudged her repeatedly and followed her around like a lost puppy. Her name was Lily. Easy and simple, and it to fit the gentle mare perfectly.
Brushing her was soothing to say the least. It had taken Shade about five d
ays to feel normal again. Her Grandmother Lana’s memory ampule had been so powerful, added to her own blood, it was downright lethal. She was sure Lana hadn’t meant it to be so bad. Shade was pretty positive that her grandmother had counted on Shade being near help if it’d done something to her. Regardless, it was over with. She just wanted to get to the southern realm and get what she could get organized for Aveta’s invasion.
The wards falling all around Faerie had been a surprise to everyone. Even the Teleen were spooked. No one was sure who was doing it; they were only certain that Aveta was involved, one way or another. Shade wondered if someone was helping her. Obviously it wasn’t Corb. Someone powerful had to be helping her though. Even so, the breaking of the wards was slowing down, indicating that whoever was behind it was exhausting their resources.
“Horses are wonderful at judging a character.”
Her attention snapped toward the young Teleen warrior, Nautilus, approaching Lily, offering her a morsel of apple. The horse snatched it on up and allowed the warrior to pat her long, brown mane.
Shade wasn’t sure what to say to him, she’d been avoiding the lake cavern since their encounter and still found him disarming. The overwhelming outpour of suitors had her on edge and the relief she’d gotten once she and Dylan had promised themselves to each other had been most welcomed. Still, she stiffened when he approached. Noticing her uncomfortable state, the warrior didn’t come any closer.
“Lily was my sister’s horse, but she died two summers ago.” Nautilus lovingly stroked the horse’s neck, earning a happy whinny from the mare.
“Oh, I didn’t know she belonged to your family.” Shade suddenly felt awkward attaching herself to Lily. Maybe it would be a bad idea.
“No, no. Please. I’m happy to see her take to another rider. She’s been so glum since my sister passed. I really thought she’d never want to take to the trails again.” He sighed, smiling as he switched his gaze from Lily to Shade.
She felt her cheeks burn a rosy pink under the intense look of this warrior. He looked slightly different than the other Teleen. His eyes were not only grey, but speckled with amber rimming the irises. His skin was a shade or two darker than Dylan’s, signifying that he too didn’t stay out of the sun for too long. Long braids of black wavy hair tied back some of his thick hair but some of it remained shrouding his shoulders. He looked different out of the water out here in the open. Still, she wondered if he had heard the news of her engagement to Dylan. She couldn’t see why not.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I did want to congratulate you on your engagement to Dylan.”
Shade took his hand and shook it, feeling him emanating a bit of his fire power as he touched her skin. It sent a ripple of a thrill down her arm, making the darkling mark burn ever so slightly. So Dylan’s replacement in the Teleen Guard as Captain had a lot more than met the eye.
“Thank you.”
“You’re most welcomed. News gets around pretty fast here.” His eyes twinkled as he held onto her hand a moment too long before dropping his grip. The look on his face was similar to the way Dylan had looked at her when they’d discovered he couldn’t electrocute her with his Teleen skin of blue fire and electricity. Even with the promise ring on her finger, he seemed unperturbed.
“I hope I haven’t offended you in any way, princess.” The way his voice curled around the title made her shiver. Glancing back toward Nautilus, his face was serious and still, awaiting her answer.
“No, not at all. It’s just I’m a bit overwhelmed with all that’s been going on.” She grabbed a carrot from the trough and began feeding it to Lily, who happily complied by chomping on the thick piece of vegetable.
“I understand. I can’t imagine all the trials you’ve been through. And now, marriage. I can’t imagine how it must make you feel.” He headed toward the water trough, dumping a bucket of fresh water into it that she hadn’t seen him carrying. She wondered if he cared for the horses, he was awfully comfortable around Lily. If not, who did?
“Do you tend to them?” Shade waved her hand toward the stables as he placed the bucket on the ground.
“Yes, it’s kind of a hobby, a second job so to say, if that’s what you call it. On my down time, I come out here, make sure the horses are groomed, well fed, well watered and exercised. Not a lot of Teleen like to come out here, but I don’t mind at the least. It’s soothing.” He was standing so close to Shade, she could feel his energy exciting the air around her. She gulped and took a small step back, one hand still mindlessly stroking Lily’s neck.
“Hey,” Dylan approached with her saddle, and waited for Shade to finish brushing and securing a blanket on Lily. As he worked the straps securely around the horse, he kept glancing between Nautilus and her as she continued nuzzling the horse, offering it scraps of food. “Is he bothering you, Shade?”
She shook her head, lowering her eyes as she resumed brushing the horse.
“Nautilus.” Dylan acknowledged the current Captain, bowing his head slightly with respect.
“Dylan, good to see you again.”
“Likewise. You’re still Captain, I see.”
“Yes, it keeps me quite busy.”
“Not enough, apparently.” Dylan’s stared relentlessly at the Captain, challenging him silently as they glared at one another.
Shade rolled her eyes and sighed. The testosterone around here was over the top to say the least. Nautilus had been the only Teleen man gutsy enough to speak with her, most preferred to send scores of flowers and presents to her room with love notes and letters of persuasion to court her. Nautilus at least had the guts to actually approach her and he seemed like an interesting person. Not that she would choose to rescind her promise with Dylan, she still felt a bit stunned at their engagement. Nonetheless, it was amusing to see the men challenge each other. Stifling a chuckle, she pretended not to notice their exchange.
“I was just on my way out.” Nautilus broke the silence and gave her a curt nod. “Shade, it was an absolute pleasure to see you again. I do hope we can talk some more and become great friends.” His twinkling eyes were captivating as he reached out a hand to take hers into his warm palms. Bowing down, his lips graced her hand, pressing their warmth on her skin and kissed it softly before straightening again. The twinkling mischief in his eyes never left as spun and continued down the path back into the caverns.
Shade waved at him as he disappeared over the hill. With that, she resumed grooming Lily, avoiding Dylan’s surprised look.
He was getting nice and comfortable around her without Soap to contend with, apparently, and the promise she’d made to marry him. It felt more normal to see him seething with jealousy than relaxed and unworried.
“Hey, you ready for another journey?” Dylan snickered, knowing Shade would groan about the journey part. He didn’t want to think too much on Nautilus’ advances on her at the moment. So like him to change the subject.
“Yeah, like I’m ready for an arm to get ripped off.”
Dylan chuckled, patting the horse as he finished. Nautilus had been quickly dismissed from his thoughts already. “Well, at least we can have some time to chat during this trip. It’s a straight shot down to the southern realm. It’s far from the Unseelie realm too, so I don’t expect too many problems.”
Shade peered over toward him, nodding, but lost in her thoughts. “Even the Seelie are not always so kind, though. I’d trust no one,” she muttered. Nothing could have sounded more jaded than that. Shade hid her solemn face as she turned to pick up her pack and swing it onto her back.
“You know, not everyone in Faerie is evil. It may seem that way since that’s all we’ve run into lately. But, I think you’ll see there’s still good in the world, more so than evil. It’s just hard to notice it, sometimes, since it’s so surrounded by filth.” He pulled his own horse from the stall and began brushing it, throwing glances at her every now and then. Shade’s sanity was a bit better since she’d left the desolate beach
where she’d recovered, but darkness was still there, swimming just beneath the surface and threatening to overtake her with any chance it got.
“When is Soap getting here?” she asked.
“He’ll be joining us later. He’ll be too far behind to catch up to us so he’s already headed toward the Scren Palace. Brisa’s with him.” The last part made Shade freeze. Brisa was coming? She’d thought her friend would be back at her apartment, safe and sound and going to college. How could she give up on that?
“Why’s she coming? She has classes to make up at college.” Shade waited for Dylan to answer, but felt that there was something he wasn’t telling her.
“He sent a message a few days ago, she’s coming with him, she wanted to.”
“Was that all he said?” Shade played with the frayed end of her shoulder strap, avoiding looking up at Dylan while asking about Soap. She hadn’t seen him for over three weeks. Now, he had Brisa attached at the hip. She wondered if there was anything going on between them. She hadn’t exactly been the best girlfriend, and it was no secret how much Brisa would stare longingly at Soap any time he was around.
“He wanted to make sure you knew that he was relieved that you were okay and that he couldn’t wait to see you again.” Dylan finished strapping on the saddle on his horse and motioned to Shade to come over, never missing a step. “I want you to meet Danther. He’s been my horse for long time now. I’ve missed him terribly since I left. It’s good that I get to take him out again.”
Dylan offered a carrot to the horse and he snatched it up with a quick snap of jaws. He wasn’t going to give Dylan a chance to take it back. They both laughed, enjoying the warmth of the sun beaming down on the stables. They were located outside the caverns, which was her favorite place now since the claustrophobia of the caves made her want to run out of there as fast as she could, especially after the growing crowd of suitors.
“He’s beautiful.” She reached out to stroke his long, black hair. It felt like silk of the softest kind. Nowhere had she ever seen such beautiful horses. Faery horses were stronger and could run twice as long as regular horses without tiring. Their magic was earthy, mingling with her own softly against her skin.