Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Iris

B rushing down the skirts of my pale floral dress, I fidget under my mother’s careful but precise touch. Sitting before the mirror this way with her takes me back to my childhood. I am not sure why she is making such an effort with my appearance today. While I am assisting with an important meeting in the village, I feel like a dressed-up porcelain doll.

“Will you stop fussing?” Mother’s hands land on my shoulders, squeezing gently, her eyes softening as she takes in my discomfort. “It is a good thing that the mayor has invited you to be such a big part of today, yet you are acting as though you are about to walk to your death.”

Perhaps that is because I cannot shake the feeling that something is wrong. No matter how I try to look at it or ignore the tightness in my chest, I cannot figure out what is wrong with me. I wish I could be honest with my mother and tell her my true thoughts about today—that I have no idea why the mayor has asked for me to be there. As the town pariah, I know I’m not the first choice, so his insistence makes no sense to me. Maybe it is for the good of his son? Robert and I have barely spoken since our argument under the oak tree last week, although not through his lack of trying. He has begged me to forgive him, and I have, I just have nothing to say to him, the easy peace between us now tight and strained.

Thankfully I have had an excuse not to be around him, being so busy with the gardens and plants in the village to impress whoever is visiting from the city today. From the moment the sun rises until its rays sink below the treetops, I am in the flower beds tending to the flowers.

With Robert’s stark reminder that I am the reason my family lives on the edges of society, I am withdrawn and solemn. Not even the flowers bring a smile to my face. It does not help that I am not supposed to go into the forest, and the one time I did, I was chased out by a sense of foreboding unlike any I had ever felt before. I have not returned since.

My mother is still waiting for my response, startling me from my thoughts. I look into the mirror and smile weakly so she can see it despite being behind me. “I am not good around lots of people, and I know how important this is to the village.” While those facts are true, it is not the reason why I feel so unsettled—not that I know the reason behind that either. I have no idea what this visit is about, but I do know it is important. Everyone has been frantically cleaning and preparing for the visitors’ arrival, and I shall have to be on my best behaviour.

“Mayor Marshal has been good to you, and he knows you. He would not put you in a situation where he thought you would not cope,” she reassures me, her hands moving back up as she continues with weaving flowers into my hair. “Besides, Robert will be beside you the whole time.”

I say nothing, and I try to keep my expression neutral, but I must not manage it as my mother’s hands still in my hair. Her smile slips, and her too wise eyes scan my reflection. “Oh dear, has something happened between you?”

The words are on the tip of my tongue as I debate telling her. She will be surprised by the mayor’s son’s impulsiveness, but I am sure she would also be happy that he likes me enough that he would ask me to run away with him. I can already see the cogs in her mind spinning, so desperate for me to be seen as normal. If I were on the arm of the mayor’s son, it would make all of our lives easier. I bite my tongue, not wanting to disappoint her.

“Nothing that cannot be fixed,” I reply, and this time the small smile on my lips is genuine.

“Well, that is good to hear. Perhaps we might have something to celebrate soon.” She has a flush in her cheeks and a far off look. “Marrying the mayor’s son would be a good match—”

I jump up and turn around to face her in outrage. She often gets carried away, and I should have known this would be another thing for her to get excited over. Robert and I have never discussed marriage. I need to calm her down before she convinces herself that this is going to happen. “Mother—”

She rolls her eyes and points towards the chair I just vacated. “Okay, okay, sit back down and let me finish your flower crown. You need to leave soon.”

I do as she says, watching her hands through the mirror as she weaves the beautiful flowers into my hair, creating a halo of blooms around my head. They are so pretty, and it’s a hair style I used to love as a child. The mayor specifically requested I wear the flowers in my hair, and while I find it a little odd, there must be a rational reason for it.

After quickly finishing up, my mother shoos me from the house with an order to hurry so I will not be late. Grabbing my white lace shawl, I hurry from the front door of the cottage, draping it over my shoulders. Turning to wave, I let out a long breath when I see my mother’s no longer there, having already retreated back into the house.

Alone, I make the short walk to the village. The sun shines down on me, and although I am nervous about what will be expected of me today, it really is a lovely day. The warmth lifts my mood, and I admire the wildflowers at the side of the road as I walk. With the forest to my right, I do not worry about the fae and other creatures hiding in its shadowy depths.

There are many in the village who will not come out to our cottage because of its proximity to the forest, or the pinch point in the road ahead. The forest loops around my family’s land and almost touches itself about halfway down the road. It is not for long, only fifty paces or so before it opens up on the left side and falls back, fields of wildflowers claiming the land.

I am about fifteen paces into the darkened path of the road when I feel it—someone, or something, is watching me. The prey instinct inside me forces me to freeze, my eyes sweeping around to try and put a finger on who is watching me. I am being daft, I have never had problems on this road, and I have no proof that anyone is even close by, let alone watching me. Forcing myself to walk forward, I feel an invisible presence wrap around me, embracing me. It is the strangest sensation, and it makes me gasp. Spinning, I search the treeline on either side of me.

“Who goes there?” I ask, only realising after I have spoken that I should not be encouraging them to reveal themselves. After all, fae stalk the woods.

The presence rolls over me again, almost caressing me, and a mouthwatering scent fills my nostrils and clouds my mind. I’m terrified, yet inexplicably, my body relaxes, completely at odds to how I’m feeling in my mind. Without meaning to, I take a step towards the forest, almost as though I am being called by the pied piper, his lullaby controlling my actions. No, this is not what I want. There is something going on in the forest, and it’s not safe for me there.

Gritting my teeth, I fight against the compulsion to move forward, the feeling not my own. Digging my heels into the ground, I force myself to be still, not stepping forward. Fear grips me, yet I know with everything in my soul that I cannot falter and let myself be lured into the trees I once found so welcoming. I teeter on the edge of the boundary between the human lands and the fae realm. A small gust of wind could easily push me across, something that my mind is screaming would end in my death.

Movement ahead draws my eye—a large, dark shape that is difficult to make out, only to materialise into the figure of a man. He steps forward, his face the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, almost feminine in appearance. There is no mistaking him for a male, though, his masculine body clearly muscled. Pale, shoulder-length hair hangs loosely around his face in a way that should make him seem harried and messy, only it adds to his stunning appearance.

There is no confusion about what he is—fae. His sharp jaw and pointed ears are a dead giveaway, not to mention the otherworldly aura that seems to surround him.

Trust me . The words are whispered into my mind, that pull wrapping around me once more and reeling me in. Underneath it all, though, I can hear the darker undertones that promise violence. He has not even uttered a single word, yet I know this deep in my soul.

I stumble back, needing to put distance between us, and I finally manage to master my own body enough to get me out of reach. Close, too close , my frantic thoughts whisper over and over, yet I cannot seem to make myself do the sensible thing and run away.

The fae stops a few paces before the invisible boundary between realms, either not wanting to cross that line or unable to thanks to the spells of our ancestors. Extending a long, pale hand, he smiles at me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “Come, my love. It is time for us to go.”

Emotions that are not my own swell inside me at his lyrical voice, and I feel an overwhelming need to listen to what he says. A smile pulls at my lips, and my body tingles at the thought of this stranger loving me. A gasp leaves my throat as I take the smallest step forward. The fae’s smile widens, and he nods encouragingly.

My love. Yes, he loves me, it is clear to see …

Rose scented thoughts flood my mind, and they feel so real as his fae magic works on me, twisting my fears into desires.

He is so handsome. He has come all this way, so he must care for me. I must have him —

No . This is not how I think. These thoughts are lies planted to make me believe that the fae means me no harm, and I should go with him. I can think of no good reason why the fae would try to draw humans into the woods. His thrall is so strong that it is taking everything in me to fight against him. Fear is the only sensation inside me that is more powerful than the fae’s magical call, so I force myself to focus on that, reminding myself that the creature is the one causing this reaction. I focus on the tremors that rack my body and the tightness of my arms that I unconsciously wrapped around myself. My muscles are so tight, it feels as though they might snap, and I have broken into a cold sweat.

Anything positive would not make me feel like this. No male should make me feel this way, no matter what the thoughts in my mind are telling me. My senses seem to be enhanced, most likely thanks to the terror that is helping me resist. Every rustle of leaves and changes around me register in my mind, despite not pulling my gaze from the male before me, which is how I know it is no longer just the two of us. Another being has arrived, standing in the trees on the other side of the road, quietly watching the interaction between myself and the handsome fae.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to clear my mind from the hypnotic fog he is spinning over me. To my surprise, not being able to see him does actually help, giving me a moment to take several deep breaths and attempt to regain control.

“We felt you, and we answered your call,” the male behind me says.

Spinning, I take him in, assessing how much of a threat he is. His hair is much shorter and very dark, styled in a mohawk with his longer hair brushed back, the sides of his head shaved. He is taller than his friend, limbs long and spindly. His image seems to shake, and all I see is a handsome male. He almost looks human, although still impossibly beautiful, but nothing like the strange humanoid that was standing in his place just a moment ago.

I have no idea what they are talking about, and I assume they are using honied words to lure me to them. It makes me wonder what call they are speaking of. Does this have anything to do with what the shadowy stranger in the forest warned me about? Either way, asking more questions is only going to drag me deeper into their deception. Fae are known for tangling people up in their tricky words. It is another truth we learn from an early age.

Suddenly, I remember the gift from the trader. Even though I didn’t think I would need it for any reason, I still snuck it into the pocket of my dress this morning. Slipping my hand into my pocket now, I grip the fae bane tightly in my palm. I don’t pull it out in fear of provoking them, but I pray that it has some effect by simply being pressed against my skin.

“I think you are mistaken,” I tell them loudly, my voice only quaking a little. “Return to your forest and leave me be.” No questions, only short orders, just like we were taught in infant school. Unfortunately for me, they don’t listen, and the bracelet seems to have no effect, their mocking laughter making my skin crawl.

The beautiful male with the long hair smiles and tilts his head to one side as he scans me from head to toe. “Yes, you are definitely the one. You shall make a stunning queen.”

Queen? What nonsense are they speaking of? Clearly there is more going on here that I do not understand. Shock and confusion work through me.

“I know nothing of what you speak.” Finally, my feet start to move of my own accord, and I am able to spin, backing towards the village, not once looking away from the threat before me.

Fae this close to the village is a bad sign, especially if they are specifically trying to draw people into the forest. If they are here now, then it will not be long before they move closer to Brine. The fae should be repelled from the barrier between their land and ours, yet this one was so close I feared he could reach out and grab me.

Needing to say something, to do something , I ball my hands into fists, my left still tightly gripping the fae bane in my pocket. “Stay behind your barriers and leave us alone. We just want peace.”

“She has no idea.” The long-haired fae chuckles again and dips his head, a rueful expression written across his face as he backs into the trees. “Do not worry, princess. We shall return for you, there is no running from this.”

I finally manage to pull away from their intoxicating presence as they leave, their words and inhuman laughs following me as I run as fast as my feet are able to carry me.

My feet only come to a stop when I see the wooden walls of the village. My skin is clammy, and I feel sick to my stomach as I hurry towards the gate. There are more guards manning the gate than usual. Is this because of the threat of the fae, or the visit of the mysterious city folk?

One of the guards on duty by the gate is one I recognise. His name escapes me, and we have never had anything to do with each other apart from him letting me in and out of Brine. He has always been one of the kinder guards though, never joining in with the harassment my family and I often experience. I am so distracted and harried by what just happened that I almost bump straight into him.

Skidding to a stop, I only just manage to hold back a startled cry. The guard instinctively starts to reach out to steady me, only to realise who I am, then his arm swiftly drops to his side.

“I saw the fae,” I blurt out, not thinking or caring about who else might hear me. The horror of what happened and what could have happened is finally hitting me full force. “There were two of them by the road to my family’s cottage. They spoke with me and tried to lure—”

A hand grabs my shoulder, and I start to thrash as thoughts of the fae coming for me fill my mind, only for the guard to shake me. “Shh,” he demands, looking around with wide eyes. “Do not speak of the fae, and especially not today with the visit happening. If it were one of the other guards, they would lock you up right now to keep you out of trouble.” Voice hushed, he lowers his hands, aware of the other guards taking interest in our interaction. “You have to lie low today. You did not see the fae on your way here. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” I stutter, slipping past him and into the village. Taking his warning to heart, I hurry straight to the mayor’s house, keeping my head down and not even stopping to look at the flowers.

I am greeted at the door of the mayor’s house by the housekeeper, a stern woman who seems to dislike everything I do. Excusing myself to the bathroom, I lock myself inside, needing to be alone. Moving to the sink, I douse my hands in cold water in an effort to stop their shaking, then I splash my face, enjoying the refreshing shock. The cold liquid clears my mind, reminding me where I am.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I stare at my dishevelled reflection, not quite recognising myself. I look different, as though my encounter on the city road has changed me. That is not possible, of course. Fear floods my bloodstream, and I have to squeeze my eyes closed to stop full-on panic from taking over. There is so much I do not know, and the uncertainty is driving me crazy.

To stave it off, I take a deep breath and list all the things I do know. The fae tried to lure me into the forest, but I survived. The villagers are terrified but are pretending that everything is fine for the sake of the visitors coming from the city. The mayor and his son are waiting for me. I grow flowers for the village. I live in a cottage at the edge of the woods with my parents and sister. My father is a travelling merchant and is away from home a lot.

My name is Iris, and there is more to me than people think.

My eyes open, and I stare at myself again, unsure where that last comment came from. I suppose it is true, since people underestimate me, thinking I am simple and avoiding me because of my association with the forest. There has always been a part of me that has been different, yet due to the reaction of others, it has been repressed. As such, I stay quiet, stay out of the way, and turn my love to the plants and flowers around me.

Shaking my head, I try to tame my thoughts and put them aside so I can be of use to the mayor today. I brush back some of the stray strands of my hair, tucking them back into my flower crown, and then I pull my lips into something resembling a smile. I look like I’m in pain, but there is not much I can do about that now. Brushing down my skirt, I take one last calming breath and unlock the door.

I know the way to the mayor’s office, so I do not bother to find the housekeeper to lead me there. Instead, I walk through the corridors with the confidence of someone who visits often, glancing at the paintings on the wall as I go. The office is at the end of a corridor at the top floor of the house, the door ajar. Lifting my hand, I go to knock, but something has me pausing.

“Leighton has lost four females now, Father,” Robert says, his tone concerned. “We cannot ignore this threat any longer.”

Leighton is our closest neighbour and is also similarly surrounded by forest, making them one of the poorer villages. The farther you are from the king and his city, the poorer the village. If what Robert says is true, then they cannot afford to lose females. Any loss of life is bad news for villages as small as ours. I’m pretty sure I know exactly what the threat he mentioned is, but a lump forms in the back of my throat out of fear, and I pray that it is not true.

“We do not know for sure that it was the fae, son.” The mayor’s voice gets louder and then quietens, making me realise that he is pacing the office as he speaks. “I will not cause panic in my village.”

Robert makes a small noise of disbelief. “The traders saw fae at the roadside the other day. There have been other sightings. We need to do something about it.”

The mayor sighs, sounding exhausted. “I know. I have a plan, but it is one that I am reluctant to use.”

I should not be listening to this. I never should have stopped to listen anyway. These plans are something he is sharing in confidence with his son, and he would not want me knowing them, otherwise I would be in there having this conversation. Guilt floods me, and I start to pull back.

“If we want to keep everyone safe, difficult decisions will have to be made. What is the plan?”

Frowning at the tone of Robert’s voice, I freeze. Robert has never sounded so in control before. Usually he is quiet and thoughtful, yet here you would be forgiven if you thought he was the one in charge and not his father. There is something about this that does not sit quite right, although I cannot put my finger on what it is.

“It would involve cutting back the forest.”

There is a heavy pause from the two in the office until what the mayor suggested registers in my mind. Cut back the forest? Before I know what I am doing, I shove the door open and burst into the office, my eyes wide and heart slamming against my chest. “No, you cannot do that!”

“Iris!” Robert exclaims, taking a step towards me, but it is his father whom I am watching. The mayor is standing behind his desk now, leaning forward and pressing his hands against it like he needs the support. He does not look surprised by my sudden appearance, simply weary as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“The forest is sentient,” I explain despite knowing they will not understand what I mean. You must experience it for yourself to know the true power of the forest. “Those are not just trees, they have feelings and help to protect us from the fae. If you cut them down, the fae will be able to walk freely.”

“We have no evidence to show that the trees make up the ward that keeps the fae at bay,” the mayor counters, his expression kind. There has been a debate going on in the village for years about whether the boundary is in the ground or in the trees themselves. It seems Mayor Marshal is a believer in the former.

“Besides, Iris,” he continues, “the wards are failing, fae are slipping past and taking people. We need to show them who is boss and cut back their home. An act of brute strength is the only thing those creatures understand.” His lip curls as he speaks, his hatred and resentment of the fae clear for all to see.

I cannot believe what I am hearing. Not only will they be destroying the woodland that protects us, but the fae will not take kindly to us destroying their home. Does he truly think the fae will just hold up their hands and concede as trees are torn down? No, that is the thinking of scared fools. The fae are vicious and deadly, taking any slight as a personal attack. This plan could destroy us all.

“You cannot do this.” Pleading with the mayor, I step right up to his desk, my fear shining in my eyes. It is not the fae I fear, though, but this idiotic plan. “It will be seen as an act of war and will end in disaster. It is wrong.”

Robert uses the opportunity to move to my side, resting his hand on my shoulder. “Iris, we need to protect our village.”

Stiffening at his touch, I take a step to the side and gently shrug his hand off. What is it about today that is making everyone touch my shoulder? I am sure they mean to be reassuring, but it feels more like an act of control, of restraint.

Raising an eyebrow at his change of tune, I turn to him and place my hands on my hips. “You did not want to be here. You wanted to leave everything behind, and now you seem happy to stay and destroy the forest?”

He flinches, and I notice his father’s eyebrows rise. He didn’t know about Robert’s little escape plan. There is a small part of me that feels guilty at revealing this in front of his father, but that part of me is overshadowed by the fact he agrees with this ridiculous plan. All of this is completely out of character for me. I would never usually speak to someone like this, especially not the mayor and his son, but after everything that has happened today, I am not playing around.

It seems that Robert is feeling the same. Reaching out and catching my hand, he threads our fingers together, his expression earnest as he gently pulls me closer to him, his father momentarily forgotten.

“We can stay and carve out a life for ourselves, me and you.” Eyes aglow, he leans forward as he speaks, animated as he lays out a life for the two of us. “We can marry and create a family, but I need to know you and our child would be safe. That means we must act against the fae. Their attacks have increased. We need to do something to deter them.”

His words are so at odds with the conversation we had the other day when all he wanted to do was run away from the village and his responsibilities. Now, he is offering something any unmarried woman in the village would dream of, something I always thought I might want. In my daydreams, I have thought about marrying Robert, only now that he’s mentioning it, that dream does not settle quite right.

He’s just saying this to make me agree to their plan. The thought rings through my mind, and I instantly dismiss it. This is Robert, and he would not try to manipulate me this way—we’re friends, after all.

I’ve heard nothing of these attacks, so how do we know they were by the fae? Women are missing, but villages being attacked by fae? Why have I not heard of this before now?

“He is right, Iris,” the mayor comments, startling me from my thoughts. “And I need you to stand at Robert’s side today, smiling and showing how proud of this village you are.” Looking between us, he smiles warmly, pride shining in his eyes. “Our guests will be here at any moment.” A bell rings somewhere within the house, and his smile widens.

“Oh, they are here. Let us go greet them.” Striding from the office with a spring in his step, the mayor quickly leaves the room, taking his strong presence with him.

I start to follow, having been given my orders for the day—to be pretty and silent, smile at his son’s side, and show how perfect everything is here. It is all a lie, but I will play along for the sake of my and Robert’s friendship. However, I am still not sure exactly why he wants me here with him when he could easily manage without me.

What better place to keep an eye on me and make sure I do not mess up his plans? Another sharp, snarky thought ricochets through my mind, so at odds to my usual docile self.

“Iris, wait a moment.”

Pausing at the threshold of the office, I glance over my shoulder at Robert. My eyes widen at what I see behind me. In complete disbelief, I turn and stare at Robert’s outstretched hand. A small golden band rests in his palm—an engagement ring. Gasping, I look up at him and then back to the ring, not believing what I am seeing.

“I was telling the truth, Iris. I want to marry you. I want us to be together and make a life we can be proud of.”

He has mentioned marriage before in passing, but we are not even courting. This is moving too fast. I need time to think and speak with my mother before I make a decision. Something is making me hesitate, yet I am not quite sure what it is. Perhaps it is the fact he has not once mentioned if he loves me or not. I may be a fool for believing a love match is possible for me, yet I do not want to settle for the sake of what is expected of me.

“Robert, I do not know what to say.” Laughing lightly, I shake my head, completely overwhelmed. “This is so fast.”

He seems to realise I am not going to be rushed into a decision and smiles reassuringly, squeezing my hand. “I know, and you do not have to give me an answer today, but I need you to wear the ring as we meet with our guests.”

Frowning, I tilt my head to one side as I examine the male before me like I do not know him. His comment strikes a warning chord in me. He wants me to pretend to be his fiancée for the sake of appearances. Does he even want to truly marry me?

“You want me to lie?” I question, the note in my voice giving away my displeasure at the notion.

“No, of course not.” Smiling, he rushes to reassure me, still holding tightly onto my hand. “I trust in the fact that you will choose me when you are ready. We just need to show a strong united front.”

He slowly slides the golden band onto my ring finger, the metal glinting in the light from the window. It’s delicate and beautiful, everything I have ever wanted. Why does it feel so… wrong?

This meeting today is supposed to be for the good of the village, and if it has anything to do with the fae and the forest, then being by Robert’s side will put me in a position to help, so I keep quiet, locking away my reservations.

Smiling, Robert takes my silence as confirmation and takes my hand in his once more, then he leads me through the house. I am in a complete daze, not taking in my surroundings or listening to the low chatter that is coming up from the hall below. It is not until we descend into the large greeting hall that a nudge in my chest brings me back into the present. Feigning interest, I blink several times and watch the group of finely dressed males in the foyer chatting with the mayor. They do not catch my attention though. Figures linger at the back of the group, the hoods of their cloaks still raised.

For some reason, this puts me on alert, and not just because they are breaking the rules of polite society. No, there is something else about them that I cannot put my finger on. No one else seems to notice anything unusual, so I simply keep an eye on them as I walk down the grand staircase with Robert on my arm.

In a flash of movement, one of the cloaked figures jerks his head around, and although the hood is hiding his face, I know he is looking directly at me. There is a heavy pause, and the whole room seems to hold its breath. A pair of tanned hands appear from the cloak and push the hood back. Everything seems to move in slow motion as everyone freezes, the hood falling back and revealing one of the most handsome faces I have ever seen.

“Well, well, Mayor Marshal,” the male begins, eyes locked on me the entire time, his mouth splitting into a terrifying smile. “It seems you have been keeping secrets.”

Fae. The male is fae.