Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Iris

P andemonium ensues after the prince’s declaration, yet all of the noise in the room seems to fade away as I stare at the male in front of me. I am vaguely aware of people moving about the room, throwing their arms up in the air and arguing about the bombshell the prince just dropped on them. None of that seems to matter in this moment, not when I have a fae male looking up at me as though I am the answer he has been looking for his entire life. Up close, he is even more radiant than I thought possible, and I realise too late that this is a weapon in its own right. The fae use their beauty to lure us close, exactly how the two males in the forest tried with me on my way here.

A prince kneels before me, a human who lives on the edges of society. It makes no sense. He is treating me as an equal, and I do not understand why.

I have found the doe… You are the key to protecting us all .

Those words are about to change my whole life. In fact, just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I am a simple girl who keeps to herself, not some saviour. The prince is wrong. He has to be wrong. I know nothing of the fae and spend most of my time talking to flowers. How am I supposed to save us all? I cannot fight, and I like to think I am smart, but I have little education, and the only thing I really have going for me is my intuition. Having good instincts is not going to save us.

However, Alaric and Blaise clearly think I am this doe from their stories, the human woman the Unseelie need to break their curse. Alaric is a prince, he would not be kneeling for a human woman unless he thought he was right, and his companion has been giving me strange looks. Mostly, he observes the humans with devilish amusement, like a child watching ants scurrying on the ground, and at any moment, he could choose to crush them. He doesn’t look at me that way. In fact, every time he looks at me, he just seems puzzled. These two fae have been travelling the realm to create an alliance, yet it seems like they were really searching for this female all along.

It could be a coincidence that they found me , I think to myself, but I’m sceptical. The prince took one look at me and declared I was the one they need. Am I to be written into this alliance? This is beginning to feel completely overwhelming.

That cannot possibly be true, could it?

You shall make a stunning queen… You are definitely the one .

My interaction with the fae in the woods on my way here rings in my mind like an alarm bell. At the time, I assumed they were trying to charm me, but now I am not so sure. They said I called them and they answered, which is how they found me. Nonsense. There is no way I could have called them to me without my knowing. There is nothing special about me that would attract these fae, but then how do I explain everything that has happened?

Staring at the kneeling prince, I shake my head as I attempt to clear the fog from my mind. A part of me feels drawn to him, and a deep sense of longing settles itself into my heart. I am sure it is just his fae allure that makes me feel like this, but in the moment, it is hard to see past that. I open my mouth to speak, only instead of words, all I can manage is a croak, my throat dry and constricted.

“May the lady and I have a moment alone?”

The prince’s voice cuts through the din like a sharp blade, silence falling in its wake. Alaric keeps his gaze on me the entire time, yet the others in the room instinctively know he is addressing them. His gaze is hypnotic, and I feel as though I could stare into his green eyes all day.

Unfortunately, the quiet does not last long, and I am abruptly ripped from my gawking as Robert steps forward and knocks into the chair I sit on, jostling me.

“Absolutely not!” Robert hollers, seeming to miss the fact that he almost just bumped me from my chair. The prince does not, though, as he seems to notice every single move I make.

The mayor walks towards us, and the prince finally stands to face him.

“You are going to have to explain things more than that, Your Highness,” Mayor Marshal orders, quickly tacking on the honorific at the end. “You were welcomed into my home, informed me of a great threat, and then gave me next to no information, and now you want to be left alone with my son’s betrothed.” Huffing, he crosses his arms over his chest. His advisors mimic the action behind him, pleased that their boss is standing up to the prince.

Alaric freezes, his smile becoming brittle. The mayor begins to look nervous at the change in the prince, but he is no longer the focus. Slowly, the fae drops his gaze to the golden band on my finger. It feels like a brand, gleaming brightly for all to see. I have to fight the urge to cover it up. Why am I ashamed? I have nothing to feel bad about, besides, this is not even a true engagement.

“You are engaged.” His words are flat and without emotion, completely at odds with what I see in his eyes. He seems furious, although I have no idea why. Why does it matter if I am betrothed? If it were anyone else, I might suspect it was jealousy, but he only just met me, so it could not possibly be that.

Clearing my throat, I try to speak. “I—”

Whatever I was going to say is quickly cut off.

“Yes, I asked her today. We are to be married,” Robert announces loudly from behind me, his hands landing on my shoulders. He squeezes tightly in a reminder that I agreed to wear the ring for this meeting for the sake of appearances, so I just keep my mouth shut and try not to look uncomfortable.

Moving at a speed that makes me dizzy, the prince suddenly stands chest to chest with Robert, his teeth bared and hands balled into fists. The room erupts into mayhem, everyone shouting in panic. Blaise is trying to muscle his way between Robert and the prince, while the mayor is attempting to push past the guests in the room to get to his son.

Eyes wide, I watch the uproar, the noise so loud that it all merges together, ringing in my ears. The prince is saying something to Robert, but like all other sound, it is drowned out. Surrounded by fighting and shouting, I am completely overcome with emotion, so much so I struggle to differentiate one from the other. I wish I was back home in my garden, or even in the forest where my friend looks over me. This whole situation is making me feel powerless.

No, this is too much. I need to get away so I can calm down and evaluate everything that has happened. Everyone has descended into madness, and I refuse to be dragged down with them.

Slowly, so as not to draw attention, I stand and back from the room, my balance off thanks to my shaky legs. No one notices that I am sneaking from the room, fleeing as fast as I am able. Alaric’s eyes flick up as I reach the doorway, tracking me as I leave, and I have to adjust my earlier thought—someone does notice me leave, just not my supposed fiancé.

Warmth spreads through my chest that Alaric notices me, telling me that I should stay and speak with him. In reality, I know any answers I need are in that room, yet I am so overwhelmed and afraid of what I might discover that I give into my fear and slip away. Thankfully I manage to hurry from the house without bumping into anyone and am out the door and exiting the garden in a matter of moments.

I am so spooked by everything that I do not bother to try and mask my discomfort or slow my jog into a walk. Even if I stopped to speak to anyone, I would struggle to formulate a coherent sentence. Someone calls out my name, probably enquiring after me, but I keep my head down and hurry to the gate. People will talk, and by tomorrow, rumours will be flowing through the village like a flood. That is a problem I shall deal with another day, and it seems so small in comparison to my current situation.

Leaving Brine through the gate, I am several meters down the road when a thought occurs to me, and I suddenly stumble to a halt. What if the fae are still at the pinch point? It has never bothered me before. Then again, I have never had fae try to lure me away. My body is not weak, but there’s no way I could physically fight them off. It’s my mind that I need to ensure stays strong so I am in complete control of my thoughts and actions. I will keep my gaze straight ahead and stick to the middle of the road, not getting close enough that I would be in a situation where I need to fight.

I am armed with the knowledge of what they are and what they want with me, though, which is half the battle. Keeping up your mental defences is easier when you know that you might come under attack. This way, I can stay strong and walk straight past them, knowledge being the strongest weapon.

At least, that is what I keep telling myself as I walk down the road, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. I feel jumpy and on edge the entire walk back, my stomach like an empty pit of dread within me. My breathing is too fast, but I cannot seem to slow it down.

The atmosphere around me becomes close, the sun hidden from view as I reach the overgrown pinch point in the road. Every branch seems sinister, like long, gnarled fingers reaching out to take me, and every sound is suspicious, making me flinch away. I am tempted to run, yet I know that is the last thing you should do when a predator stalks you. Running just encourages them to chase you, and I am sure the fae love a chase. They might not even be here any longer, and the sense of being followed could all be in my mind, but I will not take any risks when it comes to them.

Thankfully for me, I make it through without incident, tilting my head back as the sun’s warm rays bathe me in light, instantly making me feel stronger. Sighing with relief, I try to get my breathing back under control and hurry to the cottage.

The familiar sight of the cottage soon comes into view, and to my surprise, my eyes begin to sting with tears—tears of relief, fear, anger, and frustration. Biting back a wave of emotion, I release a long, shaky breath and enter the house. If my mother sees I have been crying, it will only raise questions I do not want to answer.

“Mother?” I call quietly as I move around our small two-story cottage, but I realise quickly that no one is home. I am alone.

Usually I would relish some alone time where I could sit in the garden and talk with the plants and animals without judgement. Today is different though. My limbs still feel shaky, and my soul is unsettled. While I do not want to speak about today, having my mother’s comforting presence would remind me of what my life is really like—not this make believe of princes and promised women.

With nothing else to do, I go out into the back garden, the sight of the flowers lifting my spirits a little. Wandering over to the rose arch at the end of the garden, I trail my fingers over the shiny green leaves and beautiful blooms, where various shades of pinks and reds mix together to form a dreamy atmosphere.

If only.

I feel so agitated that I just cannot settle. Absent-mindedly, I think over everything the prince said and the fact he believes I am this person. Something I have not allowed myself to consider yet is what happens if they are right? The best way to keep me away from the Unseelie is to take me far away from the forest, which would mean I would have to leave my family and life behind.

Sighing, I close my eyes and let my head droop forward, my fingers still entwined with the roses as I take deep breaths of their floral perfume. I know I will have to go back and face the prince and mayor at some point, including Robert and his fake proposal.

A sharp prick in my finger makes me gasp, and I pull my hand to my chest. I touched a rose thorn, and a small bead of my blood rests on the tip of the offending plant. Never have I been caught by thorns from my garden before, managing to miraculously miss them when working out here, much to the annoyance of my sister who is constantly getting poked and stung. She might mock me about communicating with the plants, but she has no faith.

The wound to my finger does not really hurt, it is more the knowledge of being injured by my own garden that pains me the most. Perhaps I am losing my touch, or the stress is making me sloppy. I look up, my gaze moving past the archway of roses and into the forest beyond. Filled with bittersweet longing, I fall into a state of melancholy, wishing I could speak with my shadowy forest friend.

He said he was leaving, and I had not realised just how much that would affect me. There would be periods of time when I would not see him for a while, yet I never felt this way on those occasions. It must be because I know he is gone and am fully aware of the strange hole he left in my life. When did he become such an integral part of my world?

It is not just him I am longing for, though, but to be in the forest where I always felt safe. Anger courses through me that the Unseelie have made it unsafe for me, taking away the place where I could truly be myself. Passing under the rose arch, I press up against the white picket fence that surrounds the garden. There is a thin strip of grass on the other side that is the final patch of land separating human territory from the fae forest. My feet move without me even thinking, and I slowly climb over the fence, pausing by the treeline.

“Hello?” I call out, my voice sounding weak and frail. “Friend, are you there?” I am pleased that I sound stronger, although I realise how stupid I sound. If only I knew his name so I could call him properly. “Seeing as you won’t tell me your name, I am going to call you Forrest.”

I know the fact that I chose one for him, determined to have something to call him when he was equally as determined not to give it to me, would amuse him.

My skin tingles, and I get the distinct feeling I am being watched, but by who? Before I would have assumed it was my dark friend, Forrest, but now I know the Unseelie are stalking the forest to find me, so I can no longer assume that is the case. That should be enough to scare me off this stupid plan forming in my mind. My head and heart are at war, one telling me how stupid I am to be so close to the forest, especially with the warning I was given. However, the other is telling me to throw caution to the wind, cross that line, and find Forrest.

Am I so desperate to see him that I would risk my life? No, I need to back away. I step back, my gaze still locked on the forest. I turn and start to move towards the cottage.

“Iris!”

My sister’s voice makes me freeze. Looking around with a frown, I search for my sibling. She wasn’t in the cottage earlier, and I can see the main path from here, so I know she didn’t arrive while I was staring at the forest.

“Iris, I need you!” There’s a thread of panic in her voice now, something I’ve never heard from her before. Whatever is happening must be bad if she is acknowledging she needs help.

The sound was definitely coming from the forest, which only makes my anxiety jump. My sister hates the forest, so why would she go in there? An awful thought occurs to me. What if she’s been taken by the Unseelie?

A shift in the atmosphere has me staring deeper into the forest. Squinting, I realise the presence hovers just beyond my line of sight, and I am only able to make out a flicker of movement. That must be her. This could be a very bad idea. My stomach twists with anxiety, and I have to decide what I am going to do. There is no doubt I’m going to help my sister, but who knows what else is out there? The figure I assume is my sister appears to be alone, although the fae are able to hide themselves from our dull human senses, so that might not be the case. However, there’s a reason she hasn’t just walked out of the forest and is calling to me. I shake my head, bolster myself, and take a baby step forward.

“I really hope that is you.” I’m speaking more to myself than my sister as I hover at the forest’s edge. Forrest is going to be furious at me for not listening to him when he finds out. My instincts are telling me this is a bad idea, making my stress levels shoot through the roof. “I know you told me not to enter the woods, but I have to make sure my sister is safe,” I whisper defensively and scan the trees, almost expecting him to stride forward and scold me on my stupid plan. When nothing happens and the figure doesn’t move, I feel my heart sink with disappointment.

“Iris!” My sister’s panicked cry echoes out, and I know I’m out of time.

“I need you, Forrest.” The words escape me before I can stop them, sounding so weak. My eyes sting with tears again, and I angrily rub at them before they spill down my cheeks. This is stupid. If I want to go into the forest, then I will. I won’t let the fae scare me off. Even so, I slip on the fae bracelet, just in case.

Lifting my foot, I start to step from my land and into that of the fae. My foot lands the other side of the invisible boundary. Straddling the two lands, I freeze as the shadowy figure moves.

“My queen,” a dark, hypnotic voice calls out from the trees, and I come to the slow, horrified realisation that it wasn’t Forrest who was watching me, but the fae from before. His creamy skin and pale shoulder-length hair should make him appear washed out, yet he carries it well, looking stunning in his new ensemble of a black tunic and trousers.

Walking towards me as though he has all the time in the world, he flashes me a toothy smile. Everything about him exudes violence and seduction, a strange mixture of feelings to experience at the same time, yet that is exactly how I view him.

“You were coming to find us,” he coos, taking in my teetering position between the two lands and extending a long, pale hand towards me in offering.

Ignoring both his comment and his hand, I look around the forest, searching for any signs of her. “Where is my sister?”

Honestly, I’m starting to think I stepped into a trap.

“Ah, yes, she’s not here.” He smiles and holds his hands open as though he committed a minor faux pas. “Sorry about that, but we needed some way to draw you to us.”

They lied. She was never here. I’m relieved that she’s okay, yet at the same time, I’m furious at myself for falling for it. I let them fool me, and now with one foot in their territory, I’m in trouble.

Gritting my teeth, I narrow my eyes, my fear retreating to make room for my frustration. “I told you to leave me alone. I know who you are and what you want. That will never happen, so you should just go.”

Brows shooting up to his hairline at my angered order, he crosses his arms over his chest and smiles. “The kitten has claws, it seems.” Those dark eyes peruse my body from head to toe, and a shiver shoots down my spine that I pretend is from fear rather than the warm stirrings of arousal.

Amusement flashes across his face, yet it does not last long before he wrinkles his nose, allowing his top lip to rise in a snarl. “You smell like them . I see the prince and his guard dog got to you before we did,” he hisses, his jaw clenching with loathing. “That does not matter. You should come with me. We will take care of you, and you will save our people from a crippling curse.”

He knows that Alaric was searching for me as well and clearly harbours hatred for the Seelie prince. No matter how much he tries to hide this, I see the truth of it in the tension of his body.

When he puts it like this, painting me as a savour, it’s easy for my dreamy mind to imagine a fairy-tale ending. His declaration is very grand, making me feel important and needed, something that a farm girl like me rarely experiences. Even though I know he is working his charm on me and attempting to convince me to follow him without asking questions, I still feel a lift in my spirits at his words.

Me, he wants me to save his people. I am finally being noticed. The little girl in the back of my mind squeals, a reaction I am sure he was aiming for.

One of the facts of society that I learned from a young age is that a story can be told by two separate people, yet sound completely different. Our own bias slips into our words when we speak. Facts can also be omitted in the telling, still making the story correct, yet changing the meaning in the process. As Alaric and the Seelie found me first, they were able to explain about the Unseelie and what they want with me, otherwise hearing this explanation now might make me agree to leave with the Unseelie.

Now that I know what the consequences of the curse being broken are, I cannot let the Unseelie get hold of me. I do feel guilty at refusing to help them, my decision keeping them prisoner within the woods, but if what Alaric says is true and it really is the Unseelie that prey on humans and not the Seelie, then I cannot risk helping them.

“I might be saving your people, but I would also be forsaking my own.” My voice is quieter now, wanting him to understand my reasoning as I take a step back.

His features suddenly change, becoming sharp. “Now, now, not so fast. We were only just starting to get to know each other.”

He makes a gesture with his extended hand, and the tree branches around me begin to tug, their gnarled limbs hooking on my clothes while I was distracted by the fae. Gasping, I attempt to untangle myself and get away from the impossibly strong trees, which are now pulling me into the forest as easily as a parent lifting their baby. One of the gnarled branches reaches down and slips under my bracelet, snapping it as easily as a blade of grass—so much for it giving me protection. As soon as I’m dragged across the boundary, my whole body tingles with dread. I am in deep trouble, and it is all my fault.

Creatures of all shapes and sizes appear now that I am in their realm, no longer needing to hide. Some of them are recognisable, while others look more like plants which have come to life, all ambling towards me, their sharp claws and teeth piercing my skin. I cry out, although it is more in fear than pain, as adrenaline courses through me and makes me stronger. Struggling against their impossibly strong grips, I cry out again as a sharp set of teeth dig into my shoulder.

I hyperventilate, feeling entirely too hot under all the bodies clinging to me. Their weight threatens to drag me to the ground, and I fear what will happen to me then—they would crush me. Panic makes me feel sick, and the lack of air makes my chest tight.

“Do not harm her!” the dark fae orders, fury lining his voice, yet he does not step any closer to help me.

The fae I saw with the mohawk appears from nowhere, only this time whatever was glamouring him to look human is long gone, revealing his long, spindly limbs. He reminds me of a spider, his arms and legs much longer than the rest of his body. He scared me before, and now he terrifies me. He grins as he moves towards me, his stumbling gait only adding to the horror building inside me.

“You are coming with us, princess,” he hisses, wrapping his clawed hands around my upper arms before he begins dragging me deeper into the woods, the darks fae’s order not to hurt me falling on deaf ears.

“No! Release me!” I shout, putting as much power into my voice as I am able to, but I sound like a weak child, my voice wobbling. Digging my feet into the ground, I struggle to find purchase on the forest floor.

That is pathetic, Iris. You have to save yourself, and if that is all you have, then you will die . The thought is harsh and enough to snap me into action. I might be a novice when it comes to defending myself, but I will not go without a fight.

The ground suddenly rumbles beneath my feet, throwing my assailants to the ground. Somehow, I manage to stay upright and jump over their bodies in an effort to get away. There is one thing I have forgotten though—the fae are much faster than I am and surround me again before I can reach the human lands, dragging me back.

“Iris!” a voice shouts, and even though I only met him today, I’m instantly able to recognise it as Alaric.

A jolt of hope shoots through me, and I get a tingling sensation in my belly. Help is coming, I am no longer alone. I have no idea how he found me so quickly, but I’m not about to complain—not when the Unseelie are trying to drag me away.

Twisting in their grip, I see him bounding towards us through the trees. “Alaric!” I say breathlessly, never so happy to see anyone in my life.

“Let her go!” he demands loudly, drawing his sword and pointing it at the dark fae. As he does, plants burst up from the ground, wrapping me in a living cocoon and pushing away the creatures who try to hold on to me. Glancing around, I see that my protection is actually more than a cocoon. I follow where the vines and plants stretch and weave together through the trees, and I realise they created a tunnel for me, right up to the boundary line. Amazed, I run the short distance to the forest’s edge.

The Unseelie attack my tunnel, but it stands strong, and they quickly realise there is no getting to me. As soon as I reach the end, I climb out and turn around, trying to get a good view of Alaric to ensure he is okay. Only, a strong set of arms wraps around me in a movement too fast to be human, dragging me backward. Screaming, I thrash in my attacker’s arms, desperate to get away. I was so close to being free. A hand is quickly pressed over my mouth.

“Shh, Iris. It is me, Blaise.” He sounds pissed as hell, but I do as he says, trusting he is not going to hurt me. I stop screaming, and he slowly releases me, not seeming to trust that I won’t start up again. Glancing up at his bearded face, I confirm that he is pissed, anger radiating from him, but I do not think it is aimed at me.

Following his gaze, I see that Alaric is still standing in the forest, facing off against the dark fae. I automatically take a step forward, but I am jerked back by the fae at my side. If he says anything scolding, then I miss it, because I am too focused on what is playing out before me. The other fae have skulked away. At least, at first glance it seems as though they did, but most of them are still watching from afar, using the trees as cover. All attention has moved to the prince and the Unseelie fae though, and I have quickly been forgotten now that I am out of reach.

The two of them face off against each other, one light and the other dark, and it does something funny to me, my mind becoming fuzzy. Forcing myself to stay upright, I wait for something to happen, but they just appear to be staring at each other.

“Why has he not followed us?” I hiss to Blaise, not understanding the crazy mix of emotions in my chest.

“Those two have a long history.” That is all the answer I get, but from his deep tone, I guess this history is less than pleasant. Something suddenly clicks in my mind, and I know why he is so angry—the prince is risking himself against the Unseelie. He jumped in headfirst to rescue me, knowing his presence would stun my assailants.

“Who is the dark one?” I ask quietly, watching the fae in question closely.

Snorting, Blaise looks down at me with a quirked lip. “I am going to call him that next time.” He huffs out a sigh and gives into my question. “He is the heir to the Unseelie Court.”

Heir, not prince. Do they not use those titles in the Unseelie Court, or does royalty exist but not rule?

“Not a prince?”

He shakes his head, amused by the question. “He wishes. No, power passes from their leader to the strongest fae rather than family ties and bloodlines. Ciaran is that fae.” He nods his head in the direction of the other fae.

Ciaran… so that is his name. It suits him, and I am glad I no longer have to call him “the dark fae” in my mind. As though sensing that I am thinking of him, he looks away from Alaric and locks eyes with me. His stare is so intense, it takes my breath away. Alaric seems to say something, bringing Ciaran’s attention back to the matter at hand, and although I can tell they are both angry from the tone of their voices, I cannot actually hear what they are saying. I wish I could creep forward to listen, but I know Blaise would not let me get anywhere near them.

As if they received some silent signal, the Unseelie creatures start to disappear until only Ciaran is left. His pale hair contrasts with the dark trees around him and the darkness he seems to carry with him.

“Until next time, Lady Iris,” Ciaran calls, blowing me a kiss, and in the blink of an eye, he disappears. One moment he was there, and the next, he was gone. My heart pounds with fear. Where did he go? Are we safe? He is not simply going to give up. Does this mean I have to watch my back for the rest of my days?

“What happened? Where did they go?” I ask as Alaric suddenly appears at my side, sheathing his sword in one quick movement now that he is back in human territory. The sun shines down on him, making him look godly, which is appropriate seeing as he just saved me. His attention is still on the forest as though he’s expecting an attack.

“They are too weak to fight me. The hunt might have begun, but they cannot leave the forest yet.” Reaching out, he brushes a knuckle against my cheek, my skin tingling at the contact. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

I nod, dumbstruck at his touch while still knowing he is right. It’s dangerous to be so close to the forest, especially now that I know the trees are able to drag me into their depths. My entire world has been rocked, and I desperately need that feeling of safety. Without Forrest here, the prince is the person I trust the most with my safety at this moment.

It is only later, when I am alone and have time to myself, that I wonder when the fae prince became someone I trusted.