12. Keira

Chapter 12

Keira

A deep, all-consuming sleep engulfs me. There are no dreams, only endless stretches of nothingness.

When I wake, thick beams of sunlight pierce through the window, and I don’t know if it is dawn, midday or dusk. The light is colored by leadlight windows. Their patterns of tulips and daffodils are cast upon the dusty wooden floors.

I am alone in this room, tucked neatly into a bed piled with blankets and furs and pillows, as though I might shatter at the slightest bump.

I glance around wildly, with no recollection of how I arrived here.

Then the memories rush in hard and fast and I hyperventilate.

I snatch up my satchel in a panic and hold it to my chest as though it were armor against any high fae who might burst in and force their will on me. But they could have done that already if they wanted to.

The groaning of wood and voices outside my hut catch my attention. There is no door in this room, but a curtain of vines hangs over the entrance to give me privacy. But there are also no bars to lock me in.

I move to the window and peer through. This room is perched dizzyingly high, tucked between the trunk of the tree and multiple huge branches. The doorway leads to a balcony and a meandering staircase, which joins with another hut below, and then into the tree itself.

No wonder there are no guards or prison cells locking me in. I’d have to saunter past the entire war band before I could escape, and that is assuming I can penetrate their ward around the camp.

A knock on the doorframe has me turning sharply to it. “I’m coming in.” A deep rumble informs me, followed by a pause, as though he expects a response.

I freeze at the rustling of foliage, which permits a tall figure. My heart stops completely at the sight of the fae standing in the doorway. He is a silhouette, the sun behind him blinding me to any details, but the form is tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. Those peaked ears are all too clear, reminding me I am not safe.

He steps into the room and I register those beautiful, brutal features. Aldrin.

I want to back away. To run. There is nowhere to go. He blocks the only exit. The muscles of his shoulders ripple. He could so overpower me easily and take the one thing fae men really want from human women.

Aldrin takes another step toward me and I press myself into the wall, reaching for my magic. His gaze looks me up and down, drifting across the bare skin of my neckline and arms beneath my rolled-up sleeves.

I will not let him abuse my body without a fight, even if he could take both my wrists in one of those large hands and pin me easily.

I watch his every movement with huge eyes.

Aldrin sighs and leans against the wall casually. “Don’t look at me like that. I have come to check on your wounds, not devour you. Humans don’t believe that of fae now, do they?”

I move to the other side of the room as he tries to approach again. “Klara already looked at them.”

“Klara was depleted yesterday, and couldn’t completely heal you. I had my own wounds and couldn’t do any healing.” He stretches out a hand toward me. “I can still see deep cuts half healed. ”

I let him take my hand in his. It is warm, with skin callused from regular sword use. He trails fingers across my palm and up the tender flesh of my wrist to my elbow, examining each gash.

Shivers run through my skin, starting from his touch and spreading down my spine.

I peer at his face as he concentrates, that almost constant frown gone, softening his dark features. I want to reach a hand and trace the sharp angles of his face. To touch those pointed ears. I don’t know where the urge comes from.

His fingers slide back down my exposed skin and the desire for him to touch more of me hits my blood.

I snatch my arm back. “I don’t need any more healing.” The lie rolls off my tongue while my heart thunders.

Aldrin straightens to his full height, over a head taller than me. “Your people do us a disservice. We do not deserve our reputation since the Dividing War. It suited your ancestors to manipulate your histories and to cast us as monsters, to justify their actions which made your lands lose its magic. I would have liked to have known your story.”

He considers me with deep sadness, turns and walks away, toward the vine curtain of the door.

“You never even asked my name,” I call out.

“It’s Keira.” He glances over his shoulder with an ironic half-smile on his face. “Your sister Caitlin called it out.”

I stare at him with nothing left to say.

“Klara will take you to the healing waters to bath your wounds, since you seem more comfortable with her.” Aldrin walks out the door.

I let out a long breath and slide down the wall, falling into a heap on the ground. My chest constricts and sobs threaten to bubble to the surface, but I push them down.

I don’t understand Aldrin or what he wants from me, but I am a jittery mess from hypervigilance. From trying to anticipate each threat, his every move and coming up wrong each time .

Disembodied voices drift to me, most likely from the staircase below.

“Why don’t you take her there yourself?” Klara retorts.

“Because she's terrified of me,” Aldrin replies.

“You’ve wanted to meet and understand humans and their realm for years, and now you're keeping your distance from one? Try looking like less of a brute.” She laughs. “It doesn’t help that you’re always dressed in armor, have a thousand blades strapped to you AND constantly frown. Try smiling.” Her laughter amplifies and the sound is jarring to my ears. “Not like that. You definitely need more practice.”

His reply is an unintelligible rumble. He must be walking away.

A chill claws through my body. Aldrin is looking for a human pet, and intel into our world. Anything a fae lord would be planning for us must be horrendous.

Footsteps creak on the stairs and then the leafy curtain pulls away and another fae invades my space.

“Come on, I’m taking you to The Living Waters Lagoon.” Klara's tone is brisk. “Trust me, you’ll like it. The waters are enchanted. They close up wounds, remove knots in muscles and rejuvenate the mind. We go there even when we haven’t just fought a battle. You’ve had a bloody intense couple of days, mind the pun.”

I can’t help the interest that peaks within me. “Is there a Lake Maiden or water nymph there?”

How I would love to meet one. Perhaps a lower fae could help whisk me away from these people.

“The waters once belonged to an extremely powerful Lake Maiden, but the magic faltered there a long time ago and she disintegrated. Her essence still lives in the waters, fragmented into a million pieces. This entire area has been abandoned for too long.” There is such emotion in her at the loss, I don’t dare ask questions.

Klara looks me up and down. “You’ll need to wash your clothes as well.”

I glance down at myself, noticing for the first time the speckles of blood and dirt that mark my clothes, with bits of leaves clinging to the fabric. There is a long gash in a sleeve and another in the bodice that I need to sew. Embarrassment fills me at sleeping in this. In someone else’s bed.

Klara leads me out through the ward again, its mirrored surface bubbling and the sounds of the camp abruptly cutting off. Ancient, broad trees and mossy open spaces immediately give way to dense woods. We follow a path that is a narrow, earthy furrow that could be a dried-up river bed. It cuts between natural stone walls and ends at a winding series of steps chiseled into slate.

A deep cavern opens up before us, with an immense pool encircled by stone walls that extends high above us, open to the sky. Great ropes of leafy vines hang down those walls, covering them in green curtains that almost reach the water below.

I stare at the colors of the lagoon. Great regions of blue, green and purple slowly intermingle and expand across its surface, as though coated in oil, but the depths are completely visible through it. The shades are vibrant where the sun hits the water, and it sparkles like liquid diamonds.

The stairs lead me to a rocky shore within the sinkhole. Ferns colonize much of the surface and I glance around for the ideal spot to take off my clothes.

“Are you getting in the water or not?” Klara asks in a flat tone. She probably has other places to be and doesn’t want to play nursemaid to a human.

I quickly undress, scrub my clothes in the water in such a fluster I hardly watch what I am doing, then lay them out on rocks to bake under the sun.

I approach one of many caverns pocketing the stone wall of the main pool. The entrance is almost completely obscured by curtains of foliage, but it shares the same water as the rest of the lagoon. I consider that is right next to the bank.

“Why don’t you swim in the main lagoon? It is nice under the sun.” Klara folds her arms over her chest.

“Are the other fae going to swim in these transparent waters while I am here? I would prefer my privacy, without a bathing suit and all.” I am already far too vulnerable to these people. No need to tempt them.

Klara glances at me, clearly suppressing her amusement. “I forgot how you humans value your modesty.”

“Have you - are you old enough to have—” I stumble over my words. “Did you visit our realm before the separation?”

“I’m not that old.” She turns away from me. “If you want privacy in the water, you better get in now while no one else can see you. They’ll be here soon. I cannot join you, it's my turn to guard the pass.”

Klara leaves as I dip a foot into the pool, testing the temperature. It is warmer than I expected. The water illuminates around my touch like a fire orb was born in its depths. It turns every shade of the rainbow, with white shimmering motes rushing away from me in a ripple. Spheres of lights peel off the surface of the pool, thousands of them floating above the water and bobbing in the air.

Slowly, I lower my entire body in, and those glittering particles flee away in droves. As I push myself away from the ledge and swim to the nearest cave, settling in, the microscopic diamonds inch toward me, climbing across my body until they cover every bit of my skin. I glance at my hand, turning it around to watch it refract the light and send shards of rainbows across the cave’s walls.

This display of foreign magic should terrify me, but my flesh tingles and the pain of all those cuts and half-healed gashes disappears. It is like my mind floats in a sea of calm, alongside my body.

The water is even warmer in my little private pocket, and I wonder if there is a thermal vent beneath me. I breathe in steamy air and listen to the tranquility of water dripping from the ceiling. I dive under to wash my hair. The water is crystal clear, and despite my privacy above the surface allowed by the cave, underneath I can see all the way to the far side of the lagoon.

It is impossibly deep, its bottom lost in shadows.

I return to the surface and recline on my back, idly floating in the water, a sense of peace and bliss filling me. The bits of white glitter dancing within the water crowd onto my bare body in my stillness, like a blanket of starlight. The Lake Maiden’s magic. I have heard something similar occurs when the heart-stone of the nymph is taken to my realm and infused in water.

The deep, all-consuming blanket of fatigue upon my mind lifts. The pure panic and fear at my situation dissolves in the water. I can finally think clearly. Rationally.

I need to escape and find Caitlin.

These high fae clearly underestimate my abilities. I am not chained, put behind bars or kept under constant guard.

I finger the moonstone bracelet around my wrist, touching each stone until I find the greatest pull of the nearest portal; the one we entered through. If I get back to it, I can track the other high fae party by all the prints they left in their retreat, but I’ll need to do it soon. Before the trail is lost.

Tonight. When they are eating and drinking around their fire.

The beginnings of plans swirl in my head, and I follow each tendril of thought.

Voices catch my attention.

I tread water as a group of fae arrive at the pool. Aldrin leads them down the steps and into the sinkhole. The other faces are familiar, but Drake’s is the only other one I can put a name to.

I float closer to the curtain of vines and peer through, thanking the gods for my hidden position.

Their conversation doesn’t pause while they peel off their clothes on that narrow shore, the men and women alike, without even turning their backs to each other. The very idea of stripping off in front of any man in my court horrifies me.

I was warned about the liberal ways of the fae, but I am still shocked at the extent of it.

These people are known for dancing naked in flower fields en masse, and for wild forest orgies. Why would bathing together phase them?

Their bodies are beautiful.

They all unfasten buttons and clips, undo laces and pull leather and fabric over flesh, but I can’t take my eyes off Aldrin. He wears a simple tunic tucked into leather pants, with a light cloak over the top, and stands slowly unbuckling armguards that protect his wrists while talking.

He tosses them to the ground, followed by his cloak, then grips his tunic and pulls it over his head.

My mouth goes dry.

His chest is a sculptured work of art, every muscle bulging and gleaming with sweat like polished stone. I want to reach out and touch it. To run my finger down each hard ab.

His pants hug his hips so low, the line of his legs show above them. His tapered torso drags the eye down lower and lower. A thin trail of hair runs from that center point, up to his navel.

He reaches up, hooking one elbow behind his head, and stretching it with the other arm, biceps enlarging and raising more of that torso above his pant line in an agonizing sight.

I should look away. Give him the privacy I value for myself. Then his fingers dip down to the laces of his crotch. He undoes them painfully slowly.

My breath catches in my throat, but I finally force myself turn away. I need to think about escaping, not how exquisite my captor looks without his clothes on.

Those voices on the rocky shore become louder, and I turn back in a panic.

Aldrin is completely naked, stepping into the blue waters of the lagoon, but his body twists at an angle so I get a view of his perfect arse, tight and curved, with thick thighs of ropey muscle. Even his back is defined.

Heat flushes through my entire body, but disappointment spikes within me that I didn’t see all of him.

He dives into the water and the spell over me is broken.

I must be insane.

Aldrin swiftly rises to the surface, with sparkling water dripping from his long brown hair like some sort of god. The rainbow sheen across the water’s surface goes wild around the high fae, and its rippling show is utterly magnificent.

Aldrin runs a hand through his hair and his voice floats to me. “It’s not enough to tell Cyprien what we know . He won’t believe it. None of them will, especially not from us. We need to show them evidence of what is happening at the borders. To bring the Council of the Spring Court there so they can see it for themselves.”

“And how exactly do we do that?” A man grumbles, with half his head shaved and tight strawberry blond curls draping to his shoulder on the other side. His hair is paler than his tanned skin.

“That is the question, Silvan,” Aldrin retorts.

“Can we bring a corrupted spriggan to court? Find one that isn’t so far gone it would turn to ash and float away on the journey?” Drake cuts in.

“If the fools would even believe their eyes.” Says a woman with midnight black hair and the strangest yellow eyes, like that of a snake.

“No. That would make life too bloody easy.” Drake spits.

I float closer to the curtains of vines that hide me, intent on their conversation. These fae are speaking of the Twisted Ones.

Aldrin shakes his head. “It pains me how the lower fae suffer with the corruption. The pain of enduring flesh that rot and breaks away while they live, all because we have abandoned them and these lands.”

That same woman turns sharply to him. “ We did not abandon these lands. They did. The council would prefer to remain blind, and the people care for comfort and entertainment only.” Anger radiates through her.

Aldrin turns to consider her. “Zinnia, we too were blind for long enough.”

Zinnia mutters something I cannot hear, but I swear Aldrin’s gaze reaches over her shoulder and straight at me instead. It lingers, his expression deepening. I stay completely still. Surely he cannot see me, not with the shadows and foliage covering me. Too much of my body would be visible through the clear water. I can make out the entirety of his bare chest. Aldrin drags his eyes away.

“We need to make an alliance with the humans. Open these lands up to them and allow trade and travel. Our people need each other, they always have. But first we need information on how they would receive us. We need an ambassador,” Aldrin says .

“If that girl’s reaction is anything to go by, they’ll be equal parts terrified and enraged.” Drake retorts.

“If history is anything to go by,” the man called Silvan snaps and the rest mumble an agreement.

My stomach tightens.

“You can’t waltz into their world and petition their king.” Silvan’s words are slow, thoughtful.

“No.” A slow half-smile grows on Aldrin’s lips. “But we have two human women in this forest. So if we are very kind to them, and they understand our good intentions, that we want to improve relations to the benefit of both realms, then maybe they might decide to speak with us. If their king sends us a party for negotiation, then no one will need to waltz into their realm.”

My head spins. Aldrin definitely saw all too much of me. I wonder if he realizes how obvious his manipulations are.

Drake actually laughs. “Yeah, you make it sound like getting the cooperation of the human woman is the greatest challenge here. Have you forgotten about why we were exiled? Hell, Cyprien took one look at us standing near two humans and accused us of treachery.”

“It is a significant obstacle to get beyond,” Silvan states.

Galloping hoofbeats echo throughout the cavern, and the kelpies race into view at the entrance to the lagoon in a cloud of dust particles. Shock shatters through me. My heart leaps and thunders wildly in my chest.

Are we under attack?

What could spook all three kelpies like that?

They leap impossibly high into the air, their back legs shifting into a fish’s tail. I stare mesmerized as scales flip up over fur, legs shrink into small fins and tails expand and widen rapidly.

When they hit the vibrant water of the lagoon, in mer-horse forms, the surface explodes in shudders of rainbow light and huge waves curl out from the site of their impact. I scream. They land almost in front of me. Then I scream again as the billowing water completely opens my curtain of vines and I wrap my arms over my chest in a panic .

It gets worse. They swim below the surface where they can see the entirety of my nudity.

The kelpies can transform into a full humanoid form. They can speak our language. I have no idea how they feel about our flesh, but the consideration makes my skin crawl.

All the high fae turn and stare at me. I flush from head to toe, wanting to die.

“Someone is in there—” Drake squints in my direction, trying to see around the bulky forms of the others who clearly block me from his view.

“Give her some privacy. You know how humans value their delicate sensibilities,” Aldrin says and they all laugh, but he has to drag his own gaze away from me. The look on his face for that split second is hungry, almost feral.

They turn away from me, everyone except Drake, who is still trying to get a good look into the cave with an expression of confusion. Aldrin shoots out a burst of magic and dumps a wave of water over his head. I scramble up the ledge to the sounds of more laughter. It isn’t directed at me, but it might as well have been for the way it makes me feel.

As soon as my feet are on land, I create a thick curtain of vapor around me, picking up water from the lake with a frantic air wield and turning it to mist with a hint of fire, so no one can see through it. As I stumble over the stony ground, stubbing my toes, I hardly question being able to handle so much power at once.

I find my clothes, shove them over my half-damp skin and run. I hurdle past Klara, who is still on sentry.

“Hey. Hey! What happened?” she yells after me. “Is there a threat?”

Klara swears, but I keep running and she doesn’t chase after me.

The gravel path slips beneath my feet, making it hard to pick up speed, and overhanging branches whip past me. The narrow dried-up creek bed gives way to the dense forest of newer growth and I stop in my tracks. I could easily escape right now, but I don’t have my satchel with my basic supplies. And they would look for me almost immediately .

But I can’t go back to the camp either. The ward has completely hidden it, and for a moment I wonder if its purpose is purely to hide the base. That maybe there isn’t any magic locking me in. I thought Klara was my guard for this morning, but she let me run straight past her.

Footstep thunder up the path and I turn and stare like a frightened doe, gripping one of the hidden knives in my belt. Panic grips me and I shiver with the adrenaline that pumps through me, preparing for fight or flight, but I have nowhere to run.

Aldrin crashes around the bend and into my sight. He is wearing only his leather pants and boots, and rivulets of water still run down his bare chest.

He holds up his hands as he approaches. “Look, I’m sorry if we upset you. The kelpies are literally half-wild beasts. There is no keeping them to social niceties, and I… well, I thought if I joked about it, you’d feel less embarrassed.”

I stare at him.

“We have gotten off on a bad start,” he utters.

“I can’t imagine why. Our first meeting was completely pleasant.” The look I give him is deadpan.

Aldrin holds out a hand, and slowly reaches toward mine, as though approaching a wild animal. Part of me screams to back away, but the greater part wants him to touch me. He takes my wrist gently and turns my arm from side to side, but I still gaze at his face, not concentrating on what he is doing. I do not understand this man, or his small acts of kindness.

Aldrin gives me a lazy smile. “The waters healed your wounds without a scar.”

My eyes dart across his glorious bare chest, to where the arrow ripped right through him and left a gash so large their magic couldn’t heal it completely.

Any evidence of the damage is gone. Gods, I don’t understand this entire realm.