Page 53 of Faerie Hunted

“I see a future where no one who walks through the portal to Faerie feels unwelcome, Miss Alderidge. A future built on the principles of fairness and equality, where those deemed lesser fae are equal.” Unable to contain himself, Dorian rose to his feet, his arms out to his sides in a grand gesture. His manic fervor was contagious. “The king prefers to keep the status quo. I’m sure you've seen his convictions for yourself as well.”

Damn, but he was convincing. I saw the image he painted in my head as he tugged on the small thoughts I’d barely given voice to before, thoughts about how nice it would be to finally feel like I was on equal footing with Mike. With the nobility.

Where members of the Claw & Fang no longer had to hide from everyone else.

His ability to express this, I knew, was what must capture the attention of others. And gain him multitudes of followers.

“You would be such an asset to me, Tavi. May I call you by your first name?” He launched ahead without waiting for me to answer. “I’d greatly appreciate us being on a first name basis.”

He stepped close enough for me to scent his cologne, something spicy and complex.

“I suggest you join me. Let’s see what we can accomplish together. You’d be a rallying point for people just like you, those who have always felt out of place. Which is why I wanted to speak with you today.”

I eyed him skeptically and held my tongue again, waiting for him to finish.

“Please, eat dinner with my people tonight while you consider an alliance between us. Relax, warm your hands by the fire, and see who my people are before you automatically answer.”

“You kidnapped me to forge an alliance?”

“I brought you here because I knew there was no better time to meet with you face to face. Not to mention you are a wanted person.” He let the last part land heavily between us, then flashed a smile. “You are safe with me. Safe to be yourself.”

Safe to be myself, I repeated mentally. A pipe dream if I’d ever heard one.

I was a wanted person. And I still needed to track down my mother and find Onyx, who had managed to escape the brutes sent to fetch us.

Dorian stepped aside with a magnanimous half bow. As though I should be utterly grateful for this short time alone to compose myself. “Here’s to the start of a beautiful adventure together.”

I had goals to accomplish, my own, not anyone else's. And to be frank…

Joining forces with the great enemy of the man I loved sounded like a reallybadidea.

15

Dorian Jade left me little choice when it came to dining with his people.

In fact, the harsh edges of his cloying and somewhat choking charm seemed to grow sharper as he led the way through the army of tents toward a larger than normal bonfire at its heart.

He stopped to talk to people when they approached, a motley assortment of fae and other creatures who would have been shunned within the city limits of Eahsea.

There, perfection reigned.

The pure-blooded were welcome, and the halflings, as long as they were half human and half fae, were welcome. But other subsets of fae were not permitted in the king’s city.

Here, pixies danced through the air, those who survived the great war. There were nymphs with blush-colored skin like the breast of a dove who lifted their arms in the air and swayed with the wind.

Dryads collected acorns from the trees. There were families and children laughing, though most everyone stopped to stare at me and Noren as we passed. A beautiful picture, yes.

Why did something strike me as wrong?

What was off about the scene and why couldn’t I put my finger on it?

I kept one hand firmly on Noren’s shoulder, feeling the graceful rippling movement of each step, borrowing his strength as my own.

The fae here didn’t appear to be a threat.

They were displaced families who had been driven out of their homes and forced into hiding. Dorian was their savior and he acted every bit the part. He waved magnanimously, he stopped to speak to anyone who approached him and appeared to actively listen to their concerns. He engaged, he took part in the conversations.

And I made sure to reserve my judgment.

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