Page 29 of A Bargain with the Fae King

I tuck the phone down in the grass with a prayer for no rain. Riven clutches my hand in an almost painful death grip the whole time. Really, what’s so dangerous about a door? If they come here, if they find it somehow, at least they’ll be able to see what I tried to tell them: “We’re alive. I’m bringing May home. Don’t worry.”

That last bit, I delete. It’s foolish to tell them not to when I know they will.

“Okay, we can—” I start.

The words hang incomplete in the air when the world shifts around us again, and we’re standing in a grassy field under the blazing sun.

“A little warning next time?” I stomp my foot in emphasis. Impatient man. I want to get to May as much as anyone, but he’s wasting no time at all.

“My apologies,” he says with a slight dip of his head.

The ground under us is stone, engraved with odd grooves and swirls that we might be standing in the center of. A few feet beyond lies short grass, as perfect and manicured as lawns in rich neighborhoods. Well, except for the places where the horses have kicked up little clumps here and there. A number of fae wait with them, tightening packs on their back and giving them treats.

I twist around, and the castle looms a little way behind us. It was impressive at night, a twinkling tower. In the daylight, it looms like an ancient ruin, many stories high with trees of all sorts sprouting up within and on its walls. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it abandoned to time long ago, but unlike the ruins of our world, the plant life hasn’t taken over as if to return the construct to nature. Instead, the two live together in a weird harmony, as if nature embraces and strengthens it. I shudder at the oddness, the strange beauty that could never exist in my world.

Only then do I realize my nails are digging into Riven’s hand where I clench it in a death grip. Ithasto hurt, but he doesn’t say anything, just lets me get my bearings.

I return my attention to the fae. They’ve stopped what they were doing and stare our way. Waiting for us. I suck in a breath of crisp, fresh air and release his hand. Or I try to, but Riven keeps a light grip and tugs me with him toward the waiting fae and all too earth-like horses. With all the other oddities, unicorns would make more sense.

“These are the members of my elite guard.” Riven brings us to a halt and gestures to the assembled. “May I introduce you all to Lady Lia.”

Bows greet me in return, and I stiffen. There’s that title again. The urge to hide behind Riven or run back to the castle has never been so great.Lady…As if I were a high-born, proper lady being presented to a queen in ages long past.

I nearly snort. It’s too grand for someone like me.

“Ambrose.” Riven slips his hand from mine and joins the man. It’s all I can do to keep my attention from wandering to the various outbuildings dotting the landscape or the forest looming beyond the grassy field.

Something about the fae Riven speaks with tickles a memory. Tall, almost Riven’s height, with shorter, dark brown hair and a jagged scar running along one cheek. The armor that he wears is a little nicer than the other fae around us. They’re all gold trees today.

Those eyes. That scar.

“You were the bear!” I clap a hand over my mouth.

Conversation halts.

Ambrose slides his brown gaze over to me and winks. “Bright girl.” He swats Riven firmly on the shoulder. “I like her already.”

I grin at him. It couldn’t hurt to have a bear on your side, especially one who treats a king like an equal. Though dang, it would have been so helpful if he’d just talked to me then instead of stalking away.

Riven beckons me over. “This is Ambrose,” he says. “The captain of my military and head of my elite guard.”

How does one introduce themselves to a fae? Having no idea, I decided to stick with the human approach and hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lia.”

Ambrose takes it and gives me one firm shake. “Well met. I can already see you’ll be a boon to us here.”

A what? My brows wrinkle, but I shake the question away in favor of a better one nagging at me.

“Can you become a bear like Ambrose?” I ask Riven.

“Unfortunately, that skill still eludes me.”

A deep jovial laugh rumbles from Ambrose. “He’s always been jealous of me for that little trick. We don’t all have the same skills, you see. Some are common. Others rare.”

Huh, like humans, I guess. Some of us are good at sports. Others music or art. And a few get all the gifts. Too bad I’m not one of those.

“You were saying that the Unseelie who took Lia’s sister are hiding out in the eastern wood?” Riven asks.

May. I bounce on my toes, eager for news.

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