Page 31 of The Fae Girl 1

“Ah I see.” Jelric said.

“If you’d left me there I would be safe. But no, you have to drag me half way across the country, tied up to a horse no less.” I continued, feeling the anger rising more. It felt like none of them were even properly listening. It felt like they had a script of how this meeting would go but I’d be damned if I was just going to play along.

“I told you the girl would not listen.” Fain said to Jelric.

“She doesn’t believe she is Fae.” Jelric murmured.

“You need to make her believe. You have to reason with her.” Marke said wringing his hands as they all turned into each other, ignoring me completely.

“What does it matter? We do not need this Fae girl.” Fain replied.

“Yes we do.” Marke urged. “She could be the difference in this war. She could help…”

“Help?” Fain scoffed. “Look at her.”

“If we have her on our side...”

“I have a name.” I yelled.

They all turned to look at me.

“I’m not just some Fae girl.” I glared at Fain, meeting his eyes for the first time.

Adrenaline was pumping through me, my heart was racing. I closed my eyes trying to calm myself because the last thing I needed right now was a panic attack.

When I opened them Jelric was looking at me as though he was only just seeing me properly. As if he was only just now realising I was a real person.

“We have been so caught up in what we need we have not even considered yours.” He said simply, motioning for me to sit and this time I accepted before I realised what I was doing. “What is your name?”

I hesitated for a moment. “It’s Alice.” It felt weird saying it out loud, like I was revealing some great secret. Giving into them somehow. Betraying myself almost.

“Alliss.” Marke said quietly as though practising how to get his tongue around the syllables.

“It’s really not that weird a name.” I said to him.

“Maybe not for you.” He replied before blushing bright red and despite the situation I found myself smirking.

And then I looked back at Jelric who was still analysing me like I was some weird mystery he needed to figure out. “Look, I know you all think I’m some magical creature, but I’m not. It’s all a big misunderstanding. I’m just a girl. I’m powerless. It’s like Fain said…”

Marke took a sharp intake of breath.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s Prince Fain.” He replied quickly glancing at the High Prince who hadn’t reacted. Who clearly wasn’t as offended as the Magi seemed to be.

“Fine, Prince Fain.” I replied holding my hands up in surrender. From the corner of my eye I could see the Prince was now smirking slightly, like I’d made a joke and he was trying not to respond. I gritted my teeth again.

“What if I show you?” Jelric asked.

“Show me what?” I snapped.

“Show you your powers?”

That made me pause. Made me freeze. From the look on his face it was clear he believed whatever he had planned would work in his favour.

“I don’t know.” I said. “I just…”

“Trust me.” Jelric said moving to stand right in front of me now.

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