Page 38 of The Lost Fae
Lincoln slips his hand into mine and we stroll to the door. "Next up, you can learn how to fly."
Butterflies fill my stomach. One step at a time, I'll get there. And one day I'll be flying.
Fucking yeah! Being a Fae is awesome.
"Now, how do you think we get to the dining hall?" Lincoln asks.
In all my wanderings, I'd only gotten to explore the ground floor of about one of the three large towers this mansion is made up of. That's not even to say there isn't an upstairs or downstairs. Lincoln twists the door knob open, looking around its edge before letting it swing wide on its hinges. The hallway is empty on the other side. Still, he tucks me behind him as he edges past the door frame. He straightens the smallest ounce, something I'm sure only I could catch.
We have some lovely troll friends waiting for us.
On cue, the sound of stone against stone grinds loudly, the trolls head swiveling towards us. "Please allow me to show you to your meal." Their voices aren't as pleasant when they don't talk together. Much plainer and grittier against my senses then when they speak in a natural harmony.
Lincoln weighs the options for a single heartbeat before he nods at the troll. The troll teeters in the hallway and hits the ground softer than a boulder of their weight should. Their rough edges scratch along the floor as they move down the hall.
I hold my chin high and step out with Lincoln. The building looks much the same in the morning light as it had in the evening with few windows to light up the long corridors. Lanterns flicker their long-lasting flames, making the hall glow orange.
We don't hide in the shadows as I did last night. Though my eyes are constantly searching, waiting for the pirates to step out of hiding at any point. I wouldn't put it past Captain Beatrice Ann to have some sort of an ambush planned for the two of us. After watching them scare off Barnabus and his crew from taking their supplies, I have no doubt that they could put me and Lincoln up to something dangerous if prepared.
That is one thing that living with these Fae has done for me. I'm always prepared. For good... or for bad. These kingdoms and magical beings had more up their sleeves than humans ever did. I'm always ready for a fight. Kai had taught me not to trust, even though Lincoln had told me not to trust Fae on more than one occasion. But I'm also prepared for the good. For sex in closets, for exposed secrets that work to my advantage, and for the potential magic that still lies waiting within myself.
Being the Mortal Queen is like living my life on a rollercoaster. The highs are high, but it only takes a swift turn before I'm plunging down into magic-bound danger.
Has Lincoln ever ridden a roller coaster? Could it even compare to flying?
Even now with sweaty palms, walking casually to talk with the queen and enjoy a meal, I have hope for Lincoln and I's future. I'm making plans. Though I know that it will take some time for me to get my kingdom under control before my planned vacation to the human realm.
How much would technology evolve without me? Would it be a century before I could see the place I grew up again? The picture of Collin suddenly old and grey seizes me with a strong sense of sorrow. The human life comes and goes in an instant. It's nothing to me now, to the years I face ahead.
I think on Jase as we turn down a hall and I can hear a quiet chatter. He is Shadow Fae. He has magic too. Wings, I suddenly realize. Jase should have wings just as I do. How had I not thought of this before? Where is Jase's magic locked away? Why is no one helping him get his?
That will change. I'll help him. We can visit his mother.
In due time.Lincoln's voice interrupts my thoughts.You're the priority.
Because I'm the queen. Sometimes it's still hard to grasp that. Human Briar was nothing more than a pretty prop on someone’s arm. Fae Briar... she's powerful, she's...
Captivating. Brave. Just.Lincoln starts to complete my sentence for me.Though I quite liked human Briar as well.
Though I quite liked human Briar as well.
Two large oval doors are propped open where the troll stops rolling. Inside the room is a long table with pirates seated on either side. Steam rises off of plates and china rings as people lift and set down their utensils. As they catch us standing outside the doors, they slowly lower the volume of their conversations and turn their heads to us.
My eyes are on Anastasia long before her eyes are on us. She's the youthful self I remember seeing last night! When before she was in mid to late twenties, she now looks like a young teenager. Her gown is even cinched in closer to her much smaller waist
"You've finally made it for breakfast! Oh good, I was worried you would sleep the entire day away. Please, help yourself to a seat and to our meal." She waves her slight hand at the trays and bowls of food.
I turn to Lincoln, hoping for some sort of reaction. Any recognition that Anastasia doesn't quite look the same. It's the elephant in the room that everyone is already sidestepping. Lincoln places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me forward without a word, all while keeping his cool and confident expression. Though I try, the look of shock and intrigue must be written all over my face.
Close your mouth and sit down. I see it.
There it is. I force my lips back together giving the group a slight smile as I let Lincoln pull out a shaky wooden chair for me. Scanning the food, I find a tray of biscuits, bowls of fruit, a thick pot of oatmeal, and an even larger cut of ham. I have to wonder if the food is safe to eat. The pirates could always be plotting and planning to poison me to keep me from using the knowledge that I have.
I look up as I pull the seat underneath me and look back into Captain Beatrice's dark brown eyes. She doesn't smile back at me, her mouth is pulled in a pressed straight line. Even Johanna, sitting next to her is totally still as she watches me right back. Her hand is bawled into a fist on top the table. If we're not careful, I'm sure the pirates would be more than content with an all-out brawl breaking out right now.
"Is there...I seem to be feeling some tension. Is everything all right?" Anastasia quips.
"Everything is quite fine." Lincoln smiles politely looking between Captain Beatrice's glare and mine with mock confusion. Good job, Ziko. Let them think I've told you nothing. Maybe that will set them at ease. "Everything is good, right?" He adjusts his chair under himself pointing the question at me.
