Page 20 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“I know that,” Xavier responded. He released my arm—which instantly made the weight lift from my chest—and snatched his bag from the ground.
“Can you walk?” Xavier asked, and there was a curious way that he looked at me now. When I nodded, he distanced himself further from me, but his gaze was wary. He gestured for me to walk with him. “In this realm, you have Bryce, Brayden, and myself to help you. And, of course, the Proxies. Their role is for more advice and guidance—even training. But we, your first Officers, are for more practical matters.”
I stepped past him, and he fell into motion beside me.
Why didn’t he ask about my freak-out?
“Is that so?” I offered, my voice weaker than expected.
He glanced at me, eyebrow quirking, but didn’t remark. “Outside of us, there are the rulers of the fae—two royal sets forthe Unseelie and Seelie courts. They never leave the realm. Plus, unless an outside force kills them, they are immortal.”
Brayden had explained part of that during our classes, but I still wasn’t used to hearing it framed so plainly. Damen also had overseers in hell, right?
He’d said it was similar.
“Why are they—” I began, but Xavier beat me to it.
“You’ve given them their immortality,” Xavier explained, glancing sideways at me. “You’re the only person they answer to and the only one who can stop the Unseelie King from further hurting your people.”
My people…
My heart was racing, a strange sense of possessiveness washing over me.
But still… it wasn’t enough. I was nowhere near ready to confront aking.
“Why can’t you talk to him?” I asked, turning my attention to the tops of my shoes. “You’re one of my Officers. Shouldn’t he listen to you?”
“Technically, yes,” Xavier said. “If we’re working on your behalf, they are supposed to regard us in that way. And—forgive me—I’ve tried assuming your authority because I’ve wanted to prevent the need for you to go there directly. But it didn’t work. He isn’t paying attention. He’ll only listen to the Xing.”
“But I can’t come out as the Xing.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek. Going to the Unseelie court and demanding an audience with a king was the opposite of low-key. Besides, there was another problem. Something that I hadn’t had a chance to discuss with Bryce or Brayden yet…
“Even if I went, it might not work anyway,” I cautioned Xavier, who seemed to be hanging on to my every word. “Don’t the fae have issues with women?”
Xavier nodded, his lips turning down as contemplation masked his face. “It’s true. Even the queen is, or was, a figurehead. I’m not surehowthe courts will react to any of this, to be honest.”
I paused, looking up at him. I couldn’t believe I was asking this, but… “What doyouthink about me?”
“I told you already.” Xavier seemed genuinely puzzled at my question. “Although your physical appearance is unexpected, I’m not bothered.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because.” His gaze held mine, steadfast and confident. “Our people had no hope for so long, and I had no idea you existed. I’m just glad you’rehere. Who cares that you’re a woman? Anything else doesn’t matter. But regarding your earlier concern, I’m not asking you to announce to the world who you are.”
Then what did he want? Certainly not that… plan. “What do you expect me to do?”
He glanced around once before responding, his voice lowered. “I want you to go undercover with me to the Unseelie court. You’ll be safest as one of my associates. Perhaps that can trigger a response from Mu—he’s extremely manipulative, and I’m sure you can figure out a way to make the king listen to youwithoutexposing your identity.”
My heartbeat echoed in my ears, and the air grew even colder. The manipulative bit sounded almost like an insult, if not for the note of admiration in his voice.
He seemed confident, but how could he have that much faith in me? I couldn’t pull off something like that.
“I’ve been studying Mu mywhole life.” Xavier glanced past me. “I’m certain you can do this.”
“Xavier!” Anthony stepped beside me, not-so-discreetly angling himself between me and my Tongjun. “You were told to wait!”
Xavier straightened, and the calm blanket fell back over his features. “You have no right to stop me. Besides, I’m only here as a messenger. Do Yun asked me to talk to her.” He shot me a pointed look—asking me to play along. “He’s starting to get a complex because Bianca won’t visit him.”
Crap, I’d completely forgotten about Dr. Nam. I’d been doing an excellent job avoiding him, but was he seriously waiting for me to show up?
