Page 1076 of One More Kiss

“Fae blood is strong blood. Without the proper upbringing your magic can implode and damage you. Or explode and damage others. Only in Faerie can it be truly mastered and that is why I claimed Alyssia when I did. As I would have claimed you, if you didn’t hide.” He frowned. “You have achieved much on your own, and you survive. Your magic is strong. You should stay, there is much more I can teach you.”

“Nope. I’m doing fine on my own. I’m going home, you already agreed.” I know I sounded like a petulant child but I couldn’t help it. On the one hand I could see that he thought he was doing right by his family, his kin. But my loyalty was to Mom.

“Yes. You are free to go. If you cannot break the compulsion I will assist.”

“There’s one more thing.” I pointed at Alyssia. It was time to claim her back. To rescue her. “I’m taking my sister with me, and we’re leaving now, before midnight, so she’s not stuck here forever. You can say you claimed her if it makes you feel better, but it was never her choice.” And I was just going to assume that Jett was free to go seeing as he was forgiven.

“That’s not your decision to make.” The Prince waved Alyssia closer. “Have you talked to Alyssia about this? She is free to make up her own mind, of course. She is not a prisoner here.”

Alyssia laughed. “I think you’ve been tricked by a false myth.” She did finger quotes. “ ‘Escape from Faerie Land by Midnight on your 21st birthday or be stuck there forever.’”

“It’s not real?”

“Nope.” She glanced over to where Fin still stood. “And no offence, but I’d rather stay here.”

“You don’t want to meet Mom?” Mom would be so heartbroken once she knew.

“Of course I do. And I will.” She smiled. “But I wouldn’t know how to fit in over there. I’m happy here, and I’m going to stay.”

“Good. That’s settled. There’s one more piece of business to attend to.” The Prince stood. “Fin.”

“Sire.” Fin clicked his heels, standing to attention. It was so far from his usual posture that I nearly laughed out loud.

“I’m reassigning you. You will be returning to the human realm with Jett and Liandra to be the Fae Ambassador. This is a new position, which you will establish. You shall stay there until I decide you can return, reporting back to me every month. This is your punishment for being swayed by my daughters.” He smiled indulgently. “It seems they have both influenced your decisions.”

The Prince inclined his head towards Fin, then Jett. “Jett, you will assist Fin, and provide for him in your realm. Consider this the price for my forgiveness.”

Jett nodded, taking it in his stride.

Fin was a seasoned warrior and masked any feelings he might have had about this turn of events. Alyssia wasn’t so subtle. Tears welled in her eyes. “But, Father.”

I wondered if this assignment was about more than just punishing Fin. Perhaps it was about creating some distance between the two of them. Surely the Prince could sense that they’d bonded. I had a feeling this was his way of dealing with it.

He continued giving orders to Fin as if Alyssia hadn’t spoken. The man had impressive focus. “Escort Liandra and Jett to the Midnight Gate and then return to make preparations for your Ambassadorship.”

Dismissing Fin with a curt nod, he stepped toward me and held out both hands. Jett released my hand, and the Prince pulled me upright. He cupped my face and leaned forward, pressing his lips to my forehead. There was a buzzing in my head which intensified then popped with a burst of color, just like at our first meeting.

He released me and I almost face planted into the table. Jett’s hand on my shoulder was the only thing that stopped me. I hadn’t seen or felt him move. “What was that?” I asked.

“For your departure I’ve gifted you with our language. From my thoughts to yours, and sealed with my kiss. It is yours for your life. Read and written.”

The cadence and wording, so similar to when he’d gifted me the language ‘spoken and heard’ made me think this was some sort of ritual. A boon, Fin had said.

The Prince smiled. “You now have full access to your native tongue. Forgive me for omitting the written word at our first meeting.”

I smiled back at him. For all his arrogance, he was a good man. A good Faery, rather. “I am honoured.”

* * *

We leftfor the Midnight Gate immediately, accompanied by Fin and Alyssia. She let me use her magical lapis lazuli gem to transit back to the base of the giant staircase. I’d been there before and it was as easy as breathing. So much for Fin’s ‘lifetime of training’ comments.

“You’ll be able to transport other people eventually,” said Alyssia. She’d taken Jett and Fin had transited on his own.

When I tried to give the gem back she wouldn’t take it. “You keep it. For when you visit. I will get another.”

“Is there an easier way up the staircase?” I looked up, and up, and up.

Fin laughed and shook his head. “You must climb it the hard way. But we will bring some tortita to replenish ourselves. ”

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