Dragon Fae (The World of Fae) (5 page)

He was shaking so hard, twisting his head back and forth, unable to say the word, “No.” Then incapable of standing any longer, he fell to his knees, his face as white as new fallen snow, his pupils dilated so they were now all black.

Ena flapped her wings, settled them close to her body, and studied the teen.

Alicia quickly said, “He might be one of us.” She thought he might be salvageable, and she believed he hadn’t wanted to kill her so she wanted to offer him a reprieve.

The dragon looked at her, and for an instant, Alicia worried Ena’s human…or fae part of her brain…might disappear when the dragon took over and leave her with a purely beast mentality. Ena gave her a toothy grin, sharp little teeth, and vampire-to-die-for wicked canines both on the upper half of her mouth and the lower jaw.

Alicia tried not to swallow hard or shudder or act anything more than I’m-a-dragon-fae-princess-so-you-have-to-obey-me look.

Then Ena shifted back into the Goth girl. “I was to bring back whoever took you hostage. But good point.” She turned to the teen who managed to throw up his lunch all over the floor.

“Are you
sure
you want me to keep that promise?” Ena asked Alicia, wrinkling her nose at Brett, looking more than annoyed.

Alicia was surprised that Ena would take Alicia’s orders over her grandfather’s. If the king said the boy was to be turned over to him, it was Ena’s duty to do so. Which made Alicia appreciate the gesture.

“Your call.” Ena held her arms outstretched as if she was getting ready to shift into a dragon again and use her fire to wipe out Brett this time.

“She said I might be one of you,” Brett managed to croak, his voice hoarse.

Ena smiled, but it was not a friendly look.

“We’ll take him back with us. But we’ve got to let Deveron know I’m all right and not to come here looking for me,” Alicia said.

“Fine.” Ena said to Brett. “You’ve got a pardon. For the moment. Think well on what you’ve done to our kind, human.”

He rose, scowling at her. But Alicia was glad he held his tongue. She wasn’t all that certain that Ena would take much lip from the guy. And if he made a move toward them, or tried to escape, Alicia was sure Ena wouldn’t hesitate to turn him into a pile of ashes also.

“Unlock her,” Ena ordered. “You’re going to see our fae world. Though you might not like it much where you’ll be.”

He shakily stumbled over to Alicia, unlocked her shackles, trying not to cause her any more pain than she was already feeling. His blue eyes looked into hers, beseeching her to protect him…or something.

“Do you really think I might be one of you?” he asked softly, as if he was afraid the dragon shifter might incinerate him for even asking.

“Maybe,” Alicia said.

Or maybe not. What did she know? From what she’d read about fae seers was that they had some fae roots, but they couldn’t be fae because they weren’t pure fae. Sometimes the fae took humans into their world and gifted them with their powers, if they favored the human. But sometimes it didn’t work out, and they’d have to take their powers away and return them to the human world. Then they were like lost souls, knowing of a world beyond their own that they’d been part of but could never return to.

“Shall we?” Ena said, then grabbed his arm with a rough-you-are-the-prisoner touch and encircled Alicia’s arm gently, then transported them to the dark fae castle of the Denkar, Donao. They ended up in the great hall where the place was virtually devoid of people. Where
was
everyone?

Ena released Alicia’s arm. She frowned when Alicia was unable to stand because of the dizzying nausea the fae transport had caused and sank to her butt. “Are you all right?” Ena asked.

The dragon shifter almost looked embarrassed for her. The human stood there, Ena’s hand still gripping his arm as if she thought he might try to run away, looking shocked to see the castle, but he didn’t seem to be affected by the fae travel in the least.

“Fae travel,” Alicia said, annoyed with herself. She tried to stand, but grew so dizzy, she gave up on it. She hated to admit that that she couldn’t travel great distances without the fae way of traveling making her sick.

A maid, coming in through the servants’ quarters from several hundred feet away, spied them. For a moment, she just stared at them, trying to figure out who they were.

Ena called out to the maid, “I’ve brought Princess Alicia here. I must return her at once to Crislis Castle. But we had to let Prince Deveron know…”

“Oh my goddess,” the lady shrieked, hands flying to her cheeks, brown eyes huge in her small face. “Guards!” she screamed. “Guards!”

Alicia hoped she was calling the guards to take the prisoner in hand for the moment, and not with the thought that she and Ena were also dangerous to the dark fae.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ena asked Alicia.

Alicia was surprised to hear the genuine concern in Ena’s voice. “Yeah. Fine. Thanks.”
Not.
She knew she wasn’t the only fae who got sick with the travel, but it didn’t make her feel any better about it.

The maid ran to close the distance between them and knelt quickly beside the princess. “”My lady, can I help you?”

“I’ll be all right.” She was going to ask the maid if she could locate Prince Deveron and tell him she was okay, but a dozen guards rushed into the great hall like a stampede of ravenous hounds and Alicia instantly began issuing orders. “Inform Queen Irenis and Prince Deveron at once that Princess Alicia is here and safe. And…” She looked at Ena. “The Dragon Slayer, Ena, has captured a fae seer.”

The maid’s eyes grew huge.

Ena smiled down at Alicia, apparently liking the nickname she had chosen for her.

One of the men quickly took off.

When three of the guards took Brett in hand, Ena said, “Be gentle with him. He is
my
prize for King Tibero.”

“What about my friends?” Brett finally had the nerve to ask.

“You would do well to distance yourself from them. They are no longer your concern but Queen Irenis’s. Though it is too late to give advice, let me tell you this, never take a royal fae prisoner. It’s just a very bad thing to do,” Ena said.

Alicia instructed the fae guard, “She will be taking the prisoner with her.” She might not like some of the stuff that went along with being a fae princess, but she did love being able to give orders and that people actually snapped to and carried them out.

“What about you?” Brett asked Alicia, his eyes wide. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

She didn’t have a chance to answer as she heard a man shouting as he rushed down the stairs to the dungeon, “My queen! My prince! Princess Alicia is here!”

Alicia smiled.

The tromping of boots on the stairs echoed across the great hall, indicated a lot more than just Deveron was on his way to see to her welfare.

She really hated that she couldn’t get off the floor. He looked so shook up, she didn’t think she’d ever seen her prince look so upset and angry at the same time. She smiled at him, although she imagined her smile wasn’t as cheerful as she wished to offer him, trying to assure him she really was okay. Her stomach was still so queasy and her head spinning, that she couldn’t do much more than that.

His dark eyes were nearly black as he stormed across the great hall, his gaze shifting to the assembled guards, the prisoner, the maid, Ena, and then Alicia again, sitting on the floor.

“Alicia,” he said, his voice barely a whisper and he sounded like he was choked up. He reached down and lifted her into his arms and held her tight.

She felt his warmth, his hardness, heard his heart beating as if he’d been running a marathon, his ragged breath, breathed in the smell of him—of woods and spices and him. She wasn’t sure she’d ever see him again, and close to him like this…she was in fae heaven.

“Ahem,” Ena said, “I’m supposed to take her back to her grandfather.”

“Later,” Deveron said, sounding as though he was attempting not to roar as he gave the dragon shifter an irritated
don’t-question-my-authority-in-this
look.

“She saved my life, Deveron,” Alicia said, warning him to be nice.

“She has no say in where you’re going.” He frowned down at Alicia. “Unless you wished to see your grandfather first.”

She shook her head. This is where she wanted to be. In Deveron’s arms. She knew Ena would get word to her grandfather that she was all right. She knew further that he would be furious that she didn’t return with the dragon shifter. But this was where she needed and wanted to be more than anything else in the world.

“Good, because you weren’t going.” Deveron stalked out of the great hall and outside to the gardens.

She laughed, amused that he’d say so.

Chapter 4

Ena belatedly curtseyed to Queen Irenis who was eyeing her curiously. Ena had heard the queen of the Denkar could be a terror on the best of days and a fae or human’s worst nightmare. Ena wore black because she knew it could stir panic in the hearts of mankind. Black gave the impression of power and authority. Could anyone imagine how Ena could strike terror in the hearts of any person if she was wearing…pink, for instance? Or sunshiny yellow?

Somehow she couldn’t see scaring anyone if she wore those colors.

Well, the queen wore red. Everyone who knew anything about her knew she was in a fit of terror when she wore red. It was her
you’d-better-not-aggravate-me
look, or
you’re history
.

She wore the color well, Ena thought. The red was a blue-red like blood, not one of those pretty orange-red fall colors. Or purple-red that said
I like to show off my plumage in a bright and vibrant way.

Niall and Micala stood beside her, her nephews, looking they were her personal bodyguards.

“Thank you for bringing her back to us,” the queen said.

Ena swore the queen’s eyes shimmered with tears. Queen Irenis cast a dark look at Brett, and he had the good sense to quickly look down at the floor and not challenge her with his human’s gaze. Who knew what the queen might have resorted to doing, and Ena really wanted to bring back at least one hostage. Especially since she lost Alicia to Prince Deveron. She really liked the princess, surprised she would stick up for her in front of Deveron.

“My pleasure, Queen Irenis. If you ever have need of my services,
anything,
you have but to ask.”

It never hurt to be on the good side of a monarch ruling another kingdom. Particularly when the two kingdoms had been sworn enemies in the past, and Ena never knew when she might be out of favor with the current ruling monarch. One minute, she was the king—or queen’s—most worthy courtier, and the next? Dragon fodder.

“If you ever need anything from me…,” the queen said graciously.

“Thank you. I was supposed to take Alicia back with me to see her grandfather.”

The queen frowned.

Okay, that was going too far.

“Anything but that.” The queen gave her a wicked smile.

Ena sighed. She figured after seeing Deveron scoop up Alicia in his arms and carry her away, she wasn’t going to convince either of them she had to return the princess to King Tibero’s court anytime soon.

“I must take this prisoner with me then.”

“He is yours. We will keep the other two.”

Hoping not to make an instant enemy of the queen when she’d just earned a tentative working relationship with her, Ena had to say, “As long as King Tibero is agreeable.” She couldn’t speak for the king himself. She guessed he was going to be angry enough that she didn’t bring Alicia back this trip. “I must go.”

The queen nodded. She didn’t offer for Ena to stay for the celebratory feast that Ena knew they’d have in Alicia’s honor, but that was most likely because the queen knew Ena had other pressing obligations. King Tibero would not appreciate waiting to hear the good news concerning his granddaughter.

“Come on, you,” Ena said, seizing Brett’s arm.

The dark fae guards quickly released him.

“Now you get to meet the king of the dragon fae who will decide
your
fate.”

And they were off.

***

Deveron had not put Alicia down yet as he carried her into the gardens, hiding them away behind a locked gate and high stone walls that only could barely be seen towering over fifteen-foot tall green yew hedges. The sky shown above, milky white clouds scattered across the sea of light blue, birds twittering about, though she couldn’t see any.

She hated to speak to him about the problem with Cassie and Micala, but she knew that she had to. This issue between them had to be resolved one way or another.

Deveron sat down with Alicia on his lap on a curved wooden bench held up by two wrought iron ferocious-looking lions, mouths bared, showing off their wicked teeth.

“You went to see Cassie instead of me,” he said, his dark gaze fixed on her eyes, his expression somber. He sounded disappointed, more than angry with her.

“I was going to break up Cassie’s relationship with Micala once and for all.”

“You were going to destroy your friendship with her.” Deveron sounded surprised.

Alicia couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes at the thought. She’d been friends with Cassie since pre-school. Finger-painting, playing dress up—she considered her velvet gown and realized she was back to playing dress up—and then later, sharing secrets about boys. She didn’t want to hurt Cassie. She didn’t want to end their friendship. Not ever.

She hadn’t ever had a friend as loving or a friendship that had lasted as long as the closeness she’d shared with Cassie. She hated having to destroy it, but if it meant saving her from Micala and what would happen to Cassie because he didn’t wish to give her up, Alicia would do nearly anything.

“She’ll be all right, Alicia.” Deveron brushed the top of her head with a kiss.

She stiffened. “Micala—”

“I will kill Micala if this means I will lose you,” Deveron said fiercely.

Alicia stared up at Deveron, not believing his words, yet his hard expression said he would be willing to do anything to keep her safe. “Your cousin.” The words came out on a whispered breath. “You can’t. He’s your cousin.”

“If his seeing Cassie means I could lose
you
…” He didn’t say anything more as if it was too difficult to speak of the possibility, and he appeared deadly serious.

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“Then
what
, Alicia? What had you intended to do?
Exactly.
” He was angry now. Angry at her and angry at Micala. She didn’t think he was upset with Cassie. She was the innocent pawn in the whole blasted mess.

Alicia looked away from Deveron’s searching gaze, not having planned to tell him what she had intended to do. It would just be done. She’d lose her best friend forever, saving her from the cruelty of the fae and—

“Alicia?”

“I was going to tell her I was in love with Micala and he was in love with me, but he didn’t know how to break it off with her.” She choked on the lie that would break her friend’s heart. “That’s why he rarely visits her. And that’s why
I
rarely see her either. Because…because I love him.”

Deveron squeezed her tighter against his chest, his mouth pressed against her forehead and the brigand was smiling! She was dying here, destroying her friendship with her best friend, the ultimate sacrifice, and he was smiling!

She brushed away tears and scowled up at him. “It
isn’t
funny.” Her voice was dark and dragon roughened and choked with tears.

His smile broadened, and he chuckled. He said her name with such tenderness, shaking his head at the same time, not allowing her to leave his lap when she struggled to. He was
so
maddening.

“She would
never
have believed you.”

Alicia stopped wriggling and stared up at him. “She would.” Not sounding sure of herself. She imagined she’d be crying the whole time, trying to make the whole thing sound like the truth, but she knew as soon as she spoke the words to Cassie, she would have broken down and cried her heart out.

“No, she wouldn’t. She would know that you believe that Micala is bad for her. She wouldn’t understand why. But she’d know that your heart was in the right place. That you were trying to stop them from seeing each other. But she wouldn’t believe that you were in love with him.”

“Okay, fine. You’ll have to kill Micala then.” She snuggled against Deveron’s chest, loving the hard warm feel of him, the spicy familiar male scent of him, the comforting beat of his heart, the way his arms were wrapped so snuggly around her as if he never wanted to let go.

He chuckled. “Fine, I’ll tell him tomorrow.”

“You can’t.”

He smiled at her. “We’ll think of something.”

And then he was kissing her, their hearts racing, his mouth on hers, his lips soft, his tongue pressing to deepen the kiss, his hands combing through her hair as though he couldn’t get enough of her. Nor could she of him. Her whole body heated. She knew this was it. That they couldn’t wait any longer. That they wouldn’t wait. She could have died. And she wasn’t letting her grandfather decide this for her any further.

As if Deveron knew just how she felt, he transported her to his bedchamber. The wicked fae.

And she smiled just as wickedly back.

“Are you all right?” he asked, rubbing her arm, his eyes dark and intrigued, her skin prickling slightly with the transport.

“Yes,” she said. “We didn’t go that far.” She knew from the dark look in his eyes that he didn’t want to wait to be married to her. But he was waiting to sense if she was ready for this.

She cupped his face and kissed his mouth, letting him know it was time.

***

Ena expected King Tibero would not be completely satisfied with the news that she had brought only one of the four fae seers to his court who had taken Princess Alicia hostage. He made allowances that she’d killed the one, but he wasn’t happy about the other two who were in Queen Irenis’s dungeon. As to Princess Alicia, the king was definitely vexed that his granddaughter continued to disobey his rules and was seeing Prince Deveron instead of returning home at once. His face purple with barely controlled rage, he said, “Kill the human.”

“The princess—”

That earned the king’s glower.

Ena continued, “The princess thought he might be one of us.”

“He intended to kill my granddaughter!”

“Yes, but she said he might be like she had been, a fae living among humans, not knowing of her true place here.”

That made the king turn to look at the fae seer again. Not that if he was of the fae that would guarantee he’d live. Brett had killed fae already. Ena thought that the mention that Alicia had once believed she was only a fae seer made the king realize he could have passed the same judgment on his own granddaughter, if he hadn’t known it was her, and she’d killed the fae who had come after her for being a fae seer.

He ground his teeth and looked up at Ena. She knew the teen’s fate was in the king’s hands, but something about Brett made her want to…well not exactly champion his cause…

Or, maybe so. Ena had appreciated the unique approach Alicia had as she saw the world from both a human and fae perspective. That the teen looked to Alicia as his champion. And for some unknown and totally disconcerting way, Ena wished the human had seen
her
in that same way. Not as his captor and possibly his executioner, but as his salvation, his champion.

“You said I could have anything I wished if I saved the princess’s life.”

“She is not here…with me,” the king growled.

“Yes, but she is safe.”

“With Prince Deveron?” The king snorted.

“I wish to make the human my slave,” Ena quickly said, before she changed her mind and didn’t care what became of him and before the king grew so irate about her not bringing the princess home, he decided she didn’t deserve any reward at all.

Or worse. A courtier never could tell when a king…or queen, decided the person was more of a detriment than it was worth and that would be the end of the fae.

Ena had come to the human’s aid, she told herself, because Alicia would have done so herself. She liked the princess, who hadn’t seen Ena as something vile—a dragon fae who could shift into a dragon. Maybe it was because Alicia was different also—not fully dragon fae, and she’d been raised among humans.

The boy cast a quick worried glance at Ena as if he was concerned he might become her practice target while she worked on her skill at breathing fire. As if she needed practice. He looked back at the king who was studying her carefully.

“Why?” he asked. “You love gold and jewels. You hoard them. That’s all you’ve ever asked for when you’ve completed an assignment for me. This mission was more important to me than any other you’ve done. You could ask for anything. Why this…” The king waved his hand at Brett like he was an insignificant pest. “…
human?
”

“He will be malleable,” she said. “I haven’t had a slave in years.” Never, but she didn’t want the king to hear of it. They were too much of a nuisance. She’d much rather have fae servants who she paid a decent wage to and who were like family—in their odd sort of way.

The king sat back on his throne and looked circumspect, as if he was seriously considering her request, maybe trying to figure out what she was up to. “Your brother won’t like it.”

“We live apart. He doesn’t have to like what I do.”

“You can keep this human under your control?” the king asked.

As if he had to ask. She smiled. “He knows exactly what I can do to him should he disobey me in any way.”