Faery Queen (24 page)

Tania quivered in his arms, her lashes fluttering as she looked at him. Her dark clothing changed to a beautiful gown of soft material. It shimmered in the firelight, like sunlight on fresh snow sparkling like diamonds. The bodice was tight, hugging down to her hips and flaring into a flowing skirt adorned with tiny roses.

“Hugh,” she whispered, gazing up at him. She looked so beautiful, so healthy yet she felt fragile in his arms. He wanted to protect her, to hold her close and make sure no one ever hurt her.

“Keep doing whatever it is you are doing,” Hugh told her. His body tingled, itching along the spine and around his head.

“I love you,” she said, breathless. The queen smiled at him. It was a weak look, but made his heart soar. “I feel you. I felt you calling me. I heard you. I love you.”

“I love you,” Hugh said. “I am sorry for everything.”

“Argh!” Lucien yelled. “Stop talking!”

Hugh held Tania tighter.

“I am sorry you cannot leave.” She fisted her hands in his tunic. “I did not mean for it. I did not mean—”

“I know.” Hugh cut her off.

“I still get my night in the mortal realm,” Lucien demanded. He stayed away from their glowing bodies as if the magic of it kept him back. “You made a blood pact with me, Tania. You have to honor it. I upheld my end. I brought Lord Bellemare here. I left his family unharmed for a fortnight.”

Hugh, with the aide of Tania's power, had knowledge flowing inside him. He instantly understood. “Nay, William.”

“I took him before the pact,” Lucien said.

“But he hurt himself in your prisons,” Hugh said.

“What?” Tania asked, confused.

“William complains about the ache in his body constantly,” Hugh explained. “That is enough of a harm, is it not?”

Tania nodded. “Aye, it is.”

“Nay!” Lucien screamed. He lifted his hand, calling a rush of fire to him. “What are a few bruises?”

“Lucien!” Before the Damned King could call the flames to him, Mia darted out from behind a column. She dove for Lucien's waist, knocking him to the side. “Let them be. You lost. Let them be!”

Hugh stood, pulling Tania up with him as the two fell. Tania's wings started to flap, as she said, “We should go.”

Hugh began to walk.

“Think of yourself as small and use your wings,” Tania ordered. “We need to fly out of here.”

“My wings…” Hugh reached behind his back only to feel the silken texture of wings protruding from his spine. He walked in circles, trying to see them. “My wings?”

Hugh felt faint. Why did he have wings? And why could he feel them flapping in response to his fear as he was lifted off the ground.

 

Tania wasn't sure how it had happened, but she wasn't about to stop and question her good fortune as she led the way from Lucien's castle. As Lucien kept her in darkness, she'd heard every word they said to each other. Hugh knew the truth now, but she could feel that he forgave her and understood. And, for her, she felt his love for his family, for Bellemare. She had always understood that he cared for them, but now she felt his emotions as deeply as he did. A small fear welled inside her to know the sorrow he would feel once he had time to really contemplate never returning to the mortal realm, but she would find a way to help him protect Bellemare. Her happiness depended upon his. They were intertwined, two halves to a whole.

Hugh loved her. He said he loved her and she knew it was true because she was alive. And with those sweet words, he'd saved her life and faery magic. He was her king and he finally sprouted the wings to prove his rightful place at her side. Only he didn't know how to use them yet.

Hugh flew in a circle, gradually moving closer and closer to one of the hall columns. Tania grabbed his arm inches from impact, jerking him higher, out of harm's way. Below them Lucien screamed and she heard his slave arguing with him. Tania could do nothing for the woman. If she were to save her, Mia would only be returned to Lucien when he wanted her back.

Tania felt heat approaching and pushed Hugh out of the line of Lucien's fire. Flames shot past them. He kicked in the air and she imagined he was having a hard time controlling his new wings.

“Hugh, look at me.” Tania took both of his hands in hers, sending her power through him to help him transform to a miniature size. He did, poofing into smaller form. “Now, do not think, just fly.”

 

 

 

“I do not like this.” Thomas tethered Hugh's horse to his. He looked around the forest where they'd found the mount. None of them could detect any sign that the earl had gone into the trees, only the fact that he wasn't there.

Nicholas' mount had been hiding in the forest and appeared after their calls. William and Thomas searched in the direction it came from, but found nothing.

“We cannot leave without Hugh.” Thomas looked at William.

“Merrick,” Ladon said.

“Do not start that again,” William answered, “though it is better than ‘blood'. What was that about anyway?”

“Ean and Merrick are my blood,” Ladon explained.

“Ah,” William said, nodding. “Methought you meant blood-blood, not family blood.”

“Morbid,” Ladon said.

“Aye,” William agreed.

“Was Merrick here?” Thomas interrupted. “Do you sense him?”

“Nay, but I must see him,” Ladon said.

“I am not going anywhere without my brother,” Thomas said.

“He is not here,” the elf assured him. “He is gone. We had best be gone too. There is nothing we can do here.”

“I am not leaving without him.” Thomas didn't care if Ladon was a blessed prince. He wasn't about to leave Hugh behind. “So if you want to see Merrick, you had better help us find Hugh.”

“What about your sister?” Ladon tried to appear calm, but Thomas saw his eyes darting to the side in apprehension. “Merrick can help you find both of them. We need to go.”

“He could be right,” William said. “We looked through the forest. There is no sign. Most likely they were pulled through a portal of some sort.”

“Fine,” Thomas grumbled. “But this is one game I am tired of playing.”

 

 

 

Tania led Hugh from the Fire Palace into the forest. She flew as fast as she could, careful not to dart too quickly around passing tree limbs. Hugh was still too new to his wings to control where he flew.

“I want to go by ground,” Hugh said, sounding weak.

She glanced back. His face was pale and his eyes were rolling in his head. He looked as if he was about to be sick. Tania slowed her pace, leading him to perch on a branch.

“What has happened to me?” He flapped on his wings hard, wincing slightly as he was pulled back by them. She darted forward to keep him from falling over the side. “I feel different, light. Everything is so large.”

Tania followed his gaze up. She was used to changing her size, but could see how the gigantic forest might be unsettling to him. A bird swooped to land on the branch behind him. The animal was the same size as they were. Hugh jerked around to face it, reaching for his waist as if he'd find a sword.

“Shoo.” Tania motioned to the bird. The creature again took to flight.

“What is happening?” he asked again.

“You have turned.” She was afraid he wouldn't be happy with the change. “My love has turned you. I promise you will get used to them.”

“Is there a way to get rid of them? I cannot let my brothers see me like this.” Hugh reached behind him, turning on the branch. Then, as if noticing his wobbly position for the first time, he looked over the side and stiffened. He grabbed his stomach. “I would much rather be on the ground. Man is not meant to be so high in the air.”

“Hugh, I am sorry.” She reached for him. His eyes met hers. “But, I promise to find a way to get you back to Bellemare. I know you have to go and find your family. I know you have to get them safely back to Bellemare. And do not worry about the wings. I'll help you cast a glamour over yourself. No one will see them.”

“Tania,” he tried to break in, his voice strained.

“I understand now,” she tried to say everything she wanted to, “but you cannot go with them. I am sorry. You will die if you go back there. I cannot heal you of the affliction Lucien's demon cast upon you. I am so…”

Tania sobbed, unable to continue.

“Tania—” Hugh grabbed her by the arms and pulled her forward to his chest. She clung to him and the trees stirred.

“But Merrick might have a way.” She wondered why she hadn't thought of it before. She felt better than she had since meeting Hugh and her head was clear. “Aye, Merrick. I am sure he will be able to do something. The forest whispers that he has a very powerful witch in his dungeons. She can bring the dead back to life. If anyone can do something—”

“Tania,” Hugh tried again.

“I know, you have to go find them,” she cut him off. “I will send you to the Black Palace, to Juliana. I am sorry for all of this, for hurting you, but I did it because I love you.”

“Tania,” he said louder. “I love you, too. I do not blame you and I am sorry for not understanding why you did what you did. I do now. I love you.”

“Oh.” She made a weak noise of pleasure.

Hugh opened his mouth as if to continue speaking, but instead drew her forward into a deep kiss. She melted into his arms, her knees weakening. Suddenly, Hugh jerked back with a gasp. She opened her eyes only to realize they'd fallen off the high limb and were wildly plummeting through the air. Tania quickly righted them, helping him to the ground.

The forest wind picked up and she listened to the trees. “The forest is telling me you must go. Now. Lucien may follow us and your family needs you.”

“I am sorry for leaving you,” he said. “I am sorry I did not take you gently your first time in my bed. I did not know you were—”

“You do not have to say it. You saved me and my people.” A tear slid over her cheek. She didn't want to let him go, but he didn't belong here. He loved Bellemare too much and there was nothing she could give him to compare to that. “Let me now do the same for you. Come, there is a faery ring over here. It will take you to the Black Palace.”

“There is so much we still need to say.”

“I do not feel like we have time.” Tania led him to a small ring of dark grass on the ground. “I need to get back to my palace. My faeries need me and your family needs you.”

“You are right. I have to save them.” His eyes didn't leave her as he searched her face. “I have to make sure they are unharmed. William and Thomas were left in the forest and Merrick refused to let Thomas see Juliana. Then there are the horses—”

“Mmm, nay, worry not about the last foal. I will send my ladies to watch over it. They will assure it is safe, if it has not been born already.”

“I have been thinking. If we take some of the elfin stock with us, I am sure I can still save the line. It might take a few generations, but we will get it back.”

“You have to go, my love.” Tania tilted her head, gazing up at him, her eyes glowing with all the longing in her heart. “I understand you have to go back. Bellemare, the horses, your people, they need you.”

“Duty always beckons.” He touched her cheek. “And we as leaders must submit to its will.”

“It would seem there is never time for us, is there?” Tania gave a small, sad laugh.

“I am sorry, but—”

“You are right, you have been right. I understand that now, Hugh. I did not think about it before. I never realized how much my faeries depend upon me until I watched them fall apart as I lay dying. They could not find any to take my place. I am all the faeries have. Without me the magic dies.” Tania had grown used to their neediness, so much so she didn't realize how much they'd been draining her, how lonely she'd been. No wonder she'd been drawn to Hugh. He didn't need her, never had. “Honor and duty demands we do what we must, but the sacrifice seems too great this time. Regardless the loss, we are both forced, are we not? But if you could decide, if Bellemare did not need you, would you choose to stay with me?”

“Aye,” he answered without hesitation. “I would. I will. I will come back for you, Tania, I promise. This time I will come back.”

She gave a short laugh. “I have been told that before.”

“I'll be back,” Hugh swore, pulling her to his mouth. He kissed her deeply, as if he'd never let her go. She wanted to live in that moment, the moment when the purity of their love was so strong it raced in her blood and beat his name in her heart.

Hugh. Hugh. Hugh…

Tania shivered, looking up as he broke the kiss. She wanted to believe him, but she knew this time she could forgive him if he didn't make it back to her. She pulled a stray hair off his tunic and wrapped it around her finger to keep it so that she may watch him from the sacred pool. “The trees urge you to hurry. It grows colder. Lucien leaves his palace.” She glanced at her skirt, grabbed the hem and tore a small piece of material off. Then, grabbing her wing, she shook magic off it into the cloth. Tania made a satchel and handed it to Hugh. “Shake this and think of growing to your normal height. It will help you.” Then, saying a few ancient words, she motioned her hand over him. His wings disappeared. “That will keep your wings from view and use until someone takes the glamour off.”

Hugh reached behind him. “I cannot feel them.”

“They are there,” she assured him. “Just hidden.”

Tania leaned toward the small faery ring, pressed her hand in the middle of the magical circle and hummed softly as she thought of Merrick's palace. A soft white mist came out of the ring like fog. The queen stood and faced Hugh, lightly kissing him. She wanted to hold him forever, but there was more to the world than just the two of them.