all the other females he'd chosen to take to his bed, he'd visited her so often, he'd impregnated her twice. My sister's birth might have been the final straw to rip apart the queen's indulgence."
"Mother treats us badly. She is unwell." A lone tear dripped onto my tunic.
"Try to be grateful that she still lives." He lifted my chin and smiled his most radiant smile. My knees wobbled at the gift he'd given me. "If you are an obedient young male you will be loved and treated gently."
"But Father..."
"I love all my children, and always will. Take care of Korwyn and my sweet Lillias."
Fionna finally stopped her pacing and glanced toward the double doors that marked the entrance to the hall. "Where is your captain? He should have reported to me long before now."
"He reports to me, sister."
"You..."
"Forgive me, but as queen, you should not concern yourself with field reports delivered by common warriors. This male has a rough nature. His face is deeply scarred and he lacks the courtly finesse you are accustomed to. As is my duty, I will report to you personally as soon as I hear from him."
"Hmmph. Very well. I will check on the vampire." She left and I sighed with relief. Fionna could be exhausting to a degree known only to the mothers of very young children.
A serving girl entered and bowed, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. "Lord, your captain has arrived."
The female had light hair like my mother, her skin so pale it was practically transparent. "Send him. And bring wine."
"Yes, lord."
As if to prove a point, my captain, a slim male with a face scarred in battle, met my gaze without fear, an unusual occurrence at court. Most had first-hand knowledge of my predilections, and so spent time in my presence staring at their feet. I'd chosen this particular male for the task he'd performed because he did not seem to fear me, nor any other fae. Or rather, he did not fear death. Perhaps he felt dead already, the horrible burn on his face lessening his chances to find a mate. We fae were obsessed with the continuance of our race, our fortune in this regard having not been in our favor for some time, Finvarra's seed notwithstanding.
From his ragged appearance I could guess that he'd come to me before bathing. Fionna would have found this to be the height of disrespect, however I appreciated his courage and common sense. The information he brought was more important than following a courtly protocol that made no sense in this circumstance. I smiled, thinking about the serving girl and her more typical behavior. It was always easier to converse with someone who answered your questions without mumbling, shaking or talking to the floor.
"It went as planned?" I asked. I was still seated, the rest having done wonders for my knees.
"Yes, Lord Kennet."
"Continue."
"The Cascade male was guarding the border and not expecting an attack. Your instructions gave me easy access, enabling me to deliver the body to the field and then get out again quickly."
The serving girl brought wine, pouring it with a shaking hand. When she started to leave, I said. "Return to me when the warrior leaves."
"Yes, lord."
Throughout my brief conversation with the girl, he stood at stiff attention, a perfect soldier. I invited him to sit and share wine, but he refused, having lived under Fionna too long to take any generosity at face value. She enjoyed playing games with those who displeased her. I did not have the patience for that, preferring more direct methods. "Caelen and the other elders will be more careful in the future, captain. He is arrogant, but not a fool."
"Yes, lord."
"The queen will wait for Cascade to respond to her message. Be ready to leave again as soon as it arrives."
"Yes, Lord Kennet." The damaged male dissolved, perhaps to eat and rest in his small quarters. I rose and walked to the throne my father had occupied all those years ago, then sat, scanning the entire room. Running my fingers over the exquisitely carved
"Mother treats us badly. She is unwell." A lone tear dripped onto my tunic.
"Try to be grateful that she still lives." He lifted my chin and smiled his most radiant smile. My knees wobbled at the gift he'd given me. "If you are an obedient young male you will be loved and treated gently."
"But Father..."
"I love all my children, and always will. Take care of Korwyn and my sweet Lillias."
Fionna finally stopped her pacing and glanced toward the double doors that marked the entrance to the hall. "Where is your captain? He should have reported to me long before now."
"He reports to me, sister."
"You..."
"Forgive me, but as queen, you should not concern yourself with field reports delivered by common warriors. This male has a rough nature. His face is deeply scarred and he lacks the courtly finesse you are accustomed to. As is my duty, I will report to you personally as soon as I hear from him."
"Hmmph. Very well. I will check on the vampire." She left and I sighed with relief. Fionna could be exhausting to a degree known only to the mothers of very young children.
A serving girl entered and bowed, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. "Lord, your captain has arrived."
The female had light hair like my mother, her skin so pale it was practically transparent. "Send him. And bring wine."
"Yes, lord."
As if to prove a point, my captain, a slim male with a face scarred in battle, met my gaze without fear, an unusual occurrence at court. Most had first-hand knowledge of my predilections, and so spent time in my presence staring at their feet. I'd chosen this particular male for the task he'd performed because he did not seem to fear me, nor any other fae. Or rather, he did not fear death. Perhaps he felt dead already, the horrible burn on his face lessening his chances to find a mate. We fae were obsessed with the continuance of our race, our fortune in this regard having not been in our favor for some time, Finvarra's seed notwithstanding.
From his ragged appearance I could guess that he'd come to me before bathing. Fionna would have found this to be the height of disrespect, however I appreciated his courage and common sense. The information he brought was more important than following a courtly protocol that made no sense in this circumstance. I smiled, thinking about the serving girl and her more typical behavior. It was always easier to converse with someone who answered your questions without mumbling, shaking or talking to the floor.
"It went as planned?" I asked. I was still seated, the rest having done wonders for my knees.
"Yes, Lord Kennet."
"Continue."
"The Cascade male was guarding the border and not expecting an attack. Your instructions gave me easy access, enabling me to deliver the body to the field and then get out again quickly."
The serving girl brought wine, pouring it with a shaking hand. When she started to leave, I said. "Return to me when the warrior leaves."
"Yes, lord."
Throughout my brief conversation with the girl, he stood at stiff attention, a perfect soldier. I invited him to sit and share wine, but he refused, having lived under Fionna too long to take any generosity at face value. She enjoyed playing games with those who displeased her. I did not have the patience for that, preferring more direct methods. "Caelen and the other elders will be more careful in the future, captain. He is arrogant, but not a fool."
"Yes, lord."
"The queen will wait for Cascade to respond to her message. Be ready to leave again as soon as it arrives."
"Yes, Lord Kennet." The damaged male dissolved, perhaps to eat and rest in his small quarters. I rose and walked to the throne my father had occupied all those years ago, then sat, scanning the entire room. Running my fingers over the exquisitely carved
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