She tucked the flower above her ear and continued walking forward into the unknown.
Chapter 37
Cahir
“You’ve disobeyed us by revealing your Fae form. We’ve taken the luxury of time away from you, cutting short the time you had left…”
Cahir awoke,face down, in a large, luxurious bed covered in emerald-colored silks. He jumped up and took in his surroundings.
What the fuck?
He scrambled out of the bed and ran through the lushly carpeted room, knocking into a side table and grabbing a little green-colored box. He looked at the black screen on the front, and a date magically appeared.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
He had been asleep for more than two days. He ran toward theheavy wooden doors and pushed them open. A servant walked by carrying a stack of towels and gasped when she saw him, dropping the laundry.
“Your Highness! You’re back!” She bowed deeply, her pointed, delicately green ears darkening at the sight of him, and her full cheeks aflame.
“Call for counsel,NOW!” He roared.
She jumped up and ran down the hall, forgetting the towels on the floor. Cahir walked back into the bedroom, slammed the door closed, and paced around. He stared at the reflective, stone walls and punched one, causing his knuckles to bleed. Anger surged through him as he caught his muddled reflection in his eyes. He ran to the mirror and looked into the glass.
He was Fae again. He examined the whisper of the green sheen on his skin, the dark green tattoos covering his body, and how his clothing had torn with his change in size.
This can’t be happening.
He briskly walked to his wardrobe, grabbed a fresh set of clothing, and quickly changed.
What is Seda thinking now? Had the others informed her? She was probably livid, or sad, or he didn’t even know what she was feeling. He really needed to talk to her. He quickly changed into his new clothing and looked back in the mirror.
Gone were his rounded ears and smooth teeth. Looking back was Ael. Tall with strong features and a massive body. He growled at his reflection and looked away. He really needed to get back to her. Now that his “deal” was over, he could finally explain things.
If he only got the chance to talk to her, shemightunderstand his reasoning.
He left the room, kicking the stack of towels the servant had left behind as he walked down the hall. More servants saw him and gasped, bowing deeply.
He needed to talk to the counsel as soon as possible. He made his way down the long halls of the Umbrea Palace and saw his reflection in the shiny, verdant walls.
This form, his proper form, was so different for him now. He spent over five years living as a human. Only once did he use his Fae form. It was a stroke of luck that the rescue attempt even worked that night. His deal with the Wisps to find the stone and her had said that he had to take on a human form and remain one for his duration.
He took a considerable risk that night, changing back into a Fae. What if he was not able to change back? That was a big reason why, when Roya was pressuring him to show Seda, he felt he could not.His magic to transform also wouldn’t work the day Seda was taken. The Wisps must have blocked it.
And look what it did? The Wisps shortened his time with her as a result.
The ceilings were high and rounded at the top through the long halls as small birds flew around them, nesting high in the peaks where flowering vines draped. For as long as Cahir could remember, he had a soft spot for the winged creatures, and he had made it clear that they were not to be removed from the palace during his absence. In fact, he noticed how well they thrived.
He made his way into the Throne Room and threw open the double doors, allowing them to smash against the walls.
The counsel, consisting of three High Fae, were waiting for him at the end. They bowed deeply as he walked by. He climbed the ten steps to his emerald gemstone throne and sank into it with a thud.
“Rise,” he ordered. They stood up and waited for him to speak.
“My time ran out, I did not get the stone,” he sneered and slammed his fist on his knee, not caring if his bloody hand got onto his clean pants.
The council members looked at each other with concern.
“Your Highness, if I may?” an elderly Fae, named Meir, stepped forward.
