Chapter 4
Afew minutes later, an older woman known as a healer, entered my suite. She came complete with pointed ears and white robes that looked very doctorly. Her demeanor was calm as she came in and took my vitals. It was weird, because all she did was stick little square stickers on the back of my neck, wrist, and front of my chest, and told me to chill for a bit while her tablet—one that looked very similar to what I see at home, just a little more oval—logged my heart rate and oxygen levels.
“So…what are you?” I asked Liam, trying to hold still while the stickers did their thing.
“You can move,” the doctor—or rather—healertold me with a gentle smile.
“I’m fae,” Liam answered. He was reclining in a leather chair and flipping through channels. “You’re in the fae territory of Enharra.”
“En-hahr-uh,” I slowly spoke, and Audrey nodded confirmation at my pronunciation. “At your family home.”
“The Dahl Family Palace,” the healer interjected with an excited smile. The way she stared at me was unsettling. Like she was fascinated with me. I gave her what I hoped was a friendly smile before turning away.
“Palace? Like royalty?” My clarification was directed toward Liam, but my gaze shifted to Audrey, who lifted a shoulder in a casual,believe-it-or-notway.
The healer’s eyes widened at me with curiosity as she asked, “Do humans not have royalty in your realm?”
“Humans?” I asked her.
“Some territories do,” Audrey answered the healer. “Not the one we’re from—well, we’re not supposed to, anyway. Celebrities often get idolized to the level of royalty, though.”
“Interesting,” the healer responded.
“Okay, wait. Back up.” I shook my head, trying to keep a steady head during this mindfuck of an experience. “What the hell is a fae?”
Audrey giggled while Liam and the healer both waited for her to answer. “Think of fae as like…faeries?”
I blinked at her. “…Like Tinkerbell?”
Audrey jutted a thumb toward Liam’s massive frame lying back in the chair. “Does he look like a Tinkerbell to you?”
“Okay, well, where are your wings?” I asked both the healer and Liam.
“They don’t have any,” a feminine voice answered, making all three of us turn toward the double doors. A tall woman gently strode into the room. She wore a pale green gown that exposed her waist, covering her bust all the way up to her neck. The gown shimmered with her steps as she entered and closed the doors behind her, but it wasn’t sparkly. I couldn’t place what the material was.
When her back was toward the room, though, I saw wings.
Clear, insect-like wings. Almost transparent if it weren’t for the tendons that flexed them. They were folded against her back but flittered as she turned and smoothed some wrinkles out of her gown.
She smiled at me in a warm, friendly greeting. Her blonde hair was knotted with a crown of braids, keeping it all out of her face and encouraging the curls to flow down her back, over her wings.
As she stepped toward me on the bed, the healer stood and clasped her hands in front of her, dipping her chin lightly. The woman smiled at the healer, at the same moment as she ruffled Liam’s hair in passing, dodging his hand as he swatted at her in retaliation.
“Are you two siblings?” I asked the woman, noting how similar their features were. Blonde hair, blue eyes, sharp features.
“I’m Liam’s twin sister, yes.” The woman nodded as she made it over to my bed.
“Vanessa.” Audrey gestured toward the blonde-winged woman. “This is Ada Dahl, Liam’s sister, and Queen of the Fae.” I raised my eyes and nodded, smiling, panicking, because how the hell do you address royalty in a magical realm?
“Shit—sorry—hi—” I made my way to stand so I could properly bow.
“Please.” Ada raised her hand to stop me. “We don’t need to be so formal in the privacy of my home.”
Oh, thank god.
“When you greet her in public, though,” Audrey interjected, “It’s best that you dip your chin to show respect, at least.”
“Got it.” I gave Ada a thumbs up, and she pressed her lips together with her smile at me.
