By the Ancients- The Creation of A Champion

For twenty years I've languished on this patch of dirt Humans call a "farm," cast out from Elphame when my aunt's whispers turned the Court against me. I was thirteen then. The wound hasn't scabbed over. Every spring I find myself watching for messengers that never arrive, my foolish hope unfurling like new leaves only to drop and decay when winter comes without word from the Fae Realm. Another year has passed. I stand at the property line; eyes fixed on distant hills that aren't the ones I once called home. If not for Lucinda Baylor, Lady Lucinda, one of the few females of the Wild Hunt, claiming me as her godchild, I'd have been sent far away and forgotten about like some discarded trinket. The Seelie Royal Councilors would have devoured my name and my heart in a single sitting, to ensure no Royal heir ever challenged their power. Instead, Lucinda wrapped me in her protection, and I found myself stranded in a realm that tastes of iron a

My phone screen flashed. “Hey Becca.”“Is that all I get? Come on, show some life!” Her voice rises and falls like she's riding a rollercoaster, each word climbing higher than the last. “The publishers went absolutely wild over those final chapters. They're drawing up contracts for a whole series.” “Gods. I'm speechless.” “Just say yes. That's literally all you need to say right now.” “Of course. Yes. But I need to ask you something.”“Shoot,” Becca said, practically singing the word. “I need to get away. Somewhere quiet to focus on the new series. Research, inspiration, you know.” The phone went quiet. I counted one, two, three heartbeats. “What location did you have in mind?” The sparkle had vanished from her voice, replaced by something flat and professional. “Well, my top three are France, Scotland, or Peru. I haven't decided yet.” I traced my finger along the rim of my porcelain teacup, watching the steam curl upward like ghostly fingers. Becca knew exactly where I was tryin

I couldn't look away from the petite female beside me. She exuded an undeniable authority, as if an invisible force field surrounded her, naturally keeping others at a respectful distance. She was completely engrossed in her journal, her pen moving swiftly and decisively across the pages, without once glancing in my direction. To catch her attention, I flashed my most charming and confident smile, the kind that usually captivated others with ease. However, she seemed immune to mere physical charm, her focus unbroken and her demeanor unaffected by my efforts, aside from her quickened heartbeat. Behind us, a group of Human females began to raise their voices, becoming more noticeable with their boisterous behavior, clearly seeking attention. Although they were all quite attractive, my focus remained on the female beside me. Leo's copper hair was intricately styled into braids, elegantly pulled back from her face, though a few rebellious strands had escaped to

The passengers began to stand to file out of the dusty tour bus, the air filled with anticipation and the sound of rustling clothing against seats. I felt a small shove, and Leo was making her way by me. She was among the first to step onto the ground, her feet crunching the gravel beneath. She made her way to Tom, the tour guide, whose warm smile greeted her as they exchanged a few words. I saw her hand him a wad of cash and a small brown bag. Although their conversation was a silent mystery to me, Tom's nod of understanding was unmistakable. With a practiced ease, Leo slung her weathered backpack over her shoulder, its straps worn from countless adventures. Her eyes were fixed on the silhouette of the castle in the distance, each step purposeful as if she were retracing a familiar path. She didn’t even look back at the bus. Leo charged forward up the hill. Yaris and I exchanged a quick look before we rushed to follow her. Leo moved swiftly despite her size, disappearing from view i

The room was unexpectedly spacious, especially for such an old inn. I reopened the door and glanced around the hallway, trying to compare its size to that of the inn itself. Something didn’t add up. “Is everything alright with the room, Miss?” A gentle voice interrupted my thoughts. An older female was standing at my door. How had she appeared so quickly? “Yes, it’s perfect. I’m just amazed at how large it is.” The older female nudged me slightly to the side as she entered the room, carrying several plush towels. Caught off guard, I simply allowed her inside. She walked into the bathroom and put the towels away. “Oh yes, we reserve this room for special guests, like yourself,” she said, gently removing my book bag from my shoulder. She placed it on a chair next to a large wooden armoire and began hanging up the few clothes inside. “We're having a lovely dinner with music and dancing.” “That sounds great, but I don't really have anything to wear for something like that.” “"No