Bailey stared at the portal in front of her. The mirrored surface shimmered with a rainbow of colors. It was different than the portal into Faerie. The magick that swirled in the air around her was tamer by comparison.Jayce leaned against the wall, and her eyes sought him out. He gave her a soft smile that did funny things to her stomach. There was something between them, something new and unsaid. It was exciting."As much as I enjoy watching you eye-fuck Spring, you need to get your thoughts under control." Beckett leaned into her.She lifted her hand and stroked one of his antlers. They were so velvety that she couldn't stop herself any time she was close enough. He groaned, hands snatching at her waist. "We don't have time for this.""We should make time." She grinned up at him, unrepentant.A loud cough at the doorway startled her. Viridios smirked as he sauntered in. "Hope I'm not interrupting."Jayce chuckled, straightening up from his slouched position on the wall. "Of course n
Bailey stared at the Goddess in front of her. She was arranging little tea cakes on a platter, and Bailey was sure she was having an out of body experience. Maybe the magick finally did her in. Maybe this was death."How do you take your tea, dear?" Danu's voice broke though Bailey's haze and she blinked stupidly."I--" She struggled for words. "I don't really drink tea. I've always been more of a coffee girl."Danu tutted softly, grabbing a gorgeous little cup with wildflowers painted on it. "Don't be ridiculous, everyone drinks tea." She placed a couple cubes of sugar in the bottom of the cup, and then poured an aromatic tea into it.Bailey's nose flared as she caught the scent of lavender and chamomile. There was another, earthier smell that offset the floral scent. She took the cup and set it in front of her."I would suggest a touch of cream, it tempers the sweetness." Danu sipped daintily from her own cup and sighed in satisfaction. "So how are you finding Tir Na Nog?""Beautiful
Bailey pressed her back into the wall behind her. Danu continued to chatter about her upcoming nuptials but all she could hear was Beckett telling her that Arawn would have to go through them to get to her. It was beginning to look like that wouldn't be much of an issue, with Danu's plans. "No." Bailey interrupted Danu's monologue. "I will not marry Arawn. I have three mates already. I don't need a fourth. Especially someone I don't even know." "Sweet girl, I know you have three mates. I selected them for you specifically with this marriage in mind." Danu crossed her arms. "You will need others in your corner. Arawn is temperamental at best, and an ogre on his worst days. Your other mates are your buffer. With your marriage, you'll have a complete set." Bailey shook her head, squaring her shoulders. She could feel the infamous Fee stubbornness stiffen her spine. Even if she wasn't Jonas' blood, he still raised her. "I meant what I said. I will not marry a man, or God, just becaus
"Hello Wife." His voice was pure sin. It sent a shiver down Bailey's spine and the sudden urge to lick his dark skin overcame her. She swayed toward the lethal man, her body firmly in charge as her mind tried to catch up. "Arawn, darling!" Danu clapped her hands, breaking the spell on Bailey. "How was your nap?"He didn't turn his dark gaze from Bailey. "Nap, Mother?" He blinked slowly, his lips hiking in a sardonic grin. "I would hardly call sleeping for the last six and a half centuries a nap." "A necessary evil." Danu's voice was full of warmth and Bailey had to keep her Magick in check. She wanted to throttle the Goddess. "Come, Titania, we must be away to Annwn." Arawn reached for her imperiously. Bailey shrank back, keeping her eyes on his. She couldn't look away if she tried. They were so dark she couldn't find his pupil. Most fae had tri-colored eyes. Arawn's were pure obsidian. He frowned, a line slashing between his brows, when Bailey didn't jump into his arms. She fel
Bailey wrapped her fingers tight around the ceramic cup in her hand. She inhaled the scent of the fresh, hot coffee, closed her eyes and dropped her head to the glass pane in front of her. She pulled her knees tight into her body, curling into the corner of the window seat. The icy glass against her forehead forced a deeper sense of melancholy into her bones. She hated being home. Where he was.Jonas Fee, the ever-present, ever-constant, all-consuming patriarch of the clan Fee. The man that, in a fit of pique, had thrown a knife at her. A hand slipped unconsciously from her cup, fingers finding the now familiar threaded scar on her shoulder. Four years she carried this scar, barely two inches wide, ropy and tight. She could still see his face, eyes wild, mouth contorted and spewing furious vitriol. All because Bailey Fee wanted to pursue a career in Veterinary Science, instead of taking her place in the “family business“. Jonas never did take kindly to someone defying his will.She sno
Jayce stared at the expanse of forest in front of him. Without the columns marking the area, one would never know there was a portal to a whole other dimension. Nearly invisible to the naked eye, the portals had to be marked accordingly. The only tell-tale sign was a slight waver to the air, like the sun baking off the hot sands in the Summer Court.A faint shimmer here in the verdant forest, the barest reflection and refraction of light. More than one unsuspecting Fae had stumbled through the portal before some unnamed Sidhe had suggested marking the areas.Now, one required a permit to move freely through these portals. Jayce had never understood the draw to Earth. But his father had made a very long and complicated contract with the governments of the world on the other side of this portal.By nature, Fae were a curious people. Long lives and even longer memories settled a sense of ennui into the people as a whole, and humanity brought some pleasant reprieve for the most bored among
All three princes stared at each other. It had been nearly a century since Jayce had visited the Fee clan, when Jonas had made his transition. It was uncommon to attend a transition in only a century. The other clans hadn’t had a transition of power in at least two centuries by human standards.Halflings usually lived nearly as long as the Fae did. One of the many boons granted by their heritage. It wasn’t unheard of for Halflings to die. Their line of business wasn’t conducive to long life. At least there would be a formal changing of power this time. Jonas had been thrust into it when his father had been torn literally in half by an enraged redcap. Nasty business, that particular witnessing.Jayce took a deep breath and climbed the four short steps to the portal mouth. Without a backwards glance at his compatriots, he strode through the flickering air.For a split second, his skin was flayed from his body, all the breath sucked out of his lungs, and it was possible that his heart sto
The men at the guard shack stared at the three Fae princes with a wariness that Jayce felt was unwarranted. Tobin passed through the warding with barely a hint of struggle, Beckett joining him on the other side without blinking. Jayce could feel the wards buzzing against his skin as he approached. They were heavy.Steeling himself, he stepped through, the wards coating him in an invisible ichor. He knew both Tobin and Beckett would be feeling the effect as well. After a moment, the buzzing ceased as the warding recognized and blended in with his magick. A mark, maybe? A way to keep tabs on the Fae that crossed through.He noticed one of the guards holding a notebook…no, that wasn’t right. It was a flat black rectangle. The guard made a swiping motion with one finger, and then stood and moved toward the princes.“I’m going to need your signature, my Lords.” The man held the rectangle out to Jayce expectantly. Jayce turned to the other two princes, who just shrugged in return. Jayce took