Taunting Destiny(142)

She turned pasty white as she wrung her hands in front of her. I hated telling her everything that happened, because, for some reason, I felt sorry for this beautiful woman and it made me reluctant to hurt her. “I’m sorry. I’m not saying this to upset you. You need to know what he’s been up to. I won’t be the only one after his head if the rest of the Fae find out he’s the one helping the Mages poison this land. I already know of some Fae that have him on video in connection with an attempted mass murder of Fae in the human world.”

“If what you say is true, then Faolán is lost to us. Faery will claim him as a sacrifice to the Goddess Danu. He will pay with blood for his trespass on her children. Only she can pass judgment on her children.”

My sister nodded sadly and moved to hug her again.





*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*





A little while later, I was in less clothing, and glad of it, since the other dress made moving near impossible. The shredded, bloody wedding dress was gone, and I’d changed into a more comfortable dress that was made of soft green silk that at least moved and flowed easily and covered me to my ankles. My mother—it sounded weird saying that, had done my hair. She’d smiled the entire time as she and my new sister talked happily around me, as if the Horde King wouldn’t be here tomorrow, and everything was right as rain in their world.

Frankly, I felt like I had leaped from the frying pan and straight in to the fire.

I’d wondered how it would have been if I’d grown up around them. They talked about everything, including the noble my sister had been crushing on. I’d been quiet and had just listened the entire time. They were close, and it made me miss Larissa painfully.

We walked down the long winding staircase slowly, and it seemed like they wanted to treat me as family, not an unwilling guest. My mother and sister didn’t seem to want to sift while I couldn’t do so. Not that I could do it well every time, but, right now, I’d take landing at Ryder’s feet over the Horde King’s. When our feet were firmly on the floor, the entire room hushed around us.

I felt the mask go firmly into place as I leveled the Blood King with an unaffected look. Oh I was pissed, to be sure, but I could play the docile sheep when needed. We walked toward him, and a few blonde haired men moved closer to him, guarding him from any unseen threat; much like Ryder’s men often did.

“Wife,” he said with love shining in his cobalt and violet eyes. It was a true love match that these two had together. I don’t care what Kier said about the Fae having a tough time understanding love, these two had it bad for each other. It made my mind wander to Ryder. Was he even looking for me? If anyone could save me from the Horde King, it would be him.

“Where is Faolán?” Madisyn asked bluntly.

“The messenger could not find him to deliver the message. The rest of our children are home though, and it is known throughout the lands. I had Liam ring the bell of celebration.”

“As it should be. Brenton, Liam, Adaryn, and Cameron, this is your sister, Synthia,” Madisyn said stepping aside for them to see me. No one said anything. We just stood there sizing each other up. The silence was awkward and uncomfortable, and made more so as we continued in silence.

“I don’t understand why we need to do this,” Adaryn finally said.

“Adaryn! She’s making a sacrifice for us all. For our people,” Madisyn said, but no one agreed.

“Not willingly,” I finally said. “If I had a choice, I’d sift the flip out of here, and not look back. I don’t owe anyone here anything.” I surprised myself as I said it, but the smirks from the men around us said they approved.

“She might be related yet,” the one called Adaryn said. He was a few inches taller than the others, and a little more built in the chest area.

“Look at those eyes. Do you still doubt it? Do they not look like mother’s?” The one Madisyn had introduced as Cameron said as he stepped closer. I instantly stepped away from him as he continued.

“I’ll not harm you,” he said.

“I’d harm you. I don’t trust easily, and I really don’t trust the Fae,” I replied carefully, letting him see the distrust in my eyes. They may be family, but I didn’t trust anyone here farther than I could throw ‘em.’

“You are Fae. You’re aware of this, right?” he questioned, narrowing his eyes as he regarded me as if I was slow in the head.

“So I am, but I was raised with humans. I’ve already met Faolán, and he’s on my to-do-list.”

His eyes grew large and round. “What did the humans teach you?”