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MESMERISED, DARCIE STANDS IN the Seelie Court.
For Darcie, stepping through the barrier is like stepping into a storybook. What Darcie's seeing shouldn't be real, yet here she stands, surrounded by a castle with towers so high that they're chasing the sky. Gold vines lace around the white towers, decorating the walls, illuminating the castle as it shines under the bright sun.
"Stand down," the Queen orders from next to Darcie.
Then, Darcie's eyes drop, falling onto the courtyard area. Multiple Fae surrounds them, blooming with colours while holding spears that they grip onto tightly with the sharp edges now pointing up to the sky. The genders are split, where women and men stand together, and they all stare at Darcie in shock.
"Leave," a man instructs. "There is no threat here."
Darcie's eyes find the voice, feeling her heart stutter to a stop. Just like Tamara, a crown sits upon his head, but instead of flowers, it's delicate leaves that match the vines of the castle. His blue irises collide with Darcie's, softening in disbelief upon seeing her that causes Darcie to quickly avert her gaze.
Around them, the guards bow towards the two royals before leaving. One guard remains: a woman in purple armour, who keeps a hand rested upon the hilt of her sword. Green eyes bore into Darcie as if they are reading her.
"My Queen," says the woman with her tone disapproving. "You should not have gone through the barrier."
"I agree with Karina," the King (Darcie's assuming, but she doesn't want to let her mind assume too much). "My Love, what happened last time was too close—"
"Only one wolf joined us," the Queen tells them. "And it is what we feared: history is repeating itself, but that is a conversation for later. Our Naila is home, Avo."
Avo's gaze falls from his Queen to an overwhelmed Darcie. Still avoiding his gaze, Darcie's hand falls to her chest, finding no comfort as her necklace is gone. More than anything, Darcie longs for her father — not this Fae version.
"Naila..."
"It's Darcie, please."
"Darcie," the man corrects himself, causing Darcie to up look at him again. Like Tamara, Avo looks as if has a thousand words to say, but there's no happy reunion when there's been so much pain and grief. Darcie wants answers and to go home —that is all. "You are hurt. Do you need a healer? What happened?"
Darcie's neck still aches with the pain tightening in her chest. "I'll be okay."
"A vampire attacked the local area," says the Queen, causing the female guard to tighten in her posture. But the Queen is ignoring her guard as she turns to face Darcie with a guilty expression. "When I made the Call, I did not realise that your life would be in danger, Darcie. I apologise for that." Then she moves, standing beside the King's side, where the two reach for each other as if they've done it a thousand times. Tamara smiles at her partner before her attention is focused on Darcie again. "Darcie, this is your father: King Avo of the Seelie Court."
