The Woods

Chapter Fifteen

The rest of that day and the day following passed somewhat swiftly, and throughout that time, I saw nothing of Casper and Merilyn. Celaine seemed oddly absent as well, and Drake ended up finding me whenever I searched for her, so most of the time I ended up spending time with him. Not that I was complaining – on the contrary, I enjoyed his company.

I learned a lot from our question game; mostly Fae culture, traditions and more about Drake's life. He asked me about my home, my father and what I enjoyed doing. It made me wonder why he wanted to sit down and talk to me, but it passed the time, so I learned not to question it.

The second day, I found myself fidgeting as we talked. It was the day the king was supposed to return, and I was on edge; nervous. As if expecting him to arrive at any moment. I wasn't sure why I felt that way, but Drake seemed to find it amusing.

"You are very easy to read, Fida," he eventually commented. We were sitting on the game room's balcony, sipping tea and watching the sun set against the trees. "You are curious to know when Cain will return. Late tonight, I would say."

"Am I really?" I sighed. Of course, he had known exactly what I had been thinking. "I can never read emotions of others – I can see flickers within the eyes, but I am never able to identify them."

"All in practice," he replied. He glanced at the sun, its light slowly fading beneath the Woods. "Come, let us move inside before it gets too cold." He rose, helping me up after him, and carried the tray of tea to the coffee table inside. I followed behind, knowing all too well that it wasn't the cold he was worried about.

"Why am I not to go outside after dark?" I asked.

He seemed surprised. "They haven't told you?" I shook my head, earning a frown in response. "There are many types of faeries. Most are docile, but a few types are violent and often rebel against Cain's rule. The latter come out at night, when there are fewer people to interfere, and I'm sure they would be interested in a young mortal girl. They aren't stupid enough to venture into the mortal lands, but for a human to come here . . . they would be breaking no laws in going to you."

"I'm assuming they aren't stupid enough to enter the castle, either?"

He barked out a laugh. "With eight Houses filled with warriors? No, they aren't that stupid."

I opened my mouth to ask more about the faeries, but paused as the door to the room opened. We both turned to see Lord Cawther storm in. Drake visibly paled.

"Where have you been?" Lord Cawther snapped.

"Here, obviously," Drake replied. His expression changed so he looked bored, but his voice seemed strained.

Lord Cawther's eyes snapped to mine, narrowing. He seemed to be analysing me, though I wasn't sure what he was looking for. "Why are you with a mortal?" he asked, turning back to Drake.

Drake looked as if he were caught doing something wrong, but he quickly changed his expression as he spoke. "Why not? I don't see anything wrong with speaking to her."

His father let out a warning growl and I jumped, glancing between them intently. It took me a moment to realise they were speaking mind-to-mind, and it was only when I heard Drake's snarl that I realised something was wrong. His father stormed from the room, the door slamming behind him.

"Is everything alright?" I asked after a moment. Drake seemed to be frozen, staring after his father.

"Yes, Father is just upset over nothing," he replied absentmindedly. When he finally looked at me, I saw something flash in his eyes. He swallowed a few times before saying, "There is something I must attend to. The soldiers that were with Cain have returned. Perhaps you should go to your room, Fida."