Nights of Fire & Ash

Chapter 3

After breakfast, Makiel tells me to stay put while he goes into the king's chambers. I had never even seen a human king before today let alone a faerie king. Tatiana walked over towards me after saying goodbye to Zathrian. He and the other three brutes walked out towards the other door. After they were gone, Tatiana walked up to me.

"After you learn to live with them, they are not so bad." She whispered.

"Then, why do you look so relieved that they are gone?" I asked her. I shouldn't be so quick to judge, but I seriously doubt someone who truly loved her husband would act like that when he leaves the room.

"We just have to be pleasant and polite around the King. He is more bark than bite. I promise you that things get better. Makiel is one of the better ones. He will protect you from what happens around us. While the King gets used to you being here, just keep to yourself. Do you have anything that you enjoy doing? I love painting. I noticed that you enjoy them too?" Tatiana was obviously not flustered by my abrasive attitude.

"I guess I would say I was more entranced by them. I actually love to read. I haven't been able to for a long time. I love music though." I decided I could open up to her somewhat. If I was going to make allies, I couldn't keep myself completely guarded.

"I understand. I was once human too. When you first arrive, there is just something about this place. It is fascinating." She took a few steps towards the art. "I have to say that being a High Fae is not all that bad. My senses are completely different now that the veil is lifted. I can hear and see and love more wholly than I did before."

"Wait, what do you mean you were once human?" I walked towards her, but then the doors opened. I spun back around.

"That's enough, Tatiana. I don't need her more entranced with magic than she already is." Makiel strode towards us.

What is with him popping up everywhere when someone interesting comes into my life? And seriously? 'Entranced' the only person that was anywhere near that was him thinking that I'm just going to stay here!

I turned back towards her pleading her to stay with me and not leave me with this bruiting male.

"I will tell you another time. It is a story best told over a glass of wine." She whispered to me and strode away.

"We are going to take a walk. I am going to show you around the castle." Makiel and Tatiana glided right past one another. I saw her turn her head and whisper something to him, but I couldn't make it out with my human hearing. How was I never taught that humans could be turned into Faeries? If it were that simple, why wouldn't all humans become legendaries?

"Come with me, Raeva. I think there are some places that might please you." Makiel offered his hand to me with an outstretched arm. It had been a long time since I last touched a man's hand in a way that didn't have me cowering, but I wouldn't back down today. I walked past him and waited at the door. He could show me whatever he liked, from a safe distance, preferably arms length apart.

We wandered around the castle which was bigger than any castle in the human world. It could easily encase two of our king's castles. He showed me a study where I could listen to music, a pool where I could swim, and hundreds of rooms that had doors that we didn't open.

"It is summer here? But in the human world, it is still winter where I live." I asked.

"Well, think of it as being on a different hemisphere. On one side, it is summer when the other side is winter. Since we are in the summer court, it is going to stay warmer and more tempered than where you were living." He mentioned. This version of Makiel was almost tolerable.