Obsidian Eyes and Crystal Wings

Chapter 6 Sunset

Cora's POV

A permanent stern look is held on my father's face. I can see him thinking. The offer must be too good to be true for him. A prince from a far off land wants to take the daughter he wants gone and he will never have to see me again. I keep quiet knowing that this man is my way out. Out of house Foxtail, out of my father's grasp, out of the village that calls me cursed. This man, Io, called me pretty and said that he doesn't find my appearance to be unattractive. He wants me. I know I should never trust a fey who wants something. However, I have also heard stories of people who catch a fey's attention and they either end up dead or with a happily ever after.

Zital takes a step between me and Io. My father looks up at him and scans the dark fey with his eyes.
"Can you will cure her?" He asks.
Io tilts his head and looks confused.
"Cure her of what? To my eyes she has no curses or sickness. She is not diseased or hexed." He says kindly. He is genuine.

His eyes may not be visible but I can tell from the conversation earlier that I have somehow won this man's heart to some degree. If he wants me, I'll let him take me away but then I'm going to run and be free as soon as I can slip away. If he follows then he will have to earn my love. My mother told me that if a boy has to give chase it shows you who they really are.

"I know I am just a normal Humanoid and you are a fey prince but I ask you to please make sure either she is made to look normal or she loses her maiden name. I have kept her as out of the public as I can. A freakish monster eyed daughter marrying a prince will call attention." My father says. I hear the bite in his voice but it is only meant towards me.

"Where I come from, her eyes and her ears are one of the most normal and beautiful things about her." Io turns his head to me and smiles at my direction. Zital's eyes keep looking between Zaros and Io in the protective way as tho Zaros's words will bounce off him like a shield. "Don't worry fox boy, you can come with."

"So what do you have in plan for her? Why do you want her?"
"That is something that does not concern you." Io says with his bland tone.
"She is not going anywhere without me," Zital speaks out of term. Both adult males look at him with a death stare to tell him to stay out of it. The young fox challenges back with a death stare of his own targeted mainly at the fey.

"Please forgive this young squire. He is recently promoted and has sworn to defend her. If you take my daughter I only want her revealed as my child after she is cured and made normal. I don't question or mangle with fey so you may take her. I was going to marry her off somehow or she would die mothering no children," Zaros says coldly.

Zital looks down determined to keep between me and the world. He is charming I will give him that, but I can't figure out if he is brave or stupid.

"Great, I'll take her, and her guard, off your hands before tonight's end. I promise and swear to it that she will be taken care of and no harm will come to her while she is in my castle," Io says with a charming smile.
"It is done then, enjoy my daughter Prince Io," and like that I am now a fey's play thing. I don't dare speak against it while my father is here since this is my way to potential freedom. I'll maybe one day see the world now I hope.

The fey man dressed in green hops off his fence and walks over to me and completely ignores Zital. He reaches a arm to me and smiles. I can see a faint layer of blush under his mask. I take my arm in his despite my gut instincts. We walk together through the rest of the garden with Zital staring us down and following.

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Throughout the day party me and Io walk and talk and eat together however I stay quiet. He tries to start conversation on many topics. Weather, favorite flowers & colors & animals, mushrooms, types of food, magical creatures he has seen before. I listen anyway. I hear him rant on about mushrooms and magical creatures such as oozes, winged snakes, nagas, elementals, and other creatures who I've only heard of through myth.