Hunted by a Night Fae

Chapter 23

The room Eaven took me to was made entirely of ice. Like the rest of the castle, it had tall frost-covered walls. They broke away from the ground to create jagged, crystalline patterns around the room. In the center, the shards carved out a section where a bed made up with thick, grey furs beckoned me.

Small, glowing lights hovered in the air, moving and skittering around as if alive. On one side of the room, a piece of ice broke up off the ground, forming a larger version of the vanity in the lavatory. Frost crunched under my slippers as I stepped inside.

"Don't mind frost, it has been one hundred years since someone use this room," Eaven said as she gestured to the ground. Then she paused to suck in a breath of air, the small white pinpricks on her skin glowing discreetly. A moment later, she exhaled, the shimmering frost lifting into the air like dust before it disappeared. I blinked my eyes, staring at the smooth icy floor.

My lips parted, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. Eaven had used it to simply do a household task. It reminded me of how Eirian had used his in battle, decapitating Everard as he held me. Until now I had only known magic as something they could harness in a fight, but it didn't always have to be used that way.

Eaven narrowed her eyes, inspecting the room. Seemingly satisfied with her efforts, she turned to regard me. I stood unsteadily, not quite sure what to do with myself. All I had on was a bathrobe and the slippers that Eaven had given to me after I cleaned up.,

"Are you well enough to have dinner tonight? We have great feast planned in His Highness's honor."

"Well, I suppose eating would do me good." I didn't know if forgoing an offer of food would be considered impolite—though, I doubted I was up for whatever 'dinner' entailed. My gaze drifted to the fur-covered bed at the center of the room. All I wanted to do was burrow myself into it, forgetting where I was and who I was with for a few glorious hours.

Apparently, I had answered correctly. Eaven's smile brightened, the grin reaching her pale eyes—though they still looked rather sinister. I relaxed a fraction. Since I had gotten over her appearance, she didn't seem so bad.

Eaven moved into the room, opening the wall on the far side with a tap of her hand. The ice broke away, a seam appearing from nowhere to reveal a closet filled with clothing. Most of the dresses were in shades of grey or black. She pulled out a dress a few shades lighter than the rest—the material almost white. Eaven set it out next to the mirror.

"You wear this." She looked at me for approval. I hesitated, then forced a smile.

"Looks beautiful. Now I would like to get some rest before—"

Eaven nodded enthusiastically and moved across the room, looking me up and down.

"Ah, yes. The worst seems to have passed, yes? He take care of you, in his way." Eaven gazed up at my face, looking into my eyes as if she might detect any traces of what I was feeling there.

I tensed, tempted to take a step back. "Um...yes. I do feel a bit better after, uh—" I suddenly felt embarrassed thinking of how Ronan had helped me, "—After I warmed up a bit."

I found it difficult all of a sudden to meet the Goblin Princess's eyes.

Eaven didn't miss much, and her permanent grin took on a knowing curve. The glint in her eyes made me wonder if she could read my mind.

"I suppose the Fire Bastard has some good qualities. Very warm, does not get cold. Unlike me and brother. We don't feel cold, because cold likes us." She gestured to the room around us. My brows furrowed as I tried to follow what she was saying. "Fire fae make fire in their body." She pressed her hand against her chest, her eyes alight with mischief.

I laughed awkwardly. "I suppose you could say that."

Eaven grinned at me, but then it faded away and her expression sobered. "But even if you stay close to him, the sickness still come."

Something about what she was saying didn't sit right with me.

"Well yes, because it was too cold and—"

She shook her head, looking at the icy walls. "No," she enunciated the word slowly, "—not just cold makes you sick, but Faerie." She looked at me, but I shook my head to indicate I didn't understand. Eaven's smile faltered, then she continued, "Faerie sometimes takes some..." She paused, trying to think of a word, then held up a long grey finger, smiling brightly as she found it.

"Adjusting."

I frowned at her. I tugged on the arm of the robe I wore absently. I played her words over in my mind and couldn't help but think how strange it was that I got sick so soon after coming to Faerie. Before coming here, I had never been sick like this, and now that my fever had passed, all I felt was heaviness throughout my body. Sure, I had been cold, and it likely didn't help, but it had all happened so fast.

After an awkward moment where Eaven stared at me expectantly, I just smiled, though I knew it didn't quite meet my eyes. Maybe I was just misunderstanding, but it was also possible I wasn't.

A prickle of unease layered itself under my skin.

"Yes, well. I guess I am getting better now, so whatever it was doesn't matter."

Eaven regarded me with pale eyes, her gaze shifting down my features. She stretched out a hand and patted my shoulder.

"It is okay. You see soon enough. I do not think Ronan knows, not really. He only thinks of blood and war." She smiled waving the idea off, much like one would wave off an annoying habit—not someone's unique compulsion to kill people.

"Sure," I agreed. I swayed on my feet, finding it harder to hide my exhaustion.

Eaven used her hands to direct me to the bed. "You rest."

I smiled, relieved as Eaven moved to depart from the room. Perhaps my initial reaction to her had been overly paranoid. Maybe not all the beings in Faerie were monsters.

"I'll see you in a few hours for dinner," Eaven said, turning one last time to look at me. She gave me what I assumed was meant to be a friendly smile, and I did my best to return it. "I help you get ready."

"Yes, see you then."

The icy door drifted closed behind Eaven as she left, and I let out a sigh, falling back on the bed. The thick, soft furs encompassed my body. I sunk my head into them, grateful for their warmth.

Within moments, my thoughts were drifting away, down an angled and jagged path. As I snuggled down into the warmth of the bed, I couldn't shake the memory of how it reminded me of lying next to Ronan. A smile crept unbidden onto my lips as sleep took me.