The Fae Prince

Chapter 20: Royal Court of Elphame

Haley

"Can we go somewhere more private? Somewhere where you're sure we won't be overheard?" I ask as I eye our surroundings warily.

"We can go to my study," Finan says, pulling me out of my bedroom.

The halls are empty as we walk through them. From what I was able to gather earlier, past my shock of what happened, the king had his soldiers clear out the palace. The only people currently in the palace consisted of the royal family, the changelings and a handful of specially trained soldiers directly under th king's command. Finan and I walk past the ballroom, the king's quarters and Maeve's before making it to his. We walk past the intimidating doors of his bedroom and farther down the hall where we enter his study.

The walls are lined with books, and in the center of the room, there is a large wood desk with scrolls and quills resting messily. Behind the desk are three large panels of glass that give a view of the city lights and the nature around the palace.

"I promise I'm not a messy person," Finan begins to say as he hastily tidies up his things, "I've just been distracted as of late."

"I see," I reply with a small giggle, "It's okay."

At the sound of my giggle, Finan pauses entirely and stares at me in awe.

"That noise," he mutters, entirely awestruck, "That had to be the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my entire life."

I stop smiling, my eyes going wide as a ferocious blush spreads like wildfire across my face.

"It was just a giggle," I mumble shyly.

"Do it more often, I very much enjoy gifts."

I roll my eyes, embarrassed, but flattered.

"Enough with the smoke blowing, I need to tell you what happened earlier," I say as I walk over to his desk and take a seat in the chair behind it.

Finan perches himself on the desk and pays full attention to me.

"I'm listening."

I take a deep breath, "I'm not the reincarnation of Danu. Rather, she placed a bit of her essence within me to help guide me in times like now."

I eye Finan warily, "You following?"

"Yes, but not entirely," Finan inhales sharply, "I'm not really able to grasp how she managed to put her essence inside of you if faeries are only capable of doing that to others that share their blood-"

Finan's eyes go wide and he pales.

"Are you Danu's daughter? Oh my gods, I disrespected a direct descendent of the first king. I need to make amends for my sins, oh gods."

I stop Finan's rambling by lifting myself a bit to reach up to his hair and pulling it.

"Close, but not really. That would mean we're related somehow, and I don't think that follows the laws of nature. My father is Azrael. The first faerie to have ever been born," I stop, becoming nauseous when I think of possibly being related to Finan, "We're not related, right? Like even distantly?"

"No, my father took over for the previous king because he had no children," Finan tilts his head in confusion, letting the hand that was rubbing his head fall, "But Azrael isn't real. I've heard of his name, but he's simply a legend. My parents mentioned to me how they had the thought you could be his daughter, but didn't elaborate any further on the topic."

"That's not appreciated at all, thank you very much. But, he's as real as real can get because I was one of his swimmers and here I am now," I deadpan with pursed lips, "Danu came to me when I passed out and told me that Azrael is trying to kill me. For what reason? She didn't say, but she said that Azrael is basically a human, but an immortal one. All of his powers are gone, everything that makes him a faerie has been taken away. Besides the immortality thing."