Of Gods & Fey

12-Dahlia

I still wasn't able to get the other night out of my head, the way that Jude's lips felt against mine. The way his body felt pressed against mine like it was. Even with how drunk I'd gotten I could still remember it all though, I was disappointed with myself some. I had never intended to get drunk like I did but I didn't regret it a single bit honestly. I just wished that he could've stayed there with me for the night, but it was ok that he couldn't. Maybe it was better like this.

What had actually still confused me the most was how I went from having nothing more than a simple crush on this man to the situation that we'd both found ourselves in later that night. Wait, situation? Was that even the right word for it? No.

The tugging on the back of my dress pulled me back to reality as Star got the fabric into place bit by bit. My thoughts were scattered, jumping from one thing to another. I had to in the end explain to Star once Jude had left how that situation even occurred without her even knowing I had a crush on anyone. Mikas had been well aware, then again he wasn't dumb by any means. He picked up on everything.

Star was basically my own child; I didn't give birth to her, but she was mine. I'd raised her and her siblings, but when it came to Star? She was nothing more than an infant when I got her. I had told her everything though. At least how I met him that was. How I'd been dancing on top of a bar top after a dare from a few bartenders and that was the first time that I'd ever laid my eyes on him.

I knew he'd seen me that night, everyone with eyes saw me that was in that part of the place. We didn't speak about it for a very long time though and I think that was probably when I fell for him. The more we spoke, the more we just got to know one another the more I... Well even I didn't now how to fully explain it but I knew I wanted him and no one else and that was scary.

"Ok but you look drop dead gorgeous in this!" Star squealed and stepped around me, looking me over. "Seriously."

"I don't want to look gorgeous." I sighed. "The Unseelie courts just going to have their Prince flirt with me again."

"Well, maybe if you just got married it wouldn't matter. Just a thought."

I spun around quickly to see Mikas standing by the door, an apple in hand as he bit into it staring straight at me. His expression was blank but I had heard those light tones in his voice when he spoke that let me know he was just f*****g with me.

"Mikas I swear to god..." I huffed at him. "I absolutely refuse."

"Oh, I know." He shrugged at me. "And once again they'll tell you that you just need to marry already."

"And then I'll have to politely tell them that I have no interest in their archaic rules."

"Reno is going to have a field day with you." He chuckled.

"Is Ruby coming?" Start asked excitedly. "She loves these events so much!"

"Who knows," I smiled at Star before I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe if you go ahead and get ready you'll find out, huh?"

Her eyes widened immediately at my words as she stared at me processing what I had said. "Wait, really!?"

"Yes, really." I laughed softly. "Hurry up! Shoo!"

Mikas walked into the room even further with slow steps, his black cape falling in front of his body and covering his black suit he was wearing and part of his slacks. "I'm sorry but forgive me for overstepping... It does seem that you're in a rather good mood."

"Aren't I always?" I asked, tilting my head and then turning to look back at myself in the mirror.

"Never good enough to let your youngest daughter attend one of the court balls." He said matter of factly.

"We don't have to talk about it, Mikas."

"Did you get laid?" He asked, c*****g his head to the side.

"What?!" I spun around glaring straight at him. "No!"

"Hmm.... Did you almost get laid then?" He narrowed his eyes looking me over. "Was it the Hybrid?"

"Mikas I swear to god, you're walking a thin line." I flicked him in between the eyes. "I love you, I do, but shut up."

"Ah, so it was the hybrid then." He smirked, nodding. "I'll just go ahead and inform the courts that you can not marry as it appears you're promised to him."

"Mikas!" I all but screeched

He chuckled in response and dodged me as I tried to hit him, backing away on one foot and heading towards the door in such a swift movement it almost looked like he had been walking on air. I flipped him off and sighed loudly, I needed to finish getting myself ready.

Walking over towards the mirror I paused and stopped at the small stool near it, picking up the crown that sat there, I examined it for a long time. Queen of the Spirit Court. If the other courts knew what I did they'd have went straight for the jugular. Bartender by day and Queen by night was not exactly something that fit into their ancient laws. The duality of it all was exhausting but absolutely worth it in the end.

I got to meet Jude for instance, that was one of the best parts of it all and prior to that when I was a hunter for Reno long before I became a Queen I worked in the mortal realm for a group called ISOA and that's how I met Isa. The world was a strange place that I felt like I fit better into than this one at times but I wouldn't trade this life either for anything.

Being Queen of a realm that no one took seriously? A realm of people who were scared and confused of the powers they were born into. I loved them all deeply and would never regret doing this work. If I could serve as Queen forever I would, though unlike the barbaric ways of Mab and Oberon I planned one day to pass my title on to one of my children and let them have a chance to do this too.

I didn't want to fall into a comfortable way where I slowly became anything like those tyrants.