Curse And Craving

46

“Some truth, but few of the stories are all that accurate anymore. The brevity of human existence is vastly limiting; knowledge is lost, priorities skewed. The urgency of time warps rational thinking—such strange creatures,” she mused. “Makes them unpredictable.” “We do the best we can,” I said wryly. “There is no 'we' anymore, Rebecca. You had better start getting used to that.” “I haven't had time to get used to it. It's just been a handful of hours since I found out.” I tried not to sound antagonistic, but it was difficult. My own demons got in the way of decorum. “It always comes back to time. Stop thinking like a human. You are Fae. There is no getting used to it. You simply are. Accept it and move on.” She did have a point, but the newness of the subject made it a sensitive matter. Despite her insistence, I knew it would take time to accept my new circumstances. “Can you tell me about the war you mentioned? Did Merlin say what my role would be?” “If there is a war brewing, it is likely Merlin’s own doing. He tinkers in matters best left alone.” She spoke of him like an annoying younger brother, and I supposed such a familiarity might evolve after so many years of acquaintance. After a brief pause, she turned her assessing eyes back to me. “How long have you been Fae?” She arched her brow in expectation of my answer. Her sudden change of subject caught me off guard, and I stuttered for a moment. “I'm not sure. I've never shown any sign of power until I moved to Ireland a couple of weeks ago. That's all I know.” “What powers have you exhibited thus far?” Dammit, I was a terrible liar. I had no desire to answer her question, but the thought of being caught in a lie made my heart leap in my throat. “Nothing major—unlocking a door, seeing through glamour, and healing quickly.” Relieved my words came out steadily, I calmed my breathing and tried to project an image of innocence. If my powers were unique like Lochlan had suggested, there was no way I was telling her about them. She stopped beneath the swaying branches of a flowering tree and turned in my direction. Her cool green eyes bore into me before she spoke. “No doubt your powers shall be revealed in time. What you need to know is that once your transformation is complete, you will be under my rule. I have mandated that the Seelie remain in Faery. Outside of my personal guard and the Wild Hunt, there are no exceptions. My man will be watching, and once you fully transition, you will return to Faery.” She looked down her nose at me, asserting her dominance in anticipation of my challenge, but I was too dumbstruck to mount a defense. I hadn't even had a chance to process Lochlan's claims that I was becoming Fae, let alone make the connection that I might have to live in Faery. My already aching head began to pound as helplessness and despair settled heavily in my chest. “Durin,” said the queen before large hands reached around to my forehead, just as they had done in my apartment, and my world went black. I CAME AWAKE FASTER this time, my eyes flying open to discover I was back in my own bed. I checked my phone and was stunned to discover it was 11 p.m. on the same day I was abducted, merely a few hours later. It felt like a full day had passed, but in reality, it had been a fraction of that. I sat up abruptly. The movement was too fast, and my stomach lurched. I rushed to the bathroom and stood vigil over the toilet, expecting to return my dinner at any moment. Head still aching, my stomach settled enough that I stepped over to the sink and splashed my face with water. My reflection caught me off guard, and I froze to take in the stunning woman in the mirror. The beautiful hairstyle Cyrene had created was a bit worse for wear, but the effect was still there—I looked like royalty. I still wore the purple gown, leaving no room for argument that it had all been a dream. All of it had been real. I’d been to Faery. I gathered the silk skirt and walked to the bedroom mirror for the full effect. Once I turned on the light and located my phone, I snapped a couple of selfies. It might have been crazy, but I felt like I had to keep a record of what had happened. As though the dress might disintegrate like Cinderella’s night at the ball, and I’d have nothing to show for my visit with the queen. For a second, I considered sending the picture to Ashley. The thought had hardly formed before I remembered that I couldn't tell her about any of it. She’d be on a plane and back in Belfast in a heartbeat. I needed to keep her safely in New York. But if I continued to keep these increasingly monumental secrets from her, would I still be able to call her my best friend? I was becoming Fae. My life was already unrecognizable. Between the secrets and geographic distance, the foundations of our friendship would dissolve. Even if I found a way to stay on earth, Ashley would be lost to me. The realization snatched the warmth from my mood and left me chilly instead. Turning the light off, I carefully removed the dress and hung it in my armoire before pulling on my pajamas. I crawled into bed and tried to comprehend the enormity of what was happening. I was becoming Fae. I pictured the dining room full of beautiful faces all frozen at the age of thirty. Would I stop aging as well? A surge of panic raced through my body, sending an arctic chill deep into my bones. My parents would notice eventually. Could I risk telling them what was happening to me? If not, I would have to let them think I was dead because I couldn’t continue to show my youthful face without explanation. No, faking my death wasn’t an option. I couldn’t knowingly hurt them like that if it was in my power to avoid. In that case, it might be better to tell them now before I’m taken to Faery forever. I had to make sure they knew I was safely alive if I ever disappeared, but I didn’t want them to worry unnecessarily. Maybe I could find a way to stay and glamour myself to have wrinkles so they didn’t suspect. They could live out their lives as they should have if I’d never come across this damn necklace. I was becoming Fae. And it was all the necklace’s fault. Without its magical influence, I could remain human. I would live a normal mortal existence with my family and friends. Monsters wouldn’t be after me, and I wouldn’t have a Faery queen threatening to keep me a prisoner in a distant land.