Fire and Ice (34 page)

****

The Beltane Fete in Mythlandria had been spectacular, but nothing compared to the bizarreness of a party in Faery — music and singing and nonstop dancing. Tables piled high with food and sweets. Fireflies lit the perpetual twilight sky, casting an eerie yellow glow on the forest surrounding us. There were candles around every tree, lit with spiking blue flames, and tiny glowing orbs of blue-tinged light floated everywhere just above our heads.

Beyond the trees stretched a never-ending beach and waves lapped softly in the azure glow. Millions of stars skipped on the surface of the water, their reflection like diamonds in the sun.

Keeping up with Amaryllis was nearly impossible in the strappy, spike-heeled sandals I'd been given to wear along with the sheer spaghetti strap gown. I stopped to slip them off, and free my hair from the way too fussy up-do she'd given me, then hurried to catch up with Amaryllis and Adrius sinking in the soft sand.

A small cluster of faeries were roasting fresh fish over a raging fire, while singing an Elvish melody I'd heard during Beltane. Each note filled the balmy air with such perfectly clear pitch, I found myself singing along to the shock of Adrius and Amaryllis.

“How do you know that song?” Adrius asked when the lilting tune ended.

“I'm not sure.” I shrugged. “I've only heard it once before… at Beltane.” Although a distant part of me remembered it from long before then.

The fey piped up with another tune, this time a haunting and sad melody.

Another Faerie emerged, walking straight from the waves to the fire gathering, carrying a rod strung with freshly caught, wriggling fish. He closed his eyes, splaying one hand in the air, and tiny globes of white light shot from his fingertips and enveloped each fish. When the light and the last notes of their song faded, it was clear the fish were dead.

Adrius wandered toward the fire and warmly greeted each fey in the circle.

“What is that song?” I asked turning to Amaryllis.

“It's a song of thanksgiving to the fish. Thanking them for sharing their life with us.”

I frowned.

“It is an agreement after all. The fish have to first agree to be caught and eaten, then their bones are added to the fire's ash and used in planting the crops.” She shrugged. “…At least in the civilized parts of Faery.”

I found myself more than slightly disturbed by the idea that fish had willingly given themselves up to be served and eaten. But when Adrius came back with a slice of steaming white meat on a bed of seaweed, all thoughts of squeamishness disappeared and my stomach growled at the delicious whiff of hot seafood. A ravenous appetite overrode everything else as my lips parted and Adrius tucked a bite into my mouth. I savored the tender meat as it almost dissolved on my tongue, closing my eyes until Amaryllis nudged my arm.

“See, it's so much better that way! Appreciation makes everything taste better.” She was nodding so vigorously the sparkly drink she was handing me sloshed out of the glass and onto the sand. I smiled and took the drink, then linked hands with Adrius.

“Oooh it's time, its time!” Amaryllis cried and darted away, back toward the forest festivities. I cocked an eyebrow at Adrius who simply shrugged and went back for two more pieces of the savory fish before leading us to a deserted cove.

Wandering, rose-colored mist floated on the ground, reaching as high as my shins at times. I inhaled deeply. There was a peculiar odor on the air. I couldn't place it, but it made my head fuzzy. Music sprang to life, although I couldn't tell from where. The song was mesmerizing, and a tingling spread all over me.

“I love it here. It's so magical.” My words slurred together slightly. I felt tipsy. “Don't you feel like dancing?” I twirled around and around, and as the music grew faster and more frenzied, I was spinning faster and faster. Dancing and twirling wildly in the firelight.

Adrius leaned back against a boulder and watched, his lips curved in an amused smirk. Laughing and whirling, I whipped my hair through the air, flinging my head in circles. Careening out of control, I spun into Adrius who caught me, keeping me from falling. With a giggle, I picked up my drink to take another sip.

“You alright?” he asked slowly, taking the drink from my hand and examining it.

Smoldering heat started at my feet and traveled north. “Wow, it's hot,” I said, loosening the ties of my dress. My skin felt like fire.

His lighthearted expression changed to a puzzled frown. “What are you doing?”

I slipped the thin straps off my shoulders, and flashed a cocky smile. Adrius watched me and shook his head. Finally, he grabbed my hands.

“Oh, you're no fun.” I pouted. Teetering into him, I nuzzled his neck.

His breath became rougher. He shook his head slowly. “Lorelei, what happened to trying to be good?

“Don't you want to have any fun?” I whispered raising my eyebrows.

“Of course I do… but not here. With you intoxicated on…” He sniffed my cup again. “Faerie wine,” he scoffed. “Perfect. I'm going to have a chat with that Amaryllis.”

I twirled and spun away from him, dancing into the tall grass near the shore. He followed me and I ran to him and dragged him onto the ground. “Right here is perfect.” I nuzzled into his neck, my mind swirling in the mist.

“Lorelei… This feeling isn't real.” He sounded breathless. “Open your eyes.”

He shook me and I regained control. My skin was tingling again, like being tickled by a million tiny feathers. When I opened my eyes everything was in motion, blurred, almost as if I was still twirling. The fog lifted and I saw for the first time where we were. Slowly things rearranged themselves into focus, first at the beautiful boy still leaning over me, with his hair brushing my cheek and brows furrowed, and then I took in our surroundings. Wine-colored poppies swayed amidst the tall grass, growing at the edge of the shore, their coal centers bowing back and forth, spilling fine black specks into the sea breeze. I took a deep breath and felt a little less light-headed, though still not quite normal.

Retying my dress, my face blushed with heat.

Adrius exhaled slowly and ran his hands over his face. “You know, you make this whole self-control thing extremely difficult.”

I blinked and stared at him. The sound of my rapid heartbeat thumped in my ears over the lapping waves. A melodic tune wafted from the water and I peered toward the shore.

“Do you hear that?” I asked, heading for the surf. The music calling me into the waves was impossible to resist.

“Um, yeah, that would be the water nymphs,” he said. “And since I don't know how much more temptation I can take…” His arm locked around my waist drawing me away from the watery tune.

I hugged him, burying my face in his chest. “I feel weird,” I whispered.

He kissed my forehead. “Come on. We'd better go,” he said in a quiet voice, carefully untangling my arms from around him. “Before something happens we both regret later.”

The after-effects of the Faerie wine and the poppy field were no picnic. My head pounded, and a piece of me still ached to return there, to bring back the sensation. But even through the desperate pangs, I knew that was a bad plan. This place had magic in every inch of it and one wrong move could result in permanent damage. Staying as far away from those flowers and the sea was going to be rule number one. And rule number two, don't drink anything.

All of Faery was a heady experience, like being unable to fully access your senses. Everything heightened and numbed at the same time…lucid in a dream-like daze. We staggered back to the party. I picked a few strands of grass from my hair as we walked, and I nearly ran into Zanthiel. He took in my slightly disheveled appearance and his suspicious silver gaze darted to Adrius and back to me.

“Having fun?” he asked.

Adrius glared and placed his arm around my shoulder.

“Riots,” I said dryly. I was too queasy to question the open hostility between them. Zanthiel seemed to ignore the protective stance Adrius had taken. Or was it a possessive stance?

“Too much Faerie wine will do that to even the wildest of humans.”

“Half-human,” I muttered, grateful Adrius was holding me up. “I could use some water,” I mumbled, trying to get the swarm of bumble bees buzzing in my head to shut up.

“I'll be right back,” Adrius said. He glowered at Zanthiel then headed for the crystal water fountain. The unspoken loathing between them made me anxious. I turned to Zanthiel.

“So what are you doing here? I thought this was a party for the summer fey.” Something lurked in his silvery eyes.

“I came to deliver a message,” he said, handing me a pale pink lotus flower. When I frowned, he replied, “You eat it.”

“Ah, not really feeling much like food.” I slumped down onto an oversized toadstool, under a low hanging bow littered with twinkling lights that looked a lot like actual stars.

“Perhaps you would fare better having a native of the Faery Islands show you around.” He smirked.

I peered up at him, marveling in the way his silvery eyes reflected the light, and then looked away.

“Right now I want to sit here. Thanks.”

I surveyed the party, spotting Adrius who was talking to a stout gnome, but kept his eyes on us the entire time. When I looked up again, Zanthiel was gone. I glanced around and shrugged. Amaryllis floated over, took one look at me, and shook her dainty head.

“Don't eat the lotus flowers!” she said with an exasperated sigh, removing the blossom from my hand. Then she drifted off in another direction.

When Adrius returned with my water, I drank it in one swallow and handed him the empty crystal cup.

“You should start to feel better soon.” He smiled, his eyes still lit with concern. “Do you want to leave?”

I nodded. There was only so much of a Faerie party I could handle. And I'd passed that point hours ago. We passed a group of female satyrs surrounding a human boy who looked like he'd been hypnotized. They were clawing at his clothes, leaving red welts across his bare chest and biting his neck and arms while he threw his head back and moaned. I gulped and looked away, tightening my grip on Adrius. Eventually the party sounds faded into the distance as he escorted me back to the softly glowing cottage I was staying in.

It was a two-story teetering structure of sticks branches and moss, with crooked wooden stairs to each level. Inside however, was every comfort of Mythlandria, including candle-lit chandeliers and candelabras on every table, and a sumptuously layered bed under a sky light open to the starry night. The cottage was staffed by brownies, who worked diligently to make every meal, clean every corner, and prepare all of my clothes. I had offered to help them earlier, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Apparently, that's like saying they're not doing a good enough job and well, they got really ticked off and stormed out in a huff. It took an hour of apologizing, Amaryllis's pleading, and a basket of sweets to get them to come back.

“I'm not tired yet,” I protested when Adrius kissed me goodnight and was about to head to his cottage beyond the patch of trees.

“You will be soon,” he said gently, “That's one of the side effects of Faerie wine. And I'll be back before you wake up. Promise.”

****

Morning came much too soon, and when I climbed out of bed to look out the window, there was Adrius sprawled out under a tree. I smiled the entire time I dressed, and rushed out to meet him, but not before promising the disgruntled house brownies I'd be back in time for the lavish breakfast they were busy preparing.

Adrius looked amazing, as always, with an even more supernatural edge to his perfect features in the soft glow of Faery. Something like a lizard scampered across my foot and I jumped. Adrius rolled his eyes and I poked him.

“Demonic Faeries she's fine with, but a tiny lizard…” he laughed, shaking his head.

“Okay, big shot, tell me something that you're afraid of then?” I challenged. We were lying in the viridian grass, gazing up at billowing cotton forming images against the azure sky. Fingers interlaced, I shifted to face Adrius, his face lit softly by the morning sun. It wouldn't be long before Amaryllis arrived to teach me the ways of the Faerie. But for now, it was enough to bask in the deliciousness of his company in our post Faerie fete, tropical utopia.

“Come on out with it, spill.”

“Alright, let me see. Well, when I was young I had a fear of the dark,” he said, then frowned when he saw my expression. “No laughing.”

I smiled. It was endearing to think of this cold warrior as a child frightened of monsters in the dark.

“And, I guess, now there isn't much I'm afraid of… except for my feelings for you.” His eyes burned with startling intensity.

“So what exactly is it about me that scares you?”

“You don't scare me, Lorelei,” he said, still deeply serious. “The idea of something happening to you is the only thing that scares me. My feelings for you leave me vulnerable, and an Elven warrior is taught to never be vulnerable. It makes you weak and gives others power over you.” He paused, shifting his gaze for a moment before his eyes clouded over.

“So if I had to think of something, and apparently I'm being forced to now—” He smirked. “That would be my answer.”

I studied his face then looked away.

He watched my reaction. “I can guess what you're thinking, but it would be so much more satisfying if for once, you would share your thoughts with me.”

Tears welled in the corner of my eyes, part of the overpowering reaction he evoked in me. “It's just… I'm amazed anyone could feel that way about me,” I said quietly. “I'm not that special. I'm only—”

“You are special,” he said, cutting me off. “To me… to my world, and to your world. Your birth was one of the most celebrated events in a millennium and now that you are here, it is of immeasurable importance. Never underestimate how much what you're doing means to everyone here.” His voice deepened with emotion. “And to me.”

Rolling onto his side, he propped himself of upon one elbow, hovering above my face.

“You're like this flower,” he said, plucking a bloom next to my hair.

I nodded, confused. “I'm like deadly nightshade?”

His lips quirked into a smile. “Beautiful and beguiling… I lose myself when I'm with you.” He pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss. When he pulled back, I pulled him closer, my hands wrapping around him.

He lingered and then drew back.

“You know, those rules of yours, they don't mean much to me. In my world, this isn't so strange.

“Yes, but we are in my world now. And while you make it nearly impossible to uphold my virtues, I have to think of more than just what I want in this moment.” His voice trailed off, and he pulled away from me. The familiar shadow came into his eyes, clouding his emotions from view.

“Don't, Adrius,” I stroked his face. “Please, don't shut me out. Talk to me.”

Adrius sat up, staring into the trees and beyond them.

“Are you worried about hurting me? When we kiss, it's not the same electric charge it used to be.”

He looked at me with a half smile, smudging his thumb across my lower lip. “Are you saying I have no effect on you?” His brows flickered little.

I quivered and my cheeks flushed with heat.

“You know what I mean.” I paused. “Adrius,” my voice dropped to a whisper. “Tell me about the binding curse.”

He stiffened. A crease formed betwee
n his wrinkled brows and dozens of emotions played across his face, then he sighed. “I was young then, only a child. My mother had been injured in the last battle between the witches and fey. She was trying to protect someone. But all it got her was Octãhv
ia's wrath. I watched them drain her life away, while I held her in my arms, helpless. Too young to save her and too frightened to fight back. ” Pain twisted his features, marring his perfect face and darkening his eyes to midnight green. “My mother made m
e promise to protect Mythlandria and the Nevermore no matter what. But when I made my vow, I didn't see the binding chain Octãhvia had unleashed. It coiled around my ankle, forever holding me to serve my king and kingdom… and Octãhvia… at any cost. For yea
rs I'd forgotten, blocked out the memory of her toxic magic. It wasn't until after I'd led the Drakkon Armies on an attack against the northern Wyldewoods, that I remembered her curse. She orchestrated the entire thing as a means of expanding her territory. Hawthrin has been helping me fight her magic. Conjuring potions and spells to strengthen my defense against her will. It was what I used to bargain for your freedom. But even with my strength of will, it will never be enough. Only her death will break the bond and free me from her.” He stared into the distance. “To this day, no one besides Hawthrin knows. Apart from you.”

“But why?” I asked, watching the shadows of memory play in his eyes like a movie.

“Because it didn't matter. I couldn't save her. An Elven Prince entrusted to protect his kingdom, yet I failed when it mattered most… my own flesh and blood. I sat there and watched her die.” His voice turned harsh.

“There was nothing you could do. You were a child, Adrius—”

He shook his head. “It's not an excuse. When my mother died, I was dead inside and spent years trying to bury the pain. I spent a lot of time in your world, pretending to be human, studying different vocations and doing things I'm not very proud of. For a long time it worked to numb the pain. My father gave me room to grieve, but when Octahvia's intention to take over Mythlandria became known, I returned, realizing my kingdom needed me. My father gave me all of Julien's duties in addition to my own. My brother's resentment toward me began when our mother died and it's grown ever since. None of it mattered to me, because there was nothing left to live for,” he said gravely, then his gaze shifted to mine. “Until now.”

I swallowed the lump of emotion rising in my throat and leaned in to kiss his strained forehead.

He drew back, breaking contact, still clinging to my gaze. Then he pulled me to him again, with a kiss that conveyed the enormity of our feelings. Intense, passionate, and with an urgency that hijacked my breath. He kissed me as though my soul belonged only to him and his to me.

A soft moan escaped as his tongue explored deeper, filling me with the sweet taste of him. There was such force behind his kiss, I could barely breath. I could feel the darkness burn inside him, swelling, rising up, taking hold of his lungs, his heart. Soon enough the fire would completely consume him And then me in turn through him.

I focused my energy, trying to push it away, make the pain recede. For the first time I could see the green aura of healing energy flowing thru me, but the blackness of pain was stronger, bent on destruction.

“Fight,” I whispered, when I was able to take a breath. “Fight it. Adrius.”

“I am,” he growled, taking me back in his mouth. But the shudders that wracked his body splintered the healing magic I'd managed to conjure. He fell to the ground gasping for air, as I dropped to my knees next to him, trying to soothe his internal third degree burns.

“We'll find a way out of this I promise you,” I said, stroking his hair.

Rolling over, he looked up at me and smiled, his head cradled in my lap. “Always the optimist.”

“Someone once told me to never give up.”

A faint smile crossed his lips, as he reached behind my head and pulled me in for another kiss. This time it was soft, tender, and far too brief. But free from the agony he'd experienced, so that made it all the sweeter. The rain lingering behind the clouds began to fall first as a gentle mist then heavier, soaking our clothes and hair. It was a delicious rain — sweet, warm, and fragrant, like his kiss.

Then something stirred within him, an aura of sadness, and every part of our dream slipped away, like the push of morning light leaving me almost sick with desire.

“Where will you go after this, Lorelei? Have you given it any thought? Will you return to Drearyton Cove, go back to your life? Leave all this behind as if it were a dream?”

“N-No…” His question threw me. I hadn't really given any thought to the future beyond saving my mother and father. That implied a certain confidence there would be a future. And there were times when I honestly wasn't sure there would be. The present held so much of my focus. In order to get through this I'd had to take things one day at a time. He read my eyes and frowned at what he saw there.

“So what is this to you, a diversion to satisfy your quest for adventure?”

My jaw dropped.

“This is not a game for me, Lorelei. It is my life. I have duties and responsibilities here. I—” He paused as if reconsidering his next words and deciding against it.

“Adrius, this isn't a game for me either. It never has been. Honestly, I haven't given home much thought, beyond my mom. But only because my old life doesn't hold anything for me now. It never did. Mythlandria feels more like home than Drearyton ever did. Being here with you feels right. And I have a destiny to fulfill, right?”

“And does that destiny include me?”

Bewildered, I gazed at him, trying to read behind his words, wishing furtively that the Inner Eye necklace would help shed some light on what he was getting at.

“What are you trying to say, Adrius?”

“I know you have to go back for your mother. But I'm talking about after,” he said. “I'm asking what you would say if I asked you to stay. Here. With me. Forever.”