One Black Rose (16 page)

I gasped. “But she couldn’t accept it?”

“No,” said Holt. “She did accept it. Samuel was furious. He thought I’d taken her out from under him. He might have been right, but we were happy.…”

“So, what happened?”

“A couple of months after she accepted, she was out late one night, got in an accident….”

Holt’s voice trailed off. I saw his body clench.

“You were engaged to be married and she died?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes,” Holt said, shifting uncomfortably. “We were probably too young, but I miss her.”

It was clear that it wasn’t something he was ready to talk about.

“And I’m the next girl?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “There hasn’t been anyone since Lily.”

“I see,” I said. That was comforting…I think.

So, I was supposed to be with Samuel. He had to marry first. It explained why the Cheshire girls had told me to stay away from Holt. If they thought I was going to accept his Rose instead of Samuel’s they’d probably do everything they could to prevent it. Somehow they had known almost as soon as I got to Castleton that we were spending time together, maybe even that I had started to care about Holt, and so they had tried to come between us.

“It’s all the more important that I talk to Samuel now,” I said. “Tell him that I know.”

Holt’s face looked ashen. “Yes, I guess you have to do that.”

“But I don’t want to marry him,” I said. “And if he doesn’t want to marry me it should be simple.” I ignored the part of me that said how attracted I was to him every time I saw him. He was sarcastic and rude and I wanted nothing to do with it. At least, I didn’t think I did.

Holt smiled sadly. “It’s fate. Fairy fate,” he said. “It’s who you’re supposed to be with.”

The idea that who I was supposed to be with was somehow fated, that I had no choice in the matter at all, made panic rise inside my chest. I wanted a choice! I liked Holt. I’d liked him from the minute I’d laid eyes on him. My reaction to him couldn’t just be tossed aside like it meant nothing. There was something that drew me to Samuel too, though, and now I knew that it was because he was my destiny. But he hated me, so as far as I was concerned he wasn’t even an option for me. Still, hearing that according to the Fairy world I was destined to accept his Rose made my being interested in him even if he was a jerk make more sense.

It also explained why Holt had felt like he needed to stay away from me. He knew I wasn’t his.

“What now?” I asked.

“I have no idea,” said Holt. “I just know that I can’t stay away from you any more. But we have to see what happens with Samuel. If I were to offer you the Rose his family would attack mine. There’s no question about that. His mother is a vicious queen.”

“The Winter Court would attack the Summer Court?” I asked, shocked that I could be in the middle of a war. Hell, I could be the cause of the war.

“Why do you think the Cheshire girls came after you?” asked Holt like it should be obvious. “Winter and Summer imply opposites. Of course we don’t get along.”

“Samuel would never let them attack your family,” I protested.

“It’s not up to Samuel,” Holt countered. “His mother is the queen. The Cheshire girls follow her lead, not Samuel’s. For Samuel to rule he has to find his own queen.”

“Which is fated to be me,” I said looking down at my hands.

“Yes,” said Holt. “Look, if you need to talk to Samuel then do it, but I suggest doing it when his family isn’t around.”

“But wait,” I protested. “If I’m supposed to be with Samuel why do I like you at all?”

Holt turned and looked at me. “I don’t know. My mother doesn’t either. You should just like Samuel, and not have any reaction at all to me.”

“But I do have a reaction to you,” I protested, getting a little frantic at the idea of losing him.

Holt smiled, but it was a dejected sort of smile. “I know, but you shouldn’t.” He kissed my hand and then he was gone.

I sat in the garden for a long time, staring at the bench Holt had covered in flowers. Finally I got up and walked through the garden and back to the house. Somehow I knew my way out without getting lost. I went into the kitchen, but only Susan was there. When I asked, she told me that Nick and Carley had gone home. She offered to walk back with me (I think she knew from my dazed expression that I’d talked to Holt), but I said I’d walk alone.

I don’t know how I made it home. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going or even where my feet were landing; I was too caught up in what Holt had told me. The idea of losing Holt, of not being around him, made me sick to my stomach. But now my reaction to Samuel, why I had any feelings for him at all, was clearer too. I was supposed to like him and I was never supposed to like Holt. I just wished one of them had told me sooner.

I knew I didn’t have much time before Samuel came looking for me, if he was going to at all, but I needed to get home first. It was almost dinner and Carley was probably in fits. Plus, tomorrow I was supposed to work at the café in the morning. Work? I barely remembered that I had a job. I definitely didn’t want to spend the morning trying to serve coffee to people while my mind was in a haze of what Holt had just told me about himself and Samuel.

When I got back to the house, Nick’s car was in the driveway and the lights were on inside.

As soon as I opened the door I heard Carley yell, “Where have you been?”

She and Nick were sitting in the kitchen eating pizza, so I sat down and grabbed my own slice. I had missed lunch (I had been a bit busy finding out that the two guys I liked were princes; oh, and Fairies too) and was ravenous.

“Just around,” I mumbled through a mouth full of pizza.

“Where were you two?” I asked, before I took another bite and poured myself some soda.

“We went out to lunch, then shopping,” said Carley. “Nick was apologizing.”

“I bet he was,” I said drily.

“Where were you?” Carley asked. “I called you a million times.”

I chewed my lip. “Worried about me?”

“Of course,” said Carley. “Plus, I needed to know what you wanted on your pizza.”

“Right,” I said.

“Were you with Holt?” she teased.

“Carley, leave her alone,” said Nick. “Maybe Samuel’s the one she likes anyway.”

I nearly choked on my pizza.

“Yeah, right,” I said. “Maybe, except that he hates me.”

“What difference does it make, they’re both gorgeous,” said Carley. “And he doesn’t hate you.”

I knew Carley was wrong. What Holt had just told me confirmed that he did.

And now I knew it was because they were Fairy princes. I looked at Nick to see how he was taking this conversation, but he was just eating his pizza.

“I’m going to bed,” I said. I had eaten two pieces of pizza in like five minutes, which must be some kind of record.

“But we were going to watch a movie,” said Carley. “We were deciding between
Interview with a Vampire
and
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. I think it’s about Fairies.”

I winced.

“I’m really tired. Plus, work tomorrow,” I said, and grabbing up my soda cup I said goodnight and headed to my room. I knew Carley and Nick were staring after me, but I didn’t care. I was exhausted.

As I climbed the stairs I felt the buzz of my phone in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked the name on the caller ID. Samuel had sent me a text: “I heard you talked to Holt. I’m outside. Please come.”

I turned right around on the stairs and raced down them. I rushed out the front door and down the porch steps.

“Autumn,” Samuel said from the side of the house.

“Hi,” I said breathlessly. Now that I knew he was a Fairy I looked to see if I noticed anything different about him. I could feel the pull towards him that I’d felt from the very first time I’d seen him. Now I knew what it was. He was my destiny…or at least that’s what the Fairies believed. They believed that my future lay with sarcastic Samuel Cheshire.

“Are you alright?” Samuel asked. It seemed like the first real concern, unlaced with sarcasm, that he had shown for me since we’d met.

“Yes,” I said. “I think so.” I wanted to get right to the point. “You’re really a prince in the Winter Court?”

“Yes,” said Samuel. It was difficult to see his face clearly in the moonlight. “I came here to see if you were okay and to see what questions you have.” He paused and looked at me seriously. “Do you have questions?”

Well, duh.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked indignantly. We were standing very close, next to the house.

“How could I? It’s not something you just come out and say to people. Plus, if my family had let you alone none of this would have happened,” he said. He was angry, but I didn’t think it was at me.

I realized I wouldn’t get anywhere questioning why he did what he did, so I changed tactics a little. “I don’t get your cousins,” I said. “Why did they come after me?”

“Because we are not friends with the Summer Court and for us to ensure our legacy I must find a queen,” said Samuel sharply. “Holt should back off.” There was anger in his voice, and what I thought might be bordering on fury.

“But if you don’t want me and Holt does what’s the problem?” I asked.

“I have to find my bride first,” Samuel said, “And just because Holt wants you doesn’t mean it’s right for him to have you.”

I had no response to that.

“Did he tell you about Lily?” There was a challenge in his eyes.

“Yes,” I said, “But he didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“So!” Samuel said. “He can’t be trusted.”

“You can’t tell me who to love,” I shot back at him.

Samuel shook his head. “I know. I wouldn’t.” And I knew that was true. Samuel had done his best to stay out of it and stay away from me. Apparently he couldn’t.

“So, what now?” I asked. I could feel tears forming at the corner of my eyes. I wanted to understand, but I didn’t know how to.

“Just be careful,” he said, frowning. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Be careful of what?” I demanded. I threw up my hands and stomped around. Apparently childish behavior was called for at a time like this. “As far as I know your family is the only one that’s threatened me.”

Samuel’s face clouded.

“Look, they are doing what they think they have to in order to survive. They would never hurt a hair on your head, so you don’t need to worry about it. Lydia and Leslie are going to back off and if Holt stays out of our business that should be the end of it.”

None of that explained what would happen to me, though. Before I had the chance to point that out, Samuel turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.

I couldn’t sleep, not after everything Holt had told me. I needed someone to share it all with, but how could I tell Carley?

“Hey, by the way, those two families with really hot sons just happen to be Fairies? No big deal!” I realized I could never say that to her.

In the early hours of the morning I decided I should talk to Susan. She’d been so sweet to me, and since she was a Fairy too she might be able to answer questions I wanted the answers to, but didn’t want to ask Holt. Bottom line: I was really confused and needed someone to talk to.

While it was still partly dark out, I threw off the covers and showered. Once I was dressed in shorts and a blue t-shirt I headed downstairs to eat breakfast and watch TV. Not for the first time did I miss my mom’s cooking; she always made a hot breakfast when I wanted it. I was capable of cracking an egg and putting it in a frying pan, but that didn’t mean I should do it, because when I did, it tasted awful. Feeling more miserable than ever, I started to channel flip.

I had decided who I needed to talk to, but I waited to text her until I was pretty sure I wouldn’t wake her up.

As soon as I could, I texted Susan and asked if we could hang out. She texted me back instantly to say that it was a great idea. She suggested a picnic lunch and said she’d bring everything we needed; she just wanted to know if I preferred American or cheddar cheese.

After I texted her back that I preferred cheddar, I sat back and relaxed. Somehow she must have known that I wanted to be alone with her, not around a bunch of people. I couldn’t very well ask her about Fairy magic in the middle of a crowded restaurant.

The minutes dragged by until I was supposed to meet her. I knew it would help if I didn’t stare at the clock every two seconds, but I couldn’t help it.

Finally it was time to leave. I grabbed up my tote and headed out the door. We had agreed to meet at the beginning of the same road where Nick had spent the night, and it took me no time at all to get there in the mood I was in. Susan was actually waiting for me there.

“Hi,” she said brightly. As usual, she gave me a big hug. She was wearing pastel colors today. Pink shorts and a yellow top with tiny blue flowers along the sleeves, plus oversized sunglasses. It was a look I definitely couldn’t have pulled off.

“How are you doing?” she asked me seriously, looking into my eyes.