Once I could lift my head without getting dizzy, which Helga fretted that it had been two full days, I drank some broth.
At my insistence, Helga had the servants move in all three of my men into the small room with me.
They were still sleeping, but their breathing was normal, and their coloring looked good.
I relaxed against the pillows. We had weeks ahead of us before we’d be back to our regular selves. Helga oversaw our healing, meals, and rest. She went slow, not wanting to tax herself too much with four Fae to heal.
Fae.
The word was no longer a curse in my mind, but it still took some getting used to. “Tell me about my mother…the queen. And my father was half-Fae?”
The back of my throat was dry and raw as I thought about my mom who was more real to me than some elusive queen.
I held onto myself because I felt I was splitting apart. I loved my foster mom and how her nose would scrunch up whenever she smelled chocolate.
I mean who doesn’t love chocolate?
Or how she ran alongside me for a mile trying to teach me how to ride a bike and tripped over a dip in the street. How she’d stay up late sewing elaborate customs by hand because she couldn’t get the sewing machine that she bought at a garage sale to work.
Helga’s brow softened and she sat on the edge of the bed next to me, clasping my hand. “The queen was a beautiful, strong woman. Stubborn too.” She chuckled. “She had her three consorts: one from each of the Fae kingdoms like you.”
I nodded, not wanting her to stop talking.
“Well. She fell in love with a fourth. Everyone told her it was a mistake, but she wouldn’t be swayed. He was half-Fae and half-human. Raised in the human world, or so he said.”
“You didn’t believe him?” I frowned, my gut knotting up.
“Never would let me heal him.” She shook her head. “Back then, I chalked it off to him being as stubborn as she was.”
“But you sensed something was wrong?” My heart stuttered. Could my dad have been a Gwyllion in disguise too?
“Oh, listen to me, I don’t know what I’m talking about.” She patted my hand. “When you were discovered missing, he went with the other warriors and consorts to find and bring you back.”
“What happened?” I squeezed her hand, not wanting to know, but needing to have the truth.
“He died trying to protect you from that Gwyllion that kidnapped you.” She wiped at her eyes. “Now, no more questions. You need to get some rest.”
A sliver of doubt trickled at the back of my mind, but I pushed it aside. What did it matter? My father was dead. “Okay.”
There was still the issue of one or more of the Fae here being on the evil Unseelie’s side. My gut told me so.
“One more thing, Helga.”
“Aye, dear?” She paused at the door.
“Malcolm has a cat—a Fae cat—Tinder. Is there any way we can get him into the castle?” If I was right, the creature might have a sixth sense about him like most animals had.
“Of course. I’ll send one of the servants to fetch him.”
“Thank you.” I leaned back on the pillow and closed my eyes, hoping that I’d be able to do more than sit up soon.
While I recovered, Helga let me keep the globe with the image of me and my wings. I was too weak to get out of bed and see them.
I slapped at my back; Simeon looked over at me from the other side of the room.
“Did a bug bite you?” he asked.
“No.” I strained again to reach my back. “I’m trying to feel the wings.”
Darrius grunted. “Weeks ago, she wanted nothin’ ta do with Fae an’ ta kill us all. Now she cannae wait ta play with ‘er new wings.”
“Wouldn’t you?” I teased. “Bet you’re just jealous 'cause you don’t have any.”
“Your wings won’t come out until you’re fully healed.” Malcolm chuckled, then coughed from his bed. “No use trying to get them to come out until then.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and Darrius threw pillow at me. “You are so dead.”
I swung the pillow back at him, but he ducked, nearly falling out of bed. I laughed so hard, my side ached. These were my men—my Fae —and I couldn’t be happier.
Three and half weeks later, I stood on Maggie’s front porch, my stomach in knots.
What would be my best friend’s reaction when I told her I was Fae? I’d skip the royalty part. It didn’t matter that I was queen or not. Though with my three guys beside me, I felt like one even if I hadn’t been.
She opened the door, dark circles under her eyes. Her gaze took in Darrius, Malcolm, and Simeon before landing back on me.
“Avery?” she choked.
“Sorry I haven’t called or texted. But in the Fae world, cell phones don’t work or charge.”
She cried out a sound between a shriek and a laugh and hauled her to me. “Oh my god, Avery. I should kill you.”
All three men tensed. Darrius growled.
“Wait. Are these three Fae?” She tried to push me behind her. “Don’t fucking come any closer or I will gut you.”
“Maggie.” I pushed her arm down, turning her to face me. “I’ve got something to tell you. Can I come inside?”
“Of course, you can,” she stammered. “Why do you even have to ask? But these three can stay outside.”
“Wherever Avery goes, we go.” Darrius towered over her.
She flashed an iron and silver blade into his gut. “And I say no Fae in my house.”
With a pleading look, he met my gaze, but I shook my head. I had to tell Maggie alone. I believed that she wouldn’t try to hurt me. But if she did, I’d defend myself and my men would crash through her door.
I followed her into her home, remaining by the door. Didn’t feel right to make myself at home until she knew the truth.
“You want some tea?” she asked.
“No thanks.” I rubbed my arms, using the door to help hold me up. “Um…a lot has happened.”
“Tell me about it. You call me saying you’re poisoned, then you disappear.” She paced in front of me, throwing her hands up. “The police and two private detectives were out searching for you. I had your phone tracked but it didn’t show up on any of the scans. It was like you fell off the planet.”
“They took me to the Fae world.”
She tensed, stopping to stare at me, then pointed her chin at the door behind me. “Them? God, Avery, why are you with Fae —three of them?”
“It’s complicated.” I twisted my hands in front of me. “They saved me. Fae aren’t bad, not all of them.”
“Are you insane?” She placed her hand to my brow. “They must have you enthralled. I can break it with some work.”
I gently pushed her hand away. “Listen. I’m in love with them. It’s not a trick or a spell.”
“No,” her whisper was harsh. “I don’t believe it. You hate them as much as I do. How can you—how can you even say what you’re saying.”
I took a deep breath. “My mom wasn’t real. I mean she stole me after I was born and for some reason, decided to raise me.”
Her face paled. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m Fae. My father was half-Fae and half-human. He was one of the ones slaughtered when they trapped the Gwyllion who took me in the tunnel.” Helga and the men had filled in the details while we were recovering.
She trembled all over.
“Maggie—”
“Get out,” she whispered hoarsely, and it cut me to the bone.
“Please, let me explain.” I started toward her with my hand outstretched. “I can tell you everything that has happened to me, and you’ll understand.”
“No, no I won’t.” She shook her head so hard she’d give herself whiplash.
I took another step toward her, and she shrieked, flashing her knife at me.
With a nod, I turned and left. Tears fell down my face before I even got to the porch. Darrius, Malcolm, and Simeon surrounded me, holding me while I broke down and cried. The pain was worse than anything I’d ever felt in my life.