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LOUD MURMURS BROKE out, ripping Anni’s attention away from Janaa. Ester, the inn’s cook, was pointing toward the sky with one shaking, chubby finger. Anni glanced up, not sure what could be exciting so much interest.
She squinted. Were...were those glittering shapes in the distance? A few seconds passed before the realization of what they were socked her in the stomach.
The dragon fae. It...it was them.
Shock held her immobile for a few seconds as she stared at the sky. She hadn’t considered they’d make a flying entrance. Awe and a bit of fear mixed in her gut.
The large, gem-colored bodies glistened in the afternoon sun. All contained a combination of vibrant hues. Shades of blue, green, and gold graced the lead dragon who was flying slightly ahead of the others. For some reason, that one held her gaze more than the others.
The creatures circled around overhead like she’d seen birds do. But these were no birds. When she’d thought of dragon fae, she hadn’t pictured this. In truth, she really hadn’t pictured anything beyond the vague.
She gripped onto her crossed arms tightly as the sleek creatures glided lower. The iridescent scales of their long, surprisingly elegant wings resembled the brightest of jewels. Nervous anticipation explored through her veins like a shot of alcohol that her parents always frowned upon. The feeling that something was about to change her life drilled into her head with a ferocity that almost sent her to her knees.
After a few steadying breaths, she tried to dismiss the crazy notion, but it stuck with her like the most tenacious of plasters. Why was she so rattled? A few hours ago she hadn’t cared about their visit in the slightest, except for the inconvenience it would cause her. She clutched at the simple gold pendant she always wore that had been her grandmother’s. As if it could offer her succor from what she was seeing.
The dragons swooped down, nearing the wide, clear spot that rested before the crowd. As a unit, the villagers stumbled back, enlarging the already generous space. The lead dragon stared down at where Anni stood, its green eyes intense as if it’d been seeking her. She gulped, swallowing back the lump forming in her throat. Now, every instinct urged her to flee. It was a feeling that took all her willpower not to act upon.
The seven creatures seemed to hover over their heads, their wings flapping lazily. Then, before Anni could do much more than blink, they landed gracefully. Only the barest hint of impact sounded. That such beasts could make so little noise—
Suddenly, a slight shimmer formed about the dragons, and their bodies began to shift. Gasps flew into the air all around her. For a moment, her mind blanked until reality struck like a hammer. Oh God, they were changing into their fae forms. Would they be naked? Mortification heated her face. She didn’t want that kind of show.
A group of seven otherworldly individuals stood in front of them. Though they were fully clothed in rich robes—thank heavens for small mercies—they loomed much too close for Anni’s comfort. All, down to the last male and female, were tall and lean—and far more gorgeous than anyone or anything in the village. And far more powerful. It leaked off them in waves. Thank the skies, they were mostly a peaceful race, or humans would probably cease to exist.
A pearlescent sheen glowed on the fae’s skin, which ranged from pale to darkly tanned. What snatched her attention and held it was the stately platinum-haired male that led the fae party. He stared at her—not Janaa, but her—which set her nerves screeching. His green eyes held some kind of promise she couldn’t even begin to fathom.
Her lungs forgot how to function. She forgot how to function. A fine trembling took up residence in all her limbs. His gaze remained glued to hers. She wanted to rip her regard from him, yet conversely, she never wanted to glance away.
When her father stepped forward with a bright smile, her mother right behind him, he broke the trance. “Welcome to Bending Willow, Lord Eacion! And greetings to your lords and ladies.”
Lord Eacion? That was Lord Eacion? Oh God, it was worse than she’d thought.
The dragon fae finally dragged his gaze from her with something that resembled regret. Anni blinked, sure she was hallucinating. Things like this never happened to her. She wished it’d go back that way, too. Attention of any kind was a bad thing.
Lord Eacion inclined his head gracefully, his long hair falling back over his shoulders and revealing a slightly pointed ear. “We accept your greetings and offer our own in full measure.”
His accented, smooth voice rolled through her like a heated caress. She shuddered, a most peculiar feeling jolting through her. It took her a moment to place it—desire amplified far beyond anything she’d ever experienced before.
She sucked in a gasping breath. God, what was wrong with her? Janaa turned a concerned gaze upon her, but Anni merely smiled wanly. There was no way that she could explain this when she didn’t even understand it herself.
Clive, her father, cleared his throat. It was a nervous tick that always came out when he didn’t know what to say next. “May I provide you with refreshment?”
Her mother wore a hopeful look, but Lord Eacion shook his head. “We must decline at this time, though we look forward to the feast tonight.”
Her father nodded as if the refusal made perfect sense to him. “The tour of Bending Willow awaits if you are ready.”
“That is acceptable, but first I must know the name of the enchanting young woman behind you,” Lord Eacion said, looking past her father to stare directly at her.
The people around her had long ago retreated a few steps, leaving her and Janaa the only ones near her parents. Heat burned her face as everyone stared at her and Lord Eacion. Enchanting young woman? Was he insane? Unless he was talking about Janaa? But no, even her friend stood behind her now.
Her father frowned, and his brow furrowed with apparent befuddlement. “My daughter?”
“Is that who she is?” the dragon fae asked softly.
Uncertainty coated her father’s face. “Yes, she’s our Anni,” he said, motioning for her mother, Clara, to come to his side. Whether he did this for her mother or for himself, Anni didn’t know. Maybe both. This was quite out of bounds for a fae dragon visit. He probably didn’t know what to do with himself. She surely didn’t.
A peculiar smile crossed Lord Eacion’s lips. “Anni. A fitting name.”
What did that mean? Really, she could sink into the ground and be satisfied to remain there for the rest of her days.
He sent her father a considering look. “I quite find myself changing my mind.”
“You desire refreshment?”
“More than that, I want to stay in Bending Willow for at least a few days. I’m sure that can be arranged?”
Shock seemed to freeze her father’s tongue for a moment. “Of course, of course.”
“Wonderful. Please have those accommodations made for my whole party.” Then he turned to her and pinned her with a lazy smile. “I look forward to making your further acquaintance and desire your presence at the feast. As for the rest of my visit here, please clear your schedule so your days and evenings are free.”
W-what? Why? No matter the reason, though, his audacity...it left her grasping for words and her heart pounding with foolish excitement.
Before she could even begin to formulate a reply, he turned back to her father. “My advisor, Anvin, will help secure our accommodations while you show me and my son around your charming town.” A handsome blond fae man stepped forward and bowed as Lord Eacion continued. “The rest of my party may go where they wish in the village.”
Anni barely heard his last words, her head floating in a daze. Son? He had a son? He didn’t look a minute over thirty...but he was fae. Of course, he was at least centuries old, as his kind tended to live for thousands of years before passing away. So why wouldn’t he have children? And a wife. That thought nearly made her scowl.
She searched the group of assembled fae behind him, hoping to gain a look at his son. It didn’t take her long to find him. The boy—no, not a boy but a full-grown fae—resembled his father so strongly that there was no doubt as to their connection. Their build and facial features echoed one another, and they even shared the same hair color. The only thing she couldn’t be sure of was the son’s eye color. He was a bit too far away for that. Still, it didn’t stop her gaze from meeting his, and he surprised her by flashing a small smile. She gave a shaky one back.
What was the most disturbing, though, was how he appeared no more than a few years younger than his father. She stared from father to son a few times, finally settling her complete attention on Lord Eacion, who just so happened to be returning her regard.
A mysterious smile again curled his lips as he closed the distance between them. He reached for one of her listless hands and lifted it to his lips. The touch of his mouth lit sparks underneath her skin. She nearly jumped at the sensation. Her breath grew ragged as she tried to rein herself in, but the feel of his warm lips and the coolness of his hand was strangely exhilarating. Were his lips always so hot and his skin so cold? Well, not cold but definitely cooler than her own.
He lowered her hand but kept it firmly within his. “Let me finish up with your father, and then I’ll seek you out.”
She felt herself nodding dumbly, though she didn’t understand what was going on one bit. Coherent thought wasn’t her friend right now. She glanced down at their hands and nearly jumped. His nails—they glowed as if they were inset with jeweled-colored mica. The light shone on them and brought out multi-hued colors. Did all fae have them or just dragon fae? Mayhap, his colder skin was due to being a shifter. Weren’t dragons reptilian?
“I’ll await the time until I can see you again.”
His voice yanked her from her thoughts. Oh lord, what did she say to that? This was all so strange. Nothing made any sense, least of all him. He was exotic and foreign, the leader of his people—and even hers, to some extent—everything she was not and could never be.
After one last lingering glance, he turned toward her father. Her staring father. Her stomach dropped to her toes. She took in a gulping breath, her mouth as dry as the wastelands far south of them. Unfortunately, the staring pattern didn’t end there. Her mother was watching them with the same stupefied expression. The same held true for the villagers. It wasn’t often that they received such a show, which begged the question of why they were receiving said show in the first place. She felt as confounded as they looked.
Her mind spun with questions as Lord Eacion went off with her father. She was no eye-catching beauty, so it couldn’t be that. And he couldn’t be bowled over by her stunning whit, because he didn’t know her. Gritting her teeth, she squared her shoulders. Though she hated undue attention, she’d be damned if she revealed that for all sundry to see. Anni took a step back so she could return to Janaa’s side.
The painful twinge in her leg drove any fantasy notion of Lord Eacion out of her head. She was lame, not much better than an invalid in most people’s eyes. What could the lord of the dragon fae want with the likes of her? There had to be some agenda, but what? Well, she’d find out and ignore him until he left.
“Lucky girl, what was all that about?”
Janaa’s voice cut into her thoughts and reminded her who truly was to blame.
She rounded on her now open-mouthed friend and poked her in the chest. “I don’t know, but this is all your fault. You and your gown’s!”