Fevered: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (The Carnal Court Book 1) Page 7

  “Yes, you have. I can understand where it came from, but it’s not okay.”

  He swallows. “I know. I wanted to tell you that I get it, and I’m going to get it under control.”

  There’s a little tension that eases in my chest. Pure and sweet relief. I’ve been a little in love with him for so long, that it was hurting me to see him like this. No matter if his anger was on my behalf or not, it was misplaced. I’m not his to claim. Not yet anyway. “Thank you.” I hesitate, fighting the emotion climbing through my chest. “Things would have been so different if I had just let you take me to a party.”

  Kent pulls me close, and I bury my face in his chest, not wanting him to see just how deeply I wish it could have been. “Maybe,” he says softly. “Or maybe she would have found you anyway, and they wouldn’t have been close enough to help.” His fingers dig into my spine, like he’s holding me back from that fate. “You could have died that night. And you’re still here. I don’t care about any of it, as long as you’re alive and safe.” He sounds emotional too, but clears his throat. “Can I kiss you?”

  I don’t say anything, just lift my face to his and let him. It’s soft and sure, sweet and yet deep enough to stir need to life inside me. It’s what our first kiss should have been.

  He pulls back, smiling. “Hi.”

  “Hello,” I say, biting my lip.

  There’s a footstep behind me, and Verys is there. I nod, and follow him, letting Kent hold my hand until we have to let go.

  We approach another of the creatures, this one green and white stone. Its body glistens in the fading light. It purrs too when I approach, and I smile. It’s a small thing, but I’m glad that they like me. Here in Allwyn, I’m totally out of place, but if these creatures like me that’s something.

  Verys helps me up and swings himself up behind me, and we’re off. We can travel much faster than the last time we were on fae beasts because I can move faster. I can feel the pain jostling in my bones, threatening to surface, but it’s fine, for now.

  I was going to ask Verys some questions, about him, and about what he said earlier, but as soon as we start to move, I’m exhausted again, and I let myself drift as we ride. But even then, I can’t ignore the way his hand casually rests on my hip, keeping me upright. And the feeling of his body behind mine, warm and solid. I try to push away the thoughts of what it might be like to turn around and kiss him, but I can’t.

  The stone environment around us shifts, where crystals were mixed with formations of stone, now crystal is the dominant element. Shapes of every size and color explode from the ground, twisting up and around to form tunnels and bridges that we wind through. It reminds me a of some of the cathedrals back in New York, when you’d go in and the sun would shine through the stained glass, coloring everything.

  That’s what this is like…living inside a kaleidoscope.

  “Is everything in Allwyn this beautiful?” I ask quietly. I know he’ll hear me.

  I feel him shake his head no. “I wish it were. But there are dark places in Allwyn just as there are in the human realm. Darker, even, because things here are amplified.”

  “What kind of places?” Everyone in the human world has heard the good and bad stories about Allwyn. The immense beauty and wealth and power. But also the people who are lost and never return. The dark horrors that you tell children to hope that they’ll never encounter Fae and agree to go with them.

  But no one really knows the truth.

  “There are courts for everything,” Verys says slowly. “Including darkness, pain, and worse things than I care to talk about. Everything has a balance, and so in order to have all this, we must have those things too. But those courts are far away, and if you’re lucky, you will never be near them.”

  “They’re really that bad?” I can imagine, but still, it’s hard to think about something that dark when I’m bathed in azure light shining through a wave of crystal.

  Verys’s breath on my skin makes me shiver as he lowers his voice. “Humans may not walk free in those courts. They would break your mind and then your body. You would be lucky if that’s all they did, and you would not survive.”

  I turn my face to look at him. There’s nothing in his face to tell me that he’s joking. He’s telling the truth. “Oh.”

  “Don’t worry,” he says, “The Crystal Court is not one of those places.”

  “They’ll like us?”

  He laughs, “I’m not sure, but we are allies.”

  “I didn’t think there were things like that in Allwyn.”

  We round a spire of crystal that’s clear and polished like glass. I can see through it, and we’re approaching the court. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.

  “Fae politics are very delicate and very complex. Because we have thousands of years of relationships that have succeeded and broken, and many wars that have destroyed our trust in each other.”

  But I’m barely listening to him, because my jaw is on the ground. Shining walls of stone that slip from rose to amethyst to emerald and back again rise before us. They disappear into the distance, and even this far away I feel like I have to tilt my head back to look at them.

  Above the wall, spires of white pierce the violet sky, glimmering in the dying light. But none of this is unnatural. My gut tells me none of it has been shaped or carved by fae hands. It’s simply been formed. Either with the help of magic or by Allwyn itself.

  Fae walk the walls, and we’re greeted with the sound of tinkling glass, still thin and soft because we’re far away. Verys and the other fae lift their hands in greeting. But I don’t. I can’t seem to take my eyes off the walls and the spires.

  As we grow closer, more details come into focus. The walls are translucent, letting some light in and out, and as the sky fades from dark violet to an inky black, the city begins to glow. Light itself moves through the structures, forming patterns that curl outward and fall back on themselves and reform, never stopping.

  “Wards,” Verys says to me softly.

  I nod. Magic. To keep things out. But… “Who do you need to keep out?”

  Verys sighs. “It hasn’t been so long since the last fae war, and old habits die hard.”

  I’m curious about that, but we’re drawing closer, and I have to lean my head all the way back to see the top of the walls. The movement lands my head on Verys’s shoulder, and his hand tightens around my hips. I never asked Verys about his statement, and how he feels. But now that we’re entering the court, it doesn’t seem like the right time. But I will. I have to know.

  The gates to the court are black crystal shot through with red. These are carved with images of fae in battle, in love, and other scenes. The starkness of the black compared to the riot of color around me feels sinister. The two fae with drawn swords awaiting our approach only adds to that sensation.

  Brae reaches the gate first, and he makes some kind of hand signal to the guards. They talk, but it’s low enough that I can’t hear it. The guardians of the gate look at me, the state of my clothes, and they look at Kent as well. Brae talks some more, and they nod.

  Aeric dismounts, and Verys helps me down. The beast purrs when I touch it, it’s eye seeking mine. “Goodbye, friend.”

  It vanishes so quickly it seems like it was never there. The others are gone too, leaving us alone with the guards in front of the gates of black stone.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ________

  KARI

  The gates open with a sound like thunder—cracking stone. Light washes out from the city before us, vibrant and sparkling as it’s revealed. I can’t take it all in, there’s too much, and I’m glad that Verys’s hand is on the small of my back, guiding me forward.

  I’m escorted into a riot of color and light, and that’s just the buildings. They’re formed from that same magically-shaped stone, in every color imaginable with light shining from within. The fae around us are just as colorful, with skin and hair in vibrant shades, as well as ones that humans would
consider normal. Crystals cover clothing and skin, and everything seems to shimmer. I feel very drab by comparison, still only in my torn dress and covered in the grime of travel.

  The air smells sweet, like flowers and spun sugar. I can’t tell where it’s coming from or if it’s just the way the air smells here. The last of the light is fading from the sky, drawing it down into a deeply purple velvet pricked with stars. But they’re not the stars I know. These are spread across the sky like glitter frozen mid-air—thousands and sparkling.

  It seems like the nightlife of the Crystal Court is starting up, fae wandering the streets in twos and threes, all clearly heading somewhere. It strikes me as familiar and also, so brutally alien.

  Verys’s hand is still on my back as we’re guided onto a street that’s also a market, stalls glittering with gems and fabric and potions and charms. Some of the potions look so similar to what I would sell that it makes my chest ache.

  “The look on your face is confusing,” he says.

  “I miss my shop,” I say. “But I was also thinking, I don’t know what fae do. I’ve never even thought about it, really. Like do you go to restaurants in the evenings or concerts? That seems so…human.”

  “Enjoying the company of others, or art, is not a strictly human pastime. But yes, many of the things fae do reflect what you would consider to be normal human behavior. Even more so, because we have magic, and don’t have to work to live in the same way humans do.”

  I sigh. “Can’t imagine at all why humans are jealous of you.”

  He laughs, a little freer than I’ve heard before. Maybe because we’re in more familiar territory and safer than we have been. “That’s a fair point.”

  We’re in the middle of the street when a fae male with rose-colored skin approaches us, nods to the gate guards that have been escorting us. A cloak darker than his skin flows around him, his hair swept up and around in intricate braids that I don’t think I’d ever be able to do. “Welcome travelers. I’ve been sent to escort you further. You shall have the hospitality of the Crystal Court. Once you have the opportunity to refresh your clothes, our Rialoir would speak with you.”

  “Of course,” Brae says, and we follow him, turning off the main market street onto a smaller one bathed in yellow light from the nearby buildings that look like they might be grown out of citrine.

  Kent looks back at me, eyes showing concern, and I smile to tell him that I’m okay. I’m hopelessly lost in the maze of the jeweled buildings, unable to make my eyes stand still. There’s so much to see, everything perfect and more beautiful. Even the corners of the buildings have tiny carved details that you could miss if you weren’t looking for them. Every color imaginable is here, and it feels like we’re walking through a rainbow.

  There’s a twinge of pain in my stomach, and I suck in a gasp. Nothing I can’t handle. For right now, at least. Verys presses closer to me, whispering so softly that only I can hear. “Are you all right?”

  “For the moment.”

  Our guardian stops in front of a building of pale green. It’s wider and the base with each level stacked on top smaller, like a little pyramid. “Clothing and refreshments have been prepared for you. I’ll escort you to the palace when you’ve finished.”

  Verys escorts me inside, and there’s a beautiful fae female there, standing with a smile. She has pale skin, almost white, with hair a fiery red that practically glows. “Welcome. I’m to help Kari while the rest of you dress.”

  Instantly, both Kent and Aeric are in front of me. “There are reasons we seek help,” Aeric says, staring her down. “We can’t leave her alone.”

  All she does is raise an eyebrow. “The walls are thin enough to hear her if she calls, and you’ll be about ten steps away. After traveling with four men, Kari might like a break from this much…masculinity.” Amusement lights her grin. “I promise that no harm will come to her.”

  It takes him a second, but Aeric relaxes and turns to me. “Will you be all right?”

  I nod. I know enough about the fae laws of hospitality that I know her promise not to harm me will be kept. If it is not, she will pay a hell of a price. “I’ll be fine.”

  The fae extends her hand to me, and I take it. She gently pulls me through the curtain filling the doorway to the left, and they’re left staring after me.

  “My name is Kaya,” she says. “I’m very happy you’re here.”

  “Why?”

  She grins at me. “I’ve never met a human before.”

  “Oh.” Her excitement spills over to me, and I can’t help but smile back. “I’m a little worse for wear, but I hope I live up to your expectations.”

  She waves a hand, pausing in front of another door. “I don’t have any expectations, but they might.”

  The space we enter is gorgeous. The pale jade walls of the building fall away and look over a rich garden with a tangle of trees and wildlife that is conspicuously absent from the rest of the Kingdom of Stone. But the lush greenery doesn’t seem to be suffering in any way. If anything, it’s thriving under the care of these fae who protect it.

  In the center of the room is a large, circular pool of water. Steam is rising off it, and the faint eddies rippling across the surface are accompanied by the glow of magic.

  Piles of gorgeous fabric are scattered in one corner and in another is a giant mirror at a table with enough make-up that any make-up artist would be absolutely beside themselves. But that’s not what Kaya is referring to. Four more fae females are in the room, all stunningly beautiful. They’re colored as brightly as this city, one with pink skin as bright as a highlighter, and another who’s entirely shades of deep and burnt orange.

  Their conversation stops when we enter, and I feel them take me in. My ratty and torn dress, the dirt covering my skin, the exhaustion in my eyes. And they pass judgment.

  I’ve never understood how I could always know how other women felt about me. Maybe it comes from having been in the ballet world for so many years, but I know when the room shifts.

  Three of them don’t like me. The fourth one isn’t sure. But the hostility I instantly see in the other eyes make me hesitate. Maybe Aeric was right, and I should stay with them. This could be some kind of trap.

  Kaya promised her hospitality. Are they bound by it too?

  “This is the guest?” The female who doesn’t seem angry is the one who speaks. Her voice is soft and musical, and I look at her more closely. She has brown skin and hair that matches, though there are streaks of brilliant blue running through it. It reminds me of some bird feathers, that sudden change in color.

  Kaya smiles at me, her hand squeezing my shoulder. “Indeed she is.”

  “I thought the guests were from the Carnal Court,” the orange female says coldly. “She’s human.”

  “There are three members of the Carnal Court, and a human man as well.”

  A tense silence hangs in the air, and I swallow. Pain blooms in my stomach for a moment, and I hiss through my teeth before it passes. This relief isn’t going to last, and dread blooms in my chest. I don’t want to go back to that.

  Kaya’s hand is still on my shoulder. “I have promised Kari my personal hospitality, and she’s been extended the hospitality of our Court. If you do not wish to serve our guest, then get out.” Her voice leaves no room for argument, and immediately three of them leave, brushing past me with unfriendly force. But the fourth stays, with a small smile on her face.

  “I’m sorry,” I say when they’ve exited.

  Kaya snorts, which is hilarious coming from someone who looks so ladylike. “Why are you sorry? You did nothing. There are unfortunately still many of our kind who view humans as lesser. As idiotic as that idea is.”

  The other female steps forward. “And even if you hadn’t been human, they were eager to see the fabled males of the Carnal Court. Our courts do not often mix.”

  A stab of jealousy ignites in my chest, so sharp it takes my breath. “Are they going to serve them?”

>   “No,” Kaya smirks. “Though I am sure they would enjoy that, I do not think your companions would. They seem…very loyal.”

  “Yeah,” I say, that jealous panic still making my heart race. There’s no reason for it. No matter what happened earlier, I don’t have a claim on any of those men. Even if my body thinks differently.

  “I’m Merina,” the other female says, taking a step closer. “And you are safe here.”

  Tears blur my eyes suddenly, and I cover my face in my hands, everything catching up at once. It’s so much. Everything is so much. I’ve been in so much pain that I haven't even had the chance to feel this panic and grief or anything else.

  Hands pull mine away from my face. Merina stands there, looking at me kindly. “Everything is going to be all right.”

  “I’m not so sure,” I say.

  A piece of cloth flies past me, and I look over to see Kaya digging in the pile. “Of course it is,” she chirps. “We are going to help. And those men of yours aren’t going to let anything happen to you. Trust me.”

  Merina smiles and hands me a small cloth to dry my face. “Is there something I should know?”

  My tears are still there, but that burst of emotion is fading. I am safe here. Kaya’s head pops up from the pile of fabric, her wild red hair exploding around her like a firework. “When I went to fetch Kari, two of them jumped in front of her like I was going to bite.”

  “I see,” Merina says, still grinning.

  “I don’t see,” I say, as she helps me out of the silk I’ve been wearing for days. Slowly I’m helped into the water, and the heat of it sinks into my bones. “Oh my god,” I say. “I had forgotten about hot water.”

  “How long have you been traveling?” Merina asks.

  “I don’t know.” It’s the honest answer. “I’ve been…unconscious for part of it.”

  The water feels so good on my skin, like it’s pouring energy into me. The little ripples of light that are swimming through it make me suspect that that may actually be the case.