Page 24 of Tempting the Fae Lord (The Gatekeeper’s Weakness)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Gale

The sneezing pit—or as most folks who live in castles would call it, the Great Hall—is full of people. Probably more people than have ever set foot in our home during my lifetime.

I’m not sure I like it.

Makes me nervous to see our space so crowded.

Villagers bring news of the damages, accounts of the losses, and of course, their thanks for the Gatekeeper’s help.

There’s a huge contingent from the queen’s army.

Soldiers on soldiers on soldiers. Men, women, fae, humans, even a gargoyle (which I hadn’t known were real until now, and wow, his muscles have muscles) mill around helping themselves to the huge spread of food Eulayla has whipped up as if she were the true mage in this family and not Ezra.

A little thrill of excitement shivers through me. Ezra. Who asked me to call him by name. Who I awoke lying next to only a few hours ago in a nest of blankets that smell like him (and a bit like me too now).

It was next to impossible to leave the bed, what with Ezra still in it, but he sensed the influx of people and sent me to help the others.

Since then, I’ve been running back and forth playing messenger between them and him.

To Eulayla: The barn was set on fire. Yes, Ezra put it out. No, no sign of them. Yes, the queen’s people are on their way. No, I don’t know how many. Ezra says a lot. Yes, I can fetch more water.

To the queen’s contingent: Yes, it was me who wrote for help. No, I don’t know where they are now. Yes, the master of the house is indisposed. No, it’s no trouble to feed and house everyone, welcome in. Yes, he’ll want to speak with you when he wakes.

To Ezra: Yes, I’ll be careful. No, there’s still no sign of Sonja or Petru. Yes, it’s all under control. No, there’s no emergency. Yes, I’ll take care of it. No, I won’t put myself in any danger. Yes, I promise.

All this to-and-fro without a hint of fatigue.

In fact, I’m buzzing with energy.

I’m sure Ezra’s blood is to thank for this. That and the euphoria of last night. I can’t get over it. Ezra’s full attention. His affection. His lips on mine. The sweet sounds of pleasure he made at my touch. The look on his face as he—

“Gale! I’m talking to you. Can’t you hear?” Amaris, hands on hips, arches her brows and stares in my direction.

“Erm, sorry.” Head out of the clouds, Gale. Little sisters are afoot. “What do you need?”

“I don’t need anything. Why are you standing there grinning at nothing? Looks dumb.”

“I’m not grinning about nothing.”

“Then what are you grinning about?”

My cheeks heat. Hopefully, she won’t notice. “Maybe I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“You’re blushing, dummy.”

Damn. “Maybe I’ll tell you when you stop calling me dumb.”

“Pfft, never happen.”

“Then you’ll never know.”

“You’re no fun lately.”

She’s not wrong about that. I’ve hardly even seen her since life got crazy on us. “If that’s your way of saying you miss me, then I miss you too.”

“And if it isn’t?”

“Well, then I still miss you. Sorry I haven’t been around much.”

She tries to shrug this off, but her pout gives her away. “There’s no one left to beat at Essin.”

“I’ll play you first chance I get.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart.” I make the motion with my fingers over my chest, and she does the same. “Do me a favor, will you?”

She screws her mouth. “What kind of favor?”

“Help Eulayla with the cleanup, and I’ll owe you one.”

“You’ll owe me ten.”

“Five.”

“Three.”

“Two.”

“Deal.” She spits in her hand and thrusts it out.

I recoil. “Erm, no thank you.”

“It’s how you seal a deal. Jack says.”

“Well, Jack’s gross. What deals have you been making with Jack anyway?”

“Maybe I’ll tell you when you’re older.” She sticks her tongue out and leaves before making me shake her spitty hand.

Ugh. Little sisters.

I really have missed her, though.

When the sun dips below the horizon, Ezra joins the gathering in the Great Hall.

As he enters, a hush falls over the crowd. He waves his right hand in a flourish, and dozens of fae lights blink into existence, illuminating the room brighter than the wall sconces ever could.

His gaze lands on me and fixates as he approaches. His smile is for me alone. In front of everyone, he drops a slow kiss to my cheek and whispers, “How are you?”

I assure him I’m fine, though my insides are dancing with a mixture of glee and self-consciousness at the gesture. Everyone is staring.

Including Eulayla.

What will she say when she learns we’ve become lovers? Was that kiss enough that she already knows? She’s protective of me. She’s protective of both of us. Will we have her blessing?

Ezra sits on the throne atop the blue velvet cushion we only drag out for formalities such as these. He clears his throat and addresses the group.

“Welcome all to my ancestral lands and the northernmost fortress of the realm. Welcome especially those who’ve made the long journey from Lemossin to be here. We’ve much to discuss. My apologies for the delay, but alas”—he spread his hands—“such things cannot be helped.”

They all know he’s a vampire. The entire realm is full of stories of him.

It’s part of the reason he’s feared, though I’d argue he’s only misunderstood.

Vampires are creatures of the human realm.

Other. Foreign. And yet these fae must claim him as one of their own. As such, they’ve never liked him much.

The villagers present, however, seemed to have softened toward him in the wake of the fire. I’m not sure I trust it. Time will tell.

The head of the queen’s contingent, a fae by the name of Willow, approaches the dais. Her lime green wings and berry pink hair look out of place in our world of gray and blues.

She offers a proper curtsy. “Many thanks for the welcome, Lord Gatekeeper. Your hospitality is unmatched and a balm to the weary traveler.”

To this, Ezra nods toward where Eulie, Chester, Jack, Marissa, Amaris, and I form an observant huddle. “I owe my thanks entirely to my staff for that.”

“Then on behalf of my regiment, we thank them most sincerely.” Willow gestures toward me. “I’ve spoken a fair amount with Gale. He’s apprised me of recent events. How may we be of service?”

Ezra’s mood darkens. I see it in the stiffness of his shoulders and the muscles twitching along his jaw.

“I have a few ideas,” he says. “I’ll speak with you, the mage, and any of your people you deem appropriate in private. We’ll hash out a plan. Until then, please enjoy your supper. We’ll reconvene in my study in… shall we say one hour?”

“Yes, Gatekeeper.” She curtsies again, then turns to rejoin her soldiers.

Slowly, the chatter picks back up.

Ezra rises and motions for me to join him.

On eager feet, I follow him out.

We retire to his study.

He closes the door behind us and reaches for me. “I hate the weight I’ve put upon your shoulders, Mooncalf. How are you truly?”

“Fine, truly.” I’m relieved to be in his embrace, alone together after a day spent bustling through crowds I’m not used to. “Your blood helped.”

“I’m sure it did, though we can’t risk it ever again.”

Not a subject I want to pursue. “And how are you? Truly?”

His sigh ruffles my hair. He lets me go, and we sit across from each other on a pair of leather wingback chairs.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m vexed. Infuriated. Frustrated with myself for how far I’ve let this go. She’s out there somewhere still controlling Petru, and it’s my fault.”

“It’s my fault too.”

“No, darling. You’re not to blame for this. Not at all. The gate is solely my responsibility.”

It’s definitely partly my fault. I let her get away more than once. Part of me wishes she could find what she seeks. Her family. And perhaps with it find a bit of peace.

“What will you do?” I ask.

Go after her. Again. Until the threat is vanquished.”

“Don’t kill her if you don’t absolutely have to. Please? Promise me?”

“Why do you care so much?”

Should I tell him this? But withholding hasn’t been working great for us either. “She’s like me in a way. Or I’m like her. We want the same things.”

“Yet somehow you’ve harmed no one, burned nothing, and claimed no ridiculous life debts in your pursuit.”

“I’m not saying she’s good. Only that I don’t want her death on your hands if you can help it.”

He huffs out an irritated breath. “Fine. For you, I promise to try and capture her alive.”

“Thank you.” I’m eager to change the subject. “Will you take the queen’s help?”

“I intend to, yes. I’ve botched the situation enough times at present to realize I need help. As you tried to tell me from the very beginning. I’m sorry I didn’t take your counsel more seriously. I won’t make that mistake again.”

His words make me warm all over. “You’re forgiven, of course.” Hopefully, he means it because an idea has been hatching in my mind that I’m rather certain he won’t like.

But now is not the time. Not when his shoulders cave with the weight of his problems, and his fingers steeple at whatever’s running through his mind.

With the liberty that’s now mine to take, I slide off my seat and make my intention to settle at his feet known.

He parts his thighs, expression questioning. But I’m not aiming for anything particularly steamy, just offering some comfort between uncomfortable situations.

I sit on the ground and lay my head on his thigh. “Touch my hair.”

He hums and slides his fingers into my curls.

“Now relax for a bit.” It feels good to claim this tender moment. Grounding. Hopefully, for him too. I hug his leg to my chest and let out a tight breath. Above me, he follows suit, exhaling long and slow.

He pets my head and scratches his nails lightly over my scalp. “You deserve better than me, Mooncalf.”

“Nonsense.” Though the intimacy is new, he’s still the same Ezra I’ve always adored. If only he could believe he’s perfect for me as he is. “You’re just right. I want no one but you.”

A soft knock, Eulie’s if I’m not mistaken, sounds at the door.

“One moment,” says Ezra as I scramble back to my chair and shake my hair back into place. “Come in,” he says when I’m presentable.

Eulie opens the door, a knowing smile on her face. “Congratulations, darlings.”

Well, that settles that. She knows and approves. Something in my gut softens with this news, and heat fills my cheeks.

Ezra stutters out a shy thank you. Wild to witness him anything but elegant in his speech. Lovely to know I’m the cause.

“Ready for them?” she asks.

Ezra steels himself with a deep breath and sits straighter in his chair. “Yes, thank you. Send them in.”

Jack and Chester pass through first, carrying extra chairs which they arrange into a circle for our guests. We rise to greet Willow, her second, and the mage Farlowe.

The others depart and the five of us take a seat.

I’m a bit shocked to be included.

Ezra quickly explains what he calls his failures, which makes me cringe.

He’s done nothing wrong. It hurts my heart to see him be so hard on himself over this.

Especially in front of strangers. I know how much he detests any hint of vulnerability.

This can’t be easy for him. He may not be happy with himself, but my chest swells with pride regardless.

He ends with, “We must stop her before any more damage can be done. But in order to do that, we must find her.”

Willow turns her thoughtful expression toward Farlowe. “Can you track her?”

“The fire decimated any scent traces of her magic,” says Ezra.

“I don’t need the scent.” Farlowe’s voice is deep, with a lulling sort of calm. Is he using magic as we speak?

“But how does tracking work with no scent?” asks Ezra.

“Merely a trace of her magical essence will be enough for me to cast a spell that will track her. It’s somewhat of a specialty of mine. So long as you have something she touched, I can find her.”

“The embroidery,” I say. “She left the needlepoint she was practicing on behind in the game room. Will that do?”

Farlowe smiles, a bit of a creepy smile if you ask me, cunning like a cat after its dinner. “Yes, that will do nicely.”

“Brilliant.” Ezra matches his energy with a glint of triumph glittering in his dark eyes. “No more waiting for an attack. We take the fight to her.”