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The next hours were chaotic and alarming. Several of the king’s advisors rushed over to me, wanting to touch me or kiss the back of my hand. They crowded around me, pushing Bracca out of the way. At a loss, I looked frantically for him, calling his name and he was suddenly there beside me, pulling me close to him and tucking me into his side. His face was grim and determined as he calmly took control. The guards he’d brought with us, his two most top-ranking soldiers, came to our sides and pushed the Elves away from us—not too roughly, but they were firmly put aside all the same.

The Elves weren’t trying to hurt me, but they were insistent and all of them seemed to be talking at once. Since it was all in the Fae language, I didn’t understand a word of it. It was just a cacophony of noise to me, and I was quickly becoming overwhelmed.

Bracca started backing us toward the door, and then King Hendris was there with his own guards, wedging in ahead of us and clearing the way. Where had all these people come from? There had been perhaps twenty Elves in the chamber when all this had started, but now a huge throng clogged the doorway and others were trying desperately to fight their way inside and get closer to me. We spilled out into the corridor, and I could hear even more shouting and cheering beyond the palace doors. King Hendris turned before we got to them and spoke urgently to Bracca in their language, and I saw him nod in agreement. We changed courses then and began heading down a side passageway and up a broad, curving staircase. Some of Hendris’s soldiers stayed behind to guard the stairs and not allow anyone else up them.

Upstairs, the hallway was clear and empty, not to mention extremely luxurious and well appointed. He led us to a set of doors and into a huge bedchamber before turning to face us.

“This room is not far from my own quarters, and you’ll be undisturbed here. Put your men outside the door if it makes you feel more secure, but I promise you no one wishes you any harm. The people are simply grateful and excited about what’s happening. We had almost given up hope of saving our city. Apparently, those bolts of light are happening all around the city.”

“I understand, but Killian’s safety must come first,” Bracca replied.

“I’ll go speak to them. Try to calm things down. Rumors are probably running rampant now and some of the people are afraid and don’t understand what’s happening. There are factions in my kingdom that never wanted the true-blood found. I need to go speak to my advisors before panic sets in.”

Bracca nodded, looking uneasy, and King Hendris hesitated. He then bowed stiffly to me and left the room. I’d hardly said a word since the crystal under the throne had started shooting off those strange little sparks and lightning bolts. I think I was too shocked by everything that had happened. One second, King Hendris and his council had been looking at me like I was some cheap conjurer, who had tried to trick them and the next, they’d been falling at my feet.

Bracca sat on the delicate furniture in the room and pulled me down beside him. “Are you all right? No one hurt you, did they?”

“No, I think I’m fine. It was just so unexpected. Not that I had any idea what to expect.”

“Neither did I—and I somehow need to go check on my men. Will you be all right here with just the guards until I get back? I’m going to have them come inside to be in the same room with you—I think I’d feel better about that, because I don’t know anything about this palace. Too many secret passages to suit me. But I need to find out what’s happening out in the city. Why there’s this extreme reaction…and why Hendris seems to be all right with the fact that you’re the new king. I don’t know that I’d be as composed about things if I were in the same situation, and I don’t think I trust him. ”

“Yes, I’m all right. I can go too, though. I want to stay with you.”

“No, you’d better not. It won’t be safe.”

“I can protect myself, Bracca. I’m very good with a sword.”

“Yes, yes, I’ve heard all about that. But those are professional Fae soldiers out there and besides that, there could even be a disturbance if the Elven people catch sight of you. Not everyone will be thrilled that you’re the true-blood, you know. You heard Hendris—there are factions here that want to keep the status quo or install their own king if the kingdom were to fall. You stay here and rest. We’ve had a long journey in the freezing cold and a great deal of excitement once we arrived. My men will stay with you here—Captain Merrit speaks some English.

He called the older of the two men over, though “older” wasn’t truly an appropriate term for these Fae. It was more accurate to say he seemed to have a bit more maturity and some faint lines crinkled around his handsome eyes.

“At your service, Your Highness,” he said with a heavy accent, bowing to me. “We’ll guard our prince’s consort with our lives.”

“Good man,” Bracca said and turned back to me. “There, that’s settled. I need to get the others in an inn somewhere so they can rest and get some food. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nodded, because I knew there was no use continuing to argue with any of these Fairies, including my own husband, or maybe I should have said, “especially.”

Bracca smiled. Having gotten his way, he was most cordial in my defeat. And he leaned over to kiss my forehead. He nodded toward a large, cushioned divan near the fireplace. “Rest by the fire until I return. I won’t be long.”

And with that, he was gone. I did as he’d asked and went to sit there, though not with the best humor, I admit. It was a little cold, as the chaise was right by the window, though facing the fire. I pulled a fur over my legs and put my head back. The fire crackled and popped merrily to itself, putting out a fair amount of heat. More magic, I assumed. If I’d had some of that magic growing up, it certainly would have saved me many a trip to the woodshed in my younger days to help haul firewood to the house. My father had servants, but why pay them when they could be busy serving him elsewhere, and he had so many sons who worked for free? All he had to do was snap his fingers to get us to do whatever he wanted.

I snapped my fingers to illustrate, and the curtains beside me caught on fire. They blazed up all the way to the ceiling in seconds with a loud roar, scaring me half to death.

I called out frantically for help and in seconds, the guards came bursting in. One of them snapped his fingers at the fire again to stop it, and the other one raced to get some servants, who yanked the blackened curtains down and opened the windows to clear out the smoke.

What the hell had just happened? I told myself a spark must have flown from the fireplace, but I couldn’t quite make myself believe it. That fire had started only after I had snapped my fingers, like I’d seen the other Fairies and Elves do.

The next few minutes were chaotic with everyone dashing around and asking if I were hurt over and over. I assured them I was fine, but was I? Had it been me who set those curtains on fire? I was afraid to move in case I did something like that again.

I closed my eyes, just to rest them a few minutes, and the next thing I knew, someone was kissing me awake. It was a very nice thing to wake up to, if a little alarming, until I realized I was wrapped in Bracca’s arms, and he was lying beside me. He’d brought the smoky smell of the caves inside with him—or was that the remains of the curtains? I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder, as he nuzzled me.

“You looked so peaceful lying here I hated to wake you.”

“I set the curtains on fire.”

“You did? Whatever for?”

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I see. Why did you do it then?”

“I was thinking about how I could have used that trick Fairies and Elves have for starting fires when I was a boy and had to keep going out for firewood. And I snapped my fingers and the curtains burst into flames.”

“Your natural powers are coming in since you’ve been here in the Elven city. You’re half Elf, you know. It’s to be expected.”

“I didn’t expect it. If the servants hadn’t come running in, I could have burned down the palace.”

Bracca started laughing and I punched his arm. “It’s not funny.”

“It is a little. Now get up and get ready. Hendris has arranged quarters for my men nearby, and I want to join them. We need to stay close together while we’re here. The room won’t be quite as luxurious as this chamber, but much more private. Come on, a chuisle , we’re going there now.”

I got to my feet. I was a little more tired and groggy than I thought, but I’d needed to talk to him and tell him what had happened. He pulled me to stand between his legs and arranged my coat, buttoning it to the top, shushing me when I tried to keep talking about it.

“You’re half asleep. We can talk more when we get to our new lodgings. Just let me get you ready now.” He wrapped a scarf around the lower half of my face and put a hat on me that he pulled down, so that between it and the scarf, I was almost totally obscured.

“Let’s go. The house is only a few doors down and used for Hendris’s special guests. It has a large central room that will house all my soldiers, and you and I will be upstairs in a private room.”

I nodded, giving up for now, and we left and went down the stairs. With his arm around me, holding me close and both of his men right behind us, I felt totally secure. We slipped out a door I hadn’t noticed before and then traveled down a dark alley between the palace building and another structure. About halfway down this alley, a door opened to admit us to a large entry hall.

It wasn’t nearly as nice as the palace, of course, but the floors were made of polished wood, and it smelled of woodsmoke from the constant fires burning everywhere.

A large common room lay beyond the broad entryway leading to the central room, where Bracca’s soldiers had taken up residence. This room smelled a little of whiskey and ale. It was really warm inside, with a huge fireplace carved right out of one the cave walls. The fireplace was large enough for several men to stand up in it and had a roaring fire blazing inside it. Cots were laid out along the other three walls in neat rows, along with tables close by where some of Bracca’s men were sitting and eating. My own stomach gave a little growl at the delicious aromas of baked bread and cooked meat.

We went up some stone steps leading to an upper level where there were sleeping rooms. Most of the light in the room came from the fire in the hearth, but as soon as we entered, Bracca lit one of the lamps by the door. It was a large, pleasant room with a big, four poster bed dressed in white linens and heaped with blankets and furs. There was a small table and two chairs by the fire and thick rugs on the floor.

“Ask them to bring up some supper for us and then get some for yourselves,” he told the guards, and they bowed to him and left.

“These are nice quarters,” I said and Bracca nodded, looking around a little dismissively. “But I still need to tell you what happened.”

“These quarters will do for now. And anything you have to tell me can wait until after you have some supper and rest. Hendris offered the room you were in at the palace, but I wanted more privacy and my own men around us, with all that’s going on.”

“What do you mean? What’s going on? Tell me about it.”

He smiled and perched a hip on the table. “You nearly caused a riot with that little stunt you pulled earlier. I have to admit it surprised me when you sat down on the king’s throne. That was a little surprise that could have wound up with someone trying to cut your throat by the way. What in the world were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I’d better sit down before I fell down. I got really dizzy, and I think I more or less fell on the throne rather than taking a seat on it. You seemed to be preoccupied with arguing.”

“Yes, Hendris had just accused you of being a charlatan who was trying to trick him. I took exception to his tone, not to mention his accusation and threatened to cut his throat for him.”

“Oh my God, in his own throne room? What were you thinking?”

“That no fucking Elf was going to insult me and my consort to my face in such a way. Have no doubt, I was fully prepared to do it.”

I sat down hard on the bed and put my head in my hands. “And what was your plan for getting us out of there afterward?”

He shrugged. “I’d have thought of something.” When I groaned, he just chuckled. “Oh, stop worrying. As it turned out, there was no need. While I was arguing, you went and made yourself the true-blood King. Very impressive, by the way. I never had to do a thing to help.”

“Oh, Bracca…”

There was a knock on the door and Bracca called out for whoever it was to enter. A very lovely lady came in—she was perhaps of middle age, though it was always hard to tell with the Fae, and she really didn’t look much older than me except for those small, tell-tale lines around her eyes. She didn’t look Elven either—no pointed ears at all. I wondered who she could be. She gave me a very intense look and could hardly drag her gaze away from me when she spoke to Bracca.

“Your Highness, the food you asked for is coming up now. May they bring it in?”

Bracca nodded and she turned back to open the door and make a motion to the men standing outside. They were both young and had dark red hair and beards. They were really large and looked like the Vikings I’d heard about. But they were carrying heavily laden trays, and they came in right away and began setting out plates and bowls of food, as well as dishware and put several dishes down onto the snowy white tablecloth on the table.

She exchanged a few words with Bracca in the Fae language. Her voice was very pleasant. More long looks for me and then she smiled at me as they left. I immediately looked at Bracca. “Who was that?”

“She and her family work here, I think. I have no idea really.”

“They’re not Elves.”

“No.”

“What was she?”

“Hard to say just by looking. There are many types of Fae in Elven settlements. They work in the mines, as a general rule, or run the inns. Both males and females.”

“Oh.”

“Elves allow more visitors to their realm than Fairies ever have. You’ll probably see several kinds of Fae walking around if you’re here long enough. Daeneid is something of a trading center and attracts commerce from a lot of different tribes.”

I nodded and we sat down to eat the delicious venison stew the young men had brought us, in addition to a loaf of dark bread that was nutty and delicious, and an assortment of meat pasties, some lovely fruit pies and small honey cakes.

Bracca ate very little and drank way too much whiskey, in my opinion, but I didn’t dare say so. While we ate, he filled me in on what had been happening.

“When those lightning bolts started going off, it wasn’t only in the throne room. They shot across the entire city, near the top of the cave ceiling thankfully, and managed not to kill anyone. Some of the stagnant ponds near the drinking water started to run clear right away and walls that had begun crumbling stood up straight again. A sense of peace and tranquility fell over the city too. It’s difficult to explain, if you hadn’t felt how it was before, but it was really strong. Much different than the dark, unhealthy feel in the city before. That’s why the residents began gathering at the palace. To find out what was happening.”

“Are they still there?”

“The last I heard they were. Demanding to see you.”

“Oh no…”

“You’ll have to show yourself eventually. It’s a good sign, a chuisle . It means they want to know more about who you are. You’ll have to let them get a look at you.”

“I will. Maybe just not right this minute. Listen, Bracca, the throne screamed when I dropped my blood on it. Didn’t you hear that?”

He shook his head. “No. It must have been just for you. Look, I think Hendris is planning an event for midday tomorrow, so you’re in luck. You won’t have to wait too long to greet your new subjects.” He laughed at the moaning sound I made. “You’re a king now. You’ll have to be brave.” He took another drink of whiskey and stared at me. “You’ll be expected to name a Regent. This would be a good opportunity to do that.”

“A Regent? I thought that was only for children like when King Henry VIII’s son Edward VI took the throne. Or in case a king or queen became incapacitated.”

“Usually. In your English King Edward’s case, his realm was governed by a Regent’s council because Edward never reached maturity. They named a leader, and they all voted and agreed on how to proceed with matters of state.”

“Well, why would I need such a thing? I’m a grown man.”

“Yes, but you have no experience as a leader for one thing. You can’t even speak our language, and you were raised as a mortal. You have to know they don’t think mortals are very intelligent. In their minds, it’s entirely appropriate.”

“Well, I suppose, if you put it like that. At least until I find my bearings. But I still want to have my own say in things. The rest of it is a relief really. I’m not interested in government.”

He patted my arm and nodded. “You can just tell them you want your Regent to be me when they ask tomorrow.”

“Wait. I didn’t say that.”

He looked at me in surprise. “What do you mean? Of course, it will be me. I naturally assumed…”

“But you’re a Dark Fairy and these people seem to hate Fairies, just like your people hate the Elves. No, there’s been too much bad blood between you for that to work. I don’t think they’d be happy with that at all. I think maybe Hendris should act as my Regent until I can rule by myself.”

“Hendris!” He stood up abruptly, looked affronted and really angry.

“Yes…why are you getting so excited? He’s been in charge for years. It seems to me to be a natural choice.”

“Oh, do you think so? You, with all your vast, mortal knowledge of Fae kings.”

“I don’t claim to have any of that. But I like to think I know about people, even if they’re

Elves. I’m sure the people must like King Hendris and would feel better if he were around overseeing things. He’s the one they’re most used to and they trust him.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s always better for a king to inspire fear rather than trust, and I really don’t give a fuck what they’re most used to. I’m sure Hendris would ‘feel better’ if he were overseeing things too. Why the fuck are you worried about how he feels anyway? You need to stay out of all this and let me handle everything. You have no idea what you’re doing.”

I’m not sure if it were the condescending, angry tone or the patronizing attitude that infuriated me so much. Maybe it was the sneering look on his face, but something surely set me off. I jumped to my feet to face him. “I’m the true-blood and not you, Bracca! This is my decision to make!” I may have yelled it at him. “I may not have your vast experience and all,” I said, “but I’m the rightful king of the Dark Elves. I think you need to take a big step back and mind your own damn kingdom.”

He glared at me, his blood high now and nothing but cold fury on his face. Getting slowly to his feet, he nodded, his face was a mask of anger.

“Take a step back? I can do that.” He turned and stalked out the door, slamming it behind him so loudly it shuddered in its frame. I heard his boots clattering as he took off down the stairs. Of course, the instant he closed the door I was sorry for what I’d said and full of regrets for the way I’d said it. But I was way too proud to go after him.

In a huff, I went over to the bed, took off my boots and climbed in, pulling the covers over my head. I thought I’d be much too angry for sleep, but I drifted off right away and woke in what felt like the middle of the night to hear the fire still merrily popping and crackling and nothing much else. It was the only light in the room. I checked the clock on the wall, a newer piece that was spring driven instead of using the heavy weights we used to use at home. It said seven o’clock, so I knew it was morning. I crept to the door and opened it gently, so I wouldn’t disturb the men if they were still sleeping below.

I needn’t have been worried, however, because the sleeping men in the common room were mostly gone. There were about ten men left that I could see, some sitting on their cots, cleaning their weapons or sorting their belongings and the others at the tables eating breakfast. There was no sign of Bracca at all. I was stunned and could hardly believe my eyes. Had Bracca really left me here all alone in this strange city except for a handful of soldiers? Had he abandoned me? Would he have done that?

Apparently, he would, and I waited for the anger to hit. Instead, there was just sadness. All my life I’d had strong abandonment issues, and now they hit me again full force. My mother had left me when I was little more than a baby, and Sir John had never been emotionally there for me at all, but while I knew what caused my feelings, I really didn’t know what to do about them. All I knew was that I’d never been so hurt and angry before in my life that I could remember. We had only been married a matter of days, and he had already walked out on me? Not even when I learned that Sir John had sold me to the Fairies had I been this hurt. And maybe worst of all, I had absolutely no idea of what to do next.

I might have stood there all day, except for the lady that I’d met the evening before. She was sitting in the big room below when I noticed her, all alone. I assumed she must be one of the serving women there, taking a small rest. She glanced up and saw me standing at my door. She looked startled to see me and raised her hand to wave. I gave her a little wave back and turned to go back in my room. But if I thought I was rid of her, I was very wrong. Soon I heard footsteps on the stairs.

I went to the door to greet her as she made it to the top step. “Hello, sir,” she said, dropping into a little curtsey. “Do you need something?”

“No, thank you, I just woke up and wondered where everyone was.”

“Would you like some tea, then?”

“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.” She started to turn away and I said, “Excuse me, but did Prince Bracca happen to mention to you where he was going?”

“Well, he didn’t exactly tell me, but I do know. They didn’t go far, you see. They’re at the inn on the corner by the gate. I gave them the recommendation. It’s called The Red Lion. I think he’s booked the entire inn…or so I heard.” I didn’t ask any more questions, but just nodded.

“Will you be joining them soon, sir?” she asked, probably unable to stand the suspense a minute longer.

I shook my head no. I went back inside while she went for the tea, and I felt sunk in misery. Had I been in the wrong with what I said to him? I hadn’t governed my words and Bracca wasn’t used to being talked to in such a way.

Still, I thought that what I’d said was right. Many, many years of animosity lay between the Fairies and the Elves. It was bad enough that I was half some other kind of Fae, perhaps closely related to the Fairies. To install the dark Fairy prince as my Regent would have been a step too far. But that had been Bracca’s plan all along. He’d told me it was.

I didn’t want to admit how relieved I was that Bracca hadn’t left the city altogether. But at the same time, I was still really angry at him for walking out on me like he had. The fact that he’d left some soldiers helped a little, but it wasn’t enough. As I paced up and down in front of the fireplace, I swore I would never speak to him again. Never! Not even if he crawled on his knees on broken glass and begged me for my forgiveness.

A knock came on the door, and I whirled around, and I’m afraid I was hoping that it might be Bracca. Instead, the lady came in with a tray holding a teapot wrapped in a tea cozy, along with a cup and all the other paraphernalia that goes with tea, like lemon slices and cream and sugar—anything I might need. She poured some and said, “I’ll let you do the rest, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. But I don’t know if that’s the correct title for who I am just yet.”

She shrugged. “Everyone says so, sir. But I’ll do as you say, of course.”

“Can you tell me your name, Madam?”

“Why, my name is Rosheen, sir. Thank you for asking.”

“That’s a very pretty name. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.”

She smiled. “You know, if you don’t mind me saying so, you look a great deal like your mother did when she was a girl.”

Surprised, I stopped what I was doing and stared at her. “You knew my mother?”

“Yes. I was one of her maids at her home and came here with her. Years ago. Back when King Brendan was alive.”

“What was she like? She left me before my fifth birthday, and I don’t remember much about her.”

“Ah…well, she looked like you, sir. Her hair was golden, with white streaks, all mingled in together. Like yours. It curled down her back, and she had green eyes. Her skin was very white and fair too. She hated it so—she said she wished her skin loved the sun, like some of her friends’ skin did. She was a kind person and very much in love with your father.”

“Do you know why she left the way she did?”

“She was unhappy. She would sit by the window most of the day, looking out to sea and weeping.”

“I see. Why was she unhappy if she loved him so much?”

“It was the curse, sir.”

I nodded. Curse? Did she mean the one about needing the true-blood king. I didn’t understand the connection.

“I wish I remembered her more.”

She shrugged, looking uncertain. “She gave me something before she left, sir. Something for you, I think.”

“For me? What on earth? How could she possibly know you’d ever meet me?”

“Ah, she knew things, sir. Her eyes used to get a faraway look in them sometimes and she’d say the strangest things.”

“She mentioned me by name?”

“Oh no. She said to me that one day, someone would come, and I’d know he was the right one to give these things to. She said to pay close attention to the feeling inside me and to give it to you when the time was right. The minute I saw you and I knew you for her son, I knew she’d been talking about you.”

“Rosheen,” I said kindly, trying to be nice. “It’s very sweet of you, but I’m sure she intended you to keep what she gave you.”

She shook her head. “No, sir. This is for you. I brought them for you. She reached inside the voluminous pockets on her apron and pulled out two objects—a small, leather-bound book, with hand-written pages, and a little velvet pouch. “This book was hers. She wrote in it almost every day, and she left it in her drawer on the day she left. I think you should have it. And in the pouch is a necklace she favored.”

Seeing that I wasn’t going to sway her, I accepted the gifts—they were from my mother after all—and thanked her again.

“Of course,” she said and then she blushed a bright pink, curtsied again and walked toward the door. She stopped at the threshold to look back. “Should I have the young men bring up the tub and some hot water for your bath now, sir? I expect the palace guards will be calling for you soon. The word is that King Hendris is going to introduce you to everyone today.”

“Yes, that would be nice. Or no, wait. I don’t have any clean clothes, so better yet, just send a message to King Hendris for me, please. Ask him if he will send some guards after me now. I need to speak with him right away.” She bowed her head and disappeared into the dim light of the corridor.

I opened the velvet pouch to look inside, and a silver locket dropped out in my palm. It was beautifully etched with a rose pattern and had a clasp that you could open and put a lock of hair or a tiny portrait inside. But it wouldn’t open, no matter how much I tried. I put it back in the pouch and took it and the book to put with my things. If the items had belonged to my mother, they were all I’d ever had of her. Sir John had packed up anything she’d left behind and disposed of it all.

When Bracca left, he had taken all of my things with him. And he’d mentioned that Hendris had something planned for later that day to introduce me to the Elven people—after stranding me here with only the clothes on my back. I don’t think he meant to do that. I think he had simply lost his temper and took off in a rage.

But I wasn’t as helpless as he seemed to think, and I wasn’t going to sit here and wring my hands while I waited for him to help me—or stare out the window and weep like my mother had. At least she had finally come to her senses. It was time for me to do the same and to take matters in my own hands.