She’d turned down potential suitors as a young girl always hoping that one day he would realize he loved her. She wasn't gonna let him scare anyone else off.

  "When the walls were erected it is possible that there were a few Fae still within the country that had not yet fled. They remain in hiding and that is why we have such a heavy patrol. And each person that we find with the Impelling is another clue as to where they might be hiding. When we find a heavy concentration of people infected we know a Fae could be in the area. We've caught a couple since building the wall in this territory already." She laughed. "But that's information you better keep to yourself because we don't share that publicly. I'm not trying to get the citizens in a tizzy."

  They would be hunting down anyone and everyone thinking that they were Fae in Glamour. Chaos.

  "Is that not what is happening now?" Hollis asked. He sent another glance at Leo, who nodded his approval but didn't speak up. At least Leo had the sense about him to keep his mouth shut.

  Queen Sienna sighed heavily and leveled Hollis with a dangerous look. "I apologize, I was unaware that I would be coming to breakfast to be put through interrogation. I thought it would be nice for us all to get to know one another."

  “My due apologies to my Queen." Lucien lifted his drink. “Perhaps I started this conversation out on the wrong foot. It would only be right if we start over. You look quite stunning this morning; might I say that pink very well could be your color."

  Sienna gave him an approving nod. As Thomas was already speaking up, "It looks as though you received my gift." His cheeks heated to an even darker shade of red. "It's more beautiful on you than I even imagined."

  Her hand drifted up to her wrist and she brushed the bracelet. The doors to the kitchen swung open and staff were immediately hurrying inside and setting plates down in front of them. Another welcomed distraction. Sienna gave the men her sweetest smile, making sure to make eye contact directly with each one of them. When she got around to Hollis she instead glanced down at her plate. Breathing in the savory scent of the meal, she picked up her fork, signaling the men that they were allowed to eat.

  "Yes, thank you all so much for the gifts. It was such a pleasant surprise to wake up to such beautiful tokens of your affection. My room smelled like a garden!"

  "Oh yes, you used to love playing in gardens. I remember how much dirt used to cling to our clothes at the end of a fun day." Hollis was already cutting into a thick slice of ham.

  Jack pointed his fork between the queen and Hollis. "That's right, you two know each other. How so?"

  Sienna felt her face heat even though she tried to force her body not to have such a reaction. She thought Hollis being here would be nice. She thought she'd be able to show him that she had become something bigger and greater than what she used to be. Shouldn’t she be everything he ever wanted? And instead, here they were and all he was doing was reminiscing about the past.

  And he couldn't even bother to give her a gift.

  Sienna waved her fork, a fruit stuck to its end. "Oh, we all know I grew up in a pathetic, nothing of a town. Hollis is from there too. We were both very poor. Hollis, how are your riches faring today?" She knew she shouldn't have asked that. It was technically considered rude and she wouldn't bother to ask anyone else that question no matter what their financial status was but she needed the small jab. She needed some way to show him up. She wasn't going to let him do whatever he wanted or say whatever he wanted.

  The smile on Hollis's face, which wasn't really a smile, it was more of a smirk, fell flat. "Sienna and I grew up together. She's quite the different person nowadays. Perhaps I should tell you all more about that. It’s much more interesting than my financial status."

  "No use dredging up our past," Queen Sienna said firmly.

  Hollis was going to need to be put on a leash and trained how to behave while here on stay. Sienna wanted nothing more than to do just that.

  Ace

  The sun had long since set. For a while Ace had turned her gaze away from the streaks of pink and orange in the sky; while they were beautiful at times, it reminded her far too much of holy fire. She'd always thought, and she found it to be a common belief, that holy fire was pure white.

  No, holy fire was colorful and vibrant. It was the orange that now stained her irises, it was hot pink where the flame was the hottest. So all in all, holy fire and sunsets had far too much in common.

  Maybe it was the gods' way of showing that humans had burned away another day. Now it was so dark that Ace could hardly see in front of her and the only way she was able to follow Shelby was by listening to his heavy steps. He'd been so quiet when he had followed her before but now he walked almost ridiculously loud.

  Ace had tried to talk to him, first just out of pure boredom because her head was so empty. After a while, Shelby just quit answering her questions, not that he really gave her answers to begin with. It felt like they had walked in circles for nearly hours though Shelby was quite convinced he knew where he was going.

  Ace’s calves began to ache as the sun faded, the day called off so significantly that she shivered without her cloak. She was certain that Shelby could hear her teeth chattering and that he just didn't care. In fact, he was making a point to ignore her.

  "Almost there," he said, his voice so near it startled her.

  "Almost where?" She squinted into the darkness, not able to make out any figures other than the trees nearest to her.

  They’d even gone so far that they’d lost the sound of the river. Could they have gone that far? How far could you get in half a day?

  "Are we going to another cave? Because I'm not sure I can survive being this damp and cold all night." It wasn’t as if she had anywhere she could steal from at the present. She really missed her small bedroom.

  "No, it's not a cave. You're awfully picky for someone who was given a second chance at life."

  "Second chance at life? You make it sound as if I wanted this?"

  "Well, I’m assuming you didn’t want to die. Is that the scar on your neck?” His steps stopped for a second.

  Ace’s nose smacked into his broad back as she was forced to stop too. Shelby started walking again while she rubbed at her nose. With her other hand, she shoved Shelby forward a little bit, mumbling under her breath. "Yes, that's what my scar’s from."

  "Guessed it," Shelby said, not that Ace thought it was something particularly hard to guess.

  Shelby turned enough that Ace could see around the shadow and outline of his form. She cocked her head as she tried to figure out exactly what she was looking at but after a minute it came to her. There was a small cabin with curtains drawn over every window to keep the light from poking out into the woods. The slightest bit of smoke came from the chimney but there were no signs of anyone outside.

  "Is this yours?"

  Shelby scoffed. "Something like that. Let me do the talking.” He turned to look at her and she swore she could see him grimace even in the dark. "You just avoid making eye contact."

  "Why? Will I get turned to stone?” She followed behind him up to the porch of the house. Their steps immediately made far too much noise on the old creaky wood.

  "I mean turning to stone isn’t out of the question if you don't compliment her on her cooking, but I doubt she’d do anything. I just don't want you to give her a heart attack."

  Her? A friend? Family? Lover? Who did Shelby know that was living all the way out here outside of the city?

  Shelby took a deep breath, raising his hand to the door and knocking to the tune of a children's song, if she was remembering correctly. She chuckled a little but otherwise said nothing. The cabin door swung open and the faintest bit of firelight fell over their faces.

  “Who—Is that? There is no way!" a short woman with her hair pulled into a scarf on her head with small salt and pepper curls poking out the side of her face said. She was already stretching her arms up towards Shelby's face. There had to be at least a two-foot difference between them.

  "It's me, Grandma," Shelby said, almost breathlessly before he squatted down and swept the woman up into his arms.

  She chuckled and gave him a fierce hug, her hands patting his back until the moment he set her down, and then her hands were rubbing up and down his arms and touching his face as if to make sure he was really standing in front of her.

  "What trouble have you gotten yourself into boy?” she asked.

  Shelby turned slightly to look back at Ace, his grandmother’s gaze following his. Her face drained of color as they made eye contact.

  Dang it! Ace cursed herself. She wasn't supposed to make eye contact!

  "What sort of demon have you brought me?” his grandmother gasped.

  Ace grimaced. Being called a demon was exactly why she wasn't keen on showing off her face. It was partially the reason she preferred to be alone these past twelve months. Though she had to admit it was nice to finally have people who could actually acknowledge the fact that she was real and not just a ghost stealing off the streets of Maipeg.

  "Not a demon,” Ace shrugged.

  "Well, then what is she?" the old woman said to her grandson, her frame still filling the doorway not allowing them inside just yet.

  Shelby shrugged. "Supposedly the gods brought her back from death." He ran a finger across his throat and his grandma looked at him and then stared at Ace’s throat. "She and the gods have made us a promise. They're going to free all the warlocks."

  The old woman shook her fist at Shelby. "Do not use that word in this house." She put her finger up and Ace had half a mind to tell her that was a bit dangerous, but Shelby didn't smack her hand away.

  "Do you hear me?"

  "Yes, Grandma. Now, will you let us in?" Shelby asked.

  The old woman stared at Ace and Ace stared back. "I promise, I mean you no harm. I really am here to help.” She chewed her lip for a minute. “And I need the help.”

  His grandma snarled at that but waved them in and pushed them toward a table with two chairs. She closed the door, spinning back around. Her little cabin was one open space with a bed, the table, a couch that pointed toward the fireplace, and a small kitchen. There was only one other door. Ace assumed it led to some sort of bathroom.

  "Another human girl taking advantage of my grandson. How wonderful." She shook her head. Shelby sat down in one of the chairs and when Ace hesitated his grandma walked by, grabbed her shoulder, and pushed her into the seat. "Sit. I might not be too excited to hear about whatever is happening with you two, but I'll be damned if I don't take care of you."

  She gave Shelby a sad smile and brushed a kiss against his cheek once before patting his shoulder and walking into the kitchen where the sound of a spoon hitting the sides of a pot started.

  "Last I heard you were taken by the queen. How did you get away? Did she sell you?"

  Shelby turned in his seat watching his grandma dish something out into two small bowls. "Actually…we are sort of running for our lives."

  His grandma snorted. "Running for your lives? Been there, done that. So what's your plan?"

  Yes, what was his plan? Ace was quite curious too as she crossed her arms over her chest and examined the cabin. She noted the mirror hanging on the wall with a curtain pulled tightly closed over it.

  "The plan was to come here and make a plan."

  "How am I not surprised the first time I see you again and the first time you bring a girl home it's in these terrible conditions? Your mother would probably find it humorous."

  "She always had a way of laughing at things that weren't particularly funny at all." Shelby looked out of the corner of his eyes at Ace as if to insinuate that they shared that characteristic as well.

  "Yes, I miss your mother dearly." She waddled out of the kitchen, liquid sloshing out of the bowls and running down the side. She set them down on the table in front of Ace and Shelby, placing her hands back on her hips and staring. "Eat."

  Ace picked up the spoon, stirring what looked like soup with large chunks of chicken and vegetables. "How long has Derfla been dead?" Ace asked before sipping on the broth.

  "She's not dead!" The old woman smacked Shelby on the back of the head and he grunted, glaring in return. "She knows your mother’s name yet you say she is nothing more than some runaway girl who needed your magic! Don't tell me you fell in love with someone who is supposed to be dead! Her presence means that something isn't right. You must feel that," his grandma hissed.

  And she was exactly right. Ace’s presence did mean that something wasn't right because Ace should be dead. Yet here she was running for her life again, sitting in a cabin in the middle of the woods with a warlock, his grandma, and some cold soup.

  "Grandma, I just met her two days ago. How could I be in love with her? She's literally the most annoying person I've ever met. And if she hadn’t agreed to help me with the power of the gods to free us, we would not be together."

  His words made something like an ache form in her chest. She set her spoon down, placing her hand on her heart as if she could keep the pain from radiating through the rest of her body. Ace cleared her throat. "Soup is delicious."

  "Thank you. I didn't have anything on hand but luckily my magic is not too rusty."

  “You have magic? I was taught that magic was only passed down to the men."

  "That’s because we want you to think that.” The old woman sucked her teeth. “I see exactly how she knows too much. She's easy to talk to and I've said way too much. You two eat and get warm by the fireplace. These old bones need some rest especially after the two of you decided to barge in in the wee hours of the morning. I'll fetch you some blankets."

  They could hear the old woman as she made her way through her creaky house. Ace and Shelby faced each other but neither of them made eye contact. Instead, they both focused on their supper and began eating. All while Ace’s mind began to churn with questions. Judging by the look on Shelby's face she didn't think he would be amused by her coming onslaught of inquiries. She decided to wait until they were done eating. Surely that would be enough time…

  Blankets were laid out on the couch before his grandma came over and kissed him on the forehead before she went to her bed and slipped under the covers.

  "How old is she?" Ace whispered to Shelby. She looked ancient. Far too old to be out here on her own taking care of herself.

  "Why does it matter?" Shelby cocked his head to one side.

  "Because she looks like she's on the brink of death and I don't particularly want to go to bed just to wake up in the morning to find out she's passed in her sleep or something."

  Shelby looked disgusted as he straightened and glared. "She won’t pass away in her sleep," he hissed at her, trying to keep his voice quiet as well. "She’s not that old."

  "I'm old but I'm not deaf," the old woman said from her bed before she chuckled and rolled over.

  Ace’s eyes grew wide. She clamped her mouth shut and stared down at the table. She stayed quiet this time keeping all of her questions inside until she could hear the old woman's snores and by then both she and Shelby had finished their meals. Shelby scooped up their bowls and placed them in the kitchen.

  Ace wandered from the table over to the couch looking at the stack of blankets. Were they supposed to share the couch? It hardly looked big enough for that. Silently she wandered over to the fireplace, wringing her hands and letting the heat flood her. Shelby moved to stand beside her, his fingers curled under the hem of his shirt as he pulled the material up and over his head. He paused as he went to lay the shirt out on the mantle. Ace was staring.

  Underneath his shirt was not only stacks of muscles but several burn marks across his ribs. Scars made by the Fae. She didn’t mind his scars, honestly; she thought they made him that much more handsome. Not that she wanted to admit how handsome he was because he wasn't exactly all that kind, but she couldn't stop staring now. She could feel a blush working its way up her cheeks.

  "What are you doing?" she asked.

  "I'm laying my shirt out to dry so I don't have to sleep completely in wet clothing. What’s wrong with you?"

  "Nothing."

  "Do I need to put my shirt back on? Am I making you uncomfortable?" He held the shirt up to his chest.

  "No you don't have to put your shirt back on, it's fine." She wanted to laugh.

  "No, I don't like the way you're looking at me. No. Nope. I'm putting it back on."

  Ace tried to stifle her laughing but the giggle couldn’t be contained. She’d never stared at a man so hard that he got uncomfortable before. Grinning like a fool, she grabbed his wrist, stopping him from pulling the shirt back over his head.

  "No, stop! You can leave your shirt off. I don't want it to ruin your sleep." His eyes became two dark slits as he glared, not moving to put the shirt back on. "You know that underneath those clothes and your goody-two-shoes attitude there is something worth looking at."

  "Gods! I'm putting it back on," Shelby said. Ace laughed harder that time and grabbed his wrists again. Shelby jerked his hands out of hers. "Look at you. You’re…you're ogling me. How do I know that if I let my shirt dry you're not going to try and take advantage of me?”

  "Why do you think I would try to seduce you? In your grandma's cabin? While she's sleeping right there?" She pointed at the small bed and even smaller snoring woman for emphasis.

  "I just don't like the way you're looking at me." He lifted his chin. “Are you a cannibal? Did coming back change your eating habits?”

  “A cannibal?!” Ace sputtered.

  “You look like you want to eat me.”

  "I’m not a cannibal, but if it will make you feel better I'll take my shirt off too. It also needs to dry."

  Those narrowed eyes immediately went wide, his mouth dropping open. He took a small step back.

 

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