Page 1 of The Hidden Fae Prince
1
The Iron Rabbit
Awatchfulpresencechillsthe back of Seren’s neck. His shoulders tense beneath his patched linen shirt, and he grips the basket tighter. Nobody is following him from the market. He can tell. People don’t follow someone without wanting something, and Seren knows when people want something from him.
But logic doesn’t reassure his instincts. Two houses from home, Seren can’t stand it anymore. He whirls to find—
Chiyo tending her garden, her old dog basking at her side. The southern edge of the village is peaceful in the midsummer heat.
Seren relaxes, feeling foolish. That sensation of being watched has been coming and going for weeks without any evidence. It must be ordinary nerves twisting his stomach.He’s always been too sensitive. Anticipation and dread are getting the better of him.
Tomorrow’s the day.
As Seren continues, the dog lumbers over. She’s a retired herding dog, and she doesn’t move as quickly anymore. Seren lingers for her to catch up.
“Nothing for you today, Steadfast,” Seren says, lifting his basket out of the way.
Steadfast sits, head cocked, ever hopeful. Seren sinks his free hand into the shaggy fur beneath her chin. That’s her favorite spot for scritches.
Animals are so much easier than people.
Chiyo stands up, stretching. Her topknot of black hair bobs with the movement. “Why does she like you so much?”
“Are you saying I’m not likeable?” Seren asks with a grin.
“Maybe I am,” Chiyo retorts. But the radiating fondness says she isn’t.
Seren likes talking to Chiyo, even if she’s twice his age. She moved into the village when her husband took the vacancy at the chapel. Seren’s always nervous meeting strangers, but Chiyo is kind and tends to think well of people. She’s hardly ever annoyed with Seren.
“Is that a new apron?” Seren asks. “That green is lovely on you.”
Chiyo waves her trowel in mock threat. “You say that about every color, silly boy.”
Her happiness blooms. Seren basks as they continue chatting, like Steadfast soaking in the morning sun.
Alard calls him manipulative, but Seren doesn’t see the harm in complimenting people. He just needs people tolike him. It hurts too much otherwise. Alard doesn’t know Seren’s a freak.
Ever since he was young, Seren has felt other people’s emotions towards him. A heightened, maddening sense of empathy. Whether his friends and neighbors are secretly glad or annoyed or angry at him, despite their outward expressions.
Seren knew to hide his empathy, even as a child. Wymond is a quiet village. A peaceful village. Disruptions get ostracized—like the miller’s son, a few years older than Seren, with the unlucky eye.
Another emotion creeps through Seren’s conversation with Chiyo. A curtain twitches from the cottage behind her. Swallowing down nausea, Seren bids Chiyo farewell. He gives Steadfast one last scritch, then hastens away.
Chiyo’s husband leads Wymond’s All Gods chapel. A dependable, affable pillar of the community. His lustful craving makes Seren’s skin crawl.
The man is faithful to Chiyo, as far as Seren knows. Any rumors otherwise would race through a village this small. His avid desire wouldn’t hurt anyone, if Seren couldn’t sense things he shouldn’t.
Seren forces a deep breath. After tomorrow, he won’t have to worry about that anymore.
Trellises of herbs and rows of vegetables divide Seren’s front yard into a neat maze. The main cottage is two stories, with a thatched roof. A black iron rabbit hangs over the door to keep out the fae. Seren freezes at the doorstep.
A quiet crack, like a dry leaf broken underfoot. But there’s nobody else in the yard.
It must be a squirrel or mouse. Or Seren’s overactive paranoia. He shakes off the feeling of being watched and crosses beneath the iron rabbit.
The cottage is empty, but the back door is open. Edith must be working in the backyard. Maybe that’s what Seren heard, with some trick of acoustics. Feeling foolish again, Seren puts away the milk and eggs, then returns the change to the jar behind the flour.
Before closing the jar, Seren hesitates. Then he pockets two coppers. The price of eggs fluctuates enough that Edith won’t notice, and Seren will need the money.
