Page 102 of A Soul’s Awakening

“Yes. You have been Changed,” he replied, retracting his huge arm.

“Changed,” she parroted.

“Yes, dearest.” Rian rose from his kneeled position by the bath, his full height towering above her. “The correct term is Changeling. It happens to all the brides chosen from the Tithe.” He looked down, smoothing his elegant white shirt before returning his eyes to her face.

“Why?” Eleanor shivered, frozen now despite the warmth of the bathwater, numbness overtaking her. “Why do this to us? To me?”

“The Changeling Potion is so you become as close to Fae as possible. I will not have half-blood children in my line. Certainly, the other Seelie Lords will not either. Not officially, at least.” He smirked.

Eleanor’s mind flashed to her Aunty Rose and her twin boys. Yes, I know all about that. She sharpened her gaze at him. “Half-blood… half human, half Fae, you mean?”

“That’s correct Eleanor.” It was the first time Rian had used her first name, saying it with a snap. “Children of Fae and Changelings are also likely to be very strong and often extraordinarily gifted in magic.”

“You Changed me so we can marry, and I have your children.” Eleanor’s mind turned like wheels on a carriage. “You wanted me to be a Changeling, so I produce powerful heirs?” Something snapped within her. “I am not even an adult! You stole me!” she shouted from the edge of the bath. “You took me from my friend, my mother, my family, my home! You broke the Circle!”

“The circle…?” The King scrunched his nose. It was the first time Eleanor saw so many lines on his perfect face. “Never mind. They will be fairly compensated when you tell me where they are.”

“Compensated?!” Outrage fired her weakened muscles. She surged upwards, the water sloshing at her mid-thighs. Her arm flew out to grab the fluffy towel hanging from the freestanding golden bar next to the bath. She wrapped it around herself, the bottom hem dunking into the water. “You think my family wants money?” she snarled, feeling a flush of power as she stood her ground against him.

King Rian’s eyes glowed red as he raised his hand. He swiftly slammed the back of it into Eleanor’s cheek. She stumbled, clutching her towel to her chest with one hand, her other whipping out to steady herself on the golden stand next to the bath.

The King sneered, amusement dancing on his face like the flames in his eyes. “I claimed you for that fire, that loyalty, that mind.” Rian reached down again, and she flinched away. This time, he gently stroked the red welt on her cheek. “You are mine. Do not forget that.”

Eleanor’s mouth opened and closed in shock, frozen under the King’s touch.

“Imagine what will happen when the fire you have burns for me,” the Seelie King rumbled, his voice thick and husky. “More than just Seelieland will bow to us.”

Rian stepped back. An ember glow surrounded his tall figure, and then he dissipated into the low light of the lavish bathroom. The Fae Lights flickered as he did so. The Seelie King left Eleanor standing in the bath, alone and shivering with rage.

Helena and Lance had been travelling hard and sleeping rough for most of their journey. They had already taken a week to get to Solas, and she was impatient to make it to the Capital. Helena was painfully aware that with every moment her daughter was out of her reach, the higher the chance that something unthinkable would happen to her.

She eyed the long entry lines at the main gate to get into Solas. “Faedammit,” she cursed through gritted teeth.

The Dragon Gate itself was magnificent, a giant wooden structure breaking up the tall, taupe rampart that encircled the city. The two behemoth gates had been thrown inwards to allow entry for the travellers, and the sharpened tips of the portcullis were drawn up. For decoration, detailed Dragons had been carved on to the towering pillars on each side of the red gate’s frame.

The Solas Guards were directing the travellers into three distinct queues for entry into the city. There were Fae in horse-drawn carriages, lesser faeries with their carts and mounts, and then humans, each group in a separate line. A loud clatter caught Helena’s attention, jolting her in the saddle. She snapped her head in the direction of the noise, squinting through the crowds.

“Get back to your line!” a Fae growled from the back of his towering horse, his eyes fixed on the ground.

“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to,” a faerie with leaf tipped ears replied, swooping down near the Fae’s boot in his stirrup. He scrabbled around, collecting the items that had fallen from his broken bag.

“I said, get back to your line.” The Fae bared his teeth with a curl of his lips.

A group of faeries blocked Helena’s view, but she was certain that she heard a thud and a squeal of pain.

She shook her head. I’m sorry for him, but I have my own concerns right now.

She was desperate to get into the city, but she definitely did not want to draw attention to herself and Lance. Helena studied the queues. The humans moved quickly, shuffling forward with horses and carts. The Fae in armour gave human adults and children a cursory glance before waving them through, their faces set in bored expressions.

Helena turned towards Lance and studied him. The Merman wore the hood of his cloak low on his face, protecting his sensitive eyes from the strong Seelieland sun. His black stubble had grown into a short beard over the course of their week-long journey. She leant over to him from her gelding. His height could give him away, but he may just pass as human.

“Love…” She leant over to him from her gelding. The Merman lowered his ear to Helena, shifting in his saddle. “…we are going to go into the human line,” she whispered through his curls. “Keep your hood up, head down, and don’t show your teeth.”

“Understood,” Lance murmured, tilting his face toward the pommel of his leather saddle, stooping his shoulders to make himself look smaller.

Helena nodded with approval and directed her horse to join the end of the human entry line. Lance fell in next to her on his gelding. She allowed herself a smug smile as they moved through quickly. She wondered if the Solas Guards, resplendent in their red and bronze uniforms, saw no threat from the humans, and that was why they allowed them all through the massive open gate without more than a second look.

Helena’s eyes widened in awe as she saw Solas thrumming with life. She had thought Portson on festival days was busy, but it was nothing compared to the Seelieland Capital on a normal day. The street that started at the Dragon Gate widened into a square. Tall limestone apartments, several stories high, bordered it. Market stalls crowded every corner, and the vendors’ cries to entice customers invaded Helena’s ears.