Page 19 of Fae's Mate
“Varian,” I seethe, and she bristles at the sound of her name on my lips, “choose ten dresses from your collection, and have them ready for the servants to distribute in half an hour.”
“As you wish,High Lord,” she snarls before sauntering out of my study.
Fates give me strength. She acts as if assisting me may kill her. It pains me to think about how much my brother usually helps, and that he is currently several storeys below, suffering in iron. But I have passed judgement; I cannot be weak and change my decision.
Slouching in my chair, with my elbows on the table, I rest my forehead in my hands and rub my temples. I will need to speak with the humans, and see if they can arrange among themselves, which of them will stay in Summer Court. They will not be happy about being separated. I dare not admit that I think they will be here for weeks yet. My brother won’t re-coup any of his magic while he is in his cell, and even once released, fates only know how long it will take him—and the young Summer Lord—to amass that much magic again. It also hasn’t escaped my attention that they cleaved the portal on Samhain, when the veil is at its thinnest. Such an event won’t occur again for another six months, and I do not see how I will host even the remaining six humans for that long.
I arrange for servants to go to my sister’s chambers, and head for the kitchens to discuss with Cook how we can make our stores last. Although we are technically moving into winter, my court, and the crops it can grow, remain autumnal, and as autumn ebbs, so will the magic that fuels the land. I am already dancing the line of ruin. The prospect of needing to find the additional food, and firewood, and any other supplies the humans might require, fills me with dread.
The magic of Autumn Court cannot sustain such demands for long. Not unless a high born fae finds and claims their mate.
Chapter 13
Seki
As dusk approaches, I put down the fifth book I have leafed through with a huff. So far, we have found nothing of use about fae magic or fae mates. Feeling deflated, I decide to return to my room and have a bath before dinner.
“I’m going to head back to my room for a bit,” I tell the others, rising from my scatter cushion. “Keep me posted if you find out anything else?”
Alana nods.
“I’ll come with you,” Charlotte says following me to the doorway.
I am grateful for her company, especially as she seems to know her way around, and easily navigates our way through the palace.
“It’s intense, isn’t it?” she asks, as we turn onto yet another corridor. “All these people.”
“I’m not so bothered. A bath is what I really want, as I still smell like cake batter.”
“Oh… I don’t really spend a lot of time around people. I’m more of a homebody. Being sociable for too long gets me stressed.”
“Well, at least you have your own room now that you can retreat to when things get too much.”
Charlotte gives me a weak smile as we round the corner onto the ‘human hallway’.
“No, absolutely-the-fuck-not!”
I glance at charlotte who looks just as confused as me, before Alex comes storming out of the room she is sharing with Yasmin, clutching a puff of peach fabric.
“Where is he? I’m going to throttle him!”
“Who?” I ask.
“The High Lord.”
She shakes the ball of tulle at us, her usually pale face red with anger, then storms down the hall.
“If that fairy bastard thinks he’s putting a ginger lesbian in a fucking orange dress, he’s got another thing coming!”
A soft giggle draws my attention back, and I find Yasmin stood in the doorway, draped in a stunning copper coloured dress that perfectly complements the warm light brown tone of her skin. Long sleeves grace her slender arms, and a wide neckline shows off her delicate collarbone. The fabric gathers over her bust, drawn in just below with intricate golden embroidery, then falls to the floor in a waterfall of metallic autumnal colours.
“Wow, you look like a goddess,” Charlotte compliments.
“Thank you,” Yasmin replies quietly, touching her fingers to her lips then extending her back turned hand towards us.
She smiles at us, her cheeks darkening, then closes the door to her room.
“Did the High Lord get us all dresses?” Charlotte asks excitedly.
