Covered in dried blood, blanketed in rose petals, wild and wide-eyed, Bailey was the most beautiful woman Beckett had ever laid eyes on. His knee hit the flagstones, her hand in his warm and soft. "Long live the Queen." His soft murmur was underscored by the whisper of the petals raining around them.It was almost painful, his longing for this Halfling. He had tried so hard to bury it over the last day and a half. Jayce hadn't been the only one to spark for her. If Beckett was correct, then all three Princes had sparked, but Jayce was the only one that had acknowledged the situation. The use of the name-binding had further cemented their connection. Beckett felt the desolation wash over him in waves, the past repeating itself.Beckett had barely hit adulthood the first time he had sparked for another. She had been perfect for him in every way. A beautiful water sprite, as steady as the tide and as wild as a stormy sea. He was smitten from the first meeting, his spark helping him forge
Tobin made his way to Bailey, hauling her to her feet. Her face was full of wonder, and he had to bite down on the burn of jealousy. He twined his fingers through hers, reassuring himself she was fine, and let out a sigh of relief.When Beckett's Magick had exploded out of him, she had thrown herself right into the corona. He had been yelling at her over Beckett's screams, but she had ignored him. She wrapped herself resolutely around the Summer Prince and held him during the transformation. Beckett's Magick had flared hotter than the sun and Tobin had feared that she would be consumed by it. But here she was, unscathed.He was confused. The raining petals on Bailey, the sudden transformation of Beckett from Summer Prince to Horned God. It felt like there was more at work in Faerie than just a plot against the Halflings. Faerie was rearranging itself, shaking up the complacent fae and it unnerved him.Maybe Danu would have answers. The Mother was notoriously fickle, and prone to freque
Bailey was hauled through the courtyard gates into the sithen proper, Eostre dragging her by her elbow. The hall that she entered was large, flagstones underfoot making up the floor. There were murals lining the walls, brightly colored and alien."Jayce gave us a quick rundown of the last day or so. How are you holding up child?" Eostre's voice was soft, concerned.Bailey took a moment to consider. "I'm not entirely sure how to answer that. I'm exhausted already, and we've barely begun. So many things are happening at once, my grandfather's murder, my attack in the forest, the sithen acting odd when I entered. It's overwhelming."Eostre nodded at her side, "The sithen hasn't recognized a rising royal in a long time. It certainly has taken a shine to you, the bells tolling your arrival were loud enough to be heard throughout the whole sithen. All of the Court would know that Jayce's Queen has been found."They stopped at an ornate wooden door, runes carved deep into the wood, scroll wor
Jayce gave an answering chuckle, sliding into the water. Her eyes found his, and darted over to his crumpled breeches resting on the lip of the pool. Her eyes widened as she realized she was very naked, he was obviously very naked, and both Tobin and Beckett were only half-dressed. She would have the grace to be embarrassed if Tobin's fingers weren't massaging soap into her hair, his fingers scraping and tugging at her scalp.Jayce gripped the cloth she had flung at him in his hand, knuckles white. "You need a good scrub, Halfling." He took his time, testing the small bottles of oils and soaps, selecting the ripe strawberry one she had discarded in her haste to cover her body. He made his way toward her, achingly slow. Beckett merely watched them with half-hooded eyes, and she felt exposed under his gaze.Jayce dipped the cloth into the water, dumping the soap onto it and working it into a lather. Tobin's lips attached to the side of her throat and she groaned. Jayce pressed into her f
Bailey felt her heart rate kick up, meeting Beckett's gaze in the mirror. She knew she should be satisfied. She knew she shouldn't feel the clench of need low in her belly. She knew.But her traitorous body leaned into his touch, seeking just the right amount of pressure. She rolled her hips forward against his hand, groaning as his fingers curled into her. She lifted her hand, pressing into his and grinding. She watched his eyes darken in the mirror."Are you sure you want this right now, little Halfling?" She had never been more sure of anything in her life, as her lower body flooded with molten heat. She nodded, not trusting her voice. He shook his head, "I need to hear you say it.""I want this." She whispered back softly. His fingers spread her open, teasing against her flesh. She gasped, her head dropping back against his chest.He smirked at her in the mirror, before wrapping his other arm around her waist and lifting her. He turned them both, tossing her onto the bed as if she
"I feel like the wardrobe could've provided me with something a little more formal." Bailey muttered as they made their way into the large dining hall. She felt under-dressed as a fae in a gorgeous gossamer outfit sidled past them. Eostre hadn't been kidding when she said there would be an event that evening. The hall was filled with fae of every type, all of them trying to get a look at the newly sithen-crowned Queen of the Spring Court.Jayce stood at her side, stiff and unyielding. His face was a mask of bored indifference as lines of fae made their way to greet them. Bailey felt distinctly uncomfortable as the denizens of the Court chatted and mingled around her. "Remind me why this is necessary."Jayce smiled down at her, his mask slipping as his eyes softened. "They are curious. They want to know who I've sparked with.""So this is the Halfling." A whiny voice rose above the din of the crowd, and Bailey felt her jaw tighten automatically. The nasal whine set her teeth on edge. A
Jayce burst into the clearing. Bailey was on her feet, lifting a goblin by his filthy clothes. She was pure light, her Magick so hot that he was afraid to step closer to her. The Goblin's shriek lifted the hair on his arms as it's flesh began to bubble on its face. Blood flecked it's thin lips, but Bailey only shook it."How dare you." She hissed. "How dare you touch what is mine." Blisters rose on the Goblin's gray leathery skin, "I don't know who this Arawn is, but here's a message for your 'Lord', if he seeks to harm what is mine, I will raze his flesh from his bones and piss in his ashes." Bailey flung the goblin and it smacked against a tree. It pulled itself up, it's mangled face a mask of terror before it loped off into the darkness.Bailey turned to Tobin, on the ground and unnaturally still. Dark stains married his pale skin and his leg was at an odd angle. Bailey still shone with the light of the sun, her Magick whipping around her in deadly tendrils.Beckett surged past him,
"She's what?!" Bailey flinched back at Viridios' tone. It wasn't that he was loud, but there was a vehement incredulousness that made her hackles rise. "That can't be possible, she wouldn't be able to hold the portal Magick. The Halflings are of both worlds, so their bodies can support the wild Fae Magick without being torn to ribbons. She would have imploded if she were a changeling.""Has that theory ever been tested?" Beckett gripped the back of a plush armchair. "Has any fae with enough of their own power been brought to the portals? Or did we use low fae and decide it wasn't viable?"Jayce sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. "Is it possible, instead, that being raised in the human realm has changed her genetic makeup in such a way to allow for her body to handle the influx of portal Magick?" He looked so tired that Bailey itched to reach out and touch him. "There's a simple spell we could perform to check, isn't there? One that proves the veracity of changeling claims?""Yo