The bedroom door opened.
Jay snapped to attention.
Maelin left the room and closed the door.
“Mae!” He hurried over to her. “Is he—”
The sorrowful expression on her face stole his words.
“What did she do to him, Jay? Why is he so afraid of my touch? What did she do?”
He held out his arms and she rushed into them.
He folded his arms around her.
“What did she do?”
He kissed the side of her head. “Preyuna is a beautiful woman and she knows it. She expects every male fey to be all eager to be another member of her harem. Isellta…I don’t know if he’s just not into women in general or if Preyuna’s being too aggressive with him, but he does not get aroused by her. At all.”
“What did she do?”
“I don’t know the details. I don’t want the details. I don’t want to know what she did to create those kind of injuries. All I do know is she’s been with him twice. Each time has damaged what little self-confidence he had to start with. I’m scared. What if she catches him again when I’m not looking? How bad will his injuries be? How will recover from that? How…”
She rubbed his back. “I’m here. I’ll stay with him.”
He relaxed.
“So, don’t worry.” She kissed the side of his neck.
He smiled.
“On a side note, I understand why you feel the way you do about him. I feel it too. It makes me wonder if he’s inadvertently tapping into base fey magic to make us care about him.”
He released her. “Does it feel like magic to you?”
She thought about it. “Fey magic is very subtle. It’s seamless. There are no tell-tale frays in the air.” She wrinkled her nose. “Frays is not the word I want, but it comes closest to what I mean.”
He kissed the flat bridge of her nose. “So, what? Is he wazzooming us?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think we care about him because…we do. He’s like a stray golden retriever puppy sitting in the rain. You can’t help but want to take him inside and clean him up.”
He smiled at that. “I totally know what you mean.” He hugged her again. “Oh, Mae.” His one hand rode up her back and disappeared under her long black hair. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
***
Isellta laid down on the bed with his pillow.
He closed his eyes and visualized that beach with its soft sand.
I want to go there again.
But not with Maelin or even Jay.
He hugged his pillow.
Robin.
Robin, I just want to be with you.
But I can’t.
I’m trapped.
He sighed.
If only…
Isellta took a breath and sang softly:
“Aish ka no me nae si na.
Aish ka shi oh mi na. Ooo.
Aish ka fae si shi sha. Ooo-ooo. Ooo-ooo. Ooo.”
“Something is wrong, Isellta.”
“hurts…”
“If I don’t get better, would you stake me?”
“My Isellta. Always sensible. Always logical. Always so fey.”
Isellta pressed his face into his pillow and cried.
Robin.
Robin.
Someone knocked on the door.
Isellta went still.
“Isellta? It’s me. Jay. We’re goin’ down to breakfast. You wanna come with us?”
He held still and thought about it.
If it were Queen Preyuna, she wouldn’t ask me if I want breakfast. She’d say something along the lines of ‘Let me in. I need to tell you something.’ I’m sure of it.
He set his pillow free and got out of bed. He put his shoes on and headed for the door.
What if I’m wrong?
What if it is her?
What if she forces me to give in to her again?
I don’t want to!
I…
I hope it’s Jay.
I hope it’s Jay.
He turned the doorknob.
Please be Jay.
He opened the door.
Jay and Maelin stood on the other side, waiting for him.
“Jay!” He dove at the older man and hugged him tight. “I’m glad it’s you.”
Maelin smiled. “I knew it wasn’t magic.”
ambroseandelsie 