My knees lock up as fear overtakes rational thought. I wasn't this scared when I went looking for Kailan and the Unseelie Court. The Seelie are supposed to be considered the good Fae, I tell myself. The fear is unnecessary.
Kailan yanks his arm from my grasp. "Let's go, princess. We can't stand here all night and expect them to come to us."
I scowl at him. "Well, obviously. But what should I say when I see him?"
"You don't need to say anything."
"But I should say something to my father, shouldn't I?"
Kailan shrugs. "Oberon will only speak to you if he deems you worthy. Being his daughter will not suffice."
"How do you know?"
"He has offspring with Titania he's been ignoring for years. He deigned his heir as the son he speaks to, not the eldest."
"Oh." A part of me wants to believe I'll be worthy, if only because I'm half Fae, but the rational part knows that would make me less worthy. "We've come this far already. Might as well enjoy ourselves."
"Agreed." He drags out the word, flashing his fangs in an eery grin.
***^***^***
We step through the portal into a grove of cherry blossoms. A warm, summer-like breeze blows through the branches and caresses my face. Kailan's pewter hair shifts against his back before he grabs the mass and braids it in several places. The sight is strangely therapeutic.
"What are you staring at?" he snaps.
I jerk in surprise and turn to see Fae dancing in and out of the trees, as if they're a part of them. The afternoon sun shimmers on their skin, giving them an ethereal appearance.
"Those are nymphs. If you stare at them long enough, they'll turn you into a tree and dance inside you too." At my look of horror, he adds, "A majority of the trees in the Seelie Court were once humans."
A nymph runs up to us, her hair woven with cherry blossoms. She wears a skirt of willow branches, the billowing limbs blowing behind her. Her nostrils flare and she stops giggling. "Unseelie," she sneers before turning her goat-like eyes my way. "You're different. Human, but sweeter." She prowls around us, audibly sniffing the air. "What are you?"
"As far as I know, I'm human," I tell her, the back of my throat burning slightly. My voice squeaked when I said 'human', earning Kailan's confused glance.
The nymph doesn't seem to notice as she scrutinizes me, mentally scanning my looks and my clothes. "There's something off about you. I'll figure out, and then we can play. Unless you want to play now."
"I don't."
"Pity. Some other time. Unseelie, you had better be on your best behavior. King Oberon is not in his best mood tonight."
"Is he ever?" Kailan asks, dragging me away from the curious nymph.
"She said I was different. Don't you ever get half Fae coming through?"
"Several. But none of their parentage is royalty. Your scent is weird. Not Fae, but not human. It's stronger than the other halflings."
"Halflings? That's how you refer to us?"
"Should I call you a half-Fae bastard instead?"
Growing up without a father, I had frequently heard 'bastard' said by people in the village. Usually it was accompanied by my mother being called a whore. They would shut their mouths and smile when I got close enough to them.
"Halfling is fine," I inform him.
Laughter echoes through the grove, originating from somewhere in front of us. Kailan walks calmly forward and I follow him, focusing on my breathing to control my fear.
Any moment I could see my father. Will he recognize me? Is there some kind of parent intuition where he'll know I'm his daughter? If there is, what then? Am I to be noticed and welcomed with open arms, or shunned? Breena had said Queen Titania was out to kill his bastards, but would she kill me in front of him?
Kailan's hand brushes against mine and I jolt. He gives me a sidelong glance and raises his brows.
"What are the chances of us seeing Oberon tonight? Am I actually going to have the chance to meet him?"
"It's very likely we'll see him several times tonight, in various places. As I said before, you won't get to introduce yourself unless he deems you worthy of his words."
"Have you ever spoken to him?"
"To him, I am Unseelie, which makes me lower than the dirt beneath his feet."
"If he thinks himself so high and mighty, then why would he consort with my mother? She's human."
Kailan smirks. "Even the snobbiest among us seek new amusement from time to time."
"Is that why you made a bargain with me?"
He glances at me sharply.
"I overheard Fae speaking about your lack of interest in humans that first night in Court. And your sister made it clear you never deal with us."
"I had a curiosity, yes. Now, it's you I find curious."
The grove opens up to a lush green meadow. It's such a rich hue, the shadows among the blades of grass appear blue. The effect is hypnotic so I look around. Fae lounge under floral awnings, scattered about and floating in the air. Most sit picnic style but a few parties have chairs, tables, and refreshments. All seem to be having a great time, jovial laughter sounding throughout the field.
I observe everything with a smile, but when I turn to Kailan, he has a scowl on his lips. "What is it now?" I snap. "Can't stand to see anyone happy?"
He cuts me a scathing glare as way of an answer.
"So as an Unseelie Fae, your life has to be miserable? The only enjoyment you get is from torturing humans or having your dark parties, I guess."
"I can't stand anyone, Fae or human, pretending to be something they're not," he hisses. "Look closer, princess. This 'enjoyment' as you call it is staged. It's a ploy to get unsuspecting humans to join their sick and twisted game. Don't be fooled. Just because they're Seelie doesn't mean they're good." Kailan's eyes flick behind me as an ice cold hand clutches my elbow.
"My dear, whatever are you doing conversing with this heathen? Surely, others will be better company."