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  “Oh, that is going to be fun. He isn’t a fan of rejection.”

  “Your mother?”

  Elly sighed and slowly sat up again. “There was a relationship on both sides, but there was a tension in her writing after he left. Her diaries got a lot less besotted and a lot more reflective. She wasn’t a fan of having a baby, but she looked forward to me when I was grown. I wish she had made it.”

  “You never met her?”

  “I suppose there was a minute where we were both together, but then she haemorrhaged, and she was gone. And so was my maternal family. All deceased.”

  “So, just need to worry about your father’s side of the family.”

  She stretched her arms and smiled, “No, he has no authority. I was brought to court by the king, and he is the only one who has a say in what I can and can’t do.”

  “Is it that absolute?”

  “It has to be. Fey without a check or balance would be completely out of control and humanity would be back in the dark ages. It was purely their love of fashion that brought them out into the modern era to begin with.”

  She stood up, and her back sent a lance of pain through her thighs. She sat down with a thud. “Dammit!”

  Eric chuckled. “It has been a while since you were on a horse, even in your dreams.”

  “It was never a skill that I enjoyed. I can do it, but I don’t like it.”

  “Lie face down on the log and hang onto it. This might not be pleasant.”

  She gave him a long look, and there was nothing but bland determination in his dark gaze.

  She got to her feet, straddled the tree trunk and then settled her legs in position.

  “I solemnly swear not to engage in any rude comments, though I can’t vouch for my thoughts.”

  She snorted. “My butt has already been all over your back. I don’t think that this is new territory.”

  He sighed. “Don’t remind me. I am trying to keep my mind on your comfort.”

  Elly extended her hand and flapped it in the international get on with it gesture.

  He started with light touches that progressed into stimulation of aches and pains. When she wanted to bite her way through the bark beneath her, she wondered why this had seemed like such a good idea when he mentioned it.

  Chapter Seven

  Sweat coated every inch of her skin. He had been careful, but the knotted muscles had not relaxed easily.

  Eric gathered her, picked her up and settled with her in his lap. “Breathe slowly. Relax.”

  She shivered and tried to use all the techniques she was fond of before performing. The pain was receding, but her muscles were still twitching. Hoarsely, she asked, “Do you think that brook is safe to drink out of?”

  “Yes. The wilderness here is untouched. Even the buildings are apart from it.”

  She started kicking her feet. “Put me down. I am thirsty.”

  He tilted her up, and she stretched before making her way to the brook’s edge where she knelt and scooped the icy liquid in.

  When she had her fill, she sat back. “Thank you, Eric. I feel much better now.”

  She placed her hands on her thighs, palms up, and leaned back until she could see the canopy of the woods around her.

  “You are welcome. You recover very quickly.”

  Elly straightened and pushed up into a standing position. “That is what the fey part of me does. It makes my music into magic or my magic into music, and it heals me quickly. The king was worried that it would age me, but his physicians have pronounced me standard half-fey.”

  “Do you like being at the court?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “The clothing is restrictive, but I love playing every night.”

  “I thought your performance gear looked very comfortable.” To her amazement, he pulled out one of the cards her father had been handing around and looked at it.

  “It is comfortable. At least the first three layers are. After that, it gets stifling. Each clasp is in a different position, so it forms a stiffened ridge that acts as restriction and support. As I live at court, I am always in some kind of long dress. This was my first chance in years to wear jeans.”

  He smiled. “They look good on you.”

  “Thank you. I thought the same thing when I saw you.”

  He gave her a short bow. “Are you ready to head back? Perhaps we could get some dinner?”

  Elly sighed. “I don’t want to be a burden to the café or the court.”

  “I will pay for your meal, or whatever else you need. It is the least I can do after you were so cruelly used by my family.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “And mine.”

  “Ah. Right. Well, still, my kinswomen should have been more careful with the spells they answered.”

  Elly walked up to him and extended her hand. “Fine, we are equally at fault for our lack of fault. Now, you can buy me a cheeseburger.”

  “It is my fondest wish.” His fingers closed over hers, and he let her haul him out of the forest and back toward the Crossroads.

  She was elbow deep in her burger when he asked a funny question.

  “I thought elves were vegetarians.”

  She paused. “Is this a problem? I can stick to the fries.”

  “No, it is fine. I am just wondering about a preconceived notion that I had.”

  Elly nodded. “A lot of them are, but not the ones who have lived outside the court. Subsistence living is a wonderful divider of dietary habits. In the human world, it is linked to environment, illness, or financial capability. It is something that is becoming more affordable, but it isn’t cheap.”

  “I am aware. A few of my sisters have tried, but they end up cheating. Our beasts can deal with eating vegetation, but the shift requires more calories than they can intake in an evening.”

  “Ah.” She took another bite of her burger.

  “How does it work? I mean, your living in the fey palace?”

  “Well, I get to see everything and either stand in the background or wait until I am summoned. I have seen the king speaking with governors, senators, and all minor human representatives.” She lowered her food and smiled. “I have even played at the celebrations for the first fey-shifter baby. I have seen a thousand things that I would not trade for anything, but I have also seen enough horrifying acts for one lifetime.”

  “How so?”

  “The fey are a monarchy within a human democracy. They are allowed their own rule, but that comes with their punishments. Those are horrific. Fey can heal from almost anything, but their own kind know what kind of wounds to inflict.”

  He winced. “Yes. I can understand that. You had to witness it?”

  “Occasionally, I had to provide accompaniment.”

  He was aghast. “You are kidding.”

  “No. I never kid about torture.” She finished her burger and used her napkin to tidy up. When she was reasonably neat, she stabbed her salad.

  The rest of the café was bustling around them, but Eric was absorbing the information about her day job.

  She sighed. “Sorry to spoil the evening, but you did ask.”

  “You are right, I did.”

  Elly finished her salad, and the server whisked it away.

  He finished his chili fries, and his plate disappeared just after he set his fork down.

  Eric smiled. “I think they want the space. Would you care for another walk?”

  “Sure.” She slurped down the last of her lemonade and got to her feet.

  He held out his hand, and she took it, sliding past the occupied tables as they made their escape.

  She linked her arm with his as they wandered past the shifting field, where shifters showed off for each other in their animal forms.

  “So, now that I have repulsed you, why are you still hanging around?” She nudged him a little, directing him toward the distant, empty amphitheatre.

  “I am not repulsed; I just don�
��t think you seem like a woman who has seen horror. You are far too upbeat for that.”

  “I know. I am cursed to sound perky, but it is just practicality. I don’t have a lot of career options. My savings account is only enough to buy a small house, not maintain it. I knew that there were nightmares waiting for me and had no idea if they would ever stop.”

  He slid his arm around her shoulders. “I have got it now. I am sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, just be my guinea pig. I am working on a new piece, and I need an audience. I have just decided that you have volunteered.” She smirked.

  “You don’t have an instrument with you.”

  “There is a great harp at the amphitheatre. I am going to use that.”

  She kept them on the path that took them to the large open space with seats of stone built into the performance crater. She had seen pictures of this style of venue from Greece, and apparently, the acoustics were still viable.

  There was a couple in the front row, and they were in sombre discussion. Elly waved at them and stepped onto the stage, triggering the panel that brought the harp and the chair up and into the performance area.

  Eric sat in the front row, near the couple, and he propped his chin on his hands as he leaned forward.

  She nodded to the couple, winked at Eric and tuned up the harp with the key. Once it was set, she set her fingers in wide claws, and on the mental count, she began to play.

  * * * *

  Eric narrowed his eyes as the music rose and fell in cascades that reminded him of running along a beach in his beast form, listening to the call of the sea while the grasses on the ridge whistled and sang.

  * * * *

  Scarlet smiled at Hiro, and he returned the soft look. “This reminds me of running through the woods and sliding down a hillside.”

  “Rushing through high grass while hunting a deer for me.” Hiro smiled and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. “The sound is really everything the specs said it would be.”

  Scarlet nodded. “I think she brings her own magic. Now hush, this song is about sunshine.”

  She leaned her head against him, and they let the music wash over them. She didn’t know why the elf had come to engage in the private performance, but she was going to enjoy it.

  * * * *

  Elly worked through her repertoire, and then, she finished up with shave-and-a-haircut. She pulled her hands away from the harp and massaged them.

  “This concludes the practice session. Thank you for your attention.” She got up and bowed formally to the couple.

  They responded by rising and returning the bow.

  Eric stood and applauded steadily.

  She dipped him a curtsy and sent the harp back down to its storage area. “Thank you.”

  With a happy skip, she left the stage and bounced up next to him. It was hard to stay perky when she was exhausted, but she hoped it didn’t show on her face.

  Eric gave her a sober look. “The music was wonderful, and you have had a trying twenty-four hours. I think you should get some sleep.”

  She nodded. “Probably, but there is so much to do here.”

  The couple she had seen earlier had left while they spoke.

  Eric offered, “Why don’t I shift and we can go for a run through the countryside?”

  She grabbed at the opportunity. “Yes, please.”

  He stepped back, unbuckled his belt and worked his shirt up over his abs.

  She squeaked, “What are you doing?”

  He finished pulling off his shirt. “Shifters do it naked. Transforming with clothing on just ends up with a confined animal.”

  She blinked. “Oh, right.”

  He handed her his shirt, and she folded it out of reflex. His jeans got the same treatment, along with his underwear. She waited to pick up his shoes until he wasn’t standing over them with an erection.

  She had a flash of inspiration, and she opened his shirt to use it to hold everything while he shifted.

  His body disappeared in a flash, and his stallion form was even bigger than she remembered. The blue-white eyes were what she recalled as comforting her through the nightmares.

  “Well, shit. How am I going to get up there?”

  He used his huge head to nudge her, and she let him push her back onto the stage.

  “Oh, that makes sense. Thanks, Eric.”

  She walked to his back, settled the bundle of clothing on the broad expanse of his shoulders, and then, she settled herself on his back with her legs barely around his barrel.

  “Okay. I am on.”

  She threaded her fingers through his blue-black main and hung on as he climbed the steps out of the amphitheatre, and he slowly walked across the hills with a gentle rocking step that was very soothing.

  She leaned over his clothing, inhaled the scent of him and relaxed while he walked slowly and carefully across the meadows and hills of the Crossroads.

  Chapter Eight

  Elly woke, warm and comfortable. When the masculine arm pulled her back against him, she remembered part of what had happened.

  With deliberate care, she eased out from under his arm. She was nearly free when he asked, “Did you want to go and get some breakfast?”

  Elly shrieked, jumped and ended up on the floor with her head against the bedside table. “Ow.”

  Eric leaned over to look at her. “You were asleep when I got you here, and you wouldn’t let me leave, so I had to stay.”

  She stared at him. “You were a horse.”

  “Yes, the condition is reversible. You aren’t really a morning person, are you?” His smile was too handsome for words.

  She glanced down at herself, noted her lack of clothing and got slowly to her feet. “Not really. I am a little too used to night shifts. Excuse me.”

  She didn’t run to the bathroom, but she wished her hair was longer as she sprinted to safety.

  Elly stared at herself in the mirror. She could still feel the imprint of his body against hers. Her body hummed, and she wanted to crawl back into his arms, but she wasn’t quite sure what his motives were. Did he want her? Did he want her as a fey? Did he like her music? Did he like her? What did he do for a living... and what the hell was she doing glaring at herself in the mirror?

  She exhaled sharply and turned on the shower. She shampooed her hair and found something weird. There was a braid in her locks. She never braided her hair; it got in the way of the combs.

  She tried to untie the braid, but there was a wrapping of long dark hair around the base. It was firmly tied.

  She finished washing and got out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her. She was holding the braid, and she headed to her bag.

  Eric was sitting on the edge of the bed wearing jeans.

  He raised his brows. “What are you doing?”

  “I am going to cut the braid tie so I can brush my hair.”

  He got to his feet. “That won’t work.”

  Suspicious, she looked up at him with one hand inside her bag. “Why?”

  He crouched next to her and held her braid. “It is a fey lock.”

  Her molars ground together. “Where did you get a fey lock?”

  “King Larion gave me the magic. The tie is my mane.”

  Her lips tightened over her teeth. “What does it do?”

  “It repels nightmares. None of my sisters will be able to touch your dreams again. I know that is why you didn’t want to rest last night, so I felt it was the perfect time to give it to you. Well, after you passed out.”

  Her butt hit the floor. “Really?”

  He looked at her with concern on his face. “Really.”

  She burst out into loud and uncontrolled sobbing. She clutched at her knees, but Eric pulled her up and into his lap, sobbing on his shoulder and knowing she looked horrible.

  When the storm had eased, he took a corner of her towel and wiped her cheeks. “So, will you tell me what
that was about?”

  “Dreams are fine, bad dreams are fine, but the nightmares that started visiting when I was in school terrified me. I know I don’t fit, but the thought of some distant relative finding me and pulling me back into the human population where I would stand out like a sore thumb... Those dreams played over and over, and I could never get out.”

  He rubbed her hair. “And yet, you came out anyway.”

  She sniffled and blurted the truth. “I was ready to die.”

  His arm around her tightened.

  She squeaked when his fingers dug into her arm.

  “Sorry, Elenora. I don’t get upset often, but that definitely did it.”

  “What did it?”

  “That you are ready to die. That is not something I want to hear out of your mouth again.”

  “It was true in the moment, and a moment is all it takes to make a very stupid decision.” She sighed. “Hence the previous week. I thought I was ready to face them and deal with whatever they brought.”

  “And you changed your mind?”

  “The moment that I woke up in my unpleasant memories twisted into horror.” She shivered. “If you hadn’t been there to talk me through it, I would have given up.”

  “I had to fight my way in; you have a fairly strong mind.”

  “How did the mares get in so easily?”

  “They enter your mind through the panic reflex, carried by the magic of the one who sent the curse.”

  “Yeah, that is what it feels like.” She sniffled.

  “The schedule for you would have kept your body in that state for hours, and it likely would have killed you.”

  “I know. You mentioned. I am just so relieved that there is something to keep those bitches out of my brain. Thank you.”

  He pressed a kiss to her head. “It was the least I could do.”

  She sighed and settled against him, warm and protected until something he had said struck her. “When did you meet the king?”

  “When he offered me your hand. So, after the nightmares and before I ran into you in the café.”