Page 9 of Whispers of the Water

Then all at once, the room changed. A dark, foreboding aura settled over the air and on everyone’s shoulders. The laughter died on the next breath, and the twins suddenly became serious. They each ran, Newt hiding behind Rune’s legs and Greshim standing tall and poised beside him. Rune straightened and stared blankly at the entrance of the hallway Aidan had disappeared down. The rest of the group gathered closely around me, and Rune took my hand in his. I swallowed hard, and my heart thundered with each breath I took.

My eyes followed theirs to the hallway, and my stomach rose into my throat. I recognized the woman before us as Rune’s mother, Myra. She wore a black, Regency style gown, which added to the darkness around her. Her black fox ears stood out starkly in contrast to her silky, platinum hair, which traveled down the length of her body, nearly reaching the floor. Her hands were clasped in front of her, making her sharp, pointed claws stand out. If that wasn’t enough to have my confidence quaking, I found her staring at me with cold, venomous gold eyes.

She was terrifyingly gorgeous.

“Hello, Mother,” Rune said, his voice completely devoid of emotion.

She ignored him and kept her narrowed eyes on me, taking me in from head to toe. Goosebumps broke out along my skin, and the back of my neck prickled with a fresh wave of worry. Oh no. Something was wrong. Could she tell I was fake already? Maybe part of the illusion was askew or fading, making it obvious that I was a complete fraud. I held my breath, waiting for her to point out what she had discovered before setting me aflame with her fire.

Myra raised an eyebrow and said, “So, this is the young lady you’ve been seeing, Rune?”

“She is,” Rune answered, holding his shoulders back. “Her name is—”

“Who are your parents?” Myra asked, cutting Rune off. She took slow, measured steps toward me, waiting for my answer.

“My parents were Blayze and Seraphina Bowen,” I answered, reciting the names that Rune had prepared for me.

Myra narrowed her eyes. “Interesting. I was under the impression that their daughter died with them in their home those 100 or so years ago.”

“Many people thought that. Luckily, I was not actually in the house when the Water Fae showed up. It wasn’t until later when I went back to our home that I found them. After that, I ran. I’ve lived alone, not sharing with anyone who I was, until I met Rune.”

Rune had told me everything to say, because he knew she would ask about my parents to see if I had potential for a good bloodline. He was right, and his story was a good one. I’d initially practiced the speech to sound like that of a grieving daughter, but Rune had been quick to correct me. I was to say it with no hint of pain or mourning, because those would be seen as a weakness in Myra’s eyes. I hoped I’d pulled off the charade and said it as coldly as Myra preferred.

I held my breath and placed my shaking free hand behind my back. I didn’t want her to see my trembling. Any shortcoming, any sign that I was lesser than what she’d want for Rune, could make all of this come tumbling down. I had to keep my wits about me and at least pretend I was calm, cool, and collected.

Myra studied me in silence again. Her eyes were harsh and cold as she took me in, and I began to wonder if she’d already figured out that I was a lie.

Aidan came up behind Rune’s mother with her arms crossed. She sneered at me, showing me her vicious canines that she no doubt wanted to use to tear into my flesh.

The two terrifying women before me took no care to hide the contempt burning in their eyes. I felt like the world was going to fall out from under me as we all stood there, silent and motionless.

Aidan stepped closer to Myra. “See. I told you she isn’t anything to look at. When did Rune even start dating?”

Rune raised his lip, baring his sharp canines at Aidan. “One more word, Aidan. One more word about Bria, and I’ll personally see to it that it will be your last.”

Myra raised her chin and stared Rune down, unperturbed by his threat to Aidan. “Why would you bring this thing here when you knew full well that I had already chosen you a proper, worthy mate?”

Rune’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as he stepped toward his mother.

My heart rate spiked under the building tension in the air. There was no trace of fear or hesitation in Rune’s eyes as he faced off with his mother. As I watched them, I realized Rune looked just as terrifying as she was, if not more.

“Do not start, Mother,” Rune hissed. The sound of his voice brought chills to my skin. “Why would you bring someone here when you knew full well that I would decline? I’m with Bria, and nothing you have up your sleeves will change that.”

I could sense a fire burning between the two fearsome Fae before me, and everyone else seemed to feel it, too. Akira and Bassel huddled closer together around me, and Newt and Greshim flanked each of my legs to clutch them tightly since Rune had advanced. Aidan’s gaze darted between Myra and Rune, and her face paled as she backed away. My own legs buckled as I watched the rage between mother and son light the fires in their hands.

Before anything could transpire, a voice rang out from the top of the stairs. “Damn, it feels tense in here.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the stairwell where I immediately recognized a man from the photos I’d studied with Rune. It was his cousin, Ardley.

Ardley leaned against the top post of the stairs, a smirk on his handsome face. His toned arms were crossed over his wide chest. His wavy black locks were mussed in an attractive fashion, and his fox ears and tail matched the deep shade of onyx with a slight dusting of white on the tips of his fur.

Laughing, he pushed away from the post and began his descent. “How you doing, R? Miss me?”

Rune grinned and turned toward his cousin. “Hardly.”

“Aww, come on. Don’t be like that. I know you love me.”

Myra sneered at Ardley. “You interrupted us.”

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