Page 53 of Drama Queen

I shouldn’t let it get to me. I know how pixies are, but something about the way she continues to laugh really rubs me the wrong way. She has no idea what she’s talking about. Yes, it’s been a long time since someone came from our realm to collect a mate, but that’s not because we don’t mate with mortals. It’s because we're not allowed to come for them anymore. Anyone with a mate on this side is expected to leave them, forever missing a part of themselves. It’s disgusting and wrong, but what the queens say is law, and as far as I’m aware, nobody has dared to go against them, until now.

“Yeah, laugh it up, but you’re not getting out of this jar until I find them, so you better hope you're wrong.” The smile melts off her face at my words.

The other pixies had been quietly watching until now, peeking out behind the flowers but not daring to come closer, probably in fear that I have more jars to get them with. I don’t, and I wouldn’t. Having one of them is going to be more than enough stress as it is, but they don’t need to know that.

With the pixie safely sealed in the jar, I start back toward the city. I don’t need her to tell me my mate isn’t simply lurking in the woods, but I get the feeling I’m going to need her for just about everything else.

I’ve used my glamour a time or two when sneaking around, but other than that, I’d only used it in my magic lessons as a child. I’m not great at them like Zephyr is. That man can use them so well and on every inch of his body. He often will change the shape of his tongue while it’s buried inside of me, hitting spots I didn’t even know I needed filled.

Shit, I’m getting off-topic. Zephyr and his tongue are the opposite of what I need to think about right now.

“I’ve told you what you want. Now let me out!” the little pixie yells from her spot on the counter, safely tucked away in her jar. To her credit, she has been quite helpful, but I’m far from done with her yet. It’s only been a few hours, and I’m still just as confused as I was when I walked out of the forest.

“I will, I will,” I tell her, waving her off as I walk around the space that will be my home for who knows how long.

Despite my distaste for glamours, I’d been able to pull mine off well enough to fit in. It was easier than I thought it would be. My pink hair usually stands out, but it seems many mortals have colorful hair here. Mostly, I needed to hide my fangs, eyes, and ears; I could have just glamoured those, but somehow holding a partial glamour is even more complicated than the whole damn thing. Not to mention, with a full glamour, I can mask my powers to most other fae who might reside here, and given how many fae despise my stepmother, that seemed like the smarter choice.

With the help of my pixie friend, who refused to give me a name, I’d been able to find somewhere to live, in something they refer to as an apartment. It’s a strange thing that goes up many stories high, much like the living quarters of the Seelie, but less pretty. Instead, it’s made of dark stones, much like most of the Unseelie court, only uglier.

The mortals were very easy to persuade, so much so that I’d bet any child of the realm could do it. I hadn’t even needed all the green papers Pixie had me create for their trading system.

Thankfully, the inside was nicer once I reached the room I was given. There wasn’t much, but with a few sweet words to the older gentleman and a stack of the papers, he had assured me he could help me get anything I might need, even if I had no idea what that was.

With no furniture, I plop down in the center of the room and let my glamour melt away. I’ll need it should I have to go anywhere, but for now, I just need a moment to think and breathe, and I can do that best without the constant itch on my skin.

I let my eyes fall closed, ignoring the angry cries of annoyance from the pixie, and focus on the bond. The tug in my chest is even stronger now than it was when I first got here, but it still isn’t anything overwhelming. With all the magic of the realm, you would think they could make it easier. Give me a fucking glowing trail to follow or something, but no, we have to go with a feeling that we have to follow around like a lost child.

It’s bullshit.

“Ughhh!” I groan, falling back to sprawl on the floor, the cool wood soothing my overheated skin.

I need to be out there looking. Every minute I waste is another minute Zephyr is putting his ass on the line for me. Apparently, this realm runs much the same way the Seelie court does, which means now that the sun has set, most mortals will be asleep.

It’s not ideal, but going out now probably won’t do me any good.

I lie on the floor for so long that the pixie's little yells turn to soft snores before I roll onto my side to do the same.

Fae folk don’t need sleep the same way mortals do. Usually, during the day, we go to our chambers and read, spend time with a lover, or do whatever else we want to do alone. Some sleep for an hour each night or sleep for several hours once a week. Sleeping the entire time the sun is down seems like overkill, but with nothing else to do, I figure it can’t hurt. It will help pass the time and restore whatever magic I’ve used.

Not to mention, maybe I can check in on Zephyr.

It’s probably only wishful thinking, but despite him assuring me he would be okay, I can’t help but worry. I’ve been on the other side of my stepmother's rage more times than I can count, and I hate the idea of him having to endure that, especially for me.

Closing my eyes, I wait for sleep to take me and silently hope he’s there waiting for me.

Four

EMORY

SeeingZephyr in sleep was reassuring, though not as settling as I’d hoped. The dream plane isn’t the same as that of the living. We can’t touch or feel one another. It’s a lot like talking through mirrors or bodies of water—just a call—but it showed me he’s okay, at least for now.

I roll onto my back with a groan, slowly blinking up at the ceiling. The floor is stiff and uncomfortable, nothing like sleeping in the forest. I don’t feel refreshed the way I usually do after sleeping, but that probably has something to do with visiting Zephyr; I wasn’t exactly replenishing my magic after all.

The one good thing we discovered was the time difference between the realms. We knew there was one, but weren’t sure exactly what it was. It wasn’t something we could ask around about without looking suspicious, either. Days apparently go slower in the fae realm, and whereas I’ve been here for one whole light cycle, it’s still the same night I left for Zephyr. Which is good, considering this doesn’t seem like it’s going to be over as quickly as I’d hoped.

I push myself to stand and go to the counter, grabbing Pixie, who is snoring quietly in the jar, as I drag my glamour backinto place. Carefully, I drop the jar into my bag and sling it on my back. I'd prefer her to stay asleep so I don’t have to hear her yelling at me, but I doubt that will last long with how much moving around I’m doing.

I head out, down the winding stairs, and out the door into the harsh morning sun. It feels nice on my skin, but I have to squint my eyes at the harsh light. I’m not opposed to the sun like most of the Unseelie court. In fact, I rather like it, but I don’t find myself able to enjoy it often. Doing so would probably only make me stick out more, and I prefer to fly under the radar, at least for now.

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