Page 3 of The Forbidden Fae King

There is a sickness in the Otherworld of the fae. The idea of it spreading here sends a shiver down my spine.It is just another threat we defend our kingdom of Strathia from.

The entire North of this land is the domain of the Appleshield Protectorate, my father the lord protector and his Protector Guard are the shield held against the fae. The first line of defense when the worlds align and their creatures slip through the cracks from their realm into ours.

If there is another fae invasion, we of the North will meet them in battle first. It is here where the veil between worlds is thinnest, and it is here where they always seem to trespass.

The lords of the south, east and west have become soft and indulgent because the fae threats never slip through our protectorate into their lands.

A high-pitched horn blows two fast blasts from behind me, marking both Caitlin’s and my kill. Liam pulls a brass horn from his saddlebag and matches the call with a beat of his own.

A crash of galloping hooves vibrates the ground and shakes the trees on the far bank of the creek. Branches swish as a creature charges through their depths. I leap to my feet, feeling at my back for the bow I left on my horse. The Protector Guards form a wall in front of me, weapons at the ready.

There were only three horn blasts at the beginning of our hunt, marking three beasts. The trackers could miss a fae. Another could have just entered through a rift in the barrier between worlds.

My heart skips a beat.

Caitlin bursts through the tree cover with a handful of guards on her tail, encircling us as she slows her mount. Not another fae beast.

“A Twisted One.” Caitlin’s lips press into a thin line as she examines it. We are always fearful of finding a Twisted One. It is an infection that can take any kind of fae, and we are terrified that we humans might catch it too. Caitlin’s emerald gaze flicks to me. “Your kill or theirs?”

I tip my head toward Liam, Aiden and Brandan. Their backs straighten and chests puff out under her scrutiny.

“You men made enough noise killing it. I heard so much snarling and yelling from a league away, I thought there was a whole damned army of men and fae at battle.” Caitlin huffs a breath, then double takes. “There are only three of you. You did well. You have my invitation to the feast tonight.” She nods to them, then turns away, not seeing the way their faces light up as they turn to each other in amazement.

“Thank you, Commander Appleshield,” they say.

I suppress a smile. Caitlin has no idea of the imposing figure she casts, despite being slim in build. She is the leader of our troops and heir to the lord protector, outranking their captain of the Protector Guard. Her approval and invitation to the feast is an immense honor to these guards.

The healthy fae beasts slaughtered on today’s hunt will be roastedover a spitfire and served with delicacies tonight. It tastes like venison, bursting with earthy flavors.

Any who dine on their meat will have the creature’s raw magic infused into their blood. It is the only way we can recapture their magic. It is almost gone from our human bloodlines, seeping away more and more with each generation.

This opportunity is so great, the king and his entourage travel to our lands during these festivals, sometimes staying for weeks to consume as much power as possible.

My head spins at the thought of the prince’s arrival. His handsome face flashes within my mind’s eye. The blue-black curl that hangs over his pale face. The dimpled smile he saves just for me.

I startle from my daydream as Caitlin leans down from her saddle and says something to me.

She frowns at my blank expression. “I asked, do you feel sorry for these creatures too, when you kill them?” Her words are soft, so only I can hear them.

I glance at the rapidly decaying Cú Sídhe. The areas of extensive rot blow away like ash on a breeze, revealing healthier flesh beneath. We still wouldn’t risk eating it.

“Not that one. It seems a mercy to kill a Twisted One and end its suffering. The others?” I lick my lips, my throat suddenly dry. “No. Not predators like the Cú Sídhe.”

Caitlin leaps down from her horse in a single, graceful motion and pulls me to the side, out of earshot. “You need to harden that heart of yours, Keira. Especially if you are going to lead a kingdom one day. How can you put down a rebellion if you struggle to kill a fae invader on our lands?”

I drag in a sharp breath, but I know she is right.

Caitlin continues her tirade. “All fae are dangerous in our lands. Predators like the Cú Sídhe have attacked the villages before and will destroy our natural ecosystem. The fae that can manipulate and beg for their lives are as capable of doing the same. Imagine if an entire tribe of pixies crossed over and carved out a little kingdom for themselves in our woods.

“Going to war with them would be a nightmare. Fighting an army of them would be like standing in the path of a hundred arrows and attempting to cut them out of the sky. And if the pixies take a kingdom here, then why not the sprites and nymphs and goblins? How long until they go back to their old ways and start hurting humans? Or the gods forbid, the high fae cross too.”

“I know. Gods, I know,” I half-whisper. “But they seem so vulnerable and lost in a foreign land.”

“Perhaps it is a strength that you see the good in all creatures, but don’t let their glamour blind you to their true nature. The same applies to people.” Caitlin's gaze pierces mine, and it seems she will say more, but the sound of multiple footfalls crunching on leaf litter turns her away.

A handful of druids step out of the woods. Their simply cut robes of rough, brown cotton billow around them. I find their youngest and tallest member, my brother Diarmuid.

His shoulder-length, mousy brown hair is ruffled as usual and his hazel eyes, that match my own, dart around the scene. Diarmuid is Caitlin’s opposite, all dashing smiles and mischievous charm, despite being her younger twin.

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