Page 51 of Between Realms

“Yes. Twice!” I add as further proof that I didn’t mean to offend him.

Eldrin frowns and says, almost to himself, “Such strange behavior for ghouls.”

I’m relieved that he seems to have moved on from my assumption of him carrying a weapon. Though I do wonder why Jaden hasn’t told him of the mage’s consultation.

Eldrin shrugs off the thought of ghouls. “I have something that might lighten your spirits.” He takes my hand and guides me to sit on top of the bedcovers. When I settle, he reveals a glass container. A light emanates from its center. “A glow-faerie,” he says proudly.

He opens the ventilated lid.

The tiny female faerie flies out and zips around the room in a display of aerial acrobatics that I sense is an act and not out of joy.

Familiar with faeries, I am duly impressed with her skills. I open my hand, palm up, as an invitation for the faerie to land. The faerie’s wings aren’t much wider than my palm. “Hello,” I greet.

The faerie bows. “Hello, mortal.”

“I’m Wyn. What’s your name?”

The faerie darts her eyes at the prince. “Lalo.”

I note her subtly uncomfortable stance. “Eldrin, is this faerie kept here by one of your bargains?”

He pauses, considering his unfortunate answer. “Yes.”

“Why is she being held here?”

“Her clan trespassed on the castle grounds. She is staying with us as restitutions for their crime,” Eldrin mumbles.

I look at the faerie and ask, “Why was your family on the castle grounds?”

“Our flower, the Night Sprite, grows in the royal gardens. We couldn’t resist the nectar.”

Little ones often can’t resist temptations. I turn to Eldrin. “Is it necessary to punish her for the craving to connect with her companion flower? It’s in their core nature to seek it out. It was little more than a trap.”

Eldrin blushes. “I didn’t set it.”

“But you took advantage of the opportunity.” Disappointment is evident in my voice, and I do little to hide it. I can almost overlook how I’ve been asked to stay in the castle since Ihadagreed to Eldrin’s terms so I could remain in Elfhame. But the faeries are meant to be in this realm, and they have a sacred connection to their flowers.

Eldrin jumps up.

I am momentarily worried I have pushed his indulgence with me too far.

Instead, he walks over to my window and opens the pane. “Wyn, you are correct. Lalo, you’re free of any previous contract with the royal courts. Therefore, I decree that you and your kind will be safe to visityourflowers in our gardens as you wish.”

Lalo looks shocked, standing in my hand. Once the faerie realizes it isn’t a trick, she nods to me and flies up to Eldrin at a respectable distance. “Thank you so much, Your Highness. We willneverforget your generosity. My clan will sing songs of it.” She then promptly dives out of the window before the prince can change his mind.

Eldrin rubs his chin as he walks back to the bed, deep in thought. He stops next to me, not looking anywhere in particular.

“That was kind,” I tell him softly.

“No.” His voice is flat. “It was the proper thing to do. And unfortunately, I had to be reminded by you. Again.”

I wince, having bruised his ego. “Are you mad at me?” I ask, waiting for the repercussions to come crashing down.

Eldrin looks up to catch my nervous gaze. “At myself, not with you. Apparently, I didn’t learn my lesson about considering others.”

“But you fixed it. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes practice to change ingrained patterns. We are like rivers—it takes something significant to change our paths.”

“Wise analogy.” He nods and tilts his head with curiosity, studying me. “You seemed quite familiar with the little ones. Did you know some in Betonie?”

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