See Me (See Me #1)(59)
The FFG waved a hand, dismissing his words. “Fae take human consorts all the time—”
He stepped back, a small bit at a time. “But not for purposes of love, Khalistah.”
Ugh, each time he pronounced her name so beautifully felt like a punch in my already upset stomach. She strode toward him, ever steady. As he lowered his head I saw his eyes dart from side to side, looking for the best escape route.
“There is no need for any of my fellow Fae to know what is truly between us. They will see you as a consort and nothing more. It will be our secret.”
“That is no way to live!” His voice rose. “And what of my people? The bloodlines of my clan? The union was ordered by your father’s own consort.”
“It can still be. I have a plan that should please all.”
Oh, no. She smiled up at him, running her fingers from his shoulders down the length of his arms until their fingers were together. He let her hold them for a second before pulling away and groaning with his hands behind his head again. A smile remained on her lips, but there was no warmth in it.
“Do not fear, McKale.”
“I will not go to Faerie.” His words were firm.
She lost her smile. “Oh, but you will.”
My stomach twisted and I had to swallow. I’d never before experienced such extreme fear as I did while I waited to hear her grand scheme for our lives.
“In three days you will bind with Robyn as planned, but when evening falls you will accompany me into Faerie. Everyone must know that you do this of your own device. Once we are in Faerie, all thoughts of her will be erased.” She glared at me before turning back to McKale. “You will live the life that other men can only dream; pleasure heaped upon pleasure will be yours, ours. Once a month I will allow you to leave Faerie to attend to your binding partner when she is fertile. She will be glamoured to appear as me, for that is the only way you will have her. In that way, you will bear children on her. And all will be well for your clan.”
His face had turned a shade of pale green akin to the moss under his feet. I fought to remain standing as I clutched an arm around my ribs.
“But he has the ability to see through glamour.” They were the first words I’d spoken in a while, and she turned her head to me. A wicked smile grew on her exquisite face.
“Once McKale gives himself to me, his magical abilities will dissipate. He will no longer need them.”
In other words, he would be turned into a mindless zombie to do her bidding. His brain would not be able to process anything other than its obsession with her.
“Khalistah…” McKale’s apologetic tone prepared us for his next words. “I’d never want to hurt ye or upset ye in any way. Please believe that. But I cannot go to Faerie with ye. I want more than simple… pleasure from life. I want to be a father to me children, and work as a man should. I will not go along with this plan.”
The FFG let out a peeling laugh of disbelief and covered her mouth, surprised by her own outburst. The pixie, who’d been licking himself, raised his head to cackle as well.
“You do not mean that, McKale. Your mind is clouded from the physical intimacy you shared with one another. That was her intention. But that feeling is temporary and it will pass. I am simply speeding along the process to help you, so do not deny me again. I have your best interests at heart. I can assure that you will enjoy a life with me far more than a life with her. There will be no further discussion.”
“Yer right. No more discussion, Khalistah. With all due respect, I choose Robyn. It’s time fer ye to return to yer land while this all passes. I’m certain ye will find another male far more interestin’ than me.”
Khalistah turned toward me so quickly that the pixie squealed, flying off her shoulder to a nearby tree branch.
“What have you done to him?” Her icy blue eyes were terrifying in her anger, swirling like boiling silver. “You’ve poisoned his mind against me!”
Holy evil attention. This chick was crazy as hell.
“Khalistah, no,” McKale said.
She ignored his attempt to gain her attention and came straight for me, a tiny force of nature. I cursed myself for taking a step back instead of standing my ground, but dude, she was scary. Even in her fury, her voice stayed even and sweet.
“In your petty, vile, human jealousy you have turned the one source of goodness in my life against me. You have hurt me, and now you will hurt as well. I shall take the one thing you cherish most.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Cassidy is her name, yes? She will make a fine plaything for the Fae males. We already know she enjoys—”
“No!” I screamed. She’d gone too far. “I’ll never let you take her! Never!” My hands were balled in fists and I was ready to throw down, Fae royalty or not.
She smiled at my explosion. I’d proven she’d chosen correctly the worst way to punish me. McKale stepped close, angling partway between us, facing the FFG.
“Don’t do this, Khalistah. I beg you.”
She wore the stubborn expression of a spoiled woman. “She stole something from me. It is only fair.”
“I am surprised at ye, princess. I’d no idea ye could be so cruel.”
“Cruelty is when a choice is not offered. I will not be cruel to you, McKale. You have a choice. Will you come? Or will you let this Cassidy go in your place?”