See Me (See Me #1)(75)

Air caught in my lungs and I sucked in a choking breath. McKale, however, wore an expression of relief. The FFG had revealed herself, just as we’d wanted. But what if the video equipment didn’t work? Or what if it did and the King didn’t care? I would lose both of them. I reached out to steady myself against the wall, but the thick vine under my hand was wet and it squirmed at my touch. I yanked my hand away.

The Prince sputtered behind me and came forward. “Explain yourself, Princess.”

She turned her frosty eyes to him and smiled. “How would you like a human girl all to yourself?”

“I…” He considered this. “Humans are a lot of work, and then they die. I have never seen the value in keeping pets. My only interest has been you; however, now I am not so certain. It seems you have been keeping unsavory secrets.” He eyed McKale with disdain.

“I have wanted to do this for a long time,” she whispered.

The Prince cocked his pretty, bronzed head to the side. “Do what?”

“Alter your memory.”

His face paled at the sly grin on the FFG’s face, and he took a step back.

“You cannot do such a thing without the King’s permission. He would never allow it.”

“He will never know.”

She stepped toward him and he stepped back. McKale and I moved to stand together. I was sickened by the entire spectacle taking place. I grabbed McKale’s hand.

The Prince put up his hands and shook his head, a frightful expression contorting his immaculate face.

“Ar oscailt intinn,” Khalistah whispered to the Prince. Open your mind.

He dropped his hands and relaxed, captured by her eyes. She whispered everything that he would forget, and what he would remember in its place. His feelings for her had changed and would now only be those of friendly admiration. We’d never stopped in this tunnel to carry on a conversation. Once on Chaun land he would take a fancy to Cassidy Mason and request that he be allowed to have her.

I let go of McKale’s hand and wrapped my arms around myself, chilled to my heart.

When the FFG said the closing words she spun and continued down the hall as if we’d never stopped. I was trembling uncontrollably. I glanced back at the Prince who was blinking, his face scrunched with mild confusion. The four of us followed down the twists and turns of living tunnel-work until we reached our portal with the brutish guard standing vigilant. He bowed low for Khalistah.

“A pleasure to see you, Princess.”

“Open the portal,” she commanded.

He obeyed.

WE PUSHED THROUGH THE thickened atmosphere between realms into the warmth of Chaun land. The light blue sky and sunshine seemed pale in comparison to Faerie’s atmosphere. The green plants appeared duller and the scents too faint. I experienced a fleeting moment of longing for the beauty we’d left behind. Next to me, McKale shook out his arms and cracked his neck. Khalistah moved through the tall grass toward the clearing and the Prince gave McKale and I small shoves from behind.

A heightened sense of anticipation rose up from the crowd as we approached. The musicians didn’t dare to stop playing, even as the dancers stilled, all heads pointed in our direction. Brogan and my parents stood beside the Fae King and his people. Cassidy jumped up from a nearby table and bypassed Khalistah to run toward me. I gave my head a frantic shake, but she didn’t notice. She flung her arms around me just as I heard the Fae Prince whisper behind us, “Glory be. Is this Cassidy Mason?”

Surprised, Cass pulled away from me and looked at him. I tried to catch her eye. I wanted her to run like hell, but she was riveted by this bronzed article of perfection who knew her name, giving her a stare worthy of a Princess.

I tilted my head away from him and hissed at her between my teeth, “Get out of here!”

She spared a short, confused glance at me before taking a step back. Her movement was stopped when she met the Prince’s golden eyes again. There was no passion in his glazed expression, only a robotic sort of fascination. He held out a beckoning hand to Cass.

I grasped her elbow.

“Pardon us a moment, er, Prince,” I said.

“Prince?” Cassidy murmured as I pulled her a few feet away.

“He’s been brainwashed by the FFG to take you back to Faerie!” I whispered.

I’d never been more relieved than I was in that moment when Cass’s curiosity turned to mortal fear. Her tanned face paled and her forehead gleaned with sweat as she stared at me in disbelief. I’d been hoping she would run somewhere and hide, but instead she spun away from us in her summer dress and sprinted to my parents.

I cleared my throat and whispered to the Prince, “She’s really high-maintenance for a human.” I left him standing there, dazed.

Khalistah and McKale were just making their way to the King’s presence where the Princess curtsied low and McKale gave a respectful bow of his head. I lifted the hem of my gown and rushed forward to be at McKale’s side.

Mom and Dad formed steely towers around a cowering Cass who’d linked her arm inside Dad’s. The three of them watched me for some sign that everything had gone as planned. I gave a small nod, and my parents’ faces smoothed as they shed their tension.

I was not relieved in the slightest. I clutched the chain around my neck and closed my eyes.

Please work.

“Father, King.” Khalistah’s musical voice rang out.