It’s a female. Definitely an Unseelie. She’s got the trademark pale skin, glowing so faintly, it’s like she’s bathed in moonlight. Her eyes are a soft grey color, nowhere near as harsh or terrifying as the mirror-like eyes I’ve seen on some of the males. Gorgeous, of course, though I’ve come to expect that. The fae are always gorgeous. It’s a fact of life, like the sky is blue, the grass is green, and Helen Andrews is always in over her head.
Huh. I’m in the Winter Court right now. So it’s more like the sky is purple, the grass is weird, and, oh yeah, I’m still in way over my head.
One look. That’s all it takes. One gentle look from this fae woman and I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.
Beckoning with one of her pale hands, she says in the most lovely, enchanting voice, “Come closer.”
Come closer? Sure. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do.
“Who are you?” she asks as soon as I’m standing in front of her. “What do you call yourself?”
That’s an interesting way to put it. Almost as if she knows there’s no way in hell I’d ever offer my true name to a stranger. “Elle.”
“I’m Morgan, Elle. This is my cottage. Welcome.”
I swallow the “thanks” before it pops out. Yeah. Not going down that road again.
Nodding, I say, “It’s lovely.”
“I’ve worked hard to make it my home. I’m glad you like it.”
She doesn’t seem bothered that I’m here. Actually… she looks a little inquisitive. Not in a bad way, though. Most of the fae look at me like I’m some kind of creature that intrigues them at the same time as it disgusts them. Not Morgan.
“I’ve always wanted to meet a human,” she says before pausing, lifting her hand to her face. She presses two fingertips to her bottom lip. It’s not enough to hide her sudden frown as she says, “You are human, aren’t you?”
During my time in Faerie, nearly everyone I’ve met has been able to tell, one way or the other, what I am. For some reason, though, she can’
t. I do the only thing I can think of that’ll prove it.
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I show it off.
Her soft grey eyes light up. “Oh… wow. Look at that. They’re so… so round.”
Yeah, yeah. We can’t all have pointed ears like the rest of the faerie folk.
“What are you doing here?” Is it just me or does she sound even warmer now, even friendlier? “My cottage is protected from the rest of the Shadow Realm. Only those that mean me no harm can find it. But there are many in these woods who do mean harm. You shouldn’t be here. Not that I mind the company, but humans belong in the Iron.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
“Yeah, well, I’d love to go back.”
“Then why don’t you?”
Huh. Isn’t that a loaded question?
I decide to tell a version of my truth. “I ate fruit from a tree in Faerie. I’m stuck here now.” Jerking my thumb over my shoulder, “I have a place in the Shadow Realm not too far from here.”
She doesn’t ask me to elaborate. Instead, she asks, “What happened to your male?”
I almost choke. “I’m sorry. My what?”
“Your male.” Her eyes widen. “Oh, no. Was that rude? I didn’t mean to… it’s just… you wear his brand boldly on your skin. Since you’re not hiding it—”
Hang on.
“You can hide it?”
“Of course.”