“The queen of the golden fae loves gold more than anything else. We have gold for trade. What if we made an alliance, offering her gold in exchange for turning Sigrid over to us to help us win the war? They wouldn’t have to send any golden fae to fight our wars, just a falcon fae that isn’t one of them anyway.”
Tarrant raised a brow. “True, but she’s a magic user, and the queen might not want to lose her to another kingdom.”
Owen glanced back in the direction of where Sigrid’s cottage stood. “Right, but we’d say she wouldn’t stay permanently, only until she helps us to win the war.”
“If she doesn’t get herself killed.”
“Or run away,” Owen admitted. “If what my father says is true, and it’s not all some hyped-up legend, she should be able to win the war in a matter of hours.”
“She didn’t fight against a mage that time, did she?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe.” Owen hadn’t considered that part of the equation. Maybe his father hoped she’d fight the mage and die in the battle. His father hated her grandfather and anyone else who had sided with him and rebelled against his own father’s rule.
“I think she liked my wings more than she did yours.” Tarrant displayed them fully and peered back at them.
Owen snorted. “I couldn’t believe how you were antagonizing her when I was trying to make some headway with her in more of a…diplomatic way.”
“She was already antagonized. Remember the part about us sneaking onto her property, armed with swords and nets?” Tarrant took Connelly’s flask and poured the water on his face, but he didn’t stir. “Are we going to take the time to travel back home, or are you going to make the offer to the queen on your father’s behalf? He’d probably agree to about anything if it means Sigrid will return with us and take on the mage, successfully.”
“I’ll see Queen Avalon first. If we go home, return here, and the queen wants even more gold, I’ll have to return home again to get it.”
“All right. What are we waiting for?”
“Your brother to wake up.”
3
“You don’t trust the princes, do you?” Tanya asked Sigrid, sounding worried as she touched the net sitting on the table.
“No. I didn’t trust the smug smile Owen, Prince Owen, was wearing when he talked of making an alliance. He had something in mind, and I doubt it had anything to do with his father, the king, making alliances with some other fae territory. I’m sure if he could have, he would have done so already.”
“Then you must see the queen and tell her what’s going on. I’ll go with you, if you think that will help, because I heard everything that was said.”
“And then what? I’m put under lock and key at the castle? Armed guards are sent to protect me? For how long? If she even believed that I needed protection.”
“You could stay with me, but my cottage isn’t any more secure than yours. You could stay with the dragon shifters. Any one of them, I’m sure, would take you in to protect you. Even Kayla’s parents would help you after you aided their daughter. Owen and his cousins wouldn’t even know where you disappeared to. If they did, they wouldn’t want to face dragon shifters, in addition to your magic.”
“But again, for how long? I don’t want to be hidden away somewhere else, unable to come home.”
“Fine. Go with them then. Fight their battles. Then come home.”
Sigrid smiled at her. “I have no intention of fighting their battles. My grandmother didn’t run off. She was as much a magic user as my grandfather. She escaped to protect her daughter and the little boy she’d taken in. Neither were magic users, but then I had the genes for it. But my grandmother knew Owen’s grandfather had meant to kill her and the children.”
“You said you wanted to meet your own kind,” Tanya reminded her.
Sigrid gave a bitter laugh. “Foolish thought that, eh? If they had just been passing through, and I was able to meet them, and we had something in common, that would have been nice.” She moved a throw rug on the floor to the side, opened a hatch to a cellar, and then gathered the two nets in the house.
“I’ll get the other one.” Tanya went outside and returned with the other net.
Sigrid carried the two nets down into the cellar, then stuck them in a chest.
Tanya joined her and put Connolly’s net in the chest with the others.
Then Sigrid closed the chest, locked it, and waved her hand at it, gold dust swirling around it, and then it vanished.
Sigrid had never used that kind of magic in front of Tanya before.
“What did you do with it?”
“Shrunk it into a postage stamp-sized chest. It’s there, but it blends in with the floor. I can see it though as if it were full-sized, gold dust floating around it, only visible to me, to remind me that it’s stamp-size now to anyone else.”
Tanya peered closer at the floor. “You’re right. I don’t see it at all. Do you think they’d come back for their nets when you’re out some time?”
“Yeah. I sense they’re imbued with magic that would negate my own, so I’m sure they’ll want them back, if they want to try and control another magic user. Maybe even try it on me again.”
“But you touched them.” Tanya sounded worried.
“The nets’ magic would only work if they had wrapped me in one of them. And once I was released, I’d be able to use my abilities. It doesn’t steal my magic, just would prevent me from using it until I was free.”
“They looked like plain old netting to me, the kind the fae use to capture others they don’t want transporting out of their reach.”
“I can detect items that are infused with magic, or beings that have magic abilities. All three princes have magical skills.”
Tanya’s jaw dropped. “Then why do they need your powers?”
“Maybe they’re not all that powerful.”
“Like me.”
“I bet you could cause some real havoc if you put your mind to it.” Sigrid climbed the steps to the main floor of her cottage. “Can you make several fae dream at one time?”
Tanya followed her up the steps. “Yes, though I’ve only tried it on six people, and I gave them the same dream.”
Sigrid closed the cellar door and moved the floor rug over it. “When did you do that, and why?”
“The queen wanted to see if I could do it. I said I hadn’t done it before, but if I was going to, I wanted volunteers. You know how that goes.”
Sigrid smiled. “Yeah, one look from the queen and people were stepping up to volunteer, or else.”
“Right. I had six volunteers, and they were told to lie down on pallets and once they were asleep, I was supposed to make them dream.”
“Nightmares? Good dreams?”
“I told her I’d only give them what I thought were good dreams. I didn’t want her to use my abilities as a weapon.”
“And?”
“The dream I gave them was that they were playing tricks on humans at a water park. Stealing towels, flip-flops, keys, switching them out with others, creating a mess for the families who were busy playing in the water.”
“So, good dreams—for the fae.”
“Yeah, then after they dreamed for about a half hour, the queen made them all wake and tell about their dreams. Everyone’s was different. That’s because the dreams would be based on their own past experiences and what they might have been thinking of lately. It appeared I’d given them all kinds of different dreams, when I’d only suggested one. The queen was well-pleased, paid me, put her people back to work, and has only asked me to give her good dreams when she’s having trouble sleeping.”
“That must be because she has a guilty conscience.”
Tanya smiled. “The falcon fae princes had beautiful wings, didn’t they?”
Sigrid nodded. “Beautiful.”
“I wonder if the other man’s were just as stunning.”
“I imagine they were, so that he could interest a female.”
br /> “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Neither have I.”
“What do we do now?” Tanya peered out the window, as if she was afraid the men might be out there still.
“I’m going to see the queen.”
“Good idea. I’m going with you,” Tanya said, adamant.
Sigrid smiled. “Maybe you’ll see Shane.”
Tanya removed her floral crown and set it on Sigrid’s kitchen table, as if she thought the floral wreath was what was keeping her from catching the attention of the man in charge of the guards. Sigrid picked the wreath up and set it back on her head. “This is you. Without it, you look like any other woman out there.”
“I don’t wear any gold like the golden fae do. And because of that, he doesn’t even notice me.”
“Then he’s not the one for you. You are a dream-weaver, adorning yourself in flowers, not gold. That is you. Come on, let’s see what the queen has to say.” Sigrid wanted the queen to know the trouble she’d had and could have if the princes brought reinforcements to try and take her to the falcon fae kingdom. Even though Sigrid suspected the queen would tell her to use her own magic to take care of herself, she also figured the queen wouldn’t want to lose her magic user, if Sigrid couldn’t fight them off on her own.
When they arrived at the castle, courtiers were bustling this way or that, servants busily dusting or sweeping, and guards were standing at their posts. Unless the queen commanded an audience with Sigrid, she never willingly appeared in court. Despite having been born here, she truly wasn’t one of them. She would always be an outsider. Which was why she lived in the cottage in the woods, just like Tanya lived in one. And she suspected that’s why Kayla and her mother had, because Kayla wasn’t all golden fae.
Even now that Sigrid could hide her wings, everyone knew who she was—the witch who lived in a cottage surrounded by woods. She wasn’t adorned in gold like all the fae were so that set her apart also. She was dressed in black and had her wings on full display, showing how proud she was of them. Just like the falcon fae princes had been of theirs. For the first time, she didn’t feel ashamed of being different.
Was it only because she now knew others of her kind still existed? She realized she felt an inkling of hope that she could find a falcon fae male who might be the right one for her. One who could love her for being herself and not for what her abilities could do for him.
Many of the golden fae were frowning at her, and at Tanya. Many were just as wary of her. Sigrid and Tanya had also found a true friend in the golden fae and dragon fae shifter, Kayla, who liked them just the way they were. But she’d moved to the dragon fae kingdom to be with her mate, Alton.
“That’s him,” Tanya said, excitement in her voice. She motioned in the direction the guard was standing.
“The blond-haired man smiling at the big-chested woman?”
“Uh, yes, that’s Shane.”
Sigrid wanted to tell Tanya she could do much better. Yes, the blond-haired, blue-eyed man was handsome and charming in a roguish way, but that didn’t mean he’d give up his roaming eye if he settled down with a fae.
Sigrid stalked across the hall to speak with Shane.
“What…what are you going to say?” Tanya rushed after her, sounding worried that Sigrid was going to tell Shane that she had a huge crush on him.
“I’m going to ask to see the queen.” As if Sigrid had any intention of sharing secrets with the man about Tanya’s feelings for him.
“Oh, okay.”
When she reached Shane, Sigrid said, “I wish to speak to the queen. Well, both Tanya and I do.”
“What is this about?”
“A falcon fae contingent tried to take me hostage and transport me to the falcon fae kingdom of Raymore. They had planned to use my magic to fight their enemies.”
“Raymore? Come this way.” Shane led them down a long corridor and then into a small sitting area. “Wait here.”
“What do you know about Raymore?” Sigrid asked, suspicious. Had the golden fae kept the existence of her people from her all these years?
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Sigrid didn’t believe him. “Will it take long?” Sigrid hated to be kept waiting for anything.
“With the queen, we never know.” Shane glanced at Tanya.
Sigrid thought Tanya was going to faint, especially when Shane winked at her and then he left. “Sit, before you fall down,” Sigrid told Tanya, annoyed.
“I did it all wrong,” she moaned.
“You did what wrong?”
“I didn’t flutter my eyelashes prettily, or give him a seductive look. I just stood there gawking at him, awestruck.”
“And he noticed you anyway.”
Then Tanya frowned. “He reacts the same way to all the women.”
“I would imagine so.” Sigrid took a seat. “Which means he’s not the one for you. Why should you have to try so hard to get his attention? You’d do better to look elsewhere.”
“What did I ever see in him?” Tanya sat down next to her.
“He’s charming, I’ll give him that.”
“What if he had wings like yours? Would that make a difference?”
“Hardly. I still wouldn’t be interested in him. He’s too cocky, too self-assured, and too interested in any woman. Did you believe Shane about not knowing anything concerning the existence of Raymore?”
“No. I think he knew. What if the queen told everyone to keep it secret from you?”
“She must have. But maybe my grandmother asked the queen to do so, to protect me in case I had the stupid notion to see them, when they could still be intent on getting rid of my family line.”
“True.”
Sigrid stood, put her hands on her hips, and tapped her foot on the stone floor as she watched the entryway. Patience was not one of her virtues. “The queen is taking entirely too long to see me. What if this issue threatens her very realm?”
“We just got here.”
Sigrid paced across the small room and tripped on a tapestry runner of golden fae fighting a hoard of griffin fae. She studied it closer and realized a falcon fae was standing on top of a sand dune, her hands outstretched as she cast a spell. A dozen griffins hovered above her, but they were sparkling.
Tanya looked down at the runner. “That’s you?”
“Yeah. I guess.” Sigrid humphed. “A work of art should be on the wall, not trampled on by everyone stuck waiting to see the queen.” Sigrid waved her hand to turn it into a wall hanging. “How long has it been now?”
“A couple of minutes since the last time you asked. Remember, you only see the queen when she summons you. This time, you’re here at your whim, not hers. Who knows how long it will be before she agrees to see you.”
Sigrid knew now why she never bothered seeing the queen, or coming here, unless she was summoned. She’d never had an open invitation to any of their balls or other social functions, either. Not that she’d wanted to waste her time to attend them, but it would have been nice if they’d included her when inviting other guests, and then she could have declined. The dragon ball was another story. She couldn’t wait to attend that. But then she had a lot of friends among the dragon fae now.
“Listen.” Tanya rose from the bench and headed for the entryway to the room and peeked out. “Do you hear the prince’s voice? Prince Owen’s?”
Sigrid rushed over to the entryway and listened. She heard the prince’s voice fade away. “What would he be doing here—”
“If not to pay gold to the queen to buy your services?” Tanya asked. “Why else would he be here? Trying to get an alliance with the queen? Trying to learn if she has another magic user who would assist him?”
“That’s why he gave me such a smug smile. Come on, let’s go.” Sigrid left the waiting room.
“We’re leaving before seeing the queen?” Tanya sounded surprised and a little worried as she hurried after Sigrid into the corridor.
 
; “Yes. If the queen chooses to meet the prince over seeing me while negotiating with him as if I were some pawn…”
“Maybe he’s seeing her about an alliance and it has nothing to do with you.”
Sigrid gave her a get-real look.
“Okay, you’re probably right. Do you think she would really give you up? You’re the only magic user in her kingdom.”
“Besides you.”
“Yes, but I can’t do what you can do. I can’t imagine she would give you up for any price.”
“If the amount of gold is high enough, and the deal is that I help them win against their enemies, and then I’m returned here? And the queen has the mistaken notion I can dispatch their enemies as quickly as I did with the griffin fae? And I was only twelve then?”
“Well, yeah, if that’s the deal, then I’m sure you’re right.”
They were hurrying in the direction of the main doors of the castle when Shane saw them and headed to intercept them. “You have seen the queen?” he asked, frowning.
Sigrid suspected Shane knew they hadn’t. He might have even been the one who was supposed to escort them to her throne room when the queen decided she wanted to see them. Besides, he probably knew that the princes were still having their audience with the queen. “I will have to return later. I left a spell brewing and if I don’t return now, it could burn down my cottage and half the forest.”
“Why did you not take care of it beforehand?” Shane sounded suspicious.
“I never have this long to wait for an audience with the queen. That’s why I asked how long it would take.” Thankfully, she had asked him that very question. Sigrid brushed past him, afraid that if the queen did agree to send her with the princes, Shane would stop her from leaving and turn her right over to them.
As soon as Tanya and Sigrid were outside the castle, Sigrid said, “Let’s transport to my cottage.”
“Why there?”
“I need to pack and quickly.”
Soon they were at her cottage and Sigrid pulled out several bags. “Pack every bit of my clothes that you can into them.”