Of Werewolves and Curses by Emma Hamm
Chapter 10
“Freya,” Eldridge grabbed her arm just as they were leaving the castle. “Wait a moment, please. There’s something I want to ask you. Tell you, I suppose. Before you go in there. That is. You should know it.”
Since when did the Goblin King stammer? Freya looked over at him, bemused and wondering why now was the most important time to tell her anything. But then her stomach sank as she saw the expression on his face.
He was nervous. Anxiety nearly swallowed him up, and she couldn’t imagine what he had to tell her that would make him so uncomfortable. He knew that she loved him, and he knew that she wouldn’t fall under the Summer Lord’s spell because she hadn’t before with him. So why was he nervous now? Of all times?
“Eldridge?” she stepped closer to him and touched her hand to his cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“Ah.” He shook his head and forced a smile. “I’ve made you nervous, too. That wasn’t why I wanted to talk with you.”
“I always have time to talk about what you’re feeling. Out with it.”
He shook his head again, but at least cupped her hand with his own. Holding her against his cheek and inhaling as though he could smell her scent on the inner part of her wrist. “Just be careful. That’s all I wanted to say. I know the Summer Lord is a handsome faerie, but he’s no good.”
She rolled her eyes and drew away. “That’s what you’re worried about? There’s only room for one handsome faerie in my life. I couldn’t handle two of you at the same time.”
“No, of course not.” He squared his shoulders and all the nerves fell away underneath the mask he wore. Not a real one made of metal or gemstones. The Goblin King’s mask was one of flesh and years of experience. If he didn’t want anyone to know what he was thinking, then no one would.
Freya could only hope she was so talented at hiding her emotions someday.
Together, they strode out of the castle and followed a white sand path. It was covered with tiny seashells that crunched beneath her feet. Not a cloud darkened the sky, and she knew this wonderful feeling wouldn’t stay for long.
They followed the path all the way to a smaller garden, though still as lush as the others. This jungle setting was the perfect place for the Summer Lord and his veritable army of elves that draped themselves at his feet. A giant marble fountain sat in the center of the small pavilion. Two elves were seated on the edge, delicately sprinkling bits of bread into the water. Freya peered into the azure depths and saw bright orange koi fish swimming lazily to get their food.
She understood why the elves were so in love with this place. It oozed beauty and brilliance, but she also understood why the trees were mad.
There was a time and place for relaxation. Then there were times for action and purpose. What were these elves doing to better the world around them? Other than lazing about all day and indulging in their every whim?
The Summer Lord sat on a large couch they had brought into the jungle. Two elves fanned him with giant leaves.
He looked different from what she had grown used to. He had favored suits previously, just like Eldridge, who stood beside her in his classic black velvet suit with the gold embroidered edges.
The Summer Lord wore nothing more than white linen pants. The billowing fabric cinched tight to his waist. He wore many long loops of gold necklaces over his bare chest. Sweat slicked his skin and gave the dark color a sheen like oil. Rainbows danced over his chest every time he moved.
He lazily turned his gaze toward them and smiled, bright white teeth brilliant in the sun. “Ah, look who it is! The lovebirds I said weren’t allowed to leave their cage. How do you two keep escaping?”
Eldridge bristled at her side. She knew he was about to argue, and that was the exact opposite of their plan.
She cleared her throat and stepped in front of him, purposefully twisting her body so the Summer Lord was looking at what she hoped was her best angle. “My Lord. You can’t expect us to stay cooped up in the same room for days upon end while we’re here. The Summer Court should be explored, don’t you think?”
The words were supposed to make him think of all the lovely areas of his court. Freya had hoped he would wax on about the things that he loved. Eldridge certainly would have.
But the Summer Lord wasn’t like the Goblin King. Instead of talking about all the things he loved, Leo narrowed his eyes at her. “What’s that supposed to mean, little dove? You haven’t fallen in love with this court, that would be a lie. If you’re interested in Eldridge over here, then you would hate every aspect of my kingdom. Right down to every tiny seashell on my beaches.”
At least Eldridge had calmed down enough to sound jovial when he responded. “You know that isn’t true, Leo. I used to enjoy every summer that I spent here with you, and you remember that as well as I. Just because I haven’t visited in a while doesn’t mean I don’t want to show Freya all our usual spots.”
Leo’s suspicious gaze turned to the Goblin King. “Usual spots? You hated every single one of them. I remember how often you used to complain here. It’s too hot. It’s too sticky. How could anyone live here when they could see the vibrant reds and oranges of the Autumn Court?”
Freya had worried the conversation would turn ugly. The two of them were incapable of being close to each other without a shouting match. If only she could get them to talk like civil men.
Once again, she stepped in between them and tried striking a pose. “Perhaps you would share your refreshments with me, my Lord? I quite enjoy being here and I remember the last time I met you, you had a wealth of delicious drinks.”
Wrong thing to bring up.
Leo’s cheeks darkened, and he sat up from his reclined position. “The last time you were here, you stole a very valuable magical item from me.”
Oh no. Yes, she had stolen something from the Summer Lord, and she’d been trying to avoid that fact. Stealing wasn’t something that the fae were particularly fond of, and most of the court leaders would have something to say to her.
She cleared her throat aggressively. “And I’m very sorry for that.”
“I’d like it back.”
Could this get any worse? Freya didn’t have the little vial, at least, not with her. She assumed it was still in her things somewhere at the Goblin Court, but the vial with a lavender sprig in it hadn’t exactly been her primary focus while traveling here.
She looked at Eldridge for his support, but he wasn’t even looking at her. He was still glaring at his childhood friend as though his eyes could bore holes in the Summer Lord’s shoulders.
Right, so she’d have to answer to the Lord on her own.
“I don’t have it with me,” she started, slowly saying each word. If she wasn’t speaking quickly, maybe he would forget that they were trying to trick him. “But I’m happy to go get it later. I’m afraid I didn’t realize how important it was to you.”
“It’s the only thing that keeps me calm.” He gestured for one of the elves, and the lovely lady with the mask of a cat brought over a full goblet to him. “And no. You aren’t getting any of my drink while you’re here. The last time you drank me under the table, and the more I think about it, the less likely I believe it to be possible that you actually did that.”
Maybe this was the game she had to play. If she revealed her tricks, perhaps he would be more inclined to speak with her.
Freya took another step closer and nodded. “I lied. I’m sorry for that, too. But I needed the vial to beat Eldridge and then discovered I like nothing more than doing that.”
“Doing what?” Wine sloshed over his hand as he wildly swung the goblet around. “Lying?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I don’t enjoy lying, and I don’t like to trick people as I did you. That’s a faerie’s game, not a mortal’s.”
“Exactly.” The Summer Lord leaned forward, weaving slightly to the side before he gave her a half grin. “And yet here you are, with a faerie, lying through your teeth. How strange to think that you’ve learned your tricks from the Goblin King, while still being able to lie. You’re a dangerous little creature, aren’t you?”
Even like this, Freya was struck by how handsome this man was. In his suits, he looked stuffy and broad. But without the tight expectations of being the Summer Lord wrapped around his neck, he was a lean man with a crooked smile that lifted at the ends into dimples. He looked like the kind of man she’d find down an alley, ready to sell her dark magic spells for the cost of her soul. And she’d sell that soul to him, without question. A man like this could charm her into doing anything.
Well, almost anything. The thought of the Goblin King would prevent her from doing too much more than selling him a soul. But it was still enough to be frightening.
“I don’t want to lie or deceive you today,” she replied.
“I don’t think you know how to not do that. Why should I ever trust you?” He leaned back in his chair, that crooked smile still locked on his face. “Freya. You want something from me. Why else would you be here? That puts me in a position of power, and I think you’ve realized how little you want to do that. Because if I’m the one making all the decisions, then I will never make them in your favor.”
“Then get us out of your hair.” Freya quickly pulled back the bow string of her words and loosed an arrow she knew he would bite on. “We want to travel to the isles. Now I know you won’t give us permission to do that, but at the very least you should consider it. Then we won’t even be here. We’ll be all those waves away from you.”
At her words, his skin turned ashen and his eyes widened in fear. The goblet dropped from his hands, slipping to the floor and spilling red wine across the ground like blood. “You will never go to the isles. No one goes to the isles.”
So something there was important to him.
Considering the way his hands shook uncontrollably, she would assume there was something on that island that could destroy him. Now, she very much wanted to go.
“I’ll trade that vial back to you,” she said. “All I want to know is how to get out there. That’s all.”
“On the back of a sea serpent,” the Summer Lord snarled.
Eldridge put his hand on her shoulders and tugged her away from Leo and his elves. “Freya, we’re not going to get his permission. I knew better than to ask this fool if we could have an afternoon away from all this.”
She stared up at him with a frown. Freya was certain she was getting somewhere! All she needed was a couple more minutes and then she’d have him. Sure, she might be brow beating him into giving them permission, but she would have gotten what they wanted.
“Eldridge,” she argued, but he put his finger on her lips. Silencing her.
The spark in his eyes was one of mischief. The Goblin King had a plan. She snapped her jaw shut and nodded ever so slightly.
“Be sad or angry,” he muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
There was only one emotion that she could be convincing enough to act. Sad simply wasn’t in her ability to fake.
Freya slapped her hand to his chest and shoved, hard. “Let go of me. I wanted to get out of here for a little while, and you promised you would see if you could make that happen.”
Eldridge drew her farther away as he answered, “And I tried! I brought you to the Summer Lord, we talked with him, and he won’t give us permission.”
“You didn’t even try to speak with him! All you wanted to do was argue!” She would have slapped him if she could bring herself to do it, but that felt too far. Besides, leaving a mark on his perfect face was more than a little wrong. She’d never forgive herself for it.
Soon, they were out of the Summer Lord’s sight and nothing had changed. Freya looked around them, expecting something to happen and yet... nothing.
“Why did you want me to make a scene?” she asked, drawing away from him while crossing her arms over her chest.
He pressed a finger to his lips and grinned. “Wait for it. Scold me a little more, your shrewish voice is amazing.”
“Shrewish!” she shouted, then immediately quieted down when he gestured with his hands. “I don’t understand why we can’t have private time together, that’s all. I feel like the walls have ears here, and I wanted to get away. Just you and me.”
The bushes rattled behind them. Freya lifted a brow and Eldridge mirrored her action, then waved a hand in the air for her to continue.
“I—I—” She decided to go for it. If they were supposed to be acting like they were in a fight, then she’d really sell it. “If we don’t get some time together alone, then I don’t see why we’re even continuing this charade together. I’m done, Eldridge. Done.”
An elf burst out of the greenery. “Wait! My lady, please wait. Don’t say any words you can’t take back until you listen to me.”
Apparently, Eldridge had been right. They were being listened to and somehow their fight had swayed one of the elves. She put her back to the elf and mouthed, “Bravo,” at Eldridge, before turning back around.
“What?” she grumbled. “I don’t think you could say anything that would change my mind.”
This elf was smaller than the others. Her delicate hands fluttered like birds at her side, and the butterfly mask on her face shuddered with the strength of her emotions. “You’re such a lovely couple. I would hate to see the Summer Lord’s cruelty ruin the beauty between the two of you.”
Eldridge must have sensed weakness in this little elf, when Freya had been focusing on the Lord. Interesting.
She looked at Eldridge, then back to the elf. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m stifled here. I cannot be alone with him, and without that time, I will not be able to love him as before.”
“Then go to the isles!” The elf stepped even closer to them, lowering her voice to a mere whisper. “There is a cavern down the beach. You can’t miss it. Enchanted boats wait within and they will take you to the isles themselves. The Lord doesn’t like anyone knowing they’re there. But I know.”
Freya reached out and patted the elf’s shoulder. “You may have saved our relationship, my dear. Thank you.”
The elf’s gaze fell to the ground, and Freya was certain there was a blush underneath that mask. “It’s my honor, Lady Freya.”
She waited until the elf disappeared into the bushes again before turning to Eldridge with a shrug. “Well played, Goblin King. Well played.”
He dusted his knuckles off on his jacket. “I’ve had a few centuries of trickery to learn how to manage these people.”
“Apparently so. Shall we gather up Arrow and see what is on those isles?” She held out her arm for him to take.
“We shall.”
